Raymer ColoradoATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Raymer, Colorado.
1. Pawnee National Grassland
NATURAL PRAIRIE WILDERNESS
Pawnee National Grassland offers vast stretches of pristine prairie landscape accessible from Raymer via the scenic byway. Visitors can enjoy wildlife viewing, hiking trails, and the iconic Pawnee Buttes formations that rise dramatically from the plains. The grassland provides a glimpse into Colorado's eastern plains ecosystem and the natural beauty of shortgrass prairie environments.
2. Pawnee Pioneer Trail Scenic & Historic Byway
HISTORIC SCENIC DRIVE
The Pawnee Pioneer Trail Scenic & Historic Byway runs through Raymer, serving as a gateway to the Pawnee National Grassland. This historic route allows travelers to experience the eastern Colorado plains while enjoying beautiful scenery and numerous wildlife viewing opportunities. The byway represents an important historical pathway through Colorado's agricultural heartland.
3. Pawnee Buttes Trail
ICONIC HIKING EXPERIENCE
The Pawnee Buttes Trail is the most popular hiking path near Raymer, leading to the distinctive geological formations that rise 300 feet above the prairie. Hikers can observe native wildlife, birds of prey, and panoramic views of the eastern Colorado plains along this moderate trail. The twin buttes offer excellent photography opportunities, especially during sunrise and sunset when dramatic shadows play across the landscape.
4. Northeast Weld County Fair and Rodeo
LOCAL CULTURAL CELEBRATION
The Northeast Weld County Fair and Rodeo is held annually in September at the Rox Family Arena in New Raymer. This family-friendly event showcases local agricultural traditions, livestock competitions, and authentic rodeo performances. The fair represents the epitome of small-town celebration and community spirit in rural Colorado.
5. Friends of Raymer Car Show
HISTORIC AUTOMOTIVE EXHIBITION
The Friends of Raymer Car Show takes place each September, benefitting the restoration of local historic buildings. The event features dozens of interesting cars and motorcycles from various eras, drawing automotive enthusiasts from across the region. Visitors can appreciate vintage vehicles while supporting preservation efforts in this historic small town.
6. Rainbow Bridge
HISTORIC ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARK
Rainbow Bridge is a highly-rated historic site located in nearby Fort Morgan with a 4.3 rating from visitors. This architectural landmark represents an important piece of northeastern Colorado's transportation history and development. Visitors appreciate the bridge's distinctive design and historical significance to the region.
7. Fort Morgan Museum
REGIONAL HISTORY COLLECTION
The Fort Morgan Museum offers visitors a comprehensive look at northeastern Colorado's history with a strong 4.4 visitor rating. The specialty museum houses exhibits on pioneer life, agricultural development, and the cultural heritage of the region. Visitors can explore artifacts and displays that tell the story of settlement and growth in Colorado's eastern plains.
8. Sherman Street National Historic District
PRESERVED HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE
The Sherman Street National Historic District showcases well-preserved historic buildings that reflect the architectural styles and development of northeastern Colorado. Visitors can stroll along Sherman Street to admire structures that date from the town's formative years. The district provides insight into the region's economic and social evolution through its built environment.
9. Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
RECONSTRUCTED TRADING POST
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site features a meticulously reconstructed 1840s adobe trading post that served as an important commercial center on the Santa Fe Trail. Visitors can experience living history demonstrations with costumed interpreters who recreate the daily activities of the fort's heyday. The site offers insight into the multicultural influences that shaped Colorado's early development through trade and cultural exchange.
10. Colorado National Monument
DRAMATIC CANYON LANDSCAPES
Colorado National Monument showcases spectacular red rock canyons, towering monoliths, and dramatic geological formations just outside Grand Junction. The monument features the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive offering panoramic views and access to numerous hiking trails of varying difficulty. Visitors can observe desert wildlife and experience the rugged beauty of Colorado's western landscape in this preserved natural area.
11. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
ANCIENT FOSSIL PRESERVATION
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument protects one of the richest and most diverse fossil deposits in the world, preserving detailed impressions of insects and plants from 34 million years ago. Visitors can view massive petrified redwood stumps and delicate fossils in the visitor center's exhibit hall. The monument offers several miles of hiking trails through scenic landscapes where this prehistoric ecosystem once thrived.
12. Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURE TROVE
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument protects important archaeological sites from Ancestral Puebloan and other Native American cultures in southwestern Colorado. Founded in 2000, this site contains the highest known density of archaeological sites in the United States. Visitors should begin at the Anasazi Heritage Center to view artifacts including pottery and sandals before exploring the monument's numerous cultural sites.
13. Chimney Rock National Monument
ANCIENT ASTRONOMICAL SITE
Chimney Rock National Monument preserves important Ancestral Puebloan archaeological and astronomical sites south of Pagosa Springs. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places and founded as a monument in 2012, the site features structures that demonstrate sophisticated astronomical knowledge. Visitors can take guided walking tours during summer months to explore the ancient structures positioned on the Chimney Rock mesa.
14. Curecanti National Recreation Area
SCENIC RESERVOIR PLAYGROUND
Curecanti National Recreation Area encompasses a series of three reservoirs along the Gunnison River, offering diverse water-based recreational opportunities. Visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, and camping amid dramatic landscapes featuring mesas, cliffs, and narrow canyons. The area is known for excellent trout and salmon fishing as well as scenic boat tours exploring the unique geography of Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water.
15. Dinosaur National Monument
PREHISTORIC FOSSIL REPOSITORY
Dinosaur National Monument straddles the Colorado-Utah border and features an extraordinary concentration of Jurassic-period dinosaur fossils embedded in an exposed rock wall. Visitors can view hundreds of dinosaur bones in their original setting at the Quarry Exhibit Hall, an enclosed building built around the fossil wall. Beyond the quarry, the monument offers river rafting, camping, and hiking through colorful canyons carved by the Green and Yampa rivers.