🚐 On the Road Again: Exploring Colorado’s Hidden Gems – Douglas Pass, Kenney Reservoir & Rangely 🏞️

After a few months of laying low due to the Hub’s pinched nerve (ouch! 😖), we’re thrilled to be back on the road for some longer, soul-filling adventures. A little time off gave us the perfect excuse to tweak and tinker with Dutch—our beloved camper—and now it feels more like ours than ever before.

The Hubs got busy installing some new cameras around the rig 📷. One of them still needs a little adjusting (you’ll see why soon 😅), but let me just say—cameras are marriage savers when it comes to backing up, parking, and everything in between. If you RV, you know what I’m talking about! 😉

🌄 Scenic Beginnings: Douglas Pass, Colorado

Our journey kicks off at Douglas Pass, a stunning mountain pass nestled in northwestern Colorado’s Garfield County. Located along State Highway 139, this remote pass rises to an elevation of 8,268 feet and cuts through the rugged Book Cliffs, connecting the towns of Loma and Rangely.

Though it’s not as well-known as Colorado’s famous alpine routes, Douglas Pass is a stunner in its own right—complete with steep grades, sharp curves, and views that’ll steal your breath. The road is part of the Dinosaur Diamond Scenic Byway, so you know you’re in for a treat. 🦕🛣️

But there’s more than scenery here. Douglas Pass is rich in Indigenous history, named after Chief Douglas of the Northern Ute tribe. He played a pivotal role during the 19th century, a time marked by mounting tension between Native tribes and westward settlers. Long before roads were paved or oil rigs appeared, this pass was a vital trade and travel route for Native peoples, ranchers, and energy pioneers alike.

🚨 Pro tip: If you're heading this way, check the weather—this pass can be dangerous in winter but draws in motorcyclists, truckers, and photographers during the warmer months.

🏕️ Home Base: Kenney Reservoir

Our destination? The peaceful and lesser-known Kenney Reservoir along State Highway 64. Located just outside of Rangely, this man-made lake was formed by the Taylor Draw Dam, completed in 1984 to help manage damaging ice-jam flooding from the White River. Now, it’s not only scenic but functional—the hydroelectric power plant here supplies 30% of Rangely’s electricity needs ⚡.

Rather than boondocking this time, we opted for an inexpensive campground overlooking the lake. Let’s just say, the signage could’ve been better—we totally missed the turn-off and had to circle back 😬. But hey, that’s life on the road, right?

There are 16 designated campsites available on a first-come, first-serve basis, complete with a vault toilet and trash services. The campground is open from early April through November, and when we called ahead, the staff assured us it wouldn’t be crowded after Labor Day—and they were right. 🎉

💤 Most of the time, we were the only ones there. Just us, Dutch, and a beautiful lake view out the back door. Heaven. 😍

💧 A Lake with a Purpose: Kenney Reservoir

Kenney Reservoir holds about 8,000 acre-feet of water and spans roughly 335 acres. It’s owned and managed by the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District, which also oversees the campground, a marina, picnic areas, and swimming zones 🏊‍♀️🌊.

However, like many bodies of water, the reservoir faces challenges. Silt buildup has reduced its capacity over time, but thanks to 750 sediment traps in the drainage area, they’re working hard to extend the lake’s lifespan.

Due to recent wildfires and flash flooding from burn scars, the water was murkier than usual. Debris washed into the reservoir, bringing elevated bacteria levels and threatening the fish population 🐟. While we didn’t see any dead fish, we got the feeling that could change if conditions don’t improve.

Still, the area near the entrance is a beautiful wetland 🌾—a perfect spot for a peaceful paddle or birdwatching. More on that later!

🖐️ Pintado Canyon Petroglyphs: A Walk Through History

Back on Highway 139, we set out to explore Pintado Canyon, a lesser-known gem filled with ancient rock art sites. Many can be seen from your car or with a short, easy stroll 🚶‍♀️.

Our first stop was the South Orientation Interpretive Site. While there’s no rock art here, there are informative signs to help you understand the region’s cultural significance.

One figure that stood out: Kokopelli, the humpbacked flute player known in Southwestern Native American cultures as a deity of fertility, music, joy, and travel. He’s often associated with springtime and agriculture, and we couldn’t help but smile when we saw his image.

🧐 Not every stop was a win, though. One site confused us—we only found cow fencing, no petroglyphs. So we moved on...

At the final site, a short hike brought us to a rock face with holes that looked like a giant stone face 😮. We had to remind ourselves to focus on the rock art, not the accidental sculpture!

🏙️ Rangely: Way Outside of Ordinary

Just five miles west of Kenney Reservoir is the town of Rangely, population ~2,500, elevation ~5,280 ft. Their town motto? “Way Outside of Ordinary”—and we quickly saw why.

At the Visitor Center, we learned that Rangely sprang up after the discovery of the largest oil field in the Rocky Mountain region 🛢️—a boom that helped shape its future. They handed us a town magnet, and surprisingly, The Hubs put it on the fridge. 🤔 Is he trying to tell me something?

Rangely is proud of its small-town charm, patriotic spirit, and strong community ties. From military memorials to off-road vehicle access, this town has something for everyone.

🛻 Speaking of OHVs, Rangely has extensive trail access and even the only natural rock crawling park in Colorado. Unfortunately, we hadn’t renewed our OHV licenses, so we sat this one out. But you bet we’re keeping that in our back pocket for next time!

🏫 Education Meets Adventure

Rangely is also home to Colorado Northwestern Community College, which specializes in Dental Hygiene, Aviation, and Park Ranger Training 👩‍⚕️✈️🌲. With only about 300 students, it’s intimate, practical, and fits right in with the town’s rugged vibe.

The local grocery store doubles as a hardware store, and yes—you can do your laundry there too 🧺. Towns like this just get it.

Need more camping options? There’s a lovely, shaded park within city limits offering amenities for RVers and tent campers alike.

🚘 The Rangely Automotive Museum: For the Hubs ❤️

To keep the Hubs smiling, we stopped by the Rangely Automotive Museum, owned by Bud Striegel, a successful businessman who turned his passion into a public treasure.

The museum features 35+ rare and classic vehicles on display (from a rotating collection of 60–85), ranging from early 1900s originals to fully restored beauties. From antique motorcycles to quirky electric cars, this place is a gearhead's dream.

🏍️ One standout was a 1938 Crocker motorcycle, all original and worth a fortune. Scott, the museum guide, even explained the giant display piece in the room, leaving us in awe.

Oh, and yes—they had what I lovingly call “wife chairs” 😆. You know, for those of us who enjoy the museum... for a while.

🛶 Paddling the Wetlands & Parting Thoughts: Kenney Reservoir

We wrapped up our visit with a paddle in the wetlands just above Kenney Reservoir. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and we felt like we were exactly where we were meant to be. 💚

One odd thing we did notice—graffiti at the water’s edge. But to our surprise, it had been changed to something much more positive. A reminder that change is always possible.

💭 Final Reflections

Rangely and the surrounding area absolutely surprised us. It has everything we love: small-town charm, outdoor adventure, respectful nods to history, and friendly locals who are quick to wave 👋.

It’s the kind of place that makes you think… Could I live here? 🤔

We might just have to come back in the spring and find out. 😉