Free-range tourism is creating art outside and getting to share it with others. Bring your own rock to paint and share with other nature lovers along Penny Lane River Trail in Sterling.

Get out of the fast lane for more road and less traffic in rural Logan County - the perfect place for biking and hiking that you haven't discovered yet! Find designated routes here https://trails.colorado.gov/ or pick up a county map at the Logan County Visitor Center and set out on any of our rural roads. Some are paved, some are gravel, and some are shared with farm equipment. Whichever the case, you’ll be sure to enjoy the open road. If you prefer to keep your feet on the ground, you can find a variety of hiking trails to enjoy at North Sterling State Park or along the South Platte River on the east side of Sterling.

As you plan your trip to Sterling and Logan County:

Skip the Traffic Jams

Are you ready for a Colorado road trip to Sterling? Find a variety of ideas to fill your itinerary. Here you’ll discover a plethora of activities for every level of adventure. And to top it all off, you’ll rarely be caught in a traffic jam or stand in line. It’s what we like to call free-range tourism and we’ve got the space to find your place, no matter the weather!

Ditch the Long Lines

We are open for you to enjoy our culinary culture which includes down-home favorites at the local diners and exquisite cuisine in upscale restaurants. A gigantic scoop of hard ice cream is a favorite at the charming Simkins Parlour and the Hot Spot Smokehouse has some of the best barbecue around. Stop at the Parts & Labor Brewing Company for a selection from their diverse menu and a brew made with locally grown wheat.

Roam Freely and Relax

Accommodations in Sterling and Logan County range from a quaint boutique motel to modern hotels in beautiful settings. Travelers who prefer recreational vehicles or tent camping will feel right at home at our campsite facilities.

It's time to go fishing, Colorado.

Resident and nonresident anglers of all ages are invited to participate in #FreeFishingWeekend, June 5-6. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3yVK47I. Keep reading for some great fishing spots in Logan County's wide-open outdoors.

1. North Sterling State Park. This excellent warm-water fishery features wiper, walleye, channel catfish, crappie, yellow perch, bluegill, northern pike, tiger muskie, and trout. Fishing is permitted along the entire state-owned shoreline. North Sterling State Park is open to fishing year-round.

2. Prewitt Reservoir State Wildlife Area. Anglers can expect quality fishing for walleye, saugeye, crappie, and channel catfish. Wiper can also be caught. Wakeless boating is permitted.

3. Jumbo Reservoir State Wildlife Area. This reservoir is primarily managed as a warm-water fishery, focused on walleye. However, efforts are also made to provide quality fishing opportunities for crappie, smallmouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish.

4. Overland Trail Recreation Area Fishing Pond. Located right in Sterling, this small pond offers a floating dock and plenty of shoreline for a fun afternoon of fishing for small and large mouth bass.

As you plan your trip to Sterling and Logan County:

Skip the Traffic Jams

Are you ready for a Colorado road trip to Sterling? Find a variety of ideas to fill your itinerary. Here you’ll discover a plethora of activities for every level of adventure. And to top it all off, you’ll rarely be caught in a traffic jam or stand in line. It’s what we like to call free-range tourism and we’ve got the space to find your place, no matter the weather!

Ditch the Long Lines

We are open for you to enjoy our culinary culture which includes down-home favorites at the local diners and exquisite cuisine in upscale restaurants. A gigantic scoop of hard ice cream is a favorite at the charming Simkins Parlour and the Hot Spot Smokehouse has some of the best barbecue around. Stop at the Parts & Labor Brewing Company for a selection from their diverse menu and a brew made with locally grown wheat.

Roam Freely and Relax

Accommodations in Sterling and Logan County range from a quaint boutique motel to modern hotels in beautiful settings. Travelers who prefer recreational vehicles or tent camping will feel right at home at our campsite facilities.

1. A boater’s paradise, North Sterling State Park’s large irrigation reservoir (3,000-acre-feet of water) offers great coves and fingers to explore. There is plenty of space to spread out, with more than 140 campsites.

(Photo by Heather Harris)

2. Prewitt State Wildlife Area has over 3,000 acres which are managed primarily for fishing and hunting. Camp, picnic, fish, boat or just sit on the shore of Prewitt Reservoir and watch hundreds of pelicans gather. 

3. Anglers can expect excellent fishing for walleye and crappie, and quality fishing for channel catfish and bluegill on the reservoir at Jumbo State Wildlife Area. 

As you plan your trip to Sterling and Logan County:

Skip the Traffic Jams

Are you ready for a Colorado road trip to Sterling? Find a variety of ideas to fill your itinerary. Here you’ll discover a plethora of activities for every level of adventure. And to top it all off, you’ll rarely be caught in a traffic jam or stand in line. It’s what we like to call free-range tourism and we’ve got the space to find your place, no matter the weather!

Ditch the Long Lines

We are open for you to enjoy our culinary culture which includes down-home favorites at the local diners and exquisite cuisine in upscale restaurants. A gigantic scoop of hard ice cream is a favorite at the charming Simkins Parlour and the Hot Spot Smokehouse has some of the best barbecue around. Stop at the Parts & Labor Brewing Company for a selection from their diverse menu and a brew made with locally grown wheat.

Roam Freely and Relax

Accommodations in Sterling and Logan County range from a quaint boutique motel to modern hotels in beautiful settings. Travelers who prefer recreational vehicles or tent camping will feel right at home at our campsite facilities.

Whether you want to soak up the sun or find ideas to beat the heat, Logan County is ripe with authentic events and activities for your best Colorado road trip to the great outdoors this summer.

We've got the space to find your place for a special visit or weekend getaway.

THE BEST SUMMER ACTIVITIES IN LOGAN COUNTY

1. Water Sports. A boater’s paradise, North Sterling State Park’s large irrigation reservoir (3,000 surface acres) offers great coves and fingers to explore during the spring and summer months. Logan County is also where you’ll find great bodies of water at both Prewitt Reservoir and Jumbo Reservoir, the meandering South Platte River, and smaller fishing-only ponds in Fleming (Jeff’s Pond) and Sterling (Overland Trail Recreation Area). Opportunities abound for boating, fishing, jet-skiing, kayaking, paddle boarding, sailboarding, swimming, and water skiing.

2. Swimming Pools. Nothing screams summer quite like splashing in an outdoor swimming pool and water park. The Sterling Recreation Center has both an indoor pool and outdoor pool which includes several water features such as a Multi-Play 5 and three slides. There is a beach entry as well as a separate wading pool with a mini water dome and six water jets. The largest attraction is the double-flumed slide, with a translucent blue speed slide about 130 feet long and one open flume slide about 220 feet long. Relax among the shaded picnic tables and chairs when you need a break from the sunshine.

3. County Fair. The Logan County Fair & Rodeo is one of the premier county fairs in Colorado, blending the best in entertainment, great food, fun rides, and the excitement of competition. With a particular emphasis on the accomplishments of youth in their various 4-H projects, this highlight of the summer features many events and activities tailored to kids – and kids of all ages! Grandstand events include something for everyone, from the high-action NextEra Energy Extreme Bull Riding and two nights of PRCA Rodeo, to some foot-stompin' country music entertainment on the main stage – this year see  Craig Morgan  and  Ned LeDoux. Plus, there’s the Junior Rodeo, Tractor Pull and Demolition Derby to round out the nights, and the week is loaded with activities such as carnival, vendors, games and parade -- July 30-August 4, 2024.

4. Camping. Hop in your RV, hitch up your camper or pack your pup tent. If you want to get away, we’ve got all the “away” you will need for a Colorado road trip into the great outdoors with room to roam. Close around Sterling are options for travelers who prefer recreational vehicles and tent camping to escape and explore as you see fit.

5. July Jamz. Is there anything better than free outdoor concerts on the lawn of the Historical Logan County Courthouse in downtown Sterling? You can get your groove on every Friday evening in July to a variety of music, from country to jazz to rockabilly and blues. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket. Plus, the Logan County Arts League (LOCAL) features local musical artists on the last two Saturdays in June at the same place.

6. Car Show. If you like shiny objects, you can bet you’ll see some of the prettiest at the annual Colorado Flatlanders Car Club Rod Run in the beautiful outdoor setting of Pioneer Park, Saturday, July 6. This show and shine event features street rods, street machines, trucks, late models, and more, all vying for the coveted “club choice award” among others.

7. Heritage Festival. In true Americana fashion, this one-day festival features historic crafting, children's activities, live music and historic presentations -- all on the village grounds of the Overland Trail Museum. Don't miss the sky-filled fireworks display, starting at dusk on Monday, July 4!

8. Farmers Market. When you’re roaming around some summer weekend, look for a farmer’s market in downtown Sterling. Enjoy the authentic farm-to-table experience with some freshly grown tomatoes, homemade goodies, or still-warm-from-the-field sweet corn to take home. The growers will throw in the smiles for free! (Watch for more details here.)

9. Tractor Pull. Experience the roar of engines at the High Plains Outdoor Tractor and Truck Pull at the Logan County Fairgrounds in Sterling. Tractor pulling is known as “the world’s heaviest motorsport,” where the goal is to determine the strongest machine and the best driver. This perfect outdoor grandstand event for fans is held every year on Father’s Day Weekend.

The Sportsman Experience

Designed as a fun and interactive experience to highlight Logan County, the Sportsman Experience by Media Logic Radio is a family-friendly event with EXTREME fun for all ages. This indoor and outdoor event features a gun show, mud racing competition, rock climbing wall, Airbound Attractions, vendor booths, and more at the Logan County Fairgrounds in Sterling, CO., Fri., April 30 (5-8 pm) and Sat., May 1 (9 am-4 pm).

Whether it's hunting, fishing, biking, or any other form of outdoor sport, Logan County and the surrounding area have an abundance of resources to display your skills or take up a new hobby.

The Logan County Shooting Sports Complex, North Sterling State Park, Prewitt Reservoir SWA, South Platte River, and many other landmarks for outdoor activities are right here in our backyard.

Check out all that the Sportsman Experience has to offer. It's a great reason for a quick Colorado road trip to Logan County.

Logan County has a total area of 1,845 square miles, of which 1,839 square miles is land and 6.3 square miles is water. The county seat, Sterling, is the largest urban area in northeast Colorado, giving the otherwise rural Logan County the best of both worlds. Sterling has great art, shops, and restaurants, while outdoor enthusiasts find many opportunities to have fun.

North Sterling State Park is the jewel of Logan County Centered on a large reservoir about 15 miles northwest of Sterling, this park offers interesting topography, hiking trails, camping, fishing, birding, and fantastic boating. When enjoying our great outdoors, remember to Care For Colorado. With a little preparation, a spirit of adventure, and a soft spot for nature and the past, you'll be on the trail to exploring Colorado and Logan County like a local.

Photo by Colorado Country Life

Sterling is called the City of Living Trees thanks to the incredible sculptures that local artist Bradford Rhea carved from dying trees; stop by the Logan County Visitor Center to get started on a self-guided tour of 13 of the sculptures or use this digital guide and map.

The revitalized downtown has unique shops and boutiques, such as the Sterling Creatives Art Co-op, and restaurants including the Hot Spot Smokehouse, and Simkins Parlour, and Sam and Louie's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria. The popular Parks and Labor Brewing Co. is the first craft brewery to open on Colorado's eastern plains.

The Overland Trail Museum assembles a vast collection of artifacts and compelling exhibits, with a modern facility joined by a host of historic buildings. A diorama depicts the Battle of Summit Springs, where Buffalo Bill Cody helped lead the charge in the last big fight between the U.S. cavalry and Plains Indians in Colorado, just south of Sterling in 1869.

The Sterling area has two 18-hole golf courses and one disc golf course, an extensive shooting sports complex, numerous city parks, and vibrant festivals, including July Jamz, a free outdoor summer concert series each Friday in July. The perfect place to enjoy our style of free-range tourism.