Meeker Sheep Dog Rally

We joined the Colorado Airstream Club on a trip to Meeker, Colorado to watch the Meeker Sheepdog competition. We got to watch 135 dogs and their handlers compete to win money and a chance to go to the national championship.

Meeker is a small town in central Colorado with a population of 2000. It has a long history of ranching and is very isolated from any major city. Theodore Rosevelt visited the town multiple times because of its proximity to the beautiful Flat Top wilderness.

Spectators at the Sheep Dog competition.

The field where the dogs compete is very large - almost a half a mile long. The dogs start at the left and have to find and herd the sheep at the far end of the field. Sometimes the dogs struggle to see the sheep initially.

A Border Collie bringing some sheep toward the final pen.

The dogs and the handler have to figure out how to get the sheep into the final pen.

he final competitors had to herd 20 sheep and, with their handlers, figure out how to separate the 5 sheep with orange tags.

We spent a couple of days in the Flat Top Mountain area which is about 40 miles east of Meeker. This is Trapper’s Lake, which is spectacular.

There are hundreds of miles of trails in this area.

Fly fishing is very popular in this area.

The Flat Top wilderness area has dozes of beautiful lakes.

There are lots of organized pack trips available for people who don’t want to hike.

Smiling at our run around the lake.

Trapper’s Lake Lodge - where we all had dinner one of the evenings.

Lake Avery.

Sunset from our campground.

Meeker is remote and has very dark skies. The Milky Way was visible from our campground.