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Office: Jackson County OEM – (970) 723-4242 | jacksoncountycolorado.us
Alert System: CO-WARN; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Walden school facilities; contact OEM
FEMA Region: Region 8
Notes: North-central Colorado North Park basin county; Walden is county seat; one of Colorado’s least populated counties (~1,400 residents); wildfire risk (surrounding forests); severe winter weather (North Park is one of the coldest areas in Colorado; temperatures regularly below -40°F; Walden is surrounded by mountains on all sides creating an enclosed basin that traps cold air); flooding (North Platte River); North Park is a major ranching basin and one of the finest elk hunting areas in Colorado
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Jackson County Roads – (970) 723-4242
Transit: None; completely auto-dependent; very remote; seasonal mountain pass closures
Notes: SR-14 (connects Walden to Fort Collins east via Cameron Pass (10,276 ft) – scenic but closed or difficult in winter storms); US-40 (connects Walden south to Granby and Winter Park; Muddy Pass (8,772 ft)); SR-125 (connects Walden north to Encampment, Wyoming); Walden is approximately 90 miles from Fort Collins and 80 miles from Steamboat Springs; very isolated; Cameron Pass can close in major winter storms
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Jackson County Building – (970) 723-4242
Services: Very basic county permits; Walden is the only significant community
Notes: Very limited development; ranching infrastructure; hunting camp and cabin construction; limited residential activity
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Jackson County Veterans Services – (970) 723-4242
VA Medical: VA Denver (accessible via US-40 and I-70 – about 2.5 hours in summer); telehealth critical
Notes: Remote county; Denver VA accessible but distant; telehealth essential; small veteran population in an isolated ranching community
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Jackson County Public Library – (970) 723-8117
Address: Walden
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; North Park heritage; Colorado elk hunting culture; ranching heritage
Notes: Single library; critical community resource and internet access point; North Park’s hunting and ranching culture in local collections; one of Colorado’s most isolated county libraries
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: North Park (the “Moose Capital of Colorado” – the North Park basin and adjacent mountains support one of Colorado’s largest and most accessible moose populations; moose were reintroduced here in 1978-79 and have thrived; they are commonly seen along the Illinois River and Grizzly Creek drainages; an extraordinary wildlife viewing opportunity); Routt National Forest and Mount Zirkel Wilderness (surrounding the basin – excellent elk hunting; Colorado State Forest State Park (Collins Ranch area – exceptional state park; elk; moose; exceptional wildlife); Colorado State Forest State Park – (970) 723-8366 (outstanding state park with moose viewing, fishing, camping, hiking; one of the finest state parks in Colorado for wildlife); Illinois River (excellent trout fishing; moose habitat); North Platte River (headwaters in North Park – excellent fishing; river flows north to Wyoming); Cameron Pass area (stunning scenery; access to Never Summer Range); Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge (Walden area – excellent birding; sandhill cranes; migratory waterfowl; ducks nest in the North Park wetlands)
Notes: North Park is one of Colorado’s finest wildlife destinations – the combination of large moose herds, exceptional elk hunting, excellent trout fishing, and the Arapaho NWR’s outstanding birding makes it extraordinary; the moose population in North Park is one of the largest and most accessible in the Mountain West; Colorado State Forest State Park is a spectacular destination combining wildlife viewing (moose guaranteed near the dune lakes area), hiking, and fishing in an expansive high mountain setting; the sandhill crane migration through Arapaho NWR in spring is excellent; North Park’s isolation keeps it appropriately uncrowded
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Very limited; Colorado GIS; USGS; USFS Routt and Arapaho NF maps; Arapaho NWR maps; Colorado State Forest SP maps
Notes: Minimal county GIS; federal agency maps are primary; moose habitat monitoring maps; North Park basin hydrological mapping
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Very basic; Jackson County Sheriff animal control
Notes: Ranching county; cattle and horses management; world-class wildlife: moose (hundreds in the basin), elk (legendary hunting herds), mule deer, pronghorn antelope (eastern basin), coyotes, black bears in the mountains, mountain lions; CDPW manages all wildlife and hunting regulations; Jackson County’s elk license applications are among the most competitive in Colorado
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Jackson County – very limited; transfer station
Environmental: Colorado DPHE; North Platte River Compact (Colorado-Wyoming water sharing); USFS (Routt and Arapaho NFs); USFWS (Arapaho NWR); Colorado Parks and Wildlife; Colorado State Land Board (Colorado State Forest)
Notes: North Park’s water management involves the North Platte River Compact between Colorado and Wyoming; the river flows north into Wyoming and is subject to interstate water sharing; agricultural irrigation from the North Park basin’s wetlands and hay meadows supports the cattle ranching economy; Arapaho NWR’s management of the North Park wetlands (for waterfowl breeding) is critically dependent on maintaining water levels in the wetland complex; Colorado State Forest State Park’s management integrates timber harvest, wildlife, and recreation – the state forest is actively managed for sustainable timber; climate change is affecting North Park’s snowpack and the timing of spring runoff, with implications for both agriculture and wildlife
About Jackson County County
Jackson County is Colorado’s North Park moose capital – the remote high-altitude basin that holds one of Colorado’s densest moose populations and the headwaters of the North Platte River define one of the least visited and most wildlife-rich counties in Colorado, where Walden serves the county’s ranching and outdoor recreation communities in the sage-covered valley.
Walden (the county seat, population ~600) is Jackson County’s governmental hub in the North Park basin, a small northern Colorado ranching town whose moose viewing, North Platte fishing, and remote mountain character define its identity.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Jackson County Assessor at 396 LaFevre Street, Walden, CO 80480, phone 970-723-4334. CO assessed at percentage of actual value.
Courts & Legal
Jackson County District Court at 396 LaFevre Street, Walden, CO 80480, phone 970-723-4313, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
396 LaFever St., Walden, CO 80480
(970) 723-4334
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Jackson County District Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
No dedicated Jackson County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Jackson County Combined Court – District Court (Probate Division) 396 Lafever Street, P.O. Box 308, Walden, CO 80480 (970) 723-4363 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Colorado follows the Uniform Probate Code, one of the more streamlined, less court-intensive systems in the country.
Small Estate Affidavit (personal property) – for estates where personal property totals less than roughly $86,000 (twice the “exempt property” amount under C.R.S. § 15-11-403, which adjusts annually for inflation – always confirm the current year’s figure with the court). Available starting 10 days after the death. No court filing required; present the affidavit (Form JDF 999) directly to whoever holds the property.
Summary Administration for small real property – a separate, roughly parallel threshold applies to real property equity. This route does require a court filing.
Informal Probate – the standard path for most estates with a will or clear heirs and no disputes. Handled largely by the court Registrar with minimal hearings.
Formal Probate – required for contested wills, disputed appointments, or complicated estates.
If using the small estate affidavit (personal property)
Wait at least 10 days after the death.
Confirm the fair market value of the decedent’s property (less liens) doesn’t exceed the current statutory threshold, and that no probate has already been opened.
Complete Form JDF 999, Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit.
Present it, along with a certified death certificate, to the bank or institution holding the property – no court filing needed.
If filing for informal or formal probate
File the appropriate application with the Jackson County District Court: Form JDF 910 (with a will) or JDF 908 (without one). For formal probate, file JDF 920 or the intestate equivalent. Filing fee is $199.
The court (or Registrar, for informal cases) appoints a personal representative and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
In informal probate, the personal representative then manages the estate largely independently.
Creditors have 4 months from first publication of notice to file claims.
The estate closes once debts are paid and assets are distributed.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit: no court filing fee.
Informal or formal probate filing fee: $199.
Personal representative compensation: “reasonable compensation” – no fixed statutory percentage.
No Colorado state estate tax or inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
Walden, CO 80480
(970) 723-4242
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
396 LaFever St., Walden, CO 80480
(970) 723-4334
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health/Human Services
Walden, CO 80480
(970) 723-4334
CO Benefits / PEAK
(800) 536-5298
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Jackson County Public Health – (970) 723-4242 (limited)
Services: Very basic public health; immunizations; vital records; limited staff
Hospital: North Park Medical Center (Walden – (970) 723-8780); very small clinic; Fort Collins hospitals for major care
Notes: Very small local clinic; Fort Collins and Steamboat Springs hospitals for all but basic care; helicopter evacuation for emergencies; behavioral health in isolated rural community; extreme cold weather health (frostbite, hypothermia risks)
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Walden
Population: 1,350
Area: 2,625 sq mi
Established: 1909
Public Records
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