The famous American artist Georgia O’Keeffe once visited this small Colorado town.
20 Modoc St, Ward, CO 80481
Photographs and Words by:
Ward, Colorado, is a small community at 9,500 feet along the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway northwest of Boulder. Like many small mountain towns in Colorado, Ward began and flourished during the mining days. Ward’s mining history began in 1860, when gold was discovered along Lefthand Creek. The discovery brought new opportunities and, with them, workers and families who lived in the small mining camp.
Today, the town has no more than 150 residents, but its tiny footprint offers a few reasons to make Ward a day trip from Denver or a stop along your Colorado road trip. The General Store offers food and drink (popular with passing cyclists), the historic Hotel Columbia is the only in-town accommodation, and Ward Congregational Church might be the most surprising reason to stop here.
This church is what originally brought me to this tiny town—a long story I share here as well, but the short version is that I discovered it through a painting by Georgia O’Keeffe. The American artist painted this historic church in 1917 after staying in the small town (taking summer vacation with her sister) and titled it Church Bell, Ward, Colorado. Built around 1895, the historic church sits into the rocky hillside overlooking the town. Its simple architecture and bell tower remain well preserved after escaping the town’s horrific 1900 fire, with a little help from its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Beyond town, some of Colorado’s most beautiful landscapes are found at nearby Brainard Lake Recreation Area. As the gateway to the Indian Peaks Wilderness, this glacially carved valley, subalpine forest, and peaks along the Continental Divide make a visit to Ward feel like a natural extension. Plan the mountain portion carefully: summer vehicle access runs through a timed-entry reservation system, and lingering snow can keep conditions wintry well into July. Check current access conditions before setting out.
But if you are just passing through and can’t get a recreation pass for Brainard Lake, the nearby Ceran Saint Vrain trailhead offers some nice day-hiking options.
