Home to 43 state parks and four national parks, Colorado offers mountain ranges, reservoirs and trails that ring of adventure.

Whether it’s been home for years, or you just moved into your dorm at Colorado State University, Fort Collins is a convenient location to spend time outdoors. In fact, the town recently earned the title of the most peaceful city to live in the United States thanks in part to its accessible outdoor spaces. 

Here are some highlights for outdoor recreation that community members and visitors alike can enjoy while in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado.

Bike trails:

Fort Collins has a long-standing history of being a bike friendly town; it has held a platinum bike rating from the League of American Bicyclists since 2013, making it one of only three cities in the U.S. to currently hold the rating.

The town offers over 285 miles of mountain, gravel and road bike trails. 

One path follows along a defining Colorado feature just south of Fort Collins: the Cache la Poudre River. The Poudre River trail is a 45-mile continuous trail recently completed by Larimer County and stretching from Greeley to Bellevue.

The Poudre River Trail is only 1.5 miles from CSU’s campus. Don’t want to start a trail off-campus? Try out Mason Trail, which runs north-south on CSU’s campus, alongside the MAX Bus Rapid Transit route. The path also connects to two other bike trails: Spring Creek Trail on the northern end and Fossil Creek Trail on the southern.

Open spaces:

Stop by an area that Visit Fort Collins deemed a local favorite – the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area or Red Mountain Open Space. Both are open sunrise to sundown from March through November, and hold rich archaeological history as some of the earliest humans in North America called them home over 11,000 years ago. Additionally, Soapstone features wild bison and the endangered Black Foot Ferret. 

If you’re interested in a hike, consider Canyon trail, a moderate 3.4 mile hike that connects to Plover trail and the Red Mountain Open Space. Note that dogs aren’t allowed in either natural area unless they are service animals.

Horsetooth Reservoir:

Approximately 14 minutes drive away from CSU’s campus is Horsetooth Reservoir – a staple for many CSU students’ college experience. Horsetooth covers it all: swimming, rock climbing, camping, biking and more in its 6.5 miles of water and 29 miles of public trails.

Want the best of both worlds? When you do the Bay to Bay trail – a 1.8 mile moderate hike that connects two recreation areas – you can enjoy a hike or a ride and then go swimming in Horsetooth reservoir.

Another distinct feature is Horsetooth Falls, which is family-friendly totaling 2.5 miles roundtrip. The route takes hikers through meadows and leads them through a canyon where the falls reside. Save this hike for the end of the school year, as the falls are seasonal and can be enjoyed late spring through early summer.

For more information on recreation areas, visit the Horsetooth Area Information Center located in the South Bay of Horsetooth Reservoir. The center may be visited during varying hours depending on the time of year: 

• March to October: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. seven days a week.
• November to February: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a lunch break from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• Front desk staff may also be reached at 970-498-5610.

Lory State Park:

Take an approximately 20 minute drive and visit Lory State Park between Horsetooth Reservoir and the foothills. Due to its connection to Horsetooth, water recreation is popular here, including kayaking, paddleboarding and canoeing.

Popular hiking trails include Arthur’s Rock, the “little brother” of Horsetooth, which is known for its proximity to town and totals 1.7 miles, offering views of the city and reservoir. Kimmons Trail is another option. While the trail is only 1.1 miles, it connects both Timber and West Valley Trails.

A daily vehicle pass is $10 and camping requires both a reservation and a permit. For more information on rates and passes, visit the park’s website.

Rocky Mountain National Park:

Down for a day-trip? Visit one of Colorado’s national parks– Rocky Mountain National Park is less than an hour and half away from Fort Collins.

Popular locations in the park include Bear Lake, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Lake Haiyaha, Alberta Falls and more. Note that Bear Lake Road requires a reservation from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to enter during the summer and fall season. RMNP also requires a reservation during the summer and fall seasons unless entered before 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

To make a reservation visit the National Park Services website. Here, you can also find more information on trails, current conditions and fire bans.

Don’t want to go alone?:

Fort Collins and CSU both offer options to visit Northern Colorado in a group setting.

CSU hosts an Outdoor Program, which offers trips, clinics and events aiming to give students the opportunity to explore the Rocky Mountains each semester. For more information on upcoming trips and classes, visit the CSU Campus Recreation website.

Fort Collins also hosts community groups such as the Northern Colorado chapter of the Colorado Mountain Club. The group hosts events, trips and courses. More information can be found on the Colorado Mountain Club website at cmc.org.