What to do and see in Fort Collins, Colorado (CO): The Best Nature & Parks

April 21, 2022 Mollie Coke

Fort Collins is the Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, Fort Collins is located 65 miles (105 km) north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2016 estimated population of 161,000, it is the fourth most populous city in Colorado after Denver, Colorado Springs, and Aurora. Fort Collins is a midsize college city, home to Colorado State University.
Restaurants in Fort Collins

1. Neota Wilderness

Route 14 Near Cameron Pass, Fort Collins, CO http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r2/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5354217
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5.0 based on 3 reviews

Virtually without roads, this 9,924-acre wilderness area ranges from 10,000 to 11,896 feet in elevation.

2. Cache La Poudre River

Fort Collins, CO http://www.nps.gov/cala/
Excellent
82%
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5.0 based on 413 reviews

Cache La Poudre River

Colorado's only designated National Wild and Scenic River provides thrilling whitewater and paddling adventures.

Reviewed By pastorvanee

Our family enjoyed a 10.5 mile bike ride in Ft Collins. Our loop began near the beautiful flower gardens on the CSU campus and included other open areas and ovals on the campus before following the RR to catch the Poudre River trail heading east ,downstream. Around our 6-7 mile mark we followed a trail to connect to the Spring Creek trail and followed it back west, upstream to CSU again. What a great scenic and relaxing bike ride! Ft Collins is as "cool and hip" as Boulder and even more beautiful. CSU campus is a beautiful place to see and just be.....soak in the peace and beauty of the stunning gardens and be renewed in the strength and majesty of the magnificent Rocky Mountains!!!

3. Fossil Creek Park

5821 S. Lemay Ave., Fort Collins, CO http://www.fcgov.com/parks/finder/fossil-creek
Excellent
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5.0 based on 45 reviews

Fossil Creek Park

4. Spring Canyon Community Park

2626 W. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526 http://www.fcgov.com/parks/finder/spring-canyon
Excellent
84%
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5.0 based on 105 reviews

Spring Canyon Community Park

Reviewed By conservativeandproud - Fort Collins, United States

If you are ever in Fort Collins, CO and are looking for a place to relax and have fun, you won't be disappointed when you take time to enjoy the great outdoors in this huge park with so many amenities. Whether you are a picnic person or the avid outdoorsy type this park is for you. There is a great playground for those little kiddos so they can run around and get rid of that excess energy. This park has something for everyone with a skate park, tennis courts, dog park, basketball courts, baseball field complete with a covered dugout, dirt bike course, great walking trails, multiple picnic pods, a memorial to honor our much appreciated Veterans and a lot of wonderful, green grass to run and play in. The sunsets over the foothills are sure to delight along with the beautiful cloud formations with their pink and blue hues. Anyone of any age is sure to find something to do in this wonderful park. For those of us who may need to use the facilities, I can attest to the fact that the restrooms are actually cleaner than a lot of store and restaurant restrooms which was unexpected but a pleasant surprise! So, put on your walking shoes and plan a trip to this gem of a park at the base of the foothills in the fine city of Fort Collins, CO!

5. Annual Flower Trial Garden

1401 Remington Street, Fort Collins, CO 80525 +1 970-491-7179 [email protected] http://www.flowertrials.colostate.edu/index.php
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5.0 based on 261 reviews

Annual Flower Trial Garden

Reviewed By 754jodyg - Johnstown, United States

I've walked around these beautiful flowers many times on a daily walk and stopped to experience their beauty and color in the summertime sunshine. This place really brightens my day. The folks that maintain the flowers does a really good job.

6. Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area

3745 E Prospect Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80525-9791 http://www.facebook.com/PoudreHeritage/
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5.0 based on 4 reviews

Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area

The Cache la Poudre River is the heart of the Cache la Poudre National Heritage Area, which follows the Poudre downstream for 45 miles from Larimer County in the west where the river emerges from the Rocky Mountains, and ends near Greeley, Colorado, just before its confluence with the South Platte River.

Reviewed By laj2e7 - Orlando, United States

This is a great area to visit . There are lots of trailheads and campgrounds. The river is excellent for fishing, tubing , kayaks and walking . The views are spectacular !!

7. Blue Lake Trail

Hwy 14 Near Rustic, Fort Collins, CO http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/arp/recarea/?recid=36743
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5.0 based on 1 reviews

Blue Lake Trail

8. Gardens on Spring Creek

2145 Centre Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80526-2087 +1 970-416-2486 [email protected] http://www.fcgov.com/gardens
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4.5 based on 98 reviews

Gardens on Spring Creek

The Gardens on Spring Creek is the community botanic garden of Fort Collins, Colorado. The 18-acre site opened in 2004 as part of a vital public/private partnership between the City of Fort Collins and the Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek. Our mission is to enrich the lives of people and foster environmental stewardship through horticulture. The Gardens just re-opened after a two-year expansion adding 5 new acres of developed gardens, a new permanent Butterfly House, and renovated Visitor's Center and Gift Shop. Admission rates apply.

Reviewed By JGA1333 - Fort Collins, United States

What a great experience to take the grandkids to the nighttime Xmas display, a fantasmagorical light show with some very good exhibits. The little dwarf (elves) workshop was a huge hit with our 2 1/2 year old grandson. The night was fantastic, cold and crisp, but with so many warm lights, and many happy people, it was magical. Thanks to all of the great volunteers, decorators, and managers - so well done. Keep up the great work, will be back next year for sure. What a fantastic exhibit.

9. Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Off of Harmony Rd to Horsetooth Mountain, Fort Collins, CO +1 970-498-7000 http://www.larimer.org/parks/htmp.cfm
Excellent
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4.5 based on 498 reviews

Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Reviewed By avirtualcfo - Houston, United States

Great place to hike far enough away from the city yet close enough to get away. Different places to explore and hike.

10. Coyote Ridge Natural Area

Spring Mesa Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526 +1 970-416-2815 [email protected] http://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/finder/coyote
Excellent
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4.5 based on 55 reviews

Coyote Ridge Natural Area

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