Hewlett gulch is a 8.2 mile heavily trafficked trail near bellvue. It features a river and is…read morerated as moderate. Hewlett gulch is up the poudre canyon, a little further than grey rock. The parking lot is not overly big. This trail allows for off leash dogs. There is a bathroom at the trail head. There is not however any trash cans or dog poop bags. If you are coming to this trail with dogs please be sure to bring your own poop bags! Also be sure to pack out what you pack in, this includes your dog poop bags! Just pop them in your car on your way out and you could drop them at the gas station at the bottom of the canyon if you dont want to haul them all the way home. The first 2 miles are relatively flat and have multiple stream crossings. There are narrow bridges to cross on though. The first 2 miles are the prettiest in my opinion with all the water. once you get to the fork if you go left you will get the hardest over with first. The loop has no trees and no water, so on a hot day you will want to make sure that you get there before the heat. This trail does get busy on the weekends so would have a potential back up plan just in case there is no parking in the lot here.

During this time of worry and fear, the best thing we can do (besides order takeout and delivery…read morefrom our favorite restaurants) is get outside and just breathe! It was a somber, foggy day in Fort Collins and the mountains were calling. As soon as we parked at the trailhead, the fog cleared and the sun came out. This trail has quickly become one of my favorites - a nice 8.2 mile out and back, with a large loop halfway through to liven things up. The first 3 miles are full of wildly changing landscapes. You begin walking through a grassy meadow, passing the remains of the homes the Huleatt family built in the 1920s, and have lots of stream crossings. When the waters are high, you just need to accept that it's likely you'll end up with a soggy shoe here and there. The incline is gentle and steady up until the start of the loop. I recommend going left at the fork to get the hard stuff over with faster - you gain a lot of altitude quite quickly, and it makes for a much easier-on-your-knees and relaxing slope around once you crest the top of the hike. After what feels like a bit of rock scrambling, you're rewarded with a view of the canyon that leads up to Red Feather Lakes out west, and a few magnificent homes that seem to pop up out of nowhere. Don't forget to enjoy your summit beer! The decline back to the trailhead is a complete 180 from the climb up, weaving through steep canyons with plenty of shade and plenty of spots for wild animals to hide in. I always recommend carrying bear spray and keeping an eye on your surroundings here! We came across of a pack of bighorn sheep on the way back to the car and paused to watch them traverse the sheer cliffs. The flowers during spring are some of the most beautiful I've seen, making certain spots appear as if they were out of a fairytale. This is NOT an easy hike, but that's what makes it all the more fun!

8.8.2021 Sunday…read more arrived at 8 am. Not many people there at time. Left around 11 am and lot was full. There are no poop bags at the trail head. There is also no trash can. So plan on bringing your own poop bags if you have a dog/s. And plan on packing out any trash that you pack in. :) There is a bathroom at the trailhead. Follow the signs and you will get there. The disappointment falls were quite lovely. there are also a lot of wildflowers still blooming which is awesome.

Edora Park is definitely one of the more quirky parks of Fort Collins. Sometimes there are a bunch…read moreof really odd characters hanging around in and around it. Like they may have come from the nearby detention center. That is besides the point too. There are also great quirks to it too.Like seeing that all Latino baseball team playing out in the field. Men really ARE great in uniform! Sometimes I wish my birthday(which is today, February 19th) would be in the summer so I can treat myself to this kind of visual gift. Heck I do it anyway. It is ok to look as long as you don't touch-mutal agreement I have reached with my partner. He was looking too!! The Spring Creek Bike Trail goes through this park as well. Definitely a nice little stop to make while biking through... or a nice detour... or distraction that is from your bike ride! Ahem!

So this was mine and my girlfriend's first experience at the famous Edora Park Disc Golf Course…read more Simply put, we were super excited to give it a whip. The first site of the course is heaven for disc golf. Numerous chained baskets in open grass meadows. How could it be bad. Whelp it was bad. The mass hoards of people make Johnny Roberts Memorial Disc Golf Course (normally the heaviest volume course on an average day in Denver Area) look desolate. Having been in tournaments and simply super heavy traffic days in the past I didn't let it get to me. What I did was the outright rude and often dangerous behavior of my fellow golfers. I mean I almost was scalped because the guys behind us just thought they could throw whenever met their fancy. GGGRRR. We had a talk...that's for sure. Having only gotten to play 14 of the 18 holes due to traffic jams and people throwing the disc maybe 10-15 feet at a time, I wasn't very pleased with this course. I will have to make a trip again to give it a second chance, but from what I've seen so far this isn't a friendly course. PS Disc Golf is supposed to be a friendly, at-leisure sport.

While visiting Red Feather Lakes, I really wanted to stop by at least one hiking area to check it…read moreout. The weather was beautiful, and I loved the green expanses near the trailhead. Honestly I didn't make it very far before having to turn back and continue my drive home, but I definitely recommend cruising along this 7.3 mile out-and-back trail that seems relatively flat. Parking is straightforward, and it was not crowded.

Mount Margaret Trail is a 7.2 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Red Feather…read moreLakes, Colorado that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from February until November. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. This trailhead has a small parking lot. There is a bathroom at the trailhead. There is not however a trash can or dog poop bags. This trail is thankfully one that is not usually over populated. Its 7.2 miles and 540 feet of elevation gain. So its rated easy. Its beautiful in the fall and winter especially! There are lots of aspens in the area and it is a great hike to see fall colors. In the winter the snow contrasts the trees. There are frequently moose sightings in the area. SO just be cautious. Especially if you have your dogs.

This trail is a hard/difficult rated hike up the poudre canyon…read more "The trail gently rises for ¾ mile then divides. The left branch, Meadows Trail (#947), is the slightly less strenuous but longer, and rejoins the main trail about 2.6 miles later. The right main branch turns uphill for 1.7 miles where it meets the upper end of the Meadows Trail. From the upper junction an additional ¾ mile climb leads to the summit. Trailhead signs warn of Giardia in the water and poison ivy growing along the trails of Greyrock. Greyrock trailhead accommodates approximately 39 vehicles." Parking lot is on the left of the road. There is a pit toilet available. There are not however any trash cans or dog poop bags. You will need to pack out what you pack in, including dog poop bags. The trail is pretty rocky and if you are going to opt to go all the way up to the summit, it is some scrambling. There are a few options of routes to go -Summit trail out and back -meadow trail to the summit and down the summit trail -summit trail to summit - down the meadow trail This area was unfortunately impacted by the High park fire around 11-12 years ago and sadly the trees are mostly dead and burned for most of the hike. In the spring i am sure that you would be able to see green grasses and flowers growing underneath though.

Northern Colorado Outdoors is the most active social and adventure club in Northern Colorado! From…read moreFort Collins to Denver and Boulder, the club goes hiking, biking, rafting, camping, socializing, and so much more! It's a great way to make new friends and enjoy the outdoors!

"The trail follows a stream and an old stock trail up the gulch for about two miles before leaving…read morethe stream and passing through woods and meadows. A stock watering tank may be seen on the left just above the meadow. The upper portion of trail provides several panoramic vistas. The trail ends at Salt Cabin Road, a forest road that loops north off Crown Point Road (forest road #139). This is a multiple use trail and is a favorite of mountain bikers and horseback riders as well as hikers and backpackers. Lower Dadd Gulch trailhead accommodates approximately 15 vehicles." This trail is a 7 mile out and back with around 1482 feet of elevation gain. It is a steady climb up from the start. Most of this trail is through the trees and a lot of water crossings. The last half mile is through a burn scar. But it is very refreshing to be out and in nature and away from the city. It is a little quieter trail as its around an hour out of fort collins. Moose are frequently sighted out on this trail.

We stopped here yesterday for a lunch while passing through Fort Collins. You definitely get the…read moreidea that this park used to be maintained but that it's not really anymore. They have one picnic structure and a porta potty that was locked and then several trash cans. It seems more like this is more of a place where you stop to start your float down the river. Maybe you end your float down the river there at the parking lot I don't think I would stop there again for a picnic, but if I was planning to float on the river, it would be a good starting or stopping point.