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!

Well laid our natural area. Bathrooms, trash cans, dog poop bags, picnic tables, grassy areas…read more There are several hiking trails but they are all pretty short. If you do them all though you can get 6.5-7 miles. Fall colors are popping there right now and quite lovely. Looks like its a popular spot for fishing. Saw several fishermen out and about today. Cost is $7 for a day entry pass. And they do have a annual pass.

Gateway is hidden away on the outskirts of Fort Collins. Great area for hiking or taking a stroll…read more You control the type of hike you want to do. Very beautiful area and it's tucked away. Great picnic area too.

Pineridge is a little natural area for hiking and mountain biking that is close to town, literally…read moreonly a few minutes off the outskirts. It is a great trail for beginner hikers or mountain bikers. It is mostly flat, with just a little bit of incline. You can do the reservoir loop which is just around the lake, or you could opt to do the timber trail as well and get in a couple more miles. The timber trail will get you up into the trees a little bit and make it feel a little more like the mountains. The reservoir trail is mostly open space around the lake. If you go with your dogs, the only poop bags available are at the trailhead. Also the only trash cans available are at the trailhead. So if your dog goes to the bathroom somewhere along the trail unfortunately you will have to carry it with you the whole way. The trailhead does have a bathroom that is open. There is also a covered picnic table there. A lot of folks come out to this area to go fishing as well. I like to come here when i am either with a beginner hiker or only have a small amount of time and want to get my dogs out somewhere they can actually enjoy some smells and go crazy seeing all the prairie dogs. There are usually a fair amount of mountain bikers here especially if you go on a weekend, so if you are a hiker, just be prepared you may have to step off the trail multiple times.

Great area in town for hiking, running, or to connect with the Poudre River Trail that now runs…read morethrough and connects to other side of I-25. Especially pretty in fall.

Came here for the first time this week. I didn't know it was here after all my years living in…read morefort collins. If you park at the main parking lot. There are dog poop bags available and also trash cans spread along the trail. Please do bag up your pups poop and deposit it in a trash can. Saw several bags just left along side the trail. Also folks left some garbage off the trail. Please do make sure you pack out what you pack in. Dont just leave your garbage there for someone else to pick up. The good : 1. There were not a lot of people. 2. There was a mix of dirt trails and paved trails, which was nice depending on what type of excursion you would like to have. 3. There was a lot of birds out. It seems like it would be a great place for bird watching. 4. There were a lot of various places you could park to get onto a trail? not sure if this is good or not. Some off road parking, over at the harmony park n ride, the main lot - which is not super large but seemed to accomodate the number of people that were there. The not as good : 1. There are a lot of bugs out. Bring your bug spray! or spray up before you head out here. 2. There are a lot of places to park?? It was a little confusing on where the trails go and where to start at. Maybe i just needed to do more research. I thought I was meeting up with some other ladies but i went to wrong lot initially and never did find them. Overall as far as natural areas go, it was good. I prefer hikes. BUT this was good for a nice walk.

Coyote Ridge Trail is a 4.1 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Fort Collins,…read moreColorado that offers scenic views and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. 564 feet elevation gain https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/coyote-ridge-trail Coyote Ridge is one of the few fort collins natural areas where dogs are not allowed. That being the case, I dont go here overly often. There is a bathroom about 1 mile in near the cabin. You can check the parking lot camera on the website to see if there is parking available before you come. At certain times, it can be busy. Also as with any hiking trail, NEVER leave any thing of value in your car. end of story. There are thieves running amuck and hitting trailheads all over the state. Dont hide your stuff and think it will be safe. Only bring what you want to carry with you. The trail starts out relatively flat and then after a bit begins to pick up a little bit of incline. In the summer there are rattle snakes so be forewarned. It is open and there is no shade. It connects with other trails so you can make it longer if you like.

Challenging uphill climb on my mountain bike but the downhill ride is wonderful. Recommend for…read morebeginner/intermediate riders.

This is a 10.1 mile out and back trail near Glen Haven. It is considered a moderate route with…read more1889 feet of elevation gain. Dogs are able to use the trail but must be on leash. This trail goes near a river for at least the first 4 miles of the trail. I have not finished the trail. Though this one is absolutely lovely. There is a mix of trees and a burn area and the river. Moose and mountain lions are in the area so you will need to be on the lookout if you are choosing to hike here. This tends to be a quieter trail at least on the weekdays. There is a fairly good sized parking lot. There is a bathroom at the trail head. There are not however poop bags or trash cans. You will need to be prepared to pack out what you pack in. If you are bringing your pups be sure to pack along poop bags and also be ready to take them out with you. Along with any trash you may have brought with you.

Nice, easy, clean paved trail perfect for walking, running, and biking. Parking is abundant and…read moreeasily accessible. There is a large playground for kids of all ages. Excellent place to take your family, friends, and dogs for outdoor activity!

This 2.7 mile almost perfectly flat, smooth paved trail goes around Windsor lake and affords some…read moreof the best views of the front range from the east side of the lake. It is perfect for strollers, skateboards, rollerblades, walking or running. We went early and saw the sun rise, but by the time we were leaving the parking lot had filled a little with walking group participants of all ages. We saw rabbits, squirrels, a flick of pelicans and more than a handful of herons. There are benches, trash cans and doggie pick up bags in multiple places.

Maxwell natural area is a great hike that is in fort collins…read more To simply go up to A and back to parking lot is roughly around 4 miles round trip. The first 2/3 of a mile or so is relatively flat and then it starts inclining. However it still only has around 600 feet or so of elevation gain so really is not very strenuous. You can see people hiking, trail jogging or mountain biking. The trail is somewhat narrow once you get rolling and get into the switchbacks, so be prepared for that. This is a great go-to trail if you dont have a lot of time but want to get out. In spring/,summer be careful this area frequently does have a lot of rattlesnakes.