This is a nice, scenic area with walking trails. There are also some ruins and a bit of history.read more

It's become a goal of ours to walk on all the trails in Fort Collins and the surrounding areas…read more This easy 4 mile section is located in Windsor. It allows for river access, has public bathrooms and a shady parking lot. Our favorite part is all the big old trees and the ponds on the south end. The trail is concrete and pretty flat. It is also wide so you can walk beside a friend. It goes under the road into Windsor and weaves through ponds. If you like to listen to music with head phones, be careful of bikers that come up quickly and quietly on that surface.

If you have dogs....this is your sanctuary!!…read more Forget the dog park and rake a stroll with your furry friends around the venue.....

Beautiful park and well maintained. My husband and I took our son here on a hot day to play at the…read moresplash pad and my son loved it. He barely went on the play structures because he loved the water so much. There is tons of activity for all ages from an open grass lawn, two playgrounds, splash pad, baseball fields., swings, and much more. Spring Canyon Park is definitely one that you have to check out!

Decent park. Love fishing here. Dog park has mulch which is way better than the crushed rock at…read moretwin silos. Hockey rink, skate park, basketball, tennis as well.

This is a lovely park with tons of parking and so much to do! Will certainly be utilizing this for…read moreour evening walks from now on. It has a great long path to walk with beautiful scenery, a playground, sports fields, etc. It is clean and well taken care of. The playground itself is great for the kids with options for all ages with slides, swings, things to climb on, and so much more! The Fossil/Prehistoric theme makes it stand out among other parks.

Love the trails! Nicely maintained and yet a great feeling of being in nature! Peace and quiet…read moreclose to Fort Collins and Loveland...ahhhhhh!

The first time I went on this hike, I was planning to go the 5.2 mile route. Turns out it's 5.2 ONE…read moreWAY, then you turn around and go 5.2 miles back! Since I'm not really into out and back hikes (I prefer loops) I decided to forge on, got quite lost, then found my way around to finish with a 9.1 mile hike. I HAD SO MUCH FUN! I decided to put my boyfriend through what I went through. We packed up our summit beers and Camelbak's with water, then started the trek up the rocky grade. After you emerge from the burn area, you get an overlook of the Roosevelt National Forest and it is stunning! We sat on some sun-drenched rocks and watched the wind whip the clouds by, sipping on our beers before continuing on. This loop leads you through all kinds of terrain (watch out for mountain bikers) - rocky hills, tree-covered trails, outcrops studded with boulders and grassy fields. All in all, it takes about 3-4 hours (at our pace, at least) to hike the large loop. Bring lots of water and snacks, and don't forget the summit beers! Extra star for the fact that we didn't stumble across any crouching bobcats...

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.

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.

The last of the lakes on this trail, this is definitely not the least. Actually, I'm not sure I…read morecould even identify the lake that would be considered the "least" since they're all so beautiful. All of the lakes (Emerald, Dream, Nymph, and Bear) have their own unique charm, which is what makes this trail so amazing! I think basically everyone rests here when they make it since it's essentially all the way uphill to get to this point. There's not a lot of room at the lakeshore as it's full of boulders, but everyone settled in their spots no issues. As always, make sure that you have appropriate hiking footwear, a hat, plenty of water, and some snacks. There are no toilets at this lake, so also make sure you use the washroom at the trailhead. Pace yourself on this hike since the air is thinner due to elevation.

Our goal was to hike to Emerald Lake, and let me tell you... It was 100% worth it. On this 3.6 mile…read moreroundtrip hike, you'll also encounter Nymph Lake and Dream Lake. While they're both beautiful in their own right, neither one of them compare to the sheer beauty of Emerald Lake with the snowy mountains as a backdrop. As I said, it is a moderate hike. We started around 930am - would've been nicer to start earlier, but it still beat the full heat of the noon sun. There will be intermittent shade, but make sure you bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water. We visited in mid June. Once we neared Dream Lake, we started encountering snow on the ground. I used hiking sandals, and I was able to do it in those - just be careful. That being said, with the amount of snow that was on the trail to Lake Haiyaha was completely un-doable in my shoes. Once you reach Emerald Lake, find a place to sit and just take it all in. I could've sat there all afternoon, just being at peace with nature. Absolutely gorgeous. To get to Emerald Lake, you'll need access to Bear Lake Road. Just be aware that Bear Lake Road requires a reservation SEPARATE from the reservation to the national park. There's a big lot at the trailhead, but it gets filled up. They do have a park & ride a few miles away with plenty of shuttles ready to bring you in. If you're able to make the hike, hiking to Emerald Lake is wonderful. The hike itself is gorgeous, and the final lake is beautiful. Plan it in your schedule, and you will not be disappointed.

This is a nice local urban natural area. According to their website it is 40 acres and is an…read moreimportant wild life corridor in fort collins. For me it is nice because it is close to home but can still give a taste of nature when i dont have time to make it all the way to the mountains for a hike. This is one of my pups favorite spots. The one time they got away from home, this is where they came. There are dog poop bags at the trail head. There are also trash cans, and a recycling can and bathroom at the parking lot. Just like every other trail head in northern colorado, there is a chance of a thief breaking into your car. please dont leave anything valuable in your car. Dont hide it and think they wont find it because they can. It just takes the wrong person being there at the right time. Please please take all valuables with you. I have started leaving my car unlocked at the trail head and taking my car registration with me when i am out. So far it is working from having my door lock busted into over and over...... This natural area has multiple ways you can loop around. We generally end up walking around 2 miles here. There are many trees and weeds, however the trail is clear. It is supposed to be a leashed trail, however sometimes people will come and break the rules... hopefully that is not you ;) If you only have time for a walk and you are in town, i do recommend coming by here. take a few breaths and escape from all the craziness of busy life.

Pretty, serene short loop with easy parking. Nestled among houses this park is lovely but doesn't…read moregive you the separation from the city that other parks offer. Most sites list this as stroller friendly, it is not.