The Poudre River Trail's trail head starts in west Windsor and goes all the way into Greeley. The…read more21 mile paved trail goes through a combination of urban most rural areas such as along river banks, bluffs, fields and farmland. The trail head as I said starts in West Windsor, just east of the Ptarmigan country Club's Golf Course. The trail is not far from a Fort Collins bike trail also called the Poudre Trail which ends at the Habitat Learning Center. It is planned that the two trails were to connect yet this has not happened either through inept planning on a cities part, uncooperative private land owners, easement issues or a combination of these or other factors. I highly recommend this trail! I have said it is paved all the way to Greeley from west Windsor. It goes through some nice neighborhoods and parks in the southeast part of Windsor then goes to open space, farmland, and river banks. I suggest going here in the spring, summer or fall! Since it is 21 miles one way you may want to spend the night in Greeley or Windsor, depending which way you are going. If you are an avid biker then you could probably go both ways without any problem at all but if you are like me I just had to get a room! When you go to Greeley from Windsor you are mostly going downhill which means it is more of a workout if you have to bike back to Windsor because it is uphill. I was being overzealous and thought I could go back that night but after going one way I was too exhausted to go back and decided against it. That was not the only reason why. I have said this is mostly a rural trail therefore there are considerable factors to consider if you going back on this trail at night. Here are a few things that could be potential "hazards" but really are just things you should be aware of when going on this trail. I'm not trying to dissuade you from biking on this trail by any means at all!! Here are a few things to think about if you do choose to bike at night on this trail. There is a construction zone between Windsor and Greeley where the paved trail ends and there are concrete dividers that you walk in between to get to the other side of the trail. You don't want to hit those at night! Much of this trail goes through private property so that means no trespassing and keep your dog on a leash at all times because as some signs indicate, some property owners may shoot your dogs if they get on their land. There are hunters that hunt through the rural parts of the trail in the Fall so expect to hear gun shots. In fact I would advise wearing bright colored clothing in the Fall so you are not confused with wild game. Most hunters probably know where the bike trail is but don't make that assumption too much! Some areas of the trail, closer to Greeley go through a pasture. I came across some mother cows with their calves. They seemed tame for the most part but one mother got a little snorty and protective but did not charge. Most times they won't. Just stay away from the calves and let them see you and be on your way and you should be free of incident but do you really want to run into them in the dark. Someone might get a little ringy and someone might get ringed! There are also cattle guards that you have to cross. They have screens set up so you can have your bike go over it safely. It is very important if you don't go on the screen to hold onto your handlebars tight! You are in for a real wreck if one of your tires goes through the cattle guard. I have seen this for myself! A friend of mine got her head split open at a birthday party for not hanging onto the handlebars tight enough and so the party had to get canceled so she could get stitches. Also on the path there is an abrupt end and kind of a drop off of the paved trail for a railroad crossing. The trail resumes right after but if you are not paying attention you could be in for a real jolt, especially at night. Something else to be aware of when biking and especially at night. There is a narrowing of the trail in west Greeley for a small section where you go past some small river bluffs. there is also Poison Ivy that grows here as well. There are signs indicating this and they have it cut back so you won't touch it but you could very easily miss the signs at night. Finally the trail is not maintained in the winter so that is something to consider as well. These things are not to be deterrents to going on this trail, just things to be aware of. It is a gorgeous trail and worthy to go on for anyone who wants to take a leisurely bike ride through city and open space! Enjoy!!

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

Lake Loveland is such a beautiful spot- whether it's a quiet morning walk, watching the sunset over…read morethe water, or just relaxing with the family, it's one of my favorite places in Northern Colorado. The views of the mountains reflecting on the lake never get old! As a local real estate agent here in Northern Colorado, I love sharing gems like this with clients who are getting to know the area. It's one of those spots that really shows off what makes Loveland so special - peaceful, scenic, and full of community charm.

Nice sidewalk around the lake with sculptures and benches to rest along the way. The lake water…read morelevel is low so I'm sure it would be much prettier after a lot of rain. We enjoyed the easy stroll with the mountains in the background and numerous sculptures along the way. The beach is off limits for swimming or wading.

What a great place for hiking! I'm from near Boulder, so getting in the car and driving an hour up…read morethe front range just to hike,we'll, we have hiking here too. But I was very impressed with the size and scope of this mountain park! Sitting right next to Lory State Park, you can really get a lot of distance done on these trails. It's a nominal fee to park, and there's maps and bathrooms at the trailhead. I found there to be parking much of the day. However, the waterfall attracts many folks on weekends. I would start with an ascent of Horsetooth Mountain, if you feel able. Even if you can't get all the way up, the views get better and better. There's lots of side trails to customize your adventure. However, don't get lost! The final few steps on the peak are a big rock scramble, so be careful! It's worth it though. I then went down to the cove and had a nice private lunch. Plenty of bikers use the trails on the lower half, so be aware. I found hiking before 10 am was best, and encountered few bikers out that early. This was a fantastic place to hike, and I got nearly 15 miles down. There's a beautiful section on the Stout Trail, and it leads down to a cool waterfall, so I'd definitely at least recommend that section!

An amazing and challenging outdoors experience not too far from town. A harder hike with a bit of a…read morechallenge to get up to the peak of horsetooth, but definitely doable with amazing views ! Parking: We went on Monday morning and there was plenty of parking. That being said, I can see how the parking lot would be full on a busier day or the weekend. Facilities: There are toilets and water fountains in the parking lot, as well as maps and a covered picnic table. There is a apy station at the entry to the hike as well. There is a bug posted map as well as some paler maps for you to take. Hikes: There seemed to be 2 major hikes according to the posted map. You can hike to the falls but make sure to check if they have water ahead of time. Since there wasn't water when we went, we opted for only doing the hike up to horse tooth itself. The trails are very clearly marked which is really appreciated! Each trail is marked by a color and there are colored arrows showing you which way to go on your chosen path. The hike up to horsetooth itself can be strenuous! Not being used to the elevation should definitely be something taken into consideration if you're new to the area. It's consistently uphill for the first half (and downhill for the 2nd half of course). The views are absolutely amazing the whole way with a great look over the huge reservoir! You may also run into some wildlife - we passed by some very calm deer right on the trail and met some very cute chipmunks who came right to us. There's also some benches along the trail to take a break and take in the views. Once you get to the top of the trail, you can climb to the top of horse tooth - and I mean climb! You definitely don't have to have rock climbing experience but you do need to be ready to use hands and feet to get up there. This trail is dog friendly and you will run into people with dogs. Leashes are required.

Cute little local natural area with nice walking trails. There are many trailheads you can start…read moreat and a weave of directions that you can go. We parked at the trailhead that is on prospect just past the orthopedic center on the left (north) side of the road. There are trash cans at the trail head and also dog poop bags available at the trailhead. This is a leashed dog area. There are all kinds of people and dogs that seem to frequent this area. There is also a bunch of birds and can frequently see people out there bird watching. It is a beautiful little area and a nice local go to when you just want a walk or the hiking trails are closed due to mud.

Took a little walk/jog here during a study break while in Fort Collins for CE. I enjoyed a…read morebeautiful sunset and the sounds of lots of bird species... and sadly also the sound of cars and lots of loud sirens close by as well.... You can walk all the way around the larger lake and it looks like they allow fishing. Parking is free! So glad they have kept this little wetland habitat protected

First time at this park today with my 2 pups and it's super cute! There are 3 different fenced in…read moreareas for your pups to play. One is smaller for smaller dogs. One area has a pond for doggies that like to play in the water, however this area is fenced so if you don't want your dog to have access to the water, you can keep them out. There's trash cans and poop bags throughout. Also several big trees for shade. Overall, the park is on the smaller side but would be great for older dogs or dogs that need a lot of space to run.

Always enjoy my time here. Large spaces, different areas, picnic tables, poopy bags, racks, and a…read morewater section. Usually pretty busy with other doggos and sometimes there are food-trucks nearby.

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!

Very busy which is just the way it is because this spot is a gem. Will return and get there much…read moreearlier. :)

Picnic Rock Natural Area is a short jaunt up the Poudre River right outside of Bellvue. Very…read morepopular for (you guessed it) picnics, it's also a fantastic spot to go fishing, or take a relaxing float when the river isn't raging. We headed up on a Monday afternoon, right before they closed the area due to Coronavirus, to enjoy a long afternoon of slapping the water. It was a little chilly, and for the first time in my history of heading up to that area, we were the only ones around. During summer, the parking lot fills up and overflows, and there are families everywhere, so the edge of winter is a good time to get some peace and quiet. There are plenty of open and deep spots to throw in your line, as well as some nice currents where the trout hang out waiting for the bugs to sweep over the rocks - we had success with the dry flies, even though it was the middle of the day. My favorite part is hanging up the hammock and relaxing in the sun, enjoying the sound of the burbling water with a craft brew in hand. After catching at least one fish, of course.

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.