But it’s a great spot for bird watching or running a couple of laps on the loop trails. It’s one of the smaller natural areas with only about 1.5 miles of trails. Fossil Creek Natural Areaįossil Creek Natural Area is on the eastern side of Fort Collins. You will either want a second car at Pineridge Natural Area or be ready to hike 13 miles out and back.ĭistance: 6.8 miles (one-way) 5. It’s a great hike if you’re looking for a longer scenic hike near town.

Foothills Trailįoothills trail is just east of Horsetooth Reservoir and connects Reservoir Ridge, Pineridge, and Maxwell Natural Area. The foothills have 3 natural areas that all connect to form the Foothills Trail (more on that below).Ī great 6-mile loop hike is to start from the parking lot on Overland Trail, go to North Ridge loop, and end back at Overland Trail parking area. Reservoir Ridge Natural area is just north of Pineridge Natural Area in the foothills west of Fort Collins. There’s a lot of prairie dogs around on this trail!ĭistance: 4-mile loop 3. This Natural Area is the southern tip of the Foothills Trail. If you park in the Pineridge area, there’s an easy 4-mile loop that you can do around Dixon Reservoir. Pineridge Natural Area has 7 miles of paths you can hike. It’s a great running trail in Fort Collins too! It’s flat and suitable for all skill levels.ĭistance: 2.2 mile loop 2. You can cut this in half by taking a path that goes between two of the ponds. If you do the largest loop, it is about 2.2 miles. The birdlife here is amazing! There are 3 different ponds with multiple trails and a few broad walks over wetland areas. This Natural Area is right off South Timberline in Fort Collins. I love these trails for a short hike in Fort Collins after work. You’ll have to keep driving out west toward Horsetooth or Pourdre Canyon for a longer hike. These loops and trails are typically along gravel paths and typically range from 1.5 miles to 3 miles. There’s a number of trails within the city of Fort Collins in our many designated Natural Areas. Here are 14 great trails you can do within an hour of Fort Collins, CO broken down by the following areas: And there’s plenty of breweries to be enjoyed! But before you hit those breweries, there’s a number of beautiful day hikes around Fort Collins. If you’re visiting in Fort Collins, you may know of Fort Collins as the heart of Colorado’s micro-brewing scene. One of my favorite parts of living in Fort Collins - all of the beautiful hikes less than an hour away!

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