Call of the wild

WELCOME TO OUR BACKYARD PLAYGROUND. Discover a refreshing tonic for mind, body, and spirit while floating a river, walking a trail, boating on a lake, and so much more! More than 50 designated natural areas in and around Fort Collins await you from bird-filled wetlands to soaring peaks.

Whitewater Rafting

Mad dog, Pinball, Pineview Falls…just a few of the rapids you can run on the Cache la Poudre River, Colorado’s only nationally designated Wild &

Scenic river. Sign on with a company for a guided rafting trip or rent an inflatable kayak and get ready for an actionpacked run from Class II familyfriendly bumps to Class IV hold-onto-your-hat waves and drops. Whitewater companies book trips all year long for the season that typically starts in May and runs through August.

Mountain Biking

We have single-track, lots of it, from rocky and technical to smooth and flowy. Or pedal a mellow dirt road in the forest for a family outing. You’ll find endless terrain at Lory State Park, Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, Red Mountain Open Space the Blue Sky Trail and in the Cache la Poudre Canyon.

Winter Activities

Many of our outdoor staples serve double duty as temperatures drop. Hiking trails become snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing routes during the winter. Sheldon Lake at City Park shifts from a paddle boat paradise to a crunchy, silvery landscape of ice fishing, skating and hockey.

Beginner? Expert?

It’s all here waiting for you. Scan the QR Code below to locate guides and outfitters in the area.