PLAY NEARBY

 Horsetooth Reservoir is minutes west of town. Go boating, rent a standup paddleboard, or jump in for a swim at one of the designated beaches. Around the reservoir, find crags for rock climbing and trails for walking, running and mountain biking. West of the reservoir is Lory State Park and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, and to the south, Blue Sky Trail

Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and Red Mountain Open Space offer hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails plus views of bison and cultural prehistory artifacts. Open March through November.

Explore the Cache la Poudre Canyon for boating, fishing, hiking, biking and hunting.

Or zip up to snow country near Cameron Pass for a spectacular winter adventure. Choose a rolling trail or venture above tree line for some backcountry bowls. You can even ski or snowshoe into a yurt for a night or two. How about lift-served snow tubing? Beaver Meadows Resort near Red Feather Lakes has 12 tubing runs along with traditional pond skating and groomed cross-country ski trails. Winter activities abound in Fort Collins, making it a welcoming, four-season destination for adventurers.

CAMPING & PICNICKING

Brats sizzling on the grill, the river 20 feet away, kids tossing lures into that big hole, and the sweet pine air. Does it get any better? Find a campsite or picnic spot as close as Horsetooth Reservoir or head out for an adventure up Cache la Poudre River Canyon or near Red Feather Lakes. Choose from primitive, hike-in campsites to full hookup, RV-ready pads. Check the maps in this section to see these and other camping and picnicking areas.

Hiking And Trail Running

It’s magic all year round here. For quick access, pop up to the trails around Horsetooth Reservoir. Have a little more time? Head up Cache la Poudre Canyon. And for the big day, hit the high trails in Rocky Mountain National Park.

FISHING & HUNTING

Make Fort Collins your base camp for a sportsperson’s paradise. Fish miles of streams, creeks and lakes and stalk big game such as elk, moose, deer and antelope in hundreds of square miles of public lands. Learn to wet a fly with the guides at Liarflies and stop into the renowned St. Peter’s Fly Shop for supplies, advice and guiding. Or try a variety of types of fishing with Northern Colorado Fishing Outfitters. For extensive fishing and hunting information and licenses, log on to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, https://cpw.state.co.us/.

Rock Climbing

Chalk your hands and ease up the sandstone on the east side of Horsetooth Reservoir. Check out the world-class bouldering at Rotary Park and Piano Boulders or grab a rope for some bolted-anchor, toprope climbing at Duncan’s Ridge. Ready for bigger stuff? Head up to Lumpy Ridge or even the high peaks in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Nature Photography

Focus your lens on worldclass landscapes from a variety of eco-zones under spectacular skies. Zoom in on moose grazing in lush meadows or capture that perfect sunset over snowcapped mountains. Expose yourself to a quiet creek or a roaring river. For ideas and inspiration check out the many user posts at www. visitftcollins.com.

Wildlife Watching

Pull out your binoculars and view abundant winged and four-legged creatures. For myriad birds and big fauna— moose, elk, big horn sheep, and deer—cruise up the Cache la Poudre Canyon. Explore Laramie River Road or pop over to the other side of Cameron Pass and visit the State Park Moose Visitor Center. And never forget, these are wild animals—not pets, not zoo critters—so do not approach or feed them and, absolutely, no selfies with them!

Maps And Resources

City of Fort Collins Natural Areas and Parks: www.fcgov.com/naturalareas

Larimer County areas: www.co.larimer.co.us/parks

Colorado State Parks: www.cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/Lory

Roosevelt and Arapahoe National Forests: www.fs.usda.gov/main/arp/home