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Devil's Backbone Open Space

Devil's Backbone Open Space

photo from Park
Shadows of the Backbone. Photo by Jacob Wells, Larimer County Ranger

Current Conditions

Report Last Updated: 5/15/2008
These reports are updated only when conditions change


Please see the Natural Resources Events Calendar for current guided hikes.

 

Trail Conditions

The Keyhole is now closed for the nesting season from March through July.  The west sides of the first two loops of the Devil's Backbone are closed to bicyclists, and the west side of the first loop remains closed to horseback riders.  The east sides of the first two loops on the Backbone trail are open for multi-use.  The Laughing Horse Loop and Blue Sky Trail are multi-use. 

Wildlife

Mule deer, elk, bobcats, fox, and coyotes are daily residents at the Devil's Backbone Open Space, and tracks and other indications of wildlife can be seen all around if you just take a close look.  The best time of day for viewing wildlife is dawn and dusk.

Bird Sightings

The ravens continue to return to the Keyhole area each year to have their young.  Two adult prairie falcons have made the Backbone rock formation their home.  Golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, and American kestrels have been seen along the trails, as well as turkey vultures. If you see a brilliantly bright blue songbird flying over the grassland areas, then you can tell your friends that you saw a mountain bluebird. 

Wildflowers

Keep an eye out for sand lilies, penstemon, sunflowers, yucca, yellow salsify, western blue flax, evening primroses, wild onions, cinquefoil, field chickweed, wavyleaf dandelion, yellow montane violets, and locoweed.

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