Hiking, Biking, and Horseback Riding Opportunities

» Devil's Backbone Open Space

• Take Highway 34 to Hidden Valley Drive (old water tank west of Loveland). Trailhead is in the northeast part of the parking lot.

• 7-mile trail, round trip ~ easy to moderate with one difficult section
• Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding ~ hiking only on upper loop
• Interpretive brochure corresponding with stops along part of trail

» Carter Lake - Sundance Trail

• Access from North Pines or South Shore parking areas on the west side of Carter Lake

• 3-mile trail ~ easy to moderate ~ with 1/2 mile of wheelchair-accessible trail
• Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing access

» Carter Lake - Fawn Hollow Trail

• Off County Road 31, southeast portion of Carter Lake ~ trailheads are south of Dam 1 or at The Saddle

• 1-mile trail ~ easy to moderate
• Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing

» Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

• County Road 38E north of Masonville and west of Fort Collins

• 29 miles of trails ~ easy to difficult
• Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding
• Interpretive brochure with stops along Horsetooth Falls Trail

» Horsetooth Reservoir - Inlet Bay Trail

• Parking is available at two locations: the Horsetooth Mountain Open Space trailhead parking area, immediately off CR 38 E approximately 5 - 6 miles west of the intersection of Harmony and Taft Hill in Fort Collins, and the Soderberg Open Space trailhead parking area, accessed by following signs to Inlet Bay off of Shoreline Drive.

• 1.75 mile trail - easy hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding

» Ramsay-Shockey Open Space

• County Road 18E to Pinewood Reservoir ~ park at the Fisherman's Cove parking area

• 4 miles of trails ~ easy to moderate
• Hiking, mountain biking, fishing access
• Interpretive brochure with stops along Shoshone Trail
• The Besant Point Trail has two accessible segments - one at each end.

» Rimrock Open Space - Coyote Ridge Natural Area

• Access from County Road 19 (Taft Hill in Fort Collins, or Wilson in Loveland) south of the Larimer County Landfill at the Coyote Ridge Natural Area trailhead-parking lot

• 7-mile trail, round trip, over several hogbacks ~ easy to moderate with two difficult sections
• Hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding ~ no dogs allowed

» Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space

• Take I-25 or Hwy 287 north from Loveland, or south from Fort Collins, to Carpenter Road.. (County Road 32). The entrance is off of Carpenter Road, approximately 1 mile west of I-25, or 2 miles east of Timberline, on the north side of the road.

• 2.2 miles of trails ~ easy
• Main loop is paved and wheelchair accessible, with a bird viewing pier and picnic shelters.
• 2 crusher-fine trails with interpretive stops and bird watching blinds.

» Eagle's Nest Open Space

• Take Highway 287 north from Fort Collins to Livermore. Take Red Feather Lakes Road (C.R. 74E) west for about 1/3 mile. The entrance is on the south side of the road. Follow the road about one mile to the trailhead.

• 4.8 miles of trails ~ easy to moderate
  • (Oh - Tee) Trail ~ 1.8 miles
  • (3-Bar) Trail ~ 3 miles
• Hiking, horseback riding

» Pleasant Valley Trail at Lions Park

• From the intersection of Overland Trail Road and County Road 54G in LaPorte go south on Overland Trail Road to Lions Park, on the west side of the road.

• 2-mile trail ~ paved and ADA accessible connects LaPorte and Bellevue
• Interpretive kiosk corresponding with historic sites along part of trail
• The trail may be used for walking, jogging, biking, rollerblading, dog walking, access to fishing (on public property only), and wildlife viewing.