Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Larimer County’s 2,711-acre open space west of the reservoir, between 5,430 and 7,255 feet, with 29 miles of hiking, biking and horse trails and the Front Range views that come with the height. The two walks everyone does start at the main trailhead: the County’s Horsetooth Rock Loop climbs 2.4 miles to the top of the Rock (five miles as a loop, 4.8 out and back), and the Horsetooth Falls Loop reaches the falls in 1.1 miles (2.2 miles out and back), best in spring when there is water in it.

A daily entrance permit is $10 a vehicle, bought at the pay station or by annual pass. Parking is the problem on weekends and holidays; the County says to arrive before 9 am or after 3 pm. Dogs on leash at all times, no e-bikes on the natural-surface trails, no fires and no drones. The main trailhead closes from 11 pm to 4 am; the Soderberg Trailhead is open sunrise to sunset.