Things to Do

Trail

The hike to Horsetooth Rock, the landmark visible from the plains: 29 miles of trail on 2,711 county acres above the reservoir, with Horsetooth Falls running in spring. $10 vehicle permit; the lot fills early on weekends.

Trail

The City's 12.3-mile paved trail along the Cache la Poudre from North Overland Trail to East Drake Road, part of the regional trail that runs from Bellvue to Timnath. Restrooms and water at Lee Martinez, Heritage and Buckingham parks.

Trail

A stretch of prairie kept open on the south side of the city, crossed by the paved Fossil Creek Trail (2.4 miles one way, Shields Street to Luther Lane), with a raptor observatory built into the hillside near the Shields entrance. Free; open 5 am to 11 pm.

Trail

The City's natural area in the lower Poudre Canyon where the North Fork joins the main river: picnic tables with grills, a canoe and kayak launch, fishing, two short trails and a natural playground. Open dawn to dusk; the only City natural area with a fee, $8 a vehicle.

Trail

The middle link of the Foothills Trail: a 1.5-mile stretch of the 9.6-mile trail that joins Pineridge to Reservoir Ridge along the hogback, on a City natural area where the rare Bell's twinpod grows. Free; open 5 am to 11 pm.

Trail

City natural area on the first ridge west of town: seven miles of soft-surface trail including the 1.8-mile loop around Dixon Reservoir, and the southern end of the 9.6-mile Foothills Trail. Free; open 5 am to 11 pm.

Trail

The northern end of the Foothills Trail: about five miles of soft-surface trail on the ridge, with an easy 1.4-mile flat trail from the Overland Trail lot. Free; open 5 am to 11 pm, gated lots dawn to dusk.

Trail

Seven old gravel-pit ponds and a stretch of the Poudre on East Prospect Road: three miles of natural-surface trail and a boardwalk, bass, crappie and catfish fishing, and more than 200 bird species including white pelicans. Free; open 5 am to 11 pm.

Trail

The 6.6-mile paved trail across the middle of the city, from Spring Canyon Park at the foothills to the Poudre River east of Timberline Road, through Cottonwood Glen, Rolland Moore, Spring and Edora parks.

Park

The six-and-a-half-mile lake in the hogbacks west of town, run by Larimer County: boating, fishing, two swim beaches, more than 150 campsites and a $10 daily vehicle permit.

Park

The big park around Sheldon Lake on West Mulberry, with the outdoor City Park Pool and its 30-foot waterslide, the nine-hole City Park Nine, four lighted pickleball courts, ball fields and the city's Independence Day celebration.

Park

The park on Spring Creek beside EPIC, the City's pool and ice center: an 18-hole disc golf course, a skate park, tennis, ball fields, fishing, a community garden and the Spring Creek Trail running through.

Park

The community park on the Poudre just north of Old Town, with The Farm, the City's working farm of 40 to 60 animals open Wednesday to Sunday, an accessible nature playground with a chair zipline, sport courts and a direct link to the Poudre River Trail.

Park

Colorado Parks and Wildlife's 2,574-acre park beside Horsetooth Reservoir, open daily 5 am to sunset: 28.1 miles of trail for hikers, riders and mountain bikers, five picnic areas and six campsites. $10–$12 a vehicle with Colorado plates.

Park

The City's racquet-sports park on South Shields: eight lighted tennis courts, three outdoor racquetball courts and a platform tennis court, plus a fourplex ball field, five basketball courts, sand volleyball and a playground, next to Spring Creek and two natural areas.

Park

The big park under the foothills at Horsetooth Road and Overland Trail, home of the adaptive Inspiration Playground and its splash pad, a dog park, a skate park and bike pump track, the Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado and the west end of the Spring Creek Trail.

Park

The City's 12-acre botanic garden on Spring Creek, with a tropical Butterfly House, themed gardens, summer concerts, Pumpkins on Parade in October and Garden of Lights in winter. Adults $12.50, children and 65-plus $10.50; closed Thursdays.

Venue

The science and history museum at the north end of Mason: hands-on exhibits on the region's first peoples, music, wildlands and agriculture, the OtterBox Digital Dome Theater and a courtyard of historic buildings. Adults $15.50, ages 2–18 $12.75.

Venue

The pedestrian plaza at the heart of Old Town, built in 1984 and rebuilt in 2015 by the Downtown Development Authority: a performance stage, a splash pad, a communal fireplace, patios on every side and the city's festivals, from FoCo Fall Fest to the Chili Cook Off.

Venue

The Old Town concert hall for touring bands on College Avenue, booked by Z2 Entertainment: indie, rock, electronic, country, hip-hop, reggae and comedy. Box office Mon–Fri 10–5 and on show nights.

Venue

Colorado State's on-campus football stadium, opened in July 2017 at a cost of $238.5 million: 812,000 square feet that also hold the Iris and Michael Smith Alumni Center and classrooms, between Pitkin and Lake streets at the south edge of campus. Clear-bag policy.

Venue

The art museum on College Avenue, with rotating exhibitions, late hours on Fridays and free admission for anyone 18 and under. Adults $10, or $8 for Fort Collins residents.

Venue

The Poudre River Public Library District's downtown branch in Library Park: two floors of books, computers, meeting and study rooms, 3D printing, an outdoor story stroll and the Friends of the Library's Old Town Nook. Open seven days.

Venue

The 1879 home of Franklin and Sara Avery on West Mountain Avenue, kept as a house museum by the Poudre Landmarks Foundation and open for tours Saturdays 11–2 and Sundays 1–4. $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 children.

Venue

The City's performing arts center at Mulberry and Meldrum: a Performance Hall and the smaller Magnolia Theatre, an art gallery and sculpture garden, and the LC LIVE season of touring Broadway and concerts. Box office Tue–Sat 1–6 pm.