Trail Snapshot

Trail Surface:

Paved, Concrete, smooth to rough

Distance:

Fort Collins Section (reviewed here) 10.10 miles

Outdoor Travels Rating:

3.5 out of 5 bikes

Thumbs Up

• Convenience to Fort Collins
• Nice scenery
• Connections to Spring Creek Trail

Thumbs Down

• Trail surface in some ares needs work
• A couple of miles lacked the care and attention of the majority of the trail

Lessons Learned

• A stop at the New Belgium Brewery is a must (reservations required)

Nuts & Bolts

Location:

Fort Collins, Colorado

Activities:

Walking, Jogging, Bicycling, Roller blade

Admission:

None

Contact:

Website

Maps and Stuff

Trail Map

Press Release

Useful Links

Trail photos

Lots of great photos to give you a good idea of what riding here is like!

Riding under a train bridge

Poudre River

Poudre River

Northern section

Cool bridge

Bridge and scenery

More nice scenery

Lions Park - Northern Terminus

Sunflowers along the trail

Poudre River in downtown Fort Collins

Checking directions

More river views

Biking

Poudre River Trail

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Fort Collins, Colorado
A great Urban/Suburban trail
Dana Farnsworth, Outdoor Travels

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The Poudre Trail in Fort Collins offers up 10 miles of scenic multi-use bike path that varies from well maintained with beautiful scenery to sections that are less inspiring and in need of some attention. Stretching from Lions Park, north west of the city to the CSU Environmental Learning Center just east of the city, the Poudre River Trail is useful for exercise as well as commuting and getting around town. A 2.75 mile expansion of the trail east is expected to be complete in 2010. By 2011 it is planned to have connect with the 20 plus miles of Poudre River Trail that exist between the towns of Greely and Windsor, Colorado. This would create a trail of over 30 miles long connecting three cities.

The 10 miles of Poudre Trail in Fort Collins link to the east-west Spring Creek Trail which in turn connects to several other trails in Fort Collins. This network makes it pretty easy to get around by bike in this bike friendly town. It's amazing that for the vast majority of the time, the trail seems so rural. The trail never strays more than a couple miles away from Fort Collins, and for the most part, a ride into town is just a mile or so away.

From Lions Park in the north, to Lee Martinez Park is the most open sections of trail. This part has great views of the Poudre River and the Mountains to the west. For road bikers looking to stretch their legs a bit, this is the best section. After Lee Martinez Park, heaing south, the trail becomes very narrow and rough for a few miles. All is not bad though, as the trail passes by the New Belgium Brewery. Reservations are required to tour the brewery. I highly recommend making a reservation ahead of time and incorporating a visit into your ride! We did.

Heading towards the current southeastern terminus at the CSU Environmental Center, the trail has a lot of turns and can get a little congested - more suited to casual riding than setting a new time trial record. After passing the connection with Spring Creek trail, it's a short ride to the Environmental Center and the southern terminus. In my opinion, this last section looked to be a little forgotten. It lacked some of the care and attention that other sections of the trail seem to enjoy.

All in all, the Fort Collins section of Poudre Trail is a great 10-mile trail. A crucial part of a very nice and useful multi-use trail network in Fort Collins.

Official Description

Text from www.fcgov.com

Fort Collins has several trails for walking, jogging, in-line skating, biking, or a leisurely stroll. The trails are maintained year round and snow is removed from the trails during the winter months. Trails serve as commuter routes for many students and residents as well. The beautiful scenery that can be enjoyed along the system often makes one forget that they are in urban Fort Collins. Poudre Trail and Spring Creek Trail have quater mile markers, which have calibrated through GPS for accuracy.

Southern Portion from Greely to Weld/Larimer County Line

(not reviewed here)Text from www.PoudreTrail.org

The Poudre River Trail is a 20-mile long trail that extends from Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley, Colorado to the Weld/Larimer County line along the majestic Cache La Poudre River. The Trail was built through a cooperative effort between the cities of Greeley and Windsor, and Weld County Colorado. The Trail offers non-motorized recreational opportunities including: biking, walking, running, and rollerblading. There is also many historical sites and educational opportunities to visit along our trail. Take the Poudre Trail Tour to learn more about the sites along the river. We hope that you will browse through our site and learn more about this exciting project. Read on to find more information about the history and benefits of the trail!