Fort Collins, Colorado

Looking for the best hiking in Fort Collins? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Fort Collins. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Fort Collins

  • Bellvue, Colorado

    Hike the Black Powder Trail

    1.5 mi / 450 ft gain
    The Gateway Natural Area, part of the City of Fort Collins public lands system, is a wonderful (and close to the city) place to begin exploring the many outdoor assets and activities found in the greater Fort Collins area. The Black Powder Trail is a relatively easy, well-marked 1.5 mile out and ...
    Read more
  • Bellvue, Colorado

    Climb Greyrock Mountain

    5.0
    7.1 mi / 3000 ft gain
    The main trail begins at the Cache La Poudre river on the Poudre Canyon Highway about 30 minutes from Fort Collins. After about .75 miles the trail splits. To go left on Greyrock Meadows trail adds 2 miles to your trip and provides excellent views of Greyrock Mountain and Meadows from the south, ...
    Read more
  • Bellvue, Colorado

    Trail Run the Hewlett Gulch Trail

    5.0
    8.5 mi / 800 ft gain
    Hewlett Gulch Trailhead is located about 20 minutes from Fort Collins and offers easy hiking in the Poudre Canyon.From Fort Collins, take 287 to Ted's Place. Take a left onto CO 14 and follow 14 through the canyon just past Poudre Park where you see the trailhead sign. Turn left onto the road tha...
    Read more
  • Bellvue, Colorado

    Hewlett Gulch Trail

    5.0
    7.82 mi / 1211 ft gain
    Hewlett Gulch Trail is a point-to-point trail that takes you by a river located near Durango, Colorado.
    Read more
  • Laporte, Colorado

    Hike the 3 Bar and Oh Tee Loops at Eagle's Nest Open Space

    5 mi / 150 ft gain
    To get to Eagle's Nest Open Space drive on Highway 287 between Laramie, Wyo. and Fort Collins, Colo. As you continue down 287, look for the Forks restaurant and rest stop  in Livermore, Colo. Turn here onto Red Feather Lakes Road. After a few hundred feet on Red Feather Lakes Road, look for the E...
    Read more
  • Livermore, Colorado

    Mt. McConnel Summit Trail Loop

    4.26 mi / 1453 ft gain
    This 4.3-mile round trip hike gains 1300 feet of elevation before reaching the Mt. McConnel summit. The primitive trail is rated as difficult and has an ascent of many switchbacks, leading up to a wild flower-covered summit. The trail winds along the ridge line around 8,000 feet, offering panoram...
    Read more
  • Longmont, Colorado

    Hike or Trail Run on Rabbit Mountain, CO

    4.0
    3.95 mi / 472 ft gain
    This is a great hike/trail run in Boulder County. It is located between Longmont and Lyons and is part of Boulder County Open Space. Rabbit Mountain has over 5 miles of trails and 2,733 acres of beautiful open space. The views are incredible as most of your hike you are looking out at the entire ...
    Read more
  • Longmont, Colorado

    McIntosh Lake Loop

    4.5
    3.6 mi / 72 ft gain
    McIntosh Lake is in northwest Longmont. The 3.6-mile loop extends all the way around the lake, with the first half being on a paved cement trail with neighborhood playgrounds, basketball, volleyball, and a seasonally open restroom. The trail turns to dirt on the western half of the loop, and here...
    Read more
  • Estes Park, Colorado

    Lumpy Ridge to Gem Lake

    4.3
    3.12 mi / 991 ft gain
    Begin by parking at the Lumpy Ridge trailhead, which is a couple miles outside of Estes Park on McGregor Avenue. At the trailhead, there are numerous signs indicating hiking trails, climbing routes, and other information about the area. After parking start hiking on the trail to the right of the ...
    Read more
  • Lyons, Colorado

    Hike the Kruger Rock Trail

    4 mi / 1000 ft gain
    Cutting through the forested hills surrounding Estes Valley, the Kruger Rock Trail is a well-marked 4 mile loop to the top of Kruger Rock. The trail begins in Hermit Park Open Space, located just a few miles southeast of Estes Park and is a moderate hike with around 1000 feet of elevation gain. C...
    Read more
  • Lyons, Colorado

    Sleepy Lion Trail

    4.7 mi / 712 ft gain
    The trailhead is about eight tenths of a mile from the parking area. You pass some sport climbs, a man made waterfall, and some large boulders in the North St. Vrain Creek.The trailhead is clearly marked on the left. There is some elevation gain at the beginning but nothing difficult. Once the el...
    Read more
  • Wellington, Colorado

    Climb Table Mountain in the Red Mountain Open Space

    4.0
    5 mi / 1200 ft gain
    Table Mountain sits smack dab in the middle of Red Mountain Open Space, an area known to geologists (and settlers) as "The Big Hole", a singular and unique landform that peaks into the "basement" rocks that underly northern Colorado and Southeastern Wyoming. Soapstone cliffs and bright red Dakota...
    Read more
  • Lyons, Colorado

    Winter Camp Near Coulson Gulch

    4.0
    County Road 47 is between Lyons and Estes Park. It's an easy drive from Denver and is a great place to get away for the weekend. I have camped here in the summer, fall, and winter. I have to say that snow camping was my favorite. I didn't see anyone the whole weekend and had the entire area to ex...
    Read more
  • Wellington, Colorado

    Hike the Bent Rock Trail at Red Mountain Open Space

    2.6 mi / 200 ft gain
    To get to Red Mountain Open Space from Fort Collins, take Highway 287 to Highway 1. Follow Highway 1 until you see County Road 15, get off there. This is where it gets confusing, so hang on. You will follow CR15 for a few miles until CR78, take a left onto CR78. Then take a right on CR17, then a ...
    Read more
  • Wellington, Colorado

    Hike the K-Lynn Cameron Trail in the Red Mountain Open Space

    5.4 mi / 800 ft gain
    The K-Lynn Trail is a 2.4 mile loop trail that goes west off of the Ruby Wash Trail on the western side of the Red Mountain Open Space. To get there, take the Bent Rock Trail from the Red Mountain Open Space parking lot where the Red Canyon / Antelope Valley road dead-ends.Once on the Bent Rock T...
    Read more
  • Lyons, Colorado

    Camp at Coulson Gulch

    4.0
    9 mi
    Coulson Gulch is a lightly used area of the Roosevelt National Forest which makes it perfect for a weekend getaway without the crowds. This is a great place to camp out under the stars!To get to Coulson Gulch From Lyons, head west on U.S. Highway 36 for about 9 miles. Turn southwest onto Larimer ...
    Read more