Fort Collins, Colorado
Looking for the best photography 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 Photography Spots in and near Fort Collins
-
Estes Park, Colorado
Catch a Sunset Above Milner Pass
This is a great place to be at sunrise or sunset. Bring a camera & tripod and check the weather ahead of time.Take Trail Ridge Road all the way to the top and park at the Alpine Visitor Center. There's a great view from here, but if you're interested in photography I recommend taking the tr...Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Mount Sanitas Loop & Settlers Park
4.43.83 mi / 1371 ft gainFirst off, these are two different hikes but both stem from the same parking lot and Settlers Park is a mere 5 minutes away from where you park so why not kill two birds with one stone? One of the more popular hikes in Boulder, Mount Sanitas is a 3 mile hike that quickly scales nearly 1,350 feet...Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Sunshine Lion's Lair Loop
5.05.05 mi / 1257 ft gainThis is a mix of trails that will bring you on an easy loop to the peak of Mt Sanitas, but will keep you away from the usual crowds of the more well-known paths up. The hike is a clear path that brings you 5+ miles from around 5,500 ft in elevation to 6,800. You'll start at the Centennial Trail...Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Hike the Red Rocks Loop Trail
3.71 miParking is available on either Canyon or Sunshine Roads. During the weekends it tends to get crowded around sunset so plan accordingly. The entire trail is a loop and is a little over 1 mile in length so it doesn't take too long. The main feature is the massive red sand stone rocks that jut out o...Read more -
Bellvue, Colorado
Photograph Poudre Falls
To get to Poudre Falls, simply drive up Poudre Canyon on Highway 14, just north-west of Fort Collins. The drive all of the way up to the falls is a little bit of a jaunt and will take about an hour or so. There are plenty of cool things to see on the way, so have the camera in the passenger seat...Read more -
Lyons, Colorado
Backpack to Red Deer Lake, CO
4.06.4 mi / 1900 ft gainThis is an excellent place to take your family backpacking. It is a fairly easy trail and definitely a great one for kids. Take in the beautiful scenery while hiking through meadows, aspen and pine with incredible mountain views in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. 6.4 miles to Red Deer Lake with an e...Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Royal Arch Trail
4.43.32 mi / 1220 ft gainRoyal Arch Trail climbs up Boulder's famous Chautauqua Park to an archway formed by sandstone rocks that tower over thirty feet high. Start at the Chautauqua Trail Station by the Ranger Station, and continue up Bluebell Road for 0.7 miles. You will then arrive at a more forested area, where you ...Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Hike to the 1st Flatiron
4.62.4 mi / 1422 ft gainStarting at the ever-popular and ever-populated Chautauqua Trailhead, take the main trail (a highway version of a dirt trail) straight towards the Flatirons. Continue going straight passed the Ski Jump trail to your right (0.2 mi.), then at a crossroads with the Bluebell-Baird trail (0.3 mi.) tur...Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Green Mountain via Chautauqua Park
4.55.24 mi / 2467 ft gainStarting from the popular Chautauqua Park trailhead, head west on the main trail to the first branch off onto a smaller trail that will take you toward Baseline Road. Follow this trail until it eventually connects with Gregory Canyon Trailhead—you can park at this trailhead if you wish, but miss ...Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Hike the Chautauqua Trail to the Ski Jump Trail
5.01.55 miBeginning at the Chautauqua Trailhead, the Chautauqua Trail goes for 0.6 miles before connecting with the Bluebell-Baird Trail. From here it becomes a choose-your-own-adventure hike. For a short, simple hike you can do with people who aren't ready for lots of elevation gain, take a right and conn...Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Hike the Enchanted Mesa Trail
4.01.4 mi / 440 ft gainStart out on McClintock Trail for 0.7 miles (this particular stretch can get muddy), before switching over to Enchanted Mesa Trail. To add a scenic 0.4 miles to your hike, take the Quarry Loop by turning right at the stone cabin, then following the steps up to the quarry, where you can overlook t...Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Mountain Bike the Betasso Preserve
4.03.3 mi / 564 ft gainThe Betasso Preserve features two loop trails that are accessible to both hikers and mountain bikers. Drive up (west) Boulder Canyon about 15 minutes outside of Boulder and turn right (north) on Sugarloaf Dr. After another 5 or so minutes you'll see a sign on the right-hand (northeast) side of...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Mt. Ida via Milner Pass
5.09.28 mi / 2112 ft gainThe hike to Mt. Ida offers some of the most stunning views of Rocky Mountain National Park. How to get there: From the east, take Trail Ridge Road all the way to the west side of the park. You will pass Alpine Visitor Center and the road sharply turns south at Medicine Bow Curve. The trailhead...Read more -
Estes Park, Colorado
Backpack Alpine Terrain to Haynach Lakes
17 miBegin at the Milner Pass Trailhead off of Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. Commonly used to summit Mount Ida, this trailhead is often popular with summer hikers. The trail climbs steeply through the trees before revealing open slopes of tundra and fantastic panoramic views. Altho...Read more -
Boulder, Colorado
Scramble Angel's Way
5 mi / 1000 ft gainAngel's Way is an amazing 8 pitch rock climb scramble (5.2) that is tucked away in Skunk Canyon, hidden from the crowds of Chautauqua. The best part of this scramble is you only need your climbing shoes and chalk-bag. It is similar to the 'Free Way' on the Second Flatiron. I would encourage ev...Read more -
Ward, Colorado
Snowshoe Mount Audubon
13.9 mi / 2715 ft gainWant to start snowshoeing peaks?! Of course you do! If you don't already have snowshoes, you can rent a pair at your local REI (the one in Boulder, CO is closest to this hike). Check the snow conditions and if there is a fair amount of snow, I would recommend renting the larger of the two kinds o...Read more