Great for a quick afternoon hike or a night of stargazing. The trail is relatively easy to follow-…read morevery interesting rock formations along the way and you may even see a beaver family in the pond towards the end of the trail. Just look for it as you're passing along I-80, can't miss it!

It has long been a great spot to hike for locals and visitors, but for camping it can get noisy…read more(Thanks Coloradans for ruining our state parks). There are a few streams and beaver ponds to fish, but bring waders and a large pack with a creel container that has ice packs to keep the fish cold. Wear good hiking shoes, and bring lots of water and sunscreen!

Absolutely beautiful hike! Turtle rock and the surrounding rocks are beautiful, with truly…read morephenomenal patterns eroded into them. It's a very easy hike, well maintained and mediocrely signed, that takes you all the way around the monolith. We didn't see any moose, though we passed two people who had on one of the side trails. There was also lots of evidence of the moose, including plants they'd picked clean and beds where they had recently slept. It's a longish loop that passes through several patches of still water and a short part of one river. Mostly shaded, so it was a comfortable temperature even in mid-July. The biggest negative was a couple bad mosquito bites, so bring your bug spray! I don't know if this will be true after 2023, but the flora here is incredible. The huge amount of water the west got this winter is really revealing in the massive wildflower beds. Including what was nearly a field of Sego Lillies! Lots of other flowers as well, including Indian paintbrush, monkshood, and wild roses.

This review is actually for Turtle Rock, Phallic, Valley Mastiff, Regolith and Skeleton Loop…read more 7/6/2021 tuesday arrived around 10 am. got the last spot in teh parking lot. There are not a lot of spots so be prepared for that. There is a bathroom at the trailhead. There is not hand sanitizer though, so bring some with you. Also there are no trash cans or dog poop bags. If you are bringing your pups be sure to bring some bags with you and also be sure to pack out what you pack in (including the dog poop!) The turtle rock portion of this trail is pretty well shaded and some water and is what there is signage on the trail for. Though you do have to look for it. Those are brown signs on the trees with an arrow and sometimes a small "trail" written above it. This particular loop is not signed. Honestly NOTHING other than the turtle rock is signed. So if you go wanting to do this loop, be sure you have the map downloaded or that you have a fully charged phone so you can access all trails while on the trail to make sure you are going the right direction. I have t-mobile service and i did have service the whole trail so was able to keep tabs on where we were. There was several times that we ended up back tracking though. There are a lot of random dirt paths out there so following intuition i dont think would really cut it. There is one point you will need to crawl over and under a fence. Also there are parts where the trail is not obvious. We walked past a few of the turns multiple times. Be prepared for a couple of marshy areas. There is no way to avoid it. So your shoes will get mucky. Also one point that you need to cross the river. I just crossed in my boots and got wet. When we got up near cow and regolith trail. The trail was not really existent as according to this map. We ended up needing to cut through some wildflowers and cross the river and saw the trail over there. But my phone charge was down at that point to like 45% so we opted to go on cow trail back to the forest service road and then back up turtle. We did hike around 8.85 miles. I think loop may actually be longer than what it says if you do what is listed here. We would have been game for trying it all IF i was not worried my phone would die and then it would be a heck of a lot more challenging to find our way back to the car. The positives : the wild flowers are absolutely beautiful here right now! The fields were bursting with color! There were so many birds and butterflies and bees. The trail is definitely less traveled. only really saw people on the turtle rock trail. We did not see any moose which was a little bit of a bummer. Had left the pups at home as so many had said they had seen moose here. A friend did hike turtle rock a couple of weeks ago and said she saw a moose and calf. Its a great trail just be prepared for teh fact that a fair amount of it is pretty primitive and you will need navigation to be able to find this particular loop. Some parts are clear but there are lots of splits.

8.8.2021 Sunday…read more arrived at 8 am. Not many people there at time. Left around 11 am and lot was full. There are no poop bags at the trail head. There is also no trash can. So plan on bringing your own poop bags if you have a dog/s. And plan on packing out any trash that you pack in. :) There is a bathroom at the trailhead. Follow the signs and you will get there. The disappointment falls were quite lovely. there are also a lot of wildflowers still blooming which is awesome.

While visiting Red Feather Lakes, I really wanted to stop by at least one hiking area to check it…read moreout. The weather was beautiful, and I loved the green expanses near the trailhead. Honestly I didn't make it very far before having to turn back and continue my drive home, but I definitely recommend cruising along this 7.3 mile out-and-back trail that seems relatively flat. Parking is straightforward, and it was not crowded.

Mount Margaret Trail is a 7.2 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Red Feather…read moreLakes, Colorado that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from February until November. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. This trailhead has a small parking lot. There is a bathroom at the trailhead. There is not however a trash can or dog poop bags. This trail is thankfully one that is not usually over populated. Its 7.2 miles and 540 feet of elevation gain. So its rated easy. Its beautiful in the fall and winter especially! There are lots of aspens in the area and it is a great hike to see fall colors. In the winter the snow contrasts the trees. There are frequently moose sightings in the area. SO just be cautious. Especially if you have your dogs.

Best scenic view. Wandering canyons. Streams. Wildlife. Unbelievable views. Going back in time.read more

Another fantastic hike. Come prepared to work as you will be climbing some of the most gorgeous…read morepeaks Colorado's mountains have to offer. Please keep in mind this is a vast piece of land and you should pack your survival items in the event you should need them. A whisper sounds like a yell that echoes for minutes in this deep canyon with the Poudre River running through it. Great hiking, stunning scenery and you will encounter all kinds of wildlife so be prepared for that as well. There are bears in this area, real bears. Be sure you have done the appropriate amount of research before attempting to hike this area. This is NOT for beginners but is an awesome piece of land! There are random areas with lone trees or scattered brush, there are areas where you can easily become injured so do not attempt to do anything you are not sure you can do. Always play it safe and be prepared. You can hear the river long before you see it and that is one of the most special things about this place. Once you do lay your eyes on it, it is glorious and magnificent and well worth all of the efforts and aches and pains you have made to get there.

Hewlett gulch is a 8.2 mile heavily trafficked trail near bellvue. It features a river and is…read morerated as moderate. Hewlett gulch is up the poudre canyon, a little further than grey rock. The parking lot is not overly big. This trail allows for off leash dogs. There is a bathroom at the trail head. There is not however any trash cans or dog poop bags. If you are coming to this trail with dogs please be sure to bring your own poop bags! Also be sure to pack out what you pack in, this includes your dog poop bags! Just pop them in your car on your way out and you could drop them at the gas station at the bottom of the canyon if you dont want to haul them all the way home. The first 2 miles are relatively flat and have multiple stream crossings. There are narrow bridges to cross on though. The first 2 miles are the prettiest in my opinion with all the water. once you get to the fork if you go left you will get the hardest over with first. The loop has no trees and no water, so on a hot day you will want to make sure that you get there before the heat. This trail does get busy on the weekends so would have a potential back up plan just in case there is no parking in the lot here.

During this time of worry and fear, the best thing we can do (besides order takeout and delivery…read morefrom our favorite restaurants) is get outside and just breathe! It was a somber, foggy day in Fort Collins and the mountains were calling. As soon as we parked at the trailhead, the fog cleared and the sun came out. This trail has quickly become one of my favorites - a nice 8.2 mile out and back, with a large loop halfway through to liven things up. The first 3 miles are full of wildly changing landscapes. You begin walking through a grassy meadow, passing the remains of the homes the Huleatt family built in the 1920s, and have lots of stream crossings. When the waters are high, you just need to accept that it's likely you'll end up with a soggy shoe here and there. The incline is gentle and steady up until the start of the loop. I recommend going left at the fork to get the hard stuff over with faster - you gain a lot of altitude quite quickly, and it makes for a much easier-on-your-knees and relaxing slope around once you crest the top of the hike. After what feels like a bit of rock scrambling, you're rewarded with a view of the canyon that leads up to Red Feather Lakes out west, and a few magnificent homes that seem to pop up out of nowhere. Don't forget to enjoy your summit beer! The decline back to the trailhead is a complete 180 from the climb up, weaving through steep canyons with plenty of shade and plenty of spots for wild animals to hide in. I always recommend carrying bear spray and keeping an eye on your surroundings here! We came across of a pack of bighorn sheep on the way back to the car and paused to watch them traverse the sheer cliffs. The flowers during spring are some of the most beautiful I've seen, making certain spots appear as if they were out of a fairytale. This is NOT an easy hike, but that's what makes it all the more fun!

This was our first time on this trail. We only went as far as the barn because the trail past that…read morewas closed still due to fire. The path to the barn is just about 2 miles. we had 570 feet of elevation gain. all trails said it was like 850 or something like that but that was definitely a bit off. When you first start the trail is a bit of up but then it flattens out. There are so many lovely views along the way! i am not familiar with this area or not and if this is a off leash trail or not but every dog we encountered was off leash. So just be forewarned if you have a naughty dog this may not be the place for you. The trail was a little wider so we were able to walk in groups of two which was nice. the river below was frozen and there was snow on the other side of it. The trail however was dry and perfect for hiking The barn which is 2 miles in is great. Look for the secret door while you are there to a room! Would definitely go back if i were in the area. The kids we were with were mostly not experienced hikers and everyone did just fine on the trail.

This is my go to trail for a quick in and out trail. Easy to moderate trail depending if you go…read morepast the barn and creek. It can be muddy in the spring but I love the sound of the river churning below.

Make it a destination when in NoCo....the place is just a beautiful place, close to town, and…read morestands out as must not miss !! Great place for a short hike, or use their amenities to start your longer adventure.

Super easy hike with some decent views. I wanted more of a challenge, but still had a good time…read more There is a lot of traffic on these trails and a lot of kids were there...not an issue, but it was busier than a lot of the hikes I do. Parking is $10 though!

This is a beautiful trail! Most of it is paved, so almost anyone will be able to access the trail…read more There are different points of interest that you can walk to, and there are information stands that will tell you a bit about the area. There is a five dollar fee to park in the lot, but that's not a bad thing! I would highly recommend paying a visit to this location!

Hiked around this area, including the uranium mine trail on Monday. Nice trails with good views…read more There was plenty of parking ($5 entry fee) and also facilities onsite. Busy this time of year. We might try to go back to hike the actual falls trail.