Natural Areas
Current Features
Tracks & Trails is Here!
Tracks & Trails is your guide to free activities and events on Fort Collins natural areas. The pdf version is available now and printed copies will be available soon.
Starry Night: Harry Potter Skies
Thursday, May 24, 8:15-10:15 p.m. at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, meet at the picnic shelter.
Discover which stars and constellations provided names for many of the Harry Potter characters, and see them through telescopes. Please arrive by 8:15 p.m., the gate will close when the program starts. Dress warmly. Weather cancellation notices will be posted here. Free, no registration required.
Poudre River Clean-up
Saturday, May 26, 9 a.m.- noon at Lee Martinez Park, 600 N Sherwood St.
Pitch in and help clean-up along the Poudre River! All you need is gloves, sunscreen, and the desire to make a difference! Organized by Mountain Whitewater Descents and sponsored by the Natural Areas Department. Volunters with bikes and trailers are also needed to transport trash bags. Free, no registration required.
Skygazing
Saturday, May 26, 9 p.m. at Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space. View the skies with telescopes provided by the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society. Dress warmly and bring something to sit on. Free, no registration required. For up-to-date cancellation information due to weather, visit www.ncastro.org.
National Trails Day
A large National Trails Day volunteer project will be happening at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area on Saturday, June 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Although trails will be open, visitors should expect to encounter over 100 volunteers and trail construction.
Join the fun and get your hands dirty on National Trails Day! Volunteers of all ages are invited to help restore trails at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. A free celebratory lunch will be provided at noon. Kid-friendly projects and activities will be available. Sponsored by REI. Registration required at www.rei.com/fortcollins
Bring Your Group to Soapstone Prairie
Free Customized Activities and Guided Hikes
There is so much to explore at this 28-square mile site:
- Human history from 12,000 years ago
- Archaeological history at the Lindenmeier Site overlook
- Wildflowers and rare plants
- Hikes with a spectacular view
- Ranching, prairie, and open spaces
- Pronghorns, jack rabbits, birds of the prairie and more
To schedule a free program and/or hike with a volunteer Master Naturalist for your group, please contact Deborah Price at dprice@fcgov.com or call 970-217-3075. At least two weeks notice is required.
Let Us Know
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Natural Areas
Physical Address: 1745 Hoffman Mill Road, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Mailing Address: PO Box 580, Ft. Collins, CO 80522-0580
Phone: (970) 416-2815
Fax: (970) 416-2211
Email: naturalareas@fcgov.com
Normal Business Hours: 8AM-5PM M-F
Directions: From Lemay (the part of Lemay between Riverside and Mulberry), turn east onto Poudre River Drive. Follow Poudre River Drive as it curves, changes names to Hoffman Mill Road and eventually dead-ends at Nix Natural Area and the Natural Areas Department's offices.