Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area

Description

Cathy Fromme Prairie is a rare example of Fort Collins’ pre-settlement shortgrass prairie landscape. Drylands and wetlands here provide habitat to a variety of plants and animals. Look for horned lizards, ground-nesting songbirds, butterflies, rabbits, coyotes and rattlesnakes. The raptor observatory, built into the hillside near the Shields Street entrance, is an excellent place from which to watch hawks and eagles, especially in winter.

Trails

The paved Fossil Creek Trail (between Shields Street and Luther Lane) is 2.4 miles one-way. A connection from Cathy Fromme Prairie to Spring Canyon Park and Pineridge Natural Area was built in 2011.

Hours

5:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Directions

There are parking lots at Shields Street (south of Harmony) or Fromme Prairie Way (from Harmony take Seneca south to Fromme Prairie Way). One horse trailer parking spot is designated in the Fromme Prairie Way parking lot.

Events & Activities

• Would you like monthly event and activity updates, trail recommendations and more? Sign up for the Natural Areas electronic newsletter in the upper right corner of this page.
• 
  
• Customized free educational programs at Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area are available for groups, call the Master Naturalist Program at 970-416-2480 or email .

  Related Information

  • Early May wildflowers posted on the trailhead bulletin board. Thank you Master Naturalist Lynn Rubright for maintaining the bulletin board!
  • Fossil Creek Management Plan
  • Cathy Fromme Prairie site brochure
  • Cathy Fromme Prairie is featured in Trails of Northern Colorado: Exploring Cultural and Natural History, a tour by the Fort Collins Museum and Discovery Science Center.