Soapstone Prairie Natural AreaDescriptionSoapstone is extraordinary with over 28 square miles of wide open vistas, nearly pristine grasslands, miles of trails and world-renowned cultural resources. It is truly a place to treasure! Visit Soapstone Prairie to meet the past, enjoy the present and preserve the future. Note: This is one of the few Fort Collins natural areas on which dogs are not allowed. Visit With RespectRespect the cultural heritage at Soapstone Prairie! You must stay on trails which have been planned to avoid sensitive areas. In the unlikely event you see an artifact, leave it alone. Artifacts are part of the legacy of people who were here before us, and leaving artifacts alone demonstrates respect for the people who made them or owned them. Leaving artifacts in place allows other visitors to enjoy them today and in the future. According to Colorado State law, it is illegal to take artifacts, or excavate, damage, or destroy any prehistoric or historic resources. Offenders may be charged with a misdemeanor and may face a fine, jail time or both. Remember, once an object is removed from its context, it loses its ability to educate us about the past. Cultural History of Soapstone Prairie Natural AreaThere is an extensive and diverse human history at Soapstone Prairie - exceeding 12,000 years - from PaleoIndians of the Ice Age to millennia of American Indian groups, to more than a century of homesteaders and cattle and sheep ranchers. The most famous cultural site at Soapstone Prairie is the Lindenmeier archeological site, a National Historic Landmark. Excavations in the 1930s by the Smithsonian and Colorado Museum of Natural History conclusively dated human habitation in North America to at least 10,000 years ago and gave new insight into the Folsom culture. Needles, beads and stone tools were found, making the Lindenmeier site the most extensive Folsom culture campsite yet found. Other human history at Soapstone Prairie includes possible Clovis complex sites, numerous stone rings, sheep camp rock cairns, ruins of historic homesteads, ranches and their associated buildings, the foundation of a schoolhouse, and roads and trails. Learn more by watching Speaking History video Fort Collins Museum's Soapstone Prairie Oral History Project. Safety at Soapstone PrairieBe prepared! Soapstone Prairie offers a remote, backcountry experience. Emergency response can take an hour or more. Be prepared! Visitors tend to underestimate the scale of the property and the trail system. Start early in the day, plan for the weather and carry a trail map. If you are traveling alone, let someone at home know your travel plans and estimated return time. Bring more than enough water, food and clothing. Cell phone service is not reliable, but there is an emergency call box at the entrance station. This is rattlesnake country so watch where you put your hands and feet and stay on established trails. Check the trail conditions page before you come. More about safety >>> More About Soapstone PrairieSoapstone Prairie Natural Area is an integral piece of the Laramie Foothills Mountains to Plains Project, a partnered conservation effort to create a corridor of protected lands, linking the mountains to the plains. These lands are home to many species of wildlife, such as pronghorn, elk, swift fox, burrowing owls and golden eagles, and rare and threatened plants. Funding for Laramie Foothills Mountains to Plains properties came from Fort Collins and Larimer County dedicated open space sales taxes, Great Outdoors Colorado, The Nature Conservancy, Legacy Land Trust and private landowners. TrailsClick here for Soapstone Prairie Trail Map/Site Brochure (pdf) Be prepared! Soapstone Prairie offers a remote, backcountry experience. Emergency response can take an hour or more. Be prepared! Watch for fast-moving storms bringing blowing and drifting snow and possible white-out conditions. Check the trail conditions page before you come. Bring plenty of water and be prepared for high winds and cold temperatures. More about safety >>> Trails From the South Trailhead Trails open to horseback riding, cycling and hiking.
Click here for Soapstone Prairie Trail Map/Site Brochure (pdf) 
HoursHours are dawn to dusk, March 1- December 1.
DirectionsSoapstone Prairie is 25 miles north of Fort Collins. From Fort Collins, take Hwy 1/ Terry Lake Road to County Road 15 north (towards Waverly). From CR 15, turn north onto Rawhide Flats Road and continue north to the entrance station. Please respect our neighbors and be safe by observing the speed limit, especially on gravel roads to prevent dust.Events & ActivitiesIn May- October, activities at Soapstone are offered including guided hikes or rides, programs about the Lindemeier site and much more! It's all free. The 2010 Program and Activity Guide will be posted here in April. Would you like to be notified when the Program Guide is released? Sign up for the Natural Areas electronic newsletter in the upper right corner of this page.Related InformationEnjoy Soapstone But Don't Be Caught Off Guard article by Rick Bachand. Larimer County's Red Mountain Open Space Read the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area Management Plan (5 mb pdf) Watch the new video! (10 min) |
