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. Along with the Lindenmeier site, 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. 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) 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- November.
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 & ActivitiesCelebrate in June with special programs(pdf, Soapstone events are on page 2). Enjoy a summer full of activities and programs! (PDF) June events include:
Related Information
Larimer County's Red Mountain Open Space Read the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area Management Plan (5 mb pdf) Watch the new video! (10 min) |
