Contact Information Contact Information
Dept Director
- John Stokes
- bmF0dXJhbGFyZWFzQGZjZ292LmNvbQ==
- 970.416.2815
- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (M-F, except for holidays)
Natural Areas Newsletter Natural Areas Newsletter
Before You Go: Check Trail & Parking Conditions
- Natural Areas Trail Conditions webpage
- COTREX (Statewide trails and local conditions)
- Facebook (Facebook.com/FCNaturalAreas)
- Twitter (@FCNaturalAreas)
- Call an on-duty Ranger, 970-416-2147
The busiest times at natural areas are weekends, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., so try visiting earlier or later, or on weekday mornings for the best chance at parking. Have an alternate destination in-mind. When parking lots are full try another trailhead or come back another time. Avoid a parking ticket! Only park in designated spaces.
Natural Areas' Response
Natural Area sites are open, rangers are on-duty, and the community is encouraged to enjoy and steward these treasured places.
Natural Areas' headquarters, Nix (1745 Hoffman Mill Rd) is closed to the public but staff remains available via phone and email.
Natural Areas picnic shelters that accommodate less than 50 people reopened on June 5 on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations will not be accepted at Gateway Natural Area’s picnic shelters until further notice.
The Natural Playground at Gateway Natural Area reopened on June 5.
The restrooms at Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area reopened on June 5.
On July 1, Primrose Studio will be available for rentals that meet County and State guidance (50% capacity; groups of up to 16, with distancing and face coverings required).
Learning Library
Free activities and resources for educators, families, and individuals are available! Engage in the outdoors in a new way with a Discovery Hunt, clear your mind with outdoor mindfulness activities, or learn about some of the animals that live in natural areas right from your computer.
The Explorer is Here!
Do you love your natural areas now more than ever? Learn more about these special places and how you can continue to protect them through the free activities in the Natural Areas Explorer booklet. Some activities will be virtual and some will be in-person (with limited registration numbers, strict mask requirements, and physical distancing), so read carefully. You can also find upcoming activities at fcgov.com/register (links to Engage, the City's online registration system).
Pick It Up Foco
The Litterati Pick It Up FoCo Challenge is on! Next time you are out on a walk, hunting for teddy bears, or howling at the sunset, consider picking up litter too.
The safest and most impactful place to start is right in your neighborhood - stop litter before it gets to the river! The goal is to remove 5,000 pieces of litter from the community by August 1, 2020.
Learn how to pick up litter safely and download the Litterati app to track your progress