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7 Epic State Parks Near Fort Collins (One’s Practically in Your Backyard)
Waterfalls, rock climbs, bald eagles, and paddleboards—these parks are less than 90 minutes from FoCo and 100% worth the drive.
What's Happenin' Team
April 09, 2025
🏞️ Your Next Adventure Is Only 90 Minutes Away
Hey FoCo!
Sure, Fort Collins has enough parks, trails, and breweries to keep your weekends full for life—but sometimes you need to zoom out, pack up the snacks, and hit the road for something a little wilder.
Lucky for us, Colorado’s loaded with epic outdoor spots, and these seven state parks are all just a short drive from town. Think paddleboarding at Boyd Lake, rock climbing in Eldorado Canyon, or birdwatching like a pro at St. Vrain. It’s nature therapy, minus the long road trip.
Ready to switch up your weekend routine? These state parks bring the views, the vibes, and the adventure—no plane ticket required. Let’s get into it. 👇
🏞️ 7 State Parks Within 90 Minutes of FoCo (Yes, We Mapped It)
Sure, Fort Collins has plenty of trails, parks, and patio beers to keep you busy—but sometimes you just need to trade the bike lane for a backcountry trail. That’s where Colorado’s epic state parks come in.
We’ve rounded up seven state parks within a 90-minute drive of Fort Collins so you can skip the planning stress and jump straight into weekend adventure mode. Whether you’re after waterfalls, wildlife, or just somewhere to sit with a snack and stare at a lake (relatable), we’ve got you.
🌲 Lory State Park – Our Backyard Playground
📍 Bellvue | ~25 mins from FoCo
Practically Fort Collins’ wild side. Hit the Arthur’s Rock trail, bring your snowshoes in winter, or try your luck spotting wildlife. Bonus: you can snow tube here. Yes, really.
Activities: Hiking, biking, climbing, snowshoeing, wildlife viewing, and winter camping.
🐟 Jackson Lake – Big Fish, Bigger Views📍 Orchard | ~80 mins One of Colorado’s best warm-water fishing spots. Also great for boating, OHV riding, and stargazing if you stick around after dark. Activities: Fishing, OHV, birding, astronomy, camping, swimming. 🌊 Boyd Lake – The Loveland Lagoon📍 Loveland | ~30 mins Great for boating, paddleboarding, swimming, or just pretending you’re at the ocean while still in NoCo. Activities: Jet skiing, ice fishing, cross-country skiing, hiking, swimming, camping. 🪶 Barr Lake – Bald Eagles, Anyone?📍 Brighton | ~75 mins Eagle nests. Ranger programs. Trails through wetlands. Basically the nature doc experience, live and unfiltered. Activities: Fishing, horseback riding, hiking, geocaching, wildlife viewing. | 🦅 St. Vrain – Birdwatcher’s Paradise📍 Firestone | ~45 mins With over 200 bird species recorded, this place is for the binocular crew. Chill lake vibes with plenty of spots to fish, hike, or just float your kayak. Activities: Birding, biking, ice skating, fishing, hiking. 🚤 Cherry Creek – Urban Escape with All the Toys📍 Aurora | ~90 mins Watersports central. Great for wakeboarding, sailing, or camping with the skyline in sight. It’s like the Denver version of a lake day—but you get to leave traffic behind. Activities: Jet skiing, horseback riding, ice skating, water skiing, swimming. 📍 Eldorado Springs | ~90 mins A total gem for rock climbers, hikers, and fans of canyon vibes. Also, it’s just ridiculously pretty here. Activities: Rock climbing, hiking, snowshoeing, birdwatching, primitive hunting. |
🌲 Fort Fun Facts
Which Fort Collins-area state park is home to Arthur’s Rock, a favorite local hike with big views? |
☑️ Tap to vote — we’ll share the answer in the outro!
(Hint: It’s the one with switchbacks, wildflowers, and a summit view that always delivers.)
🗓 What’s Happenin’ in Fort Collins: Event Listings
🎟 Wednesday, April 9 💰 FREE Events 🎲 Bingo Night @ Horsetooth Tavern | 6:30-8:30 PM | No charge bingo with prizes! 🗣️ Ram Talks: “Notes from the Underground” – CSU experts dive into the earth’s surface and environmental change. 5–6:30 PM @ Fort Collins Welcome Center 🍻 Bingo @ New Belgium – Second & fourth Wednesdays, 6:30–8 PM. Free to play, prizes included. 💵 Ticketed Events 🎶 Yak Attack – Live electronic power trio fusing house, jazz, funk, and trance. 7 PM @ The Coast ($18.54) 🎷 Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards – Genre-bending group live on the lanes with Volores. 8:30 PM @ 830 North ($18 GA) | 🎶 Thursday, April 10 💰 FREE Events 🎲 Game Night @ The Lyric | 7 PM | BYO board games and play in the lobby. 🎻 Open Bluegrass Jams @ Horsetooth Tavern | 7-10 PM | Open jam session—bring your instrument! 🤓 Thursday Night Trivia @ Jessup Farm Barrel House | 5:30-7:30 PM | Test your knowledge while enjoying craft beer. 🎲 Game Night + Dungeons & Dragons – Play D&D, tabletop games, and more in the Speak Cheesy Lounge. @ Slyce Pizza Co., 5-11 PM 🌍 Pub Talks: Tough Climate Conversations – Learn how to navigate climate convos at this casual brewery event. @ Odell Brewing Co., 5-7 PM 🎶 Jazz, Soul & Groove Jam Sessions – A night of jamming at Roots Music Project. 7:30–10 PM @ Roots Music Project ❓ Trivia Night @ OBC Wine Project – Brush up on random knowledge and win prizes. 6–8 PM @ The OBC Wine Project 💵 Ticketed Events 🍝 Pasta & Pairings: A Singles Cooking Experience – Make fettuccine, vodka sauce & fresh salad—plus, meet new people! 5 PM @ Farm Fusion 🌏 Global Adventures: Discovering Bhutan – Cultural talk and exhibit at the Global Village Museum. 6:30–9 PM ($5) 📚 Nerd Nite – 2 Year Anniversary – Science, trivia, and beers collide in this live nerd-fest. 7 PM @ The Lyric 🎶 Jazz Combos Concert Part I – Talented student musicians perform in combo ensembles. 7:30–9:30 PM @ CSU UCA ($0–15) 🎤 Tommy Ryman – Clean comedy with sharp wit. 7:30 PM @ The Comedy Fort 🎸 The Expendables – Rock, reggae, and surf sounds. 8 PM @ Aggie Theatre 🧘 Wisdom of the Body: Meditation & Yoga Retreat – 3-night retreat begins @ Drala Mountain Center (Tuition + lodging required) |
🌤 Fort Collins Weather Outlook
April 9 | Today: Mostly Sunny & Windy — 72° / 38° | Hold onto your hats! Gusty WNW winds up to 22 mph.
April 10 | Thursday: Sunny — 70° / 37° | Classic Colorado blue skies and crisp morning air.
April 11 | Friday: Full Sun — 82° / 46° | Perfect patio weather. Hydrate, sunscreen, repeat.
April 12 | Saturday: Partly Cloudy — 86° / 50° | Warm temps and light SW breeze—get those hikes in early.
April 13 | Sunday: Cooling Down — 69° / 36° | Partly cloudy with a 24% chance of scattered showers in the afternoon.
🎉 That’s a Wrap, FoCo!
Whether you’re trail-hopping, bar-snacking, or just soaking up that Fort Collins sunshine, we’ll see you back here Friday with more local love. Stay wild, stay curious. —Your What’s Happenin’ Fort Collins Crew 🌄💚 🧠 Trivia Answer: If you picked B. Lory State Park, you nailed it! 🥾 Arthur’s Rock is tucked into this scenic spot just west of town, offering one of the most rewarding hikes in the area. Views of Horsetooth Reservoir + the city below = instant mood boost. |
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