Fort Collins Off The Beaten Path

This beautiful mountain river flows through Fort Collins. Commonly called the Poudre River, its full name is French for "Hide the Powder", because early French explorers cached, or hid, their gunpowder above the banks of the river.

Take a drive up the Poudre River Canyon; you will find it much less full of traffic than the Big Thompson Canyon west of Loveland.

RMNP is actually just outside Estes Park, which is about one hour east of Ft. Collins. However, you can stay in Ft. Collins, and take a scenic drive through Big Thompson Canyon to get to the eastern entrance of the park. At this point, you can start the scenic drive of Trail Ridge Road.

It's a bonus scenic drive, and you can often find decent lodging rates and a wider dining selection in Ft. Collins.

To get to the park, drive south out of Ft. Collins on 287 to route 34 and take that west to Estes Park.

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The downtown area is full of really nice 19th century architecture, dating back from the mineral rushes of the town (when Ft. Collins actually had a fort). As you shop and dine, keep an eye on the structures, the elaborate brick work throughout the older downtown areas. Makes for an interesting backdrop to your visit to the town.

This area has just opened for mountain biking now that the new loop has been added. While short (plan on about an hour), it is really a fun, beautiful and technically challenging trail.

The trail runs to the east of the "Devil's Backbone" and then cuts across a wash. Here the fun begins...a 5-10 minute climb to a gorgeous view from above the Backbone, with Long's Peak in the background.

How to get there....
Drive west on US 34. When you see a large concrete water tower on your right, you are getting close. Take a right on Wild Lane and park in lot about 1/4 mile ...

This is located about 10 minutes south of Ft. Collins in Loveland, just off the interstate. Live racing comes and goes here, so be sure to check up on it at the website prior to making your plans. You must be 18 to enter the track. The most fun can be had on Friday and Saturday nights, when they race under the lights starting after 7:00. Generally, there are 15 races, minimum bets of $2. Throw in a beer and a few bucks for some programs, and you've got a relatively inexpensive, yet exciting evening.

Fort Collins is the second largest producer of beer in the state (the state that is ranked third in the country in volume of brewpubs and craft breweries).

Taste their award-winning beers and ales year-round, or visit when the city hosts the annual Colorado Brewer's Festival on the last weekend in June.

You got to be 18 tto be able to sample the free beer...Usually 1 beer glass per person but all you can eat nuts..:)


Tours: June-Aug: 9:30am-5pm daily;
Sept: 10am-4pm daily;
Oct-May: 10am-4pm, Thurs-Mon.

2351 Busch Drive
(Near I-25 & County Road 50)

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VISIT THE "NEW BELGIUM" BREWERY in Fort Collins. It's the third largest microbrewery in the United States (Sam Adams is first).

Its located in the 500 block of Linden Street. From Linden Street in Old Town, drive northwest, cross the Poudre River, and in a couple more blocks you will see the brewery on your right. There are tours at 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, and 4 pm. The brewery opens at 10 am and it is wise to get your (free) tour tickets shortly after that, then come back for the tour. After your tour (or before), the tasting is free.

Their most famous beer is "Fat Tire." I like "1554" which is a darker, heavier beer. There are many different kinds to sample.

Leave Fort Collins on Highway 287 northbound to go to Poudre River Canyon just a couple of miles outside town. It´s a wildwater canyon where you can go rafting. Poudre River Canyon is also known as Cache la Poudre and was Colorado's first National Wild and Scenic River. It got its French name from some French trappers who discovered the canyon in the 1840s.
And nowadays where there are rapids, there are whitewater rafting trips - the river is a hot spot with both rafters and kayakers. Accessible from the canyon, the Cache la Poudre Wilderness Area ranges in altitude from 6,000' to 8,600' and its steep, rugged terrain is seldom traveled.