Hey all of you Fort Collins denizens and visitors to this beautiful place! This is the first of a series of posts over the Spring and Summer in which I will detail the parks and open spaces of town. We have a lot to offer, but the official town website only has the bare minimum information so I will try and detail these parks to give the reader a little bit more insight about these spaces. We start with our first, :Lee Martinez Park which is located next to the Fort Collins Museum of discovery at the very North end of Mason st. Not hard to find at all.
The park has a farm for the kids, basketball courts, a playground, separate jungle-gym for exercising, connecting bike/walking trails, baseball fields, bathrooms as well as a outlet to the Poudre Trail. I have never been to this park and not seen people so don't expect to "get away" from anyone here. However, if you head around on the opposite sides of the center field fences (Not on the fields, the other side) there is a somewhat secluded place to get some meditation or stretching on. I love Fort Collins, but we're not perfect so I will tell you if you are in the park early in the morning or late at night, be careful watching out for transients and other homeless people as downtown is close and the train riding season is in full swing. This goes double when the season turns beautiful. Don't let that dissuade you though. This is definitely a great place to spend some quality time with friends and family.
Pros: Near downtown, clean, bathrooms, variety of things to do in park, large playground.
Cons: Proximity to homeless population, sometimes overcrowded
Not really trail related but I am always fascinated finding animals doing what they do. Here is a short video I filmed in early Spring in a parking lot in Fort Collins, Colorado. Looks like the ant is about to have a good meal.
The East and West Valley Trails at Lory State Park
Location: Lory State Park, East/West Valley Trails
Date: 5/6/2014
How far we went: 4.96mi
How long it took me: Around 39 min for both trails
Elevation reached: 5600ft
Weather: Overcast, mild.
The East and West Valley trails provide a nice easy ride that put you between the shore and the road on the East side and between the mountain and the road on the West side. I was riding at a brisk pace but randomly stopped here and there to snap a photo or read a sign. With that said it took me around 39 minutes to do both trails.
The trails consists of mainly easy going with some small up and downhill challenges that take some small maneuvering. Minor switchbacking and some small rock jumps are there should you choose. An easy trail is as difficult and fun as you make it and I've easily found myself going way too fast or being overconfident and have almost caused great spills. But honestly, that's why we do this shit.
These trails are shared with pedestrians and people on horseback. Make sure you're polite and show proper trail etiquette.
If you're visiting from a flat area and/or not used to hills or actual mountain biking terrain, I suggest you: 1. Make sure you have your safety equipment in order, a helmet at the very least. 2. Spend 20 or 30 minutes getting comfortable at the Corral Center Mountain Bike Park. (If you look at the picture above, it's that square shaped cleared out area to the left of "End) and 3. Make sure you're comfortable on these trails before heading up further into Lory.
First Mountain Bike Post! ... And since it is my first MTB post I'll start small. Here is the Corral Center Mountain Bike Park in Lory State Park, It's right near the entrance and will cost you $7 if you bring your bike in via vehicle or $3 if you make there on a bike.
The weather is beautiful in N. Colorado during the spring so what could be better than as nice day out on two wheels? Here in Fort Collins we are fortunate enough to have this stuff practically in our back yard. If you're getting acquainted with a mountain bike or just wanna have some fun this is a great place to start.
There are three different parts to the area with increasing difficulty: Skills area, pump track, and dirt jumps.
The skills area is definitely where you want to get comfortable, especially if this is your first time doing some actual trail riding. Basic obstacles include structures for balance, turns, small jumps/hops, and loose terrain.
The pump track is a looping track of bumps and rollers where the rider absorbs and compresses the bike without pedaling to make it through the loop. A pretty decent workout!
Here is the dirt jumps at the park. They are divided into three different lines in order of increasing difficulty. If this is your first time hitting the jumps make sure you are aware of what you're doing and start small!
Overall, a great place to hone your skills if you are a beginner or expert. If it's your first time hitting the trails at Lory or if you are used to riding that is a little more tame, then be sure to check this place out before hitting the trails. It's usually never busy!
How far we went: 1 mile up + 1 mile down = 2 total
How long it took us: About 3 hours
Elevation reached: 7,040 ft
Weather: VERY COLD (Never was about 6 degrees F) I'm making this post after my other Hanging Lake post, but we actually did this one a year before and I'm just now getting around to posting it. This was a very cold trip but it's totally worth it. Take in the pictures and enjoy. 2 miles if you go from bottom to top, and then back down. I wouldn't make this a first-time winter hike. It's not too challenging but the last scramble to the top is too much to handle for some, especially with all the ice and snow. Make sure you have appropriate footwear such as yaktrax. I posted this already but I will do so again.... There is a large parking lot with ample spaces but you should make a note that YOU CANNOT ACCESS HANGING LAKE FROM I-70 EASTBOUND. YOU MUST TURN AROUND AT EXIT 121.
Don't get pissed off and confused, turning around adds 5-10 minutes in
the trip, maybe more in awful weather but I promise it is well worth the
wait. Also, here is a video of Hanging Lake. Only this is from a year later, not on the day these pictures were taken.
My friends were passing through Colorado so I met them to camp up at Horsetooth Rock for an evening and a quick hike in the AM before they departed. Towards the end of the summer the water level drops in the reservoir and leaves a muddy/mucky mess around the shoreline, but still provides scenic views and these trails are very easy for anyone. This hike is ideal for those who don't mind venturing out, but are never far from the trail head and doesn't present a challenge to those not familiar with hiking, small youngsters and/or the elderly. This particular day was quite peaceful, but when the boats on the water get fired up and people start partying for the day, it definitely isn't silent.
If you're not camping up there and are coming in an automobile, you're going to want to park at the Soderbreg Open Space trailhead & parking which is off Shoreline Dr. One more suggestion, if you are camping, even in the middle of summer, the wind can howl in the middle of the night and temperatures can drop quickly. Sleep near the fire or pack an extra blanket.
Location: Horsetooth Falls (Horsetooth Mountain Open Space)
Date: 5/29/2013
How far we went: 2.4mi (Round trip)
Elevation reached: 5800ft
Weather: Sunny, warm.
A short hike to the falls from the parking lot is simple for anyone that can walk. You can traverse down to where the falls lands or you can hike up where pool forms above. Some really nice views to and from and make sure you try to catch it during the snow melt! I've seen people swimming in these pools/water but I'm not sure if it's actually allowed or not. Jump in at your own risk, I suppose. $6 to for a daily pass so don't forget your wallet! For more info on this hike, visit it's Trail Wiki.
Made my first trip to Loveland Ski Area a few weeks ago to check out how it is. If you're coming from I-70 East/Denver it it the first skiing area you will come to during your beautiful drive on the nation's highest interstate. This is my review and I hope most can find it helpful!
The trip: Driving on I-70 can be a complete nightmare in the winter. Rock slides, ice, heavy snowfall, and ridiculous wind gusts are all possible when heading through the high-country. Even if you plan your trip accordingly you can still hit a snag in traffic which can easily ruin a nice day on the slopes. Make sure to leave enough time for you to properly park your vehicle, get into your gear, use the restroom, etc. After you've planned your route check the weather and road reports. If they're calling for multiple inches of snow, leave early. Also make sure you have plenty of snacks if you get stuck on the road and of course, make sure you have the proper equipment should you have a break down. You do not want to be unprepared in the high country. As you very well know, shit happens.
Rentals: As the early bird gets the worm, this philosophy should be your plan of attack should you need rental gear. The process went pretty smoothly. You fill out your info on a computer then take a space in the line where they will look up what info you just typed in under your name. The staff was pretty friendly, my friend and I were suited up in no time, however, my wife had some issues with the staff telling her she did not need two pairs of socks. She insisted that it was cold as shit and she did but the gentleman told her she was a specific boot size and that two pair of socks would not be appropriate. I have never heard this before but it bothered my spouse as her feet were frozen 2 runs in. So all in all helpful and friendly, but I did find the sock issue quite odd.
Slopes: As a novice, I enjoyed what Loveland Ski Area had to offer, especially when compared with Eldora Ski Resort in Nederland, CO (About 20 miles up Boulder Canyon). There were an ample amount of runs/lifts opened and their groomed runs felt just fine to me. I don't do anything more difficult than a Black Diamond, so I can't speak for some of the more extreme runs. There are plenty of variations in terrain and plenty of my personal favorite, trees!
Cons: A lot of the runs were in the shade all throughout the day which turned to ice very quickly. This is exacerbated by some of the grueling winds. The lifts were a little slow/dated and the slopes were a little crowded towards midday, but what can you really expect during a Friday in the middle of peak season?
Overall: All-in-all don't let any of the cons deter you. Loveland Ski Area is a great place to visit from Denver and it's relatively affordable. If you are debating visiting Eldora or this place, definitely take the trip to Loveland Basin. You won't get bored as there will be plenty of runs for those of all skill levels. If you're a novice like me, or are just on the Front Range for a few days and want to experience high country skiing then this is the place for you.
