Take a nice ride or hike up to Horsetooth Rez and visit the open space area, beautiful and serene on the eve of the Winter Solstice.
The entrance to the park is somewhat difficult to find if you've never been here before, worth previewing with Google Street View. We went on a beautiful fall Sunday morning and the parking area filled up quickly. The park is a short drive from Fort Collins and is clearly and deservedly popular. We hiked to Horsetooth Falls and then completed a loop back, taking about 3 hours at a moderate pace, with lots of stops for pictures. We got a decent workout, with lots of climbing and descending. The views are amazing and continually change along the trail. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow, and there are trail maps viable at the entrance. There is a nominal entrance fee (per vehicle). At the end of our hike we had the unexpected surprise of seeing a small herd of longhorn cattle near the parking area.
Driving into Ft. Collins from the east, on E. Mulberry, you can see a rounded mountain top on the west skyline, with 2 vertical cracks in it. Old timers said it looked like the lower teeth of a horse, thus the name Horsetooth.
Fort Collins is so lucky to have this open space so close to town. It is fun to hike in every season, and you can be as adventurous as you wish on the degree of difficulty.
Amazing drive from Fort Collins- a must if you are in the area. Went during the day and then returned to see sunset.
Took my first hike in Horsetooth Mountain Open Space -- great trails, lots of variety and levels of intensity. I'll be buying an annual pass and making this a part of our lives.
We go whenever the weather permits as our family is active and loves to hike. With terrain for most levels it's one of our favorites.
Great place to hike or relax and enjoy a scenic view.Very peaceful and quiet in the winter. Definitely worth the drive and a great place to watch a sunset.
Horsetooth (named for the rock formation that dominates the park) offers plenty of great hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking trails. Right on the edge of Fort Collins, a hike to Horsetooth Rock gives a commanding view of Northern Colorado. Great for families.
If you're into hiking somewhere with unbeatable views, this is your spot. The entire experience was special and I had an awesome time hiking the Horsetooth Rock Trail. All of the people that I met along the way were extremely friendly and just added to the wonderful atmosphere. The view from the top of mountain is one that you do not wanna miss. Words can't describe how great it is. Definitely a must on your list of future hiking trails.