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The Poudre River Trail tracks a 35.5-mile, scenic course along Cache la Poudre River between Fort Collins and Greeley. The original Poudre River Trail was built between the towns of Windsor and Greeley but has since been combined with Fort Collins's Poudre Trail to form a regional Poudre River Trail network. The Greeley and Fort Collins sections of the trail are separated but the gaps between these two trails are slowly closing, including a section of trail in the Arapahoe Bend Natural Area, which is currently disconnected from the longer trail sections
About the Route
The 12.2-mile Poudre Trail in Fort Collins, part of the larger Poudre River Trail Network, takes trail users along the Poudre River and through many natural areas including the Lions Open Space and Springer Natural Area. For more detailed information on this trail section, see Poudre Trail (Fort Collins).
The paved Poudre River Trail in Greeley is popular with hikers, runners, cyclists, and inline skaters. The path is wide with gentle grades, passing through a forested corridor and among scenic open spaces, where wildflowers bloom in spring and summer. Passing through several parks and natural areas, the trail offers plenty of recreational opportunities, including wildlife watching, fishing, and picnicking. Trail users will also find plenty of historical sites and educational sites to visit along our trail.
Connections
At the Riverbend Ponds Natural Area in Fort Collins, trail users can continue along the Spring Creek Trail (CO).
At N 59th Ave, the Poudre River Trail connects to the Sheep Draw Trail.
The Poudre River Trail runs in two main sections between Rist Canyon Rd. (Bellevue) and 2400 S County Rd 9 (Fort Collins) and 6371 E County Rd 32 E and D St. (Greeley), with additional trails in the Arapaho Bend Natural Area. Parking is available at each end of the trail.
Parking is also available at:
There are numerous parking options along the route, please see TrailLink Map for all parking options and detailed directions.
Perfect day. Trail was wide open with minimal traffic.
Trail is closed 2 miles east of Kodak trailhead due to flooding
The trail is closed about 3 miles from the river bluff entry point. So disappointed, as there was no signage to indicate the closure.
Skated from Greeley to Windsor and back. The trail is very smooth and flat and an easy trip. Bring lots of water though, as I didn't find any along the way. Also beware of cattle grates instead of pavement around milemarker 14. Otherwise A+!
Rode the entire trail west to east and back on a pleasant fall day on a recumbent trike in about 4 hours (moving time). Overall, a very nice ride and wonderful to have a longer trail like this in northern Colorado. It is a great resource to support... visit their excellent website: http://www.poudretrail.org/
My impressions from the day...
Pros: lightly used, great riding surface (for the most part), mostly flat (if that is what you are looking for), curvy enough to keep it interesting, nice scenery (for the most part), excellent signage, friendly trail users, respectful drivers at road crossings, good facilities along the way
Cons: nebulous trail terminus in Greeley, unsightly oil/mining/fracking operations/detour, other brief industrial areas, short unpaved sections/detours (flood damage), fairly exposed to the elements, would be very hot on hot days
That was fun. And yes it's not an aggressive trail, mostly flat but the length was perfect. Of course I never plan my water right but once I hit the end in Greeley (I started in Windsor) I rode into to town and fueled up on water. I went today 7/8/17, a bit warm but I didn't want to stop and double back because each part of the trail was so interesting, I wanted to see what each curve brought, even the few miles through "town" looking at the houses up against one of the many small lakes was interesting, Kinda want to live there now. Thanks Larimier County and or Weld and Traillink.
This is an easy 21 mile paved and mostly flat trail that goes to/from Greeley to/from Windsor with plenty of stops in between. A portion of this trail is within the city but the majority is out in the country and you are surrounded by beautiful views of mountains, open fields, lakes, trees and farmland and all that you can hear is the wind rustling through the trees and maybe a small critter jumping into the water. I would say the best time to go is in the spring or fall when the air is cool and crisp, or in the early morning hours of the summer.
Rented bikes in Windsor, Rode west to the trail end. Rode back east beautiful scenery the whole way. Had hopes of riding to Greeley but recent rain and high river levels had the trail closed. Would definitely return with hopes of continuing this ride.
What a great place to ride and visit!! Recommend Fort Collins as a play to have a great time. Stayed at the Armstrong Hotel right on S. College and Olive. Great food, jazz, crowds of folks.
Our goPro clip is on youtube at:
https://youtu.be/WHYe3GRWAig.
Poudre Trail was under construction 'a bit', but this trail is still a good ride, and connects you to the Spring Creek, Fossil, Power, and Mason trails. We road the entire circuit on our hybrid bikes. Couldn't ask for better times!!!
As always, recommend you visit local government web sites / trail sites to get latest trail status, etc.
These trails take you through country side as well as near apartments, stores, etc...BUT IS ALMOST ENTIRELY bike/pedestrian only access.
WE LOVED IT! Plan to do this again...because Fort Collins is a place that adults can have fun at night, bike during day.
I love riding this trail round-trip from Windsor to Greeley & back. Have ridden in it in all seasons on my road bike - so much wild life to see, beautiful scenery, and never crowded. The only caution is you need not just one but a few spare tubes in the fall...one day my husband & I had 3 flats on 2 bikes within 15 minutes!
My wife and I rode our recumbent trikes on the Poudre River Trail from end to end and found it to be a very pleasant ride. From the smooth surface, nice scenery, and the great weather today it made for a great day on the trikes. This trail is made for the family outing. The trail is wide, smooth, and flat. Just made for the beginner to intermediate rider. There are lots of interpretive signs along the route to explain the history and ecology of the area.
This year we started at the Poudre Learning Center, about halfway on the trail, and headed east to Greeley. The eastern half is pretty wide open, and passes by many lakes from quarry operations. It is mostly flat and scenic. Good parking at the learning center and at the eastern end in Greeley. Along the way we saw cows, prairie dogs and white pelicans.
This is my favorite trail in Fort Collins. You're out in the open, riding under tall, shady trees, and there are a lot of nice places to stop and take in the scenery. Additionally this trail is well-marked.
A great 20mi trail from Greeley to west of Windsor. A new section just opened up in 2010 extending trail even further west, to eventually connect to Ft Collins. Flat, wide paved trail. Good place to park is Eastman Park off County Rd 17. Plenty of scenery along the way.
Today we biked the entire Poudre River Trail...forth and back! It is beautiful and wonderfully laid out as it follows the twisting river. Lots of wildlife and domestic animals. Plenty of human-built buildings, gravel mines, and gas wells along the way. Makes an interesting juxtaposition of wild and domestic scenes. Fall leaves are just coming on (September). You will enjoy this trail. An environmental learning center is along the route. Saddle up and enjoy!
Used the 71st Street Trail Head N40.44247 W104.78823 E-4700’, and pedaled west to current end, west of Windsor, N40.47261 W104.94408 elev 4797’, 12.6 miles and return. Great hard surface with few grades. Sidewalk through Windsor Residential. Plans to connect to trail in Fort Collins. Mostly river valley with great houses on the bluffs, farm/ranch land, then residential with lakes. By Noel Keller 4 Aug 08
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