Export to Trail Guide
Create Guidebook 
Download GPX 
Print Friendly MapThe Spring Creek Trail travels 9 miles across Fort Collins, providing an important off-road route between the east and west halves of the city. The trail is paved and relatively flat, though some sections can be tricky to follow as there are many spur trails that can be mistaken for the main trail. Though it crosses some surface streets, it tunnels under most.
About the Trail
The western end of the trail begins in Spring Canyon Community Park, a lovely natural oasis crisscrossed with walking paths that meander through the park's grass valleys, wildflowers and cottonwood trees. From there, the trail meanders northeast along the wooded waterway to reach Rolland Moore Community Park, where there are numerous athletic fields, volleyball and tennis courts and horseshoe pits.
The pathway continues east, just a few blocks south of Colorado State University, the city's flagship school. The trail passes through Spring Park and Edora Community Park, a popular recreational spot with a playground, ballfields, tennis courts and skate park. Both are dog friendly and include restrooms.
The trail's eastern is in the scenic Cattail Chorus Natural Area. Many songbirds and waterfowl that call the area home, as well as butterflies and dragonflies that can be found around the park's ponds.
Connections
At the trail's eastern end, it connects to the Poudre Trail, a diagonal north-south route through Fort Collins.
On its western end, the trail connects to the Fossil Creek Trail, a paved pathway that provides access to the Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area. Or, head south on the Power Trail in Edora Community Park or the Mason Trail near Colorado State University.
The Spring Creek Trail runs between Fossil Creek Trail at Spring Canyon Community Park (2626 W Horsetooth Rd, Fort Collins), where there is parking, and Poudre Trail at the Cattail Chorus Natural Area.
Parking is available at:
Visit the TrailLink map for all parking options and detailed directions.
Did this trail on a pleasant, mid December Friday in the early afternoon. Traffic on the trail was not too bad at that time, but given how nice and convenient this trail is, I would imagine that it is quite heavily used at times. Depending on your mindset, heavy traffic and certainly rude users, could make it less enjoyable. I was impressed about how well it is marked/signed... which is good as there are a lot of junctions. Kind of cool to see the 1997 flood high water mark signs along the way.
I did this trail on a longboard and it is a blast for mellow longboarding. I started this trail at the East Prospect end of the trail and went past the official ending of this trail at the Spring Canyon Park 7.8 mi. The first 9 mi. are a very gentle up hill which is great for the return ride. At the 9 mi. mark the trail heads East towards S. Shields and it is a great downhill ride with just a couple of uphills. I stopped just short of Shields and made my way back to Prospect, a 22 mile round trip. There are a couple of short sections on this trail where you could break 20 mph. I did not go that fast. I stayed under 15 mph with foot braking. I will be back to do this trail again, way fun.
Simply the best way to access downtown FoCo or CSU campus if you live near the trail.
A beautiful well paved trail. The morning is the best, the birds chirping and singing away. The river flowing and leaving behind the sounds of nature. Highly recommended for the athletes and commuter. Enjoy SalZ
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy
(a non-profit) and we need your support!
_175471_sc.jpg)
_55006_sc.jpg)
_34920_sc.jpg)
_34900_sc.jpg)
_34880_sc.jpg)
_34870_sc.jpg)
_34869_sc.jpg)
_34868_sc.jpg)
_34867_sc.jpg)
_34861_sc.jpg)
_34860_sc.jpg)
_149840_nb.jpg)
_104887_nb.jpg)
