Traveling from Fort Collins to Walden along the Cache la Poudre Byway will make you feel like you’re driving through a postcard. Surrounded by jaw-dropping jagged mountains, vast meadows, lodgepole forest, and glistening lakes, take in the incredible views with ample opportunities to get out and explore. Whether you’re into hiking, fishing, white-water rafting, geocaching, wildlife watching, biking, OHV-driving, or just relaxing and enjoying the glacier-formed landscape cut by the Cache la Poudre River, this region has it all. In winter, revel in a white-draped wonderland while skiing, snow-shoeing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling. Although short enough for a day trip, you should plan on a few days to truly take in all this area has to offer.
Cache la Poudre River at Little Narrows
Fort Collins is a big city and makes a great base with a wide range of lodging options, restaurants, and services. It is also the largest producer of craft beer in Colorado, with many breweries located in the historic downtown. Embark on a brewery tour, or attend the Colorado Brewers’ Festival in June. Looking for cultural and family offerings? The Fort Collins Museum of Art (M3) housed within an old Post Office building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, features a rich and varied series of rotating exhibits. Kids will love the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery (M2) as they learn and explore through hands-on exhibits and activities, including a First Peoples exhibit, a music and sound lab, face-to-face encounters with animals, the natural history of Fort Collins, a movie theater and more. Stop at the Colorado Welcome Center at Fort Collins (I2) for city and regional information. Fort Collins has many outfitters and tour operators to create your perfect adventure. If you’re spending more time in the area — don’t miss the Poudre River Trail Corridor just east of Fort Collins. The 21-mile paved recreation trail travels from Island Grove Park (H12) in Greeley, to the Frank State Wildlife Area Trailhead in Windsor, along the Cache la Poudre River. Enjoy biking or walking with multiple access points, parks, fishing and wildlife watching.
The byway begins heading west on CO-14. For much of the journey, the road parallels the Cache la Poudre River, Colorado’s only federally-designated National Wild and Scenic River. The river’s name translates from french to “hide the powder". Legend tells that this is where fur trappers decided to bury their gunpowder for retrieval in spring to lighten their load while traveling during a snowstorm in the mid 1800’s.
Leaving Bellvue, the road enters the Roosevelt National Forest and heads up the Cache la Poudre Canyon. This area is popular with rock climbers drawn to the jagged crags of Greyrock Mountain, Crystal Wall, and Upper Narrows to name but a few. Not a rock climber? You can also hike the Greyrock National Recreation Trail (H11) which heads to the summit of 7,616-foot Greyrock Mountain. The trail, constructed in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, is about a 7-mile round trip with an elevation gain of 2000-feet. Some sections require climbing over boulders, and beautiful views await, whether you make it to the top or not.
Once a dance hall in the 1900’s, the Mishawaka Amphitheater (A8) is now host to an eclectic range of outdoor concerts and has a restaurant/café open to the general public.
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