This trail, based in Fort Collins, allows easy access to almost every habitat in northern Colorado, from high-elevation forest to high-quality shortgrass prairie. Enjoy plenty of opportunities … 600 N Sherwood St, Fort Collins, CO . Cache la Poudre River is ranked #2 out of 12 things to do in Fort Collins. From the French Canadian Fur Trappers of the early 1800s, credited with naming the Cache la Poudre River, to the Union Colony settlers, who recognized the river as … The Poudre River Whitewater Park brings the river back to a more natural state, helps to connect the river to downtown, provides safe access to … As the Cache la Poudre leaves the canyon for the valley to flow through Fort Collins the water quality decreases significantly. As the Cache la Poudre leaves the canyon for the valley to flow through Fort Collins the water quality decreases significantly. Cache la Poudre Trail. The Poudre Lake Trailhead (Cache La Poudre River Trail) is located 24.5 miles from the Beaver Meadows Entrance Station on Trail Ridge Road. Just as the Cache la Poudre River has shaped our landscape, it has shaped our history. The Poudre River is truly a hidden treasure, with majestic cliffs and intriguing rock formations enveloped in ponderosa and lodgepole pines, sage brush, mountain mahogany and aspen. There is parking at Poudre Lake on the east side of the road, and a turnoff with space for a few cars where the trail begins on the west side of the road. Birding Top to Bottom. History of the Poudre Trail. The Poudre River Trail passes through the park. View amenities, descriptions, reviews, photos, itineraries, and directions on TrailLink. Take this west to reach Red Feather Lakes, just detour north at County Road 69. from CSU Environmental Learning Center (Fort Collins) to County 52E (Bellevue Watson Fish Hatchery). Located just north of Old Town, Fort Collins, kayakers, tubers and kids of all ages can enjoy the Poudre River and all it has to offer. Poudre Trail (Fort Collins) spans 12.3 mi. Some of the sites here are right in the middle of town; some are breathtakingly remote. The Cache La Poudre River is located south of Red Feather Lakes, and follows the Cache La Poudre-North Park Byway, from Fort Collins to Walden. Adjacent to the park is the family-friendly Farm at Lee Martinez Park. Cache La Poudre/North Park Scenic Byway - Starting in Fort Collins, this 101-mile north-central Colorado trip winds through Roosevelt National Forest, Poudre Canyon and scenic North Park before dropping into the quiet town of Walden. The Cache la Poudre River is the only nationally designated "Wild & Scenic" River in Colorado and offers outdoor recreation opportunities all year-long. The Cache la Poudre Wilderness, named for the river that runs at its northern edge, was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1980. After crossing the Cache La Poudre the trail begins traveling along the west side of the river over the course of the next several miles. There's a very large dead tree lying on the side of the trail at the 2.75-mile mark, which would probably be as good a place as any to stop, have a lunch, and take-in the scenic views of the Poudre River Valley. See pictures and our review of Cache la Poudre River. Lee Martinez Park is a great community park close to the river.