With the breathtaking scenery in and around Fort Collins, going for a hike in nature can be the best idea for a family fun time. However, you might feel insecure that the trails are easy enough for your kids.
The good thing about Fort Collins and its variety of trails is that it has many hiking paths for kids to enjoy safely, and most of them are great venues to take the most awesome pictures. Some of them are even in our photo ops post, so get the camera ready and visit them as well!
We’ve created a list of the best kid-friendly hikes in Fort Collins, so that every member of the family can enjoy them!
Our Favorite Kid-Friendly Hikes in Fort Collins
1
Coyote Ridge Natural Area
After hiking 0.25 miles, you will find an interpretive loop about wildlife. Kids will love this learning experience for all ages! Besides learning about wildlife and plants, kids might see prairie dogs and desert cottontail rabbits! This is one of those easy nature trails with lots of fun surprises!2
Horsetooth Reservoir
Only 15 minutes from downtown Fort Collins, you can find Horsetooth Reservoir, a magical place full of nature where you can enjoy many activities like biking, boating, fishing, and hiking. As one of the best easy nature trails near Fort Collins, the terrain is fun and dynamic, filled with nature and amazing landscapes!3
Devil’s Backbone Open Space
This trail is mostly flat with a few easy climbs, including short hikes for toddlers - they need to walk on their own smooth pace! This is where many free guided hikes and nature presentations take place. This family-friendly trailhead is 10 minutes outside of Loveland and has free parking!4
Ramsay-Shockey Open Space
At Ramsay-Shockey open space, you’ll find the Shoshone trail, one of the favorites among Kid-Friendly Hikes in Fort Collins. It is a 2.0-mile loop with a mild elevation. Kids will love the seven interpretive stations for all ages! The parking lot has interpretive trail guides you can take with you on the hike!5
Fossil Creek Open Space
You will find three trails along Fossil Creek Reservoir, and all of them are short and flat, perfect for families with kids! You will be walking in a bird sanctuary, and will find many interpretive booths in which kids can learn about birds!6
Bobcat Ridge Natural Area
Located 30 minutes southwest of Fort Collins, this trailhead features free parking and several interpretive signs along the trail. The Valley Loop Trail in Bobcat Ridge Natural Area is 4 miles long, and it has minor changes in elevation.7
Pine View Trail
This easy trail for families has endless breathtaking scenery, and kids will enjoy nature big-time! There’s a ton of space to play and run, and even a beautiful stone pavilion that overlooks the lake and is ideal for a picnic or just a rest spot! Enjoy one of the most beautiful lakeside family walks in Fort Collins with your family at Pine View Trail.8
Bent Rock Trail
Just 25 miles from Fort Collins, there’s this beautiful 15,000-acre open space where the whole family can enjoy a great time hiking, picnicking, and just enjoying nature! The Bent Rock loop is available to hikers only, so this means you won’t have to worry about the bikes coming your way while you’re with your kid. You will find beautiful views of the Valley, amazing geological formations, and more!9
Montgomery Pass Trail
About two hours from Fort Collins, you will find this must-visit magical place. The trail is easy, short in length, and large, and easy to follow for kids! You will enjoy amazing views of the Rawah Wilderness from the Montgomery Pass Trail!10
Lily Lake
All ages will enjoy the trails at Lily Lake, just a little outside Fort Collins. You will enjoy breathtaking views of magnificent peaks and the amazing Lily Lake, which has a 1.4-mile trail around it for all ages and skill levels to enjoy!Enjoy some of the many other things to do with kids in Fort Collins, which include entertainment for the whole family!
And if you and your little ones love enjoying some outdoor activities, there are always engaging options that your kids will not want to miss. Especially the many amazing playgrounds!
