Pineridge Natural Area
Reservoir-edge trails with prairie dog colonies and east-facing views
About this park
Pineridge Natural Area is a preserved open space wedged between Horsetooth Reservoir and the city, offering clearly marked multi-use trails popular with hikers, cyclists, and dog walkers. Dogs must stay on leash throughout. The trails connect directly to the reservoir's boat launch area on the north end, and prairie dog towns dot the valley sections.
Amenities
Pineridge Natural Area reviews
What visitors consistently sayThe eastward views over the city are what reviewers describe first, along with clear signage and paths wide enough to step aside for a bike. The prairie dog towns in the valley sections of Pineridge are a reliable sideshow; one visitor counted dozens, with babies among them.
Cyclists, joggers, and dog walkers share the same paths, and the bikes move fast enough that one hiker was stepping aside every few minutes. A mild day fills the lot no matter what the calendar says.
Best for
Before you go
Leash required at all times. The parking lot fills fast on mild weekday afternoons and most weekends. Cyclists share the path and move quickly, so keep dogs on a short leash on blind corners. Bag and pack out all waste.
Frequently asked
- Do dogs have to be on leash at Pineridge Natural Area?
- Yes, everywhere on the property. Fort Collins natural areas require a leash on every trail; the nearest place for off-leash running is the fenced park at Spring Canyon, a few minutes east.
- Are waste bags provided?
- No. Reviews are pointed about dog waste left along the trail, and the expectation is carrying a bag in and carrying it back out to a trash can.
- How steep are the trails?
- Mostly rolling, but the connections between the ridge and the prairie dog valley get steep enough that one reviewer flags them as a place to watch footing.
- Is parking free, and does the lot fill?
- Parking is free and the lot is small. Reviewers found it full on a mild December weekday, so a nice-weather weekend is a gamble.
- Can the walk be combined with Horsetooth Reservoir?
- Yes. The northern end connects to the reservoir's boat launch, with shoreline access for fishing along the way.
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Civic Center Park
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