Reservoir Ridge Natural Area
Rocky foothills hike with panoramic views and a stream crossing
About this park
Reservoir Ridge Natural Area is a rugged open-space preserve on the northwest edge of Fort Collins, with several miles of exposed trails that climb through grasslands and rock outcroppings to ridge-top views. Dogs hike here on leash and will find a bridge stream crossing roughly 25 minutes in from the trailhead. No shade on most routes, so this is a morning outing in summer.
Amenities
What visitors say
Synthesized from 476 Google reviewsConsistently described as breathtaking and free to access. The ridge views and varied terrain make it one of the more rewarding natural-area walks in the Fort Collins system.
Weekday early mornings are quiet, with mostly solo hikers and occasional trail runners. Weekend crowds are smaller than other natural areas in the system, likely due to the rocky terrain.
Best for
Before you go
Bring water for both of you. The trail gets hot and fully exposed by midday in summer. Arrive early on weekends; midday Sunday traffic is light. Some trail sections are rocky enough to be hard on older dogs.
