A small but scenic open space, River Bluffs’ location adjacent to the Poudre River provides ideal habitat for waterfowl and wading birds. Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, and owls call this area home, and Red-tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls have been found nesting in the park’s cottonwoods. An active Bald Eagle nest can be found about 1/4 mile away on an adjacent property, so keep your eye on the sky! As part of the Poudre River Trail, the path here joins to the larger 21-mile (east to Greeley) system, allowing for endless outdoor explorations and discoveries.
Cache la Poudre
Birding Top to Bottom
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. Some of the sites here are right in the middle of town; some are breathtakingly remote. High in the mountains, the Cache la Poudre River is born as a trickle beneath the feet of ptarmigan. Descending into the spruce woods, it grows into a stream serenaded by Boreal Owls and boreal toads, battled over by bighorn sheep. In the canyon it enjoys a rebellious adolescence, moshing with whitewater rafters and Common Mergansers, before finally maturing into a cottonwood-lined river of the plains. This trail allows easy access to almost every habitat in northern Colorado, from high-elevation forest to high-quality shortgrass prairie. Some of the sites here are right in the middle of town; some are breathtakingly remote. None of them will disappoint you.
Admission: State Parks Pass. Additional fee for camping .
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Watson Lake State Wildlife Area and Bellvue-Watson Fish Hatchery
Admission: Beginning May 1, 2021, a valid Hunting license, Fishing license, OR State Wildlife Area Pass is required for everyone 16 or older accessing any State Wildlife Area or State Trust Land.
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Douglas Reservoir State Wildlife Area
Admission: A valid hunting or fishing license, or State Wildlife Area pass is required for everyone 16 or older accessing any state wildlife area or state trust lands.
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Wellington State Wildlife Area
Admission: A valid hunting or fishing license, or State Wildlife Area pass is required for everyone 16 or older accessing any state wildlife area or state trust lands.
Ownership: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Lower Poudre Canyon/Gateway Natural Area
Admission: Gateway Natural Area requires a daily entrance fee March-November
Ownership: Municipal/USFS/Private
CSU Environmental Learning Center
The mission of Colorado State University’s Environmental Learning Center includes connecting people to nature and advancing the field of environmental education. With over 200 acres of cottonwood forest, riparian areas, and prairie grasslands, and crisscrossed by a few dirt trails, the ELC provides great opportunities to observe a variety of birds and other wildlife. Breeding birds include Great Horned Owl, Lazuli Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, and Common Yellowthroat. In migration, flocks of migrant warblers can sometimes include rarities; a Blackburnian Warbler was once seen here. Several species of waterfowl can be found on the ponds, especially in winter. Please note dogs are not allowed at this property.
Riverbend Ponds Natural Area
Right across the street from Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area, this natural area is very similar, with open, brushy ponds and a network of winding trails. The tall trees of the Cache la Poudre River corridor run down one side of the property, so keep your binoculars handy! Also look for ducks and geese, especially in the colder months, and for migrant warblers, wrens, and sparrows in the thickets in spring and fall. This natural area is a good place to find Osprey, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Kingbird, and possibly Green Heron in summer.
Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area
This natural area along the Cache la Poudre River provides wet meadow habitat, which is uncommon in the area and draws a variety of animals. The area contains a few ponds and marshes that can attract ducks, rails, Northern Harrier, and other wetland-loving birds. Other wetland creatures also call this area home, such as Muskrats and Painted Turtles. Please note dogs are not allowed on this property.
Fort Collins City Park/ Grandview Cemetery
Grandview Cemetery, which borders Fort Collins City Park, is a wonderful place to walk underneath a canopy of mature deciduous and evergreen trees. The cemetery is also a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the International Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program (ACSP). Look for a popular pair of Great Horned Owls that nest here in most years, and keep your eye on the evergreens, which can attract Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pine Siskin, and occasionally crossbill in winter. Rare migrants sometimes show up – most famously Colorado’s only Tropical Parula in the summer of 2005! Sheldon Lake, in the City Park, hosts waterfowl in winter.
Pineridge Natural Area/Dixon Reservoir
The dense tangle of deciduous trees at the north end of Dixon Reservoir, in the Pineridge Natural Area, is well-known among birders as one of the best migrant traps in Fort Collins. May is the best month to find migrant warblers, sparrows, flycatchers, and orioles in the trees. The narrow paths cutting through the trees are often flooded in spring, but a higher, drier dirt path encircles the area, providing some viewing opportunities when the water is high.
Horsetooth Reservoir
Horsetooth Reservoir is a deep, steep-sided foothills lake very similar to Loveland’s Carter Lake. In winter, it freezes late and can attract Bald Eagles, gulls, and ducks, including the uncommon Barrow’s Goldeneye. Pine and mountain mahogany woodlands surround the lake, providing breeding sites for Western Tanagers and Townsend’s Solitaires. This reservoir is one of the best places close to Fort Collins to see foothills animals such as the golden-mantled ground squirrel and the pine squirrel. This area is extremely busy, particularly on weekends and in the summer, so get there early! An entrance fee is required for most areas around the lake.
Horsetooth Mountain Open Space
This large open space has 29 miles of rugged trails through shrubby slopes and open Ponderosa woodlands. One might see Bullock’s Oriole near the parking lot and Mountain Bluebird higher up. Keep an eye out for White-throated Swifts and raptors in the sky overhead. Mountain Lions roam here, though it requires tremendous luck to see one. This area is extremely busy, particularly on weekends and in the summer, so get there early!
Lory State Park
Lory State Park preserves excellent examples of prairie, shrublands, and pine forest habitats, bounded by granite cliffs along Horsetooth Reservoir. At lower elevations and along the main park road, birds of the shrublands, such as Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, meet birds of the prairie, such as Western Meadowlark and Brewer’s Blackbird. Also look for soaring eagles, hawks, and falcons in the sky above. Other species of interest include: American Three-toed Woodpecker, White-throated Swift, and Greater Roadrunner. A State Parks pass is required for entry and hunting occurs at this location, so be sure to check for seasonal restrictions before visiting.
Rist Canyon
This canyon is a premier area for those seeking foothills and mountain birds. In the lower parts of the canyon, riparian areas host Lazuli Bunting and Yellow-breasted Chat. Higher up in the pines, one can find Dusky and Hammond’s Flycatchers, Steller’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, and Red Crossbill. In 2012, a fire burned much of this area, creating open meadows now inhabited by Mountain and Western Bluebirds. However, many of the best tracts of forest remain untouched, including a lush section half a mile above the turnoff to Stratton Park Road that boasts breeding Ovenbird and Virginia’s Warbler. Note: it may be difficult to find places to stop along the road, so please use caution when exploring this area.
Watson Lake State Wildlife Area and Bellvue-Watson Fish Hatchery
This small State Wildlife Area sits at the base of a cliff that is a traditional nesting site for Golden Eagles, White-throated Swifts, and Canyon Wrens. The lake attracts waterfowl in late fall and early spring, including Hooded Mergansers. Please note public access is prohibited on the northwest side, as posted. Stop by the nearby Bellvue-Watson Fish Hatchery, as self-guided tours, fishing, birdwatching, and nature trails make this an excellent education and recreation destination.
Reservoir Ridge Natural Area
This popular hiking trail includes grassland, mountain mahogany shrub steppe, and some ponderosa pine habitats. There are three entrances, but the trail from the parking lot on Overland Trail Road passed through an area that can host Bobolinks during summer months. This has been one of the most (if not the only) reliable places to find Bobolinks in Larimer County.
Poudre Trail – Ft. Collins Section
This 10-mile paved bike trail follows the Cache la Poudre River, connecting the towns of Bellvue, LaPorte, and Fort Collins, and running through a rich strip of riparian forest. Look for a variety of migrant birds in May, including flashy Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, and warblers. Species such as Eastern Kingbird and Western Wood-Pewee may breed side-by-side here. Also look for Red Foxes and Raccoons in the woods. There are a number of parks and other trail connections along this route, allowing for hours of outdoor exploration! The City of Fort Collins plans to expand the corridor east toward I-25 so stay tuned for future opportunities. For a longer day, stop by the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery to learn more about the area’s local natural history, as well as see their live black-footed ferrets on display.
Douglas Reservoir State Wildlife Area
This large reservoir can be very good for waterbirds, especially in late fall before it freezes. Watch for Bald Eagles, various ducks and gulls, the occasional loon, and Northern Shrike in winter. Keep your eye on the surrounding shrublands for visiting and nesting birds.
Wellington State Wildlife Area
This State Wildlife Area is comprised of three units, Wellington, Schware, and Cobb, and offers limited access However, when visiting is permitted, this can be a good place to look for migrants in the junipers and other shrubs, and for roosting Short-eared and Long-eared Owls in winter. The Cobb Lake unit is open year round; its namesake lake sometimes attracts waterfowl and shorebirds. Hunting occurs on the Wellington and Schware units, so be sure to check for seasonal restrictions before visiting these properties.
Hamilton Reservoir
Hamilton Reservoir was created as a cooling lagoon for Platte River Power Authority’s Rawhide Energy Station. Because of the warm water coming in from the power plant, it stays open even in the coldest winter weather. During cold spells when all the other water in the region is frozen, ducks, geese, grebes and other waterbirds can congregate here in huge numbers. The power company maintains a visitor viewing area on the south side of the reservoir where birds are easily seen with a scope. The utility also maintains an area of native prairie to the west that can be viewed from the entrance road. Lark Buntings, Grasshopper Sparrows, Common Nighthawks, and other prairie birds can often be found here in summer. If you are lucky, you may even see part of the bison herd that Platte River maintains on the land.
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area
This beautiful, remote natural area on the Wyoming border conserves an enormous area of native grasslands and brushy draws. Soapstone is an important part of the Laramie Foothills Mountains to Plains Project, a partnered conservation effort to create a corridor of protected lands connecting the mountains to the plains. Because of the extensive landscape, it is possible to hike the trails here for hours without seeing another person. Lark Buntings, Grasshopper Sparrows, and other prairie birds can be seen right along the entrance road in summer, as can pronghorn and jackrabbits. A herd of bison roams a 1000-acre enclosure here, and can sometimes be seen from the road. Mountain Plovers and Burrowing Owls breed on the property, but they are difficult to see because the trail into the best habitat is closed April 1 – July 15 to protect them from disturbance.
A hike up into the mountain mahogany scrub could produce Spotted Towhee, Brown Thrasher, and with luck, even Virginia’s Warbler. An exciting comeback story – the endangered black-footed ferret was reintroduced back to this property and once again hunts on the open prairie. The trails access remote backcountry, and hikers should be well prepared to deal alone with potential emergencies. This natural area is closed December – February and dogs are not allowed.
Lower Poudre Canyon/Gateway Natural Area
As Colorado Highway 14 follows the Cache la Poudre River west up into the mountains, it passes several trailheads and parks along the way that provide access to the river and adjacent habitats. Gateway Natural Area just may be the best of these. Look for American Dippers bobbing on the rocks in the middle of the river, and Common Mergansers floating on the water. Also watch along the highway for bighorn sheep and mule deer that can sometimes be seen from the road. The 2020 fire has radically changes some areas of the canyon, effecting birding. But, near the River, in most areas, there are still some trees.
Laramie River Road
This remote road runs about 20 miles from high-elevation spruce-fir forest down to open sagebrush and wet meadows, through several different forest types, with a tremendous diversity of birds and other wildlife in between, from marmots to elk. Much of the land along the road is public, and there are several National Forest campgrounds and primitive campsites. With luck, Veery can be heard in some areas of dense willows. The burn scar from the 2020 fires devestated the upper hills in the upper valley, but the lower areas are good and the meadows are good for birding.
Cameron Pass and upper Poudre Canyon
The beautiful spruce-fir forest here is home to high-mountain birds such as Pine Grosbeak, Gray Jay, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Cassin’s Finch, and Red Crossbill. Occasionally, White-winged Crossbills can be seen near the top of the road. The area around Cameron Pass is famous as a site for the highly elusive Boreal Owl, which is best heard late at night, between February and April, within 2 miles of the pass. Also watch for bighorn sheep crossing the road in daylight, and porcupines crossing the road at night. Moose are in the area, seen usually in meadows with creeks running through them. The 2020 fire scorched some areas, but left other areas untouched.