The start of fall means dining al fresco to enjoy fall colors and sunshine and Fort Collins is a picnicking paradise that is flush with fabulous foodstuffs and idyllic spots to lay out your spread! We're sharing the best outdoor spots to enjoy a picnic in Fort Collins and some of the finest food offerings too. Find parks, nature preserves, and gardens to lay your blanket and eat a meal.

 

Opt for the Whole Shebang

Mod Picnic Setup by river with pillows for seating and artful place settings

Save time and effort à la Yogi and book your perfect picnic with Foothills Picnics or Mod Picnic Co. They do the work, you have the fun. Choose your location, date, time, and extras, these companies take care of everything else: full setup and cleanup (!), with luxuries including table settings with full décor, plus unexpected touches like lawn games (giant Jenga or Connect 4 anyone?), floral arrangements, music and more. Locations vary from City Park to the Poudre River, to Horsetooth Reservoir, to your own backyard. Food and beverage options run the gamut.

 

… Or Go À La Carte

Perfect Picnic Settings: Popular for Good Reason

two people walking through beds of flowers that are various shades of purple

  • Picnic Rock Natural Area is a given for this category with its scenic setting along the Cache La Poudre River.
  • City Park is the oldest community park in Fort Collins and is beloved for its lake, swimming pool, and recreational areas.
  • CSU’s Annual Flower Trial Gardens showcase over 1,000 different cultivated varieties of annuals; they open daily and are free for visitors.
  • Horsetooth Mountain Open Space is a veritable outdoor wonderland with day use options, hiking, and biking trails, lake access, and more.
  • Gateway Natural Area is a true respite where the North Fork of the Poudre river joins the main Poudre river.
  • Old Town Square, the heart of Old Town Fort Collins, is a national and local historic district chock full of boutiques, cafes, and specialty shops. It’s also the perfect spot for an urban picnic.
  • Fort Collins is home to more than 20 craft breweries, many offering tasting rooms, tours, and a regular food truck rotation. Who doesn’t love a draft beer with their picnic?

 

Perfect Picnic Settings: Off the Beaten Path

two people on an overlook looking at foothills and prarie

 

Perfect Picnic Provisions: Traditional

a charcuterie spread in a box with a cocktail next to it

 

  • Get Plattered - These made-to-order fresh, seasonally selected platters feature delicious combinations of picnic classics like cheeses, cured meat, crackers, fresh produce, cashews, honey, apple jelly, strawberry lemonade macaroons, and more!
  • Snack Attack – Made to order and to-go picnic favorites, including specialty sammies, salads, and house-made cookies.
  • The Welsh Rabbit – Part cheese shop, part bistro boasting a cheese-based menu with charcuterie served sushi-style.

 

Perfect Picnic Provisions: Go Wild

many people eating on the grass at city park during the food truck rally with food trucks and live music in the background

  • Swing by Me Oh My Coffee and Pie in Laporte for The Fisherman’s Lunch (includes a bonus hand-tied fishing fly); the daily sandwiches, pastries, and pies are also OMGood.
  • Find your favorite FoCo food truck – a thriving nod to the area’s craft culture – and nosh on a smorgasbord. You’ll find 70+ food trucks roaming the streets, with popular stops at the local breweries and the area Mecca: the Food Truck Rally. The Food Truck Rally's last event for 2024 is September 17th.
  • Pick up a gourmet meal-to-go from a Fort Collins favorite: FoCo DoCo for gourmet donuts; The Farmhouse at Jessup Farm for rustic-inspired modern farm fare; Silver Grill Café for the famous cinnamon rolls; Emporium Kitchen and Wine Market for, well, everything…find picnic fare that strikes your mood right here.