As temperatures cool, leaves morph into orange and yellow and the days become a little shorter, it’s the perfect time for a fall road trip. What better way to see the drastic changes in the landscape of our state and sneak in a few tasty pit stops?
Make Fort Collins your home-base for the adventure. The Choice City is a great jumping off point for a road trip that takes you through five nearby picturesque towns bursting with small town charm. Or, opt for a longer day-trip loop that takes you on a scenic and historic byway.
What are you waiting for? Pack a few road trip snacks, grab your camera and head out for a leisurely weekend (or mid-week) drive.
SIX CLOSE-TO-FORT COLLINS TOWNS
Laporte
From downtown Fort Collins, take Hwy 287 north toward Terry Lake. As the road turns west, look for the exit onto U.S. 287B, which leads you into Laporte.
Also spelled “LaPorte,” which means “the door” in French, this rural foothills community is located just 10 minutes northwest of Fort Collins along the banks of the Cache La Poudre River. French fur traders moved to the area in the early 1800s, allegedly naming the river for the location of their stashed supplies, which included gunpowder (Cache La Poudre – or “hide the powder”). In the mid-1800s the town was on the Overland Trail State Route at the base of the mountains, becoming a bustling supply center. It was once the most significant town north of Denver, boasting a saloon, a brewery, hotel, butcher shop, blacksmith and general store. These days, be sure to stop into Me Oh My Pie for a delicious breakfast you can score all day! Vern’s Place has been serving up comfort fare, like skillets, corned beef, breakfast burritos, chicken fried steak and more for 70 years.
Bellvue
Just a little further down the road from Laporte is Bellvue, a small farming community located along the Cache La Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway, at the mouth of the Poudre Canyon. In addition to the gateway to some of the state’s best whitewater rafting, kayaking and fly fishing, Bellvue is home to Noosa Yoghurt, Morning Fresh Dairy, the Howling Cow Cafe and the Colorado Shoe School where you can design and create your very own custom shoes. Repurposing leather destined for the landfill and using recycled sole options, ranging from bike tires to balloons, attendees are invited to build something completely unique and custom during a one-day (sneaker), two-day (evening slipper) or five-day (shoe or boot) workshop.
Visit nearby Lory State Park, Reservoir Ridge Natural Area, Horsetooth Reservoir, and Pineridge Natural Area (south from Bellvue on N. Co. Rd. 23) if you wish.
Rustic, Walden and Steamboat Springs
If you are looking to explore into the mountains, then Fort Collins' best trip is up the Cache La Poudre Canyon along the Cache La Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway. This route features stunning scenery and stops such as Poudre Park and the newly formed Riverside Colorado, which has canvas tents, cabins, a convenience store and a coffee trailer. Further down is the Mishawaka Amphitheatre, which is a music venue with stunning scenery and a restaurant overlooking the river. The road continues to wind through the rocky mountains with cabin resorts scattered about, picnic areas, campgrounds, and beautiful scenery all the way to Walden, the moose viewing capital of the state! From Walden, it is just another 60 miles to Steamboat Springs — another popular Colorado destination for hot springs, skiing, mountain biking, music, and more!
Red Feather Lakes
In the same realm as the Poudre Canyon, but just north is Red Feather Lakes along W Country Rd 74E and still just a 45 minute drive from Fort Collins. At the mouth of the road is The Forks Mercantile & Saloon, a welcoming post with gas, a deli, and a sit-down restaurant and bar with a view! The stop is perfect for the start or end of a day-long journey in the mountains. Hence the name, Red Feather Lakes is home to four public lakes, which are perfect for swimming, fishing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, and overall enjoying! The Tavern at Red Feather Lakes has regular events, a full restaurant, and cabins to rent. A little farther past the town is Beaver Meadors Resort Ranch and Beaver Meadows Stables, home to a bevy of outdoor fun in all seasons as they have hiking trails snow tubing, horseback riding, ice skating on a pond, and more to go along with another cozy restaurant and lodging options. Other similar options for horseback riding and lodging include Sundance Trail Guest Ranch and The Stables at Gordon Creek by Tattered Saddle. If mellow and relaxation is the speed you prefer then go off the beaten path to the Drala Mountain Center, routinely named one of the best wellness spots in the country.
Loveland
From Fort Collins, head south to Loveland for an arts-centric community nicknamed the Sweetheart City for good reason. Here you can visit the largest love lock sculpture of its kind in the U.S. Stop at the Visitor’s Center and buy a lock, engrave it and lock it on the sculpture. The Benson Sculpture Garden features nearly 150 beautiful bronze sculptures on permanent display, each telling a unique story. Don’t forget to venture to downtown Loveland, a vibrant historic area chock full of locally-owned boutiques, restaurants, craft breweries, galleries and more. Peek at the 100-plus-year-old historic Rialto Theater.
Estes Park
One of the biggest if not THE biggest attraction in Colorado is Rocky Mountain National Park, located in the town of Estes Park — just 41 miles from Fort Collins. Rocky Mountain National Park covers 410 square miles and includes Longs Peak (14,255 feet high), 18 named peaks above 13,000 feet, 150 named lakes, and the highest continuously paved highway in the U.S. — Trail Ridge Road. The road is usually open from Memorial Day until early October. However, the park is open year-round and lower elevation roads are open during the winter.
A LONGER LOOP
For those folks looking for a little longer loop drive and dedicating much of the day, consider following our Northern Colorado Loop Tour Itinerary.
The Northern Colorado Loop Tour takes you across 360 stunning miles, connecting three central scenic byways in the area with the Cache la Poudre National Heritage Area. The Cache la Poudre — North Park Scenic & Historic Byway portion of the tour is 101 miles packed full of scenery and wildlife and is especially gorgeous in the fall. This byway meanders from the plains and hogbacks into the magnificent Poudre Canyon, over Cameron Pass and into North Park and then Walden. From Walden, head to Granby, located near Grand Lake and the headwaters of the mighty Colorado River. Trace the river’s course as it plunges into Gore Canyon, past Radium Hot Springs, Rancho del Rio and on to State Bridge along the Colorado River Headwaters and Scenic Byway. Head back to the town of Granby and past quaint Grand Lake for the spectacular return to Fort Collins via the Trail Ridge Road Scenic Byway. The route traverses through the heart of Rocky Mountain National Park along the highest continuous paved road in North America (at 12,183 ft.) and arrives in historic Estes Park. (Trail Ridge Road closes seasonally, so make sure it's still open before you begin your journey!) From Estes, the history lesson continues through Big Thompson Canyon and on to the Colorado foothills towns of Loveland, Greeley, Windsor and, finally, back to Fort Collins. This exceptionally scenic drive provides visitors a glimpse into the past while offering a bounty of recreational activities.
If you want to make a weekend of it, book a unique place to stay in Fort Collins.
