An ode to wheels and summer fun in Fort Collins
Let’s face it. With a set of wheels – whether two, four, or more – you can go just about anywhere. Take Fort Collins for instance. From riding (or racing) your bike on gravel roads to catching a ride on the 100+ year old trolley, wheels really do make the world go ‘round. Here’s how you can roll through summer in Fort Collins.
Two-wheeled fun
The Fondo:
The FoCo Fondo, returning to Fort Collins on July 21, 2024, is both family ride and gravel grinder. This “daring gravel cycling adventure” starts and finishes at New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, and features route options ranging from 12 to 118 miles. The family-friendly 12- and 32-mile rides offer the perfect summer challenge wrapped in a fun package, while the 60-, 100- and 118-mile routes promise to test your mettle. The open category races can be won for cash, prizes, and a bolo tie. Click here for a guide to the entire weekend of fun!
Biking at Lory State Park’s Pump Track:
Just a 15-minute drive from downtown Fort Collins, Lory State Park boasts 26 miles of hiking and biking trails. It’s also home to the Corral Center Mountain Bike Park, which has a dirt jumps, pump track and skills area.
Platinum Level Biking:
Biking is one of the greatest ways to familiarize yourself with Fort Collins. The city is known for its reasonably flat terrain, exceptionally wide bike lanes, and trails that run alongside the Cache la Poudre River and Spring Creek. Not to mention, biking is a pleasant, healthy, and environmentally friendly way to get around. Whether you’re exploring some of Fort Collins’ 285-plus miles of trails or treading through the mountains, you’ll understand why Fort Collins is a platinum-level bike-friendly city. Ride to Old Town or pedal to one of the 20-plus local craft breweries and you might be surprised at how many people bike around town.
If you would like a little guidance on your first biking adventure, Fort Collins-based Beer & Bike Tours is ready to take you on your first fat tire adventure. Front Range Ride Guides also leads full and half-day mountain bike tours in the Fort Collins area, which include lunch and a video of your tour.
Four-wheel fun
Drive-In Music (and Movies!):
Fort Collins is home to the Holiday Twin Drive-In, one of four drive-in movie lots left in Colorado and one of only less than 200 left in the entire country. Located at 2206 S Overland Trail, the Holiday Twin hosts events and outdoor movie showings. Click here for the lineup, pricing, and other details.
Ride the Trolley:
During the summer, hop on the Fort Collins Municipal Railway on Birney Car 21, (also known as “Car 21” or just “Birney”) as well as Car 25. Only around a dozen Birneys around the world still operate as rail lines today and Fort Collins has one of them. The trolley runs on Mountain Avenue from Old Town to City Park and Grandview Cemetery. Each 3-mile trip takes about 30 minutes.
Food Truck Fare:
The popular Food Truck Rally is back in City Park in Fort Collins. Every Tuesday from May 14th through September 17th (from 5:30 p.m. to dusk), enjoy tasty bites from a variety of local food trucks as well as live music. Check the Facebook page for the weekly vendor lineup and weather updates. Biking to the event is encouraged and leashed dogs are welcome.
No matter how many wheels you got, you are sure to find a perfect ride in Fort Collins this summer!
