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The Spring Creek Trail travels 9 miles across Fort Collins, providing an important off-road route between the east and west halves of the city. The trail is paved and relatively flat, though some sections can be tricky to follow as there are many spur trails that can be mistaken for the main trail. Though it crosses some surface streets, it tunnels under most.
About the Trail
The western end of the trail begins in Spring Canyon Community Park, a lovely natural oasis crisscrossed with walking paths that meander through the park's grass valleys, wildflowers and cottonwood trees. From there, the trail meanders northeast along the wooded waterway to reach Rolland Moore Community Park, where there are numerous athletic fields, volleyball and tennis courts and horseshoe pits.
The pathway continues east, just a few blocks south of Colorado State University, the city's flagship school. The trail passes through Spring Park and Edora Community Park, a popular recreational spot with a playground, ballfields, tennis courts and skate park. Both are dog friendly and include restrooms.
The trail's eastern is in the scenic Cattail Chorus Natural Area. Many songbirds and waterfowl that call the area home, as well as butterflies and dragonflies that can be found around the park's ponds.
Connections
At the trail's eastern end, it connects to the Poudre Trail, a diagonal north-south route through Fort Collins.
On its western end, the trail connects to the Fossil Creek Trail, a paved pathway that provides access to the Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area. Or, head south on the Power Trail in Edora Community Park or the Mason Trail near Colorado State University.
The Spring Creek Trail runs between Fossil Creek Trail at Spring Canyon Community Park (2626 W Horsetooth Rd, Fort Collins), where there is parking, and Poudre Trail at the Cattail Chorus Natural Area.
Parking is available at:
Visit the TrailLink map for all parking options and detailed directions.
Did this trail on a pleasant, mid December Friday in the early afternoon. Traffic on the trail was not too bad at that time, but given how nice and convenient this trail is, I would imagine that it is quite heavily used at times. Depending on your mindset, heavy traffic and certainly rude users, could make it less enjoyable. I was impressed about how well it is marked/signed... which is good as there are a lot of junctions. Kind of cool to see the 1997 flood high water mark signs along the way.
I did this trail on a longboard and it is a blast for mellow longboarding. I started this trail at the East Prospect end of the trail and went past the official ending of this trail at the Spring Canyon Park 7.8 mi. The first 9 mi. are a very gentle up hill which is great for the return ride. At the 9 mi. mark the trail heads East towards S. Shields and it is a great downhill ride with just a couple of uphills. I stopped just short of Shields and made my way back to Prospect, a 22 mile round trip. There are a couple of short sections on this trail where you could break 20 mph. I did not go that fast. I stayed under 15 mph with foot braking. I will be back to do this trail again, way fun.
Simply the best way to access downtown FoCo or CSU campus if you live near the trail.
A beautiful well paved trail. The morning is the best, the birds chirping and singing away. The river flowing and leaving behind the sounds of nature. Highly recommended for the athletes and commuter. Enjoy SalZ
This trail, along with most in Fort Collins is scenic, has elements of open space, with jaunts through backyards and through the city. Now for the bad…
The absolute worst thing about the trail is the people. Fort Collins bikers put New Yorkers to shame. I have never experienced such rude and inconsiderate fellow bike riders. Very few warn to pass fellow riders and they refuse to slow down for walkers or bikers with children. I had several people pass in the middle when there were groups of walkers, dogs, and children on either side. The cyclists zoom through the middle with absolutely no regard for human, or canine life. These speed cyclist treat the path as their own mini road, and you had better watch out for them or get run over. I actually had two people yell at me for slowing down to allow room for a walker and her dog on the bridge.
It is truly unfortunate to see such a great trail ruined by speeding bicyclist.
The Spring Creek Trail runs from the Poudre River Trail near East Prospect Road west to the Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area. This trail is an excellent way to explore Fort Collins. There are numerous connections to roads, parks, and neighborhoods. The connections can make it challenging to navigate if you aren’t familiar with the city but they also make it easy to use your bike as primary transportation. The vast majority of connections are clearly labeled so it wasn’t difficult to make the trip out and back. But, you need to pay attention. We rode the Poudre River Trail in the morning and Spring Creek in the afternoon. For lunch, we stopped at Tastebuds in Spring Creek Village. Their paninis are wonderful. Spring Creek Trail is a scenic ride through a great town.
Starting at Fossil Creek Park on Lemay Ave., head west on the Fossil Creek Trail, then north on the Mason Trail, then east on Spring Creek trail, then south on Power trail, then back to the start at Fossil Creek park, you can make a 13 mile South Ft Collins Loop.
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