If you are looking to leave Fort Collins for a hike, many of our neighbors also have some very good places to hike that generally aren't too far away. An  open space is located just outside of Loveland called  the Devil's Backbone. Devil's Backbone is located off of Eisenhower Boulevard towards the Big Thomson Canyon. The backbone itself is a rock formation that can be seen very early on during the hike. The Devil's Backbone Trail connects to many other trails around the area, including the Blue Sky Trail, which can be taken all the way to reach Horsetooth Reservoir
Pets- Yes
Trail Length- Varied
Daily Pass- None

 Located off of CR-38 (Harmony) to the west of town is the thriving Horsetooth Open Space.  The park is home to many trails including the locally iconic hike to Horsetooth Rock and Horsetooth Falls. These two hikes are one of the most popular trails near Fort Collins, so always make sure you have another place to hike planned in case the parking lot is full. This past week, my family and I were able to check out the Horsetooth Falls trail. The trail itself is very easy, with a total distance of under 2.5 miles. There are very few steep parts on the trail, so it would not be challenging to bring a dog along for the walk. At the end of the trail, there is a very small waterfall with a nice pool of water at the bottom. It is also possible to get on the top of the rocks that the fall is coming off to see the stream go up further.  Spring Creek trail also lies near the end of the trail to the falls, so if you are wanting to connect to another trail and hike for longer, it will be possible to do so.

Trail Length- 1.2 miles
Pets- Yes
Daily Pass- $6

Arthur’s Rock is a medium difficulty foot only trail located in Lory State Park just north of Fort Collins. The rock can be seen from the town and is a very distinct feature on the mountains just west of us.  With an ascent of just over one and a half miles, Arthurs Rock is relatively steep for its length. Because of the steepness of the trail, when you reach the top of the rock, there is a great view of the town and beyond. If you are lucky enough to be at the top on a clear day, it is sometimes possible to see as far as Wyoming to the north.

Trail Length- 1.7 miles

Pets- Yes with leash

Daily pass- $7