This Rocky Mountain Gateway Town Is the Most Overlooked Adventure Hub in the West

An hour’s drive from Denver and Boulder, Fort Collins has played third wheel in the Centennial State for far too long. The bustling college town, home to Colorado State University and New Belgium Brewing Company, can go pound for pound with its ever-popular (and pretty epic, we admit) Front Range neighbors any day of the week. Whether it's on the hiking and biking trails, down the river, and in the craft brew ring, Fort Collins is a true front runner. That’s saying a lot in a hops-crazy state like Colorado.

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FoCo, as locals know it, shouldn’t be an afterthought for Rocky Mountain travelers. Not an I-25 drive-through en route to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park. Not a Saturday afternoon pop-in for the biennial Rocky Mountain Showdown between the CSU Rams and the CU Buffs (one of college football’s most underrated rivalries). And not a one-off summer day trip to merely raft the Cache la Poudre coupled with a quicky on a brewery tour.

Translation: Fort Collins is a destination worth posting up for a while. And since its locals are oh-so modest, allow us to brag on behalf of the humble northern Colorado town—founded in 1864 as a military post—whose resumé gleams with a throng of claims-to-fame. There are no shortage of things to do in Fort Collins over three action-packed days. 

How to Get to and Around Fort Collins

Fly into Denver International Airport, rent a car, and head north to Fort Collins in a little over an hour. You can book an airport shuttle with Groome Transportation, which runs hourly, but having your own rig opens the door to a smorgasbord of adventure in and around town, spots like Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, Lory State Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Boulder, Denver, and Cheyenne, WY, all within an hour’s drive. Fort Collins is also one of the bike-friendliest cities in the country, so hit up a local shop or rent an e-bike or e-scooter with Spin to cruise around day and night.

When to Visit Fort Collins

Like Denver, Fort Collins boasts some 300 days of mile-high sunshine each year, which make it a desirable weekend getaway no matter the season. For the mildest weather, spring and fall temperatures range from the 50s to the mid-70s, ideal for outdoor adventuring. Summer temperatures can climb into the 90s, but the air is dry in the Rocky Mountain foothills. This is the season to get your water fix on the Cache la Poudre River, days spent whitewater rafting, tubing, flyfishing, and cooling off after a sun-drenched hike. Fort Collins in the winter is a snow-season playground with nearby Front Range skiing and snowshoe trails galore. 

Where to Stay in Fort Collins: Best Hotels

In the heart of Old Town, The Elizabeth, Fort Collins’ lone four-star property, hits all the right notes—literally. In its lobby, the music-centric boutique hotel houses an Instrument Lending Library—guitars, ukuleles, banjos—and a slew of vinyl albums that you can jam to on your in-room Victrola record player. From Wednesday to Sunday, local musicians rock out at Magic Rat, their vintage-inspired music hall, while live jazz can be heard over a craft cocktail at the rooftop’s Sunset Lounge. Of its 164 guest rooms, three are custom suites: The Music Suite, stocked with a baby grand piano; The Ram Suite (go CSU!); and The Beer and Bike Suite, equipped with your own beer pong table. Downstairs, The Emporium Kitchen has you covered with an American-style brasserie, wine market, and in-house coffee shop, Bowerbird.

At the time of its 1923 opening, The Armstrong Hotel was the tallest building in Fort Collins. During World War II, U.S. forces used it as a barracks. Today, the College Avenue landmark is on the National Register of Historic Places and one of the coziest spots in town to turn in. After a 2019 renovation, the Armstrong is buzzing again—and no more so than in its underground cocktail bar, Ace Gillett’s, one of FoCo’s finest watering holes.

Where to Eat: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Come for the giant cinnamon rolls, stay for the country-fried steak and eggs, and the pork tamales, too—with hashbrowns. A double order. It’s no coincidence, and hardly a wonder, that Silver Grill Café, going on its tenth decade, has been called “the best breakfast in America.” Order it all. It’s that good. Plus, if you don’t sample a cinnamon roll in Fort Collins, did you ever really visit? 

There’s no better spot in town to snag a sandwich—and ice cold lunch beer—than Elevated Sandwiches in north Fort Collins. The cheesesteak is the play at this from-scratch specialty spot, but don’t sleep on the Cubano, Reuben, or any of the specials, which rotate daily. Inside a 19^th century farmhouse, The Farmhouse at Jessup Farm serves seasonal Colorado-inspired fare, like Elk meatloaf and Elk Shepherd’s Pie. Wash it all down with a barrel-aged cold one from their barrel house next door.

Where to Drink in Fort Collins: Best Bar

For bona fide speakeasy status, Google Maps shouldn’t ever get you through the door—getting lost, for a moment, is part of the journey. To land barside at Social, forget the blue dot and look for the grandfather clock on Old Town Square’s sidewalk; then, dip down the stone stairwell where an oversized wooden door, in true Roaring Twenties fashion, will chauffeur you to a subterranean, perfectly lit Prohibition Promised Land. Social’s barkeeps could double as storytellers (and magicians, for that matter), each elixir a testament to an era—like the Absinthe Frappé, circa 1874. For modern-day palettes, the Secret Samba (think mint-infused Cachaça) and the Oaxacan Sands (a mezcal-lover’s fantasy) are sure to invigorate your tastebuds.

Don't Miss: Top Attraction in Fort Collins

The heartbeat of Fort Collins just so happens to be Colorado’s only nationally recognized “Wild & Scenic” River—the Cache la Poudre, affectionately known as the "pooder" in these parts. With headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park, the serpentine waterway funnels down through Roosevelt National Forest and into Poudre Canyon, an epic glacier-sculpted valley carved by the river over millions of years. Today, the area is a mecca for outdoor recreationists both on the water and terra firma. Spring through summer, kayakers and rafters can rip their way through a matrix of dramatic bluffs and rock outcroppings on Class III-IV whitewater rapids. When the water levels drop, tubers float their way to coldwater thrills down canyon. On dry land, hit up the Greyrock Mountain Trail for vistas aplenty on a steep climb just 25 minutes from town.

Savvy Tip for Visitors to Fort Collins

Whitewater rafting might come to a halt in the colder months, but come to Fort Collins in the winter and you’ll have easy access to Front Range ski slopes, plus scenic snowshoeing in nearby Lory State Park, fat-tire biking in Mineral Spring Gulch, cross-country skiing trails along the Poudre Canyon, birding for bald eagles in their wintering grounds at Fossil Creek Reservoir, even ice fishing via Northern Colorado Fishing Outfitters. Oh yeah, beer tastes good in the winter, too, and the breweries never close.

Things to Do in Fort Collins Over Three Days

Day 1: Hike Horsetooth and Explore Old Town Fort Collins

Fort Collins’ best brekkie sandwich is in Old Town at Bread Fellow, a hip small-batch bakery in an old upholstery shop. The new café will also meet all your caffeine needs, which you’ll want to pair with anything involving their house-made Pan de Cristal sourdough—say, the Pistachio Strawberry toast.

Once you’re properly fueled, head to Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, a nearly 3,000-acre playground 20 minutes west of town. Hikers will want to bag Horsetooth Rock, a five-mile loop trail scaling 1,400 feet of elevation. The local landmark is said to be the heart of an evil giant by Native Americans. Fur traders later dubbed it “Horsetooth” for its jagged shape, which you’ll need to scramble up to witness FoCo’s best four-direction view: Rocky Mountain National Park to the west, Great Plains to the east, Wyoming to the north, and if it’s uber-clear, Pikes Peak to the south. After, rent a stand-up paddleboard (May-September) with What’s SUP for a post-hike ride-and-splash on the Horsetooth Reservoir.

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Build your own flight between 100 different taps at The Mayor of Old Town, one of the best beer halls in Colorado, and match it with a jalapeno cream cheese pretzel. Grab an afternoon snack at Nuance Chocolate, a bean-to-bar chocolatier serving one of the biggest selections of single-origin bars in the world. Then, hit up a tour at Vortic Watch Co., a local startup engineering American-made mechanical timepieces out of heirloom pocket watches. Some, like The Military Edition, have been salvaged from B-17 bomber aircrafts flown by U.S. troops during World War II. You’ll walk away with a newfound appreciation for watchmaking—and possibly a new wristwatch.

Having a pint at The Town Pump, which opened five years before World War I began, is a rite of passage in Fort Collins, quenching the thirst of locals and college students for decades. A must-order at the Cheers-esque community pillar (a 415-square-foot hole-in-the-wall): one of their hootch-soaked toxic cherries. For a neighborhood bite, The Regional is a worthy upmarket meal, its menu anchored by a double bone-in pork chop and grits plate. Near campus, Jaws Sushi has your Japanese cravings covered. Close out the day with some old-school fun—mini golf and arcade games—and a late-night libation at Old Town Putt or Pinball Jones. A honey-smoked Old Fashioned from The Reserve by Old Elk will get you across the finish line just as well.

Day 2: Rocky Mountain Road Trip and Brewery Hopping

Power up with a cappuccino and a pastry at Harbinger Coffee before hitting the road to Estes Park for some alpine scenery in Rocky Mountain National Park, which straddles the eastern and western slopes of the Continental Divide just 35 miles away from town. It’s suggested to have a timed-entry reservation to enter during the high season, but it isn’t required to access certain parts on a quick day trip to one of the most beautiful parks in America.

Short of the park’s entrance, and up the road from Estes Park’s downtown, Gem Lake Trail is the perfect morning out-and-back, covering 3.4 miles and some 1,000 feet in elevation gain through the pines and granite domes of the Lumpy Ridge area. In spring and summer, the trill of male Broad-tailed hummingbirds will accompany you to the hike’s summit, where your payoff is a shoal pond brimming with trapped snowmelt. Another easy payoff: Bridal Veil Falls, a 20-foot waterfall fed by spring runoff on the eastern border of the park. Accessed via Cow Creek trailhead, you’ll need to arrive early to nab one of its few parking spots. Before heading back, grab some fried bird and cheddar biscuits at The Post Chicken & Beer on the grounds of the fabled Stanley Hotel or a smothered barbacoa burrito on the patio at Ember, on the edge of Lake Estes.

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No Fort Collins’ trip is official without a proper two-wheeled adventure. If you want to get after it in the mountains, Front Range Ride Guides will lead to some epic, adrenaline-pumping terrain. For the ultimate FoCo marriage, cycle between breweries with Beer and Bike Tours to staples like New Belgium, Odell, Horse & Dragon, Funkwerks, Equinox, and CooperSmith’s Pub and Brewery. Most of these spots serve delicious fare, but if you really want to soak up your suds, head to Big Al’s Burgers and Dogs for their iconic 60/40 beef-to-bacon burger, a local’s favorite, and some fries. If you want to coast around town on an e-bike tour, Pedego has a two-hour ride along the Poudre, through Old Town, and past CSU’s campus.

Those looking to spend time indoors should check out a class at The Colorado Shoe School where, yes, you can design and build your own custom kicks. History and science collide at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery’s entertaining exhibits. And nature lovers will have plenty to do at The Gardens on Spring Creek, a 12-acre botanical garden and butterfly haven in the center of town.

Day 3: Run the Poudre River, Take a Canyon Drive, Hear Live Music at the Mish

Start your day with a chorizo skillet or some cinnamon roll French toast at Vern’s Place, a small roadside diner and FoCo institution that’s been slinging homestyle Colorado cooking since the 1940s. Once you’re full, head downstairs to get shuttled up Poudre Canyon for a half-day on the river with A Wanderlust Adventure, Fort Collins’ most seasoned guide. For Class IV rapids in peak season, thrill-seekers will want to book their “Blast of Whitewater” trip. If you’re new to rafting and want to take it easy, the “Taste of Whitewater” voyage is plenty of fun, coursing its way through Class II-III rapids with opportunities to jump in and cool off along the way.

For some world-class, year-round fly-fishing, anglers should book a guided trip with Liarflies, one of only two outfitters licensed to cast a line in the Poudre. Up and down the canyon, they’ll steer you to the best spots to snag brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout.

Before you head home, take it easy on a drive up Poudre Canyon along Colorado Highway 14, a winding scenic byway that skirts the river, topping out at Cameron Pass (10,276 feet), 90 minutes from Fort Collins. Keep an eye out for Elephant Rock and bighorn sheep that roam the canyon’s hillside. Cap off your Fort Collin’s epoch with some pub fare and a live show at The Mishakawa, a legendary restaurant and concert venue for jam bands on the banks of the Poudre. As the water rushes by its outdoor stage on your last night, know that this isn’t farewell to Fort Collins, but a see-you-later.

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