One of my absolute favorite locations in Northern Colorado is the easily accessible and very beautiful Lory State Park. For $7 a day or $70 for an annual pass, Lory and many Colorado State Parks offer a fantastic adventure into our natural spaces. While I adore having Rocky Mountain National Park in my backyard, it is often very crowded in the summer months and three times the drive to access it. Thus, for closer hikes and yearnings of the outdoors, I stick with Lory.

The park offers a dozen trails for exploring a variety of ecosystems, natural features, and wildlife viewing. My personal favorite is the Well-Gulch trail that offers a great moderate hiking experience, with some of the best views in the area.

Plan for an hour to hike, and an hour to drive from Fort Collins. If you have the time, take a whole day to explore the area.

Happy Travels!

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