8 outdoorsy things to do around Fort Collins that aren't hiking

Erin Udell, Fort Collins Coloradoan
Updated ·5 min read

If you want to enjoy the outdoors this summer, but hoofing it on a hiking trail is not your jam, there is plenty of other open-air fun to be had in and around Fort Collins.

Take skygazing (telescope not required), flower picking, bird-watching and outdoor movies, for example. Or head off on a summer horseback ride. Hey, at least you wouldn't be the one hoofing it on a trail, right?

Here are eight outdoorsy things to do this summer that are not hiking.

Skygazing

Turn your eyes to the skies this summer with the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society's weekend skygazing events in Rocky Mountain National Park, Larimer County open spaces and Fort Collins natural areas. Depending on the event, pre-registration and park fees may be required. The Northern Colorado Astronomical Society provides telescopes and skygazing tips. For the club's schedule of summer skygazing events, visit nocoastro.org.

A farm tour

Revisit Northern Colorado's agricultural roots with a tour of Bellvue's fifth-generation Morning Fresh Dairy Farm, 5821 W. County Road 54E. See where Morning Fresh's crops are grown, meet the cows that make its milk and learn about local farming — all while sampling some Morning Fresh milk and Noosa yogurt. Tours are $6 and start and end at the farm's Howling Cow Cafe. Sign up for one at morningfreshdairy.com/tours-and-events.

Pick your own flowers

Channel your inner flower farmer with a visit to Garden Sweet. The north Fort Collins farm — located at 719 W. Willox Lane — is ripe for the picking with pick-your-own flowers available July through September. Admission to Garden Sweet's flower field is $5, with the option of an additional $15 pick-your-own bouquet or $45 pick-your-own flower bucket for nonfarm members. Make a reservation to visit Garden Sweet at shop.gardensweet.com.

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Bird-watching

See Fort Collins parks, prairies and ponds in a whole new light by turning your eyes to their winged residents. There are several local spots to try birding, from Fossil Creek Park and City Park to natural areas like Riverbend Ponds and Soapstone Prairie, according to Audubon Rockies — the regional office of the National Audubon Society for Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Check out a full list of these locations and what birds you might find there at rockies.audubon.org. You can also up your birding game by downloading the National Audubon Society's free Audubon Bird Guide App, which helps users identify and keep track of the birds they've seen.

Horseback riding

Take in Northern Colorado's sights on horseback with guided rides by Beaver Meadows Stables. The Red Feather Lakes-based stables take visitors on 1-hour, 1.5-hour or 2-hour small group rides into Roosevelt National Forest, with prices ranging from $65 to $109 per person. While there isn't an official age limit, Beaver Meadows Stables recommends children be at least 4 years old to go on trail rides. Self-led 30-minute pony rides are also available for small children for $35, according to the Beaver Meadows website. Helmets are required on rides, and a 200-pound weight limit is enforced. To make a reservation, call Beaver Meadows Stables at 970-232-8326. For more information and rates, visit beavermeadowsstables.com.

Tube the Poudre

While Poudre Fire Authority officials say the Poudre River is never “safe” for tubing — with drowning, hypothermia and obstacles in the river always posing concerns — the river's typical flow drop in July usually makes mid-July through August a safer time to float (with proper gear and some planning, of course). The most popular in-city tubing run spans from the Shields Street put-in area to Legacy Park, which has signs warning river users to exit due to a low-head dam just beyond. The Poudre River Whitewater Park, located just north of Old Town along the river, is also a fun spot for kayakers and tubers to recreate. To stay safe on the water, a life vest is highly encouraged. As is good footwear, like river shoes. When floating, be sure to bring a buddy and let someone know when you are going and when you expect to return.

Want to tube or raft the Poudre River? Read this first

A walking history tour

Want to visit the childhood home of a Hollywood legend? How about taking a stroll past Fort Collins' first dedicated school house, one of its early hospitals or — gasp — a brothel that was notoriously raided during our city's early prohibition years? Take in all this and more on the Poudre Landmarks Foundation's self-guided historic walking tour. The tour features 36 stops to pick from with a handy map and backstories to bring the history of each site to life. Download the free tour at poudrelandmarks.org/historic-walking-tour-fort-collins.

Outdoor movies

The big screen meets the big sky with all of the outdoor movie options in Fort Collins, Windsor and Timnath this summer.

  • Windsor's Movies in the Park: Take in some family-friendly movies at Windsor's various town parks with showtimes planned into September. For more information, visit recreationliveshere.com.

  • Timnath's Movie Night Series: Watch "Top Gun Maverick" and "The Bad Guys" on the big screen in Timnath Community Park on July 21 and Aug. 11. For more information, visit timnath.org/town-movie-night.

  • "Encanto" at Canvas Stadium: Colorado State University's Canvas Stadium is once again opening its gates to the masses for a July 22 movie night on Sonny Lubick Field. While the movie is free, attendees are required to register at csurams.com/form/1221 ahead of time.

  • The Lyric: The Fort Collins theater has a slate of outdoor movies planned throughout the summer, with tickets costing $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and children, and free for Lyric members. For the full outdoor movie lineup or to purchase a ticket, visit lyriccinema.com/outdoor-movies.

  • The Holiday Twin Drive-In: Take in a double feature with a side of nostalgia at Fort Collins' last surviving drive-in movie theater, 2206 S. Overland Trail. General admission for anyone 10 and older is $9, and admission for seniors 65 and older or children ages 6 to 9 is $6. For the Holiday Twin's current lineup or to purchase tickets ahead of time, visit holidaytwin.com.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins things to do: 8 outdoors activities that aren't hiking