New Elk Meadow Trail Opens October 11 at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area

Contact Information

• Zoe Shark, Natural Areas Community Connection & Protection Manager, 970-221-6311, [email protected], Website: Website

Everyone is invite to celebrate and explore the new Elk Meadow trail at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area.

The Elk Meadow Trail gently winds 1.75 miles through the valley, over seasonal stream drainages, and among rock formations with views of redrock cliffs and foothills. The easy to moderate trail provides access to the most recently acquired and conserved 675-acre addition to Bobcat Ridge. It is named after the abundant numbers of elk that are found in this area.

The Elk Meadow Trail can be accessed from the historic cabin area or the northeast section of the Valley Loop Trail, 1.5 miles from the trailhead.

The newly conserved land, the trail, and the celebration are made possible by voter-supported sales tax ballot measures that fund land conservation, trails and educational efforts.

October 11 Celebration

Everyone is invited to a drop-in celebration to experience the Elk Meadow Trail on the first day its open to the public. The Elk Meadow Trail will be open to hikers, bikers, and horseback riders, no dogs are allowed at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. The celebration is free, no registration required.

Saturday, Oct 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Drop-in anytime, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to celebrate with cake and receive a souvenir sticker at the historic cabin, 1.5 miles from the trailhead parking lot. The cabin is one point where the new trail connects into the existing trail system. Activities for kids will be provided and guided hikes on the new trail are offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., departing from the historic cabin.

Visitors with disabilities can request accommodation by emailing [email protected] or calling 970-416-2815.

A Growing Network of Land and Trails

Natural areas and trails are actively being added to the Fort Collins Natural Areas network. In 2024, the Natural Areas Department made three land conservation acquisitions, protecting 643 acres, bringing the total of acres conserved to 73,517 acres at 52 natural areas to date. Recent trail and natural area openings include Kestrel Fields Natural Area and its 1.4 miles of trail which opened in 2023, and Soaring Vista Natural Area, which opened in 2021 with a one-mile loop trail.

Because of Your Support

The conserved land at Bobcat Ridge, the Elk Meadow Trail, and the celebration are all made possible by voter-supported sales tax ballot measures that fund land conservation, trails and educational efforts, thank you!

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