Coyote Ridge Natural Area Trail Map and Parking
Coyote Ridge Natural Area is managed by the City of Fort Collins and is located 15 minutes northwest of Loveland, Colorado and 15 minutes southwest of Fort Collins, Colorado on Taft Hill Road/Wilson Avenue. Primary activities at Coyote Ridge are hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, nordic walking, and trail running. Dogs are not allowed in the natural area. Parking is free. Restrooms are located one mile inside the park. There is supposed to be a water fountain at the cabin near the restrooms but I did not see it. Cell phone service was intermittent while in the park.
Coyote Ridge Trail - First Mile
The Coyote Ridge trail is located in the montane shrublands, defined as an ecotone or transition zone between grasslands and montane forests. The first mile of the Coyote Ridge trail is flat and wide, and, thus, is suitable for nordic walking and wheel chairs. Total elevation gain for the 2.0 mile trail is ~600 feet. This trail only provides shade at dawn and dusk and, thus, it is important to wear hiking hats and/or sunscreen.
Dogs are prohibited to protect wildlife such as mule deer, coyotes, and badgers. The following picture looks north along a section of trail that looks like what used to be an old road.
Plants and shrubs that can be seen near the trail include great plains yucca, rubber rabbitbrush, true mountain mahogany, and western poison ivy. The subsequent pictures show the trail as it leads up to the restroom and cabin.
Coyote Ridge Trail - 1/4 Mile Interpretive LoopTo the north of the restroom and cabin is a 0.25 mile interpretive loop that is an interactive learning experience for hikers of all ages (including wheel chair access). In particular, kids can learn about plants and wildlife that live on the prairie while at the same time view prairie dogs and desert cottontail rabbits running around near the trail. Interpretive stations showcase information, pictures, and hands on exhibits for lizards, insects, birds, rabbits, and prairie dogs. The following picture of the interpretive loop was taken from higher up on the main trail.
Coyote Ridge Trail - One Mile Ascent The second half of the Coyote Ridge trail is an aggressive 400 feet elevation climb that covers 1.0 mile of trail. For hikers, the ascent is moderately difficult and not overpowering. However, for mountain bikers and trail runners, the ascent is demanding and comprised of both smooth and rugged terrain.
Most of the trail is wide but some stretches of trail are single track. The trail is rocky in some spots but is not particularly technical since there are long tracts of straight trail.
Coyote Ridge Trail - Views to the South of Rimrock Open SpaceHikers reaching the summit are rewarded with impressive views to the south and west. Mountain bikers and trail runners reaching the summit are rewarded with a connection to even more trails that include 1.8 miles in Rimrock Open Space which connect to 5.5 miles of Blue Sky trails. It should be noted that Blue Sky trail can be accessed with much less fanfare from the Soderberg trailhead in Horsetooth Mountain Park.
The following video was taken at the end the Coyote Ridge trail. It starts facing northeast and finishes pointing northwest.Coyote Ridge Trail - The Descent
As can be seen in the following picture, the trail is very open and predictable for mountain bikers because a clear line of sight exists on most of the trail. Further, the descent is fast and fun but short-lived.
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- Fort Collins - Maxwell to Pineridge Natural Areas, Maxwell to Reservoir Ridge Natural Areas, Mountain Bike Skills Parks in Fort Collins, and Lory State Park Valley Trails
- Fort Collins / Loveland - Blue Sky Trail, Indian Summer via Blue Sky, Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, and Rimrock Mountain Bike Trail
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