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Horsetooth Mountain

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Highlights:

Moderate hike, Great views of eastern plains, excellent rock formations
Near:Fort Collins, CO
Scenery:
Distance:5 miles
Elevation Gain:1396 ft
Hike Time:3 hours
Difficulty:Moderate
Trail Condition:Well maintained trail
HikeType:Point to Point



Summary: This hike starts off on Soderberg trail with a steady climb without tree cover up a set of switchbacks. It levels off about 1/4 mile up and takes you deep into Horsetooth Mtn Park. The trail is well maintained and wide open the first mile or so but branches off w/another trail, Audra Culver, and gets into some tree cover. Great rock formations along the way w/excellent views of the eastern plains of Colorado and Fort Collins. Trail gets more narrow farther into the hike, following a dried up creek bed under the shade of Ponderosa pines. As you start to level off again you come to Horsetooth rock trail. Take this trail and it leads you to the base of the rock. The trail does get a bit more difficult but the views are well worth it. Once at the rock, there is some bouldering required to get to the top. Those not wanting to climb the rock can enjoy the hike just as much from what the hike up has to offer.
Trailhead: Get on Harmony Rd. in Fort Collins and go west. This turns into CR 38e. Follow this road around Horsetooth resevoir until you get to Horsetooth Mountain Park. Entrance and parking is on the right hand side. (Lat:40.52 Lon:-105.19)
Trail Guides for Horsetooth Mountain:
Best Seasons: Fall, Spring, Summer,
User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Bikes, Horses,
Ranger Contact: Larimer County-Parks and Open Lands Department-(970)-679-4570
Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Bill Pawleshyn, who has posted  2 other hikes on this site
Trail Reviews  Page 1 of 2   Submit your own review
Reviewed by Sara on 3/17/2010
I did this hike last weekend, it was nice, it took about 3 hours. It has just few spots with a bit of ice, but it was excellent.

Reviewed by amh312 on 2/7/2010
I just did this hike with a friend yesterday (2/6/10). I am a novice and it was strenuous at some points and there is still some ice to manuever around. But once we reached the top, the view was incredible. It took us a little less than 2 1/2 hrs. up and down, we started around 3 pm and were driving home by 5:30. I'll be doing it again soon.

Reviewed by Jess on 6/30/2009
It takes some extra effort to get to the top where tooth is but the views are incredible and completly worth it.

Reviewed by Tom on 3/22/2009
Just hiked this trail yesterday. A very nice way to spend the afternoon. I agree with a previous poster that 3 hours is a high estimate. Ended up taking a little over two hours for us. The view from the top is great! Take your camera.

Reviewed by Robin and Bobby on 7/17/2008
Oh my gosh!! We did this hike twice this week because we loved it so much. The first time we went down to the falls which wasn't so much falls, but an okay little hike. The real treat was going up to the top of the rock. We were in awe of the views and took tons of pics. We saw a deer, but no rattlesnakes on either day. We had the pleasure of meeting up with a park ranger at the top of the rock who answered a barrage of questions for us and gave us a few tips on what to do when coming across a rattlesnake or bear. We highly recommend this hike to anyone who appreciates God's beauty and a few sore muscles. So well wroth it!!!

Reviewed by lynn on 7/11/2008
Great hike! took the kids and they loved it! now they're hooked on hiking. jealous of those who have seen bears!

Reviewed by Eric on 3/31/2008
Hiked this twice, most recently on 3/29/08. It's a great hike to start off the season. Plan on paying $6 to park at the trailhead. The trail gets busy on weekend afternoons...start early to avoid some of the crowds. The views from atop the rock are great!

Reviewed by Viewer on 10/1/2007
Moved to FoCo 2/07. Since May, I've gone up Horsetooth 7 or 8 times, taking different routes. It's not too hard, very scenic, and the view from the top is beautiful. Sent pics to my friends back in Ohio, they're very jealous. GrayRock is another favorite.


Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site.
Keys: Colorado Hiking, Colorado Trails, Colorado Hikes, Larimer County Hiking, Larimer County Trails, Larimer County Hikes

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