Recreation

Fort Collins regularly rates high on any list of towns that are populated by fit residents with excellent access to recreational facilities.

A quick glance at the people enjoying the city's 50 parks, 280+ miles of trails, including paved and unpaved walking and bike trails, four recreation centers and swimming pools, three public golf courses, a racquet sport complex, two sheets of ice for organized hockey games as well as free skating, even the skateboard and off-leash dog parks, and you'll want to get out there with them.

	Mountain Whitewater Descents 888-855-8874 www.raftmwd.com Whitewater rafting vacations on Colorado's only "Wild and Scenic River" near Fort Collins and Estes Park, the Cache la Poudre! (pronounced poo-dur)
	A1 Wildwater 970-224-3379 800-369-4165 http://a1wildwater.com The Best rafting adjacent to Estes Park, Denver and Boulder is on the Nationally Designated "Wild & Scenic" Poudre River with A1 Wildwater, celebrating our 30th year!

Open Space
More than one third of Colorado is preserved within national forests, national parks, and open spaces by state and local governments for the enjoyment of all. The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests lie to the west and north, between Fort Collins and the magnificent Rocky Mountain National Park; the Pawnee National Grasslands, an internationally known birding area, is 35 miles to the east.

Colorado State Park lands surround Fort Collins. More than 40,000 acres of Larimer County Parks and Open Lands area just minutes away from anywhere in town, and all offer rich eco-systems and limitless recreational opportunities.

State parks contain some of the most beautiful country in Colorado. Lory State Park, just west of Horsetooth Reservoir, also provides visitors with some of the finest hiking and backpacking around. Boyd Lake south of the city has 148 campsites and 1,750 acres of water available for fishing, swimming and boating.

Open March to November, Soapstone Prairie Natural Area is 25 miles north of Fort Collins and offers more than 28 square miles of wide-open vistas, nearly pristine grasslands, miles of trails, an archeological site and more. Seasonally, free activities are offered including guided hikes and evening programs.

The Colorado State Forest, west of Rocky Mountain National Park, encompasses the state's resident moose and some of the most majestic mountain in the state park system. Cabins and yurts are available for rent.

Cycling

Bicycling is a great way to get to know Fort Collins. With relatively flat terrain and over 200 miles of wide bike lanes, trails and paths, bicycling is a fun, healthy and environmentally friendly way to recreate and see all that Fort Collins has to offer.

Since the spring of 2008, the Fort Collins Bicycle Library lends bicycles to visitors and residents looking to explore the City of Fort Collins. They offer a variety of self-guided tours from the "Bike the Sites" collection, including the Brewery Tour, Environmental Learning Tour, and the Historic Homes Tour.

If it's mountain biking you are after, we have lots of great mountain biking trails minutes from downtown. Check out Lory State Park or Horsetooth Mountain Park for prime mountain biking action.

For those of you who feel more comfortable on the sidelines, check out our world-class cycling events. Don't miss New Belgium Brewing Company's Tour de Fat where you are sure to see some of the country's most talented riders. Hop on a bike and join them!

Golf

Fort Collins is pretty serious about golfing. Not only does the city offer two municipally owned 18-hole and one 9-hole course right off major thoroughfares, but offers a driving range and putting green. Didn't bring your clubs? Each clubhouse offers a full range of equipment for rent.

Visiting in January? If there's no snow on the ground, come on out and play. In Fort Collins, the links are open year round, and most days are sunny enough that only a bad shank into the water can spoil your game!

Outfitters

So, you're ready to get out into the Colorado wilds, but you're not really sure where to go, or you don't have the right equipment with you to shoot the rapids or sail over the city in a hot-air balloon.

That's where the services of an experienced outfitter can be invaluable. Fort Collins Convention & Visitors Bureau and Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce members can rent you all kinds of adventure equipment - from snowshoes to kayaks - and give you lessons on how to use them properly and safely.

They can arrange trail rides and cattle drive for that authentic Western experience, or guide you to the secret pool where they wily trout lie in wait to strike the fly at the end of your line.

Between CSU and the numerous local professional teams, the spectators in the group can get out and take in a game year round as well.