Fort Collins family bike rides

Creekside Park

Distance: 2.7
Elevation gain: 45
You don’t really need to earn your tacos, but this quick-and-easy sub-3-miler from Trek Fort Collins North will help you feel like you worked for ’em. Resist the Chipotle and Taco Bell along this route (though if that’s your jam, we won’t judge), and beeline to our fave neighborhood spot, DGT. Tucked away on Dalzell Alley, it’s got a laid-back vibe, vegan options, and killer carne asada.

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Fossil Creek Wetlands Ride

Distance: 6.3
Elevation gain: 201
Explore two of FoCo’s car-free bike paths, as well as some quiet neighborhood roads and a few designated bike lanes, on this mellow loop from Trek Fort Collins South. The highlight is Fossil Creek Park, a 100-acre urban escape with a prehistoric-themed playground (you’ve got to see the lifesize, climbable woolly mammoth), a skate park, horseshoe pits, picnic areas, and interactive water features.

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Warren Lake Loop

Distance: 3.5
Elevation gain: 49
This ride is just the right length for little ones who are building bike-handling confidence. Follow quiet scenic roads and a couple of short crushed-gravel sections from Landings Park in south Fort Collins around Warren Lake (you’ll find the best water views from the northeast corner). Landings Park is one of FoCo’s smaller parks, but has a playground, restrooms, and picnic areas. Grab donuts at Lamar’s afterward.

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Pelican Marsh Loop

Distance: 8.8
Elevation gain: 290
This mellow outing connects several south FoCo neighborhoods via the car-free Power and Fossil Creek bike paths. Watch for pelicans about halfway through when you hit Pelican Marsh Natural Area, where you also can explore the preserved prairie and wetlands on paved and gravel trails. From there, you’ll loop through Fossil Creek Park, home of a lifesize woolly mammoth climbing feature (a must-see), before reaching the Trek Fort Collins North store.

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Fort Collins Little Loop

Distance: 12.1
Elevation gain: 235
Cruise along the car-free Mason, Spring Creek, and Power Trails through quiet neighborhoods and city parks and preserves. You’ll hit the 65-acre Edora Park between miles 7 and 8, where kids can explore the playground or BMX track, and picnic under a covered pavilion. Drop in at the Edora Pool Ice Center, which offers public skating hours most days of the week.

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Poudre Trails

Distance: 12.6
Elevation gain: 221
This loop hits 14 of the city’s parks and nature preserves, nearly all on car-free bike path. Follow Poudre Trail along the Cache la Poudre River into Lee Martinez Community Park, where there’s a playground and pony rides at The Farm. Keep an eye out for osprey as you pedal through Riverbend Ponds and Kingfisher Point Natural Areas. Stop for post-ride tacos at DGT, just a couple blocks from Trek Fort Collins North.

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Lee Martinez Park Out and Back

Distance: 12.7
Elevation gain: 199
Start at the CSU Environmental Learning Center and follow the Poudre Trail through several parks and natural areas all the way to Lee Martinez Park. Kids will have a blast in the 90-acre park’s recently renovated playground and petting baby goats at The Farm in the park’s southwest corner. Make this ride even more epic with a visit to the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, adjacent to the park.

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Pourdre and Spring Trail to Warren Lake

Distance: 14.4
Elevation gain: 245
There’s a little of everything on this route, including lots of car-free bike path and some of FoCo’s most pristine parks. Enjoy water views from the quiet roads around Warren Lake, explore the playground at Edora Park and the wildlife at Riverbend and Kingfisher Point Natural Areas, and take in the historic Old Town architecture. When you’re done, grab breakfast or lunch at Rainbow Restaurant around the corner from Trek Fort Collins North.

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Fort Collins Square

Distance: 2.6
Elevation gain: 33
This fun north FoCo mini-adventure hits three of our favorite neighborhood taco spots: Los Tarascos, Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant, and DGT. Embark on a rolling taste test with a stop at each, or go all-in at just one (we recommend DGT on Dalzell Alley off Laurel Street between College Avenue and Mason Street). Either way, bikes + tacos = primo family time. Start and finish at Trek Fort Collins North.

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