Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
1 mi northwest · USDA Forest Service
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Outdoors
Wildlife viewing and birding near Fort Collins
Refuges, lakes and wild areas near Fort Collins for wildlife viewing and birdwatching.
30places to see wildlife
1 mito the closest
13within 30 miles
Good to know: Early mornings and evenings are best for wildlife; bring binoculars and keep a respectful distance.
Closest picks
Horsetooth Reservoir
6 mi west · Bureau of Reclamation
Horsetooth Reservoir, Colorado-Big Thompson Project , furnishes the main water supply for the Poudre Valley. The reservoir is 6.5 miles long, and is formed by four large earthfill dams.
Flatiron Reservoir
15 mi southwest · Bureau of Reclamation
Flatiron Dam and Reservoir are located on Chimney Hollow Creek 8 miles southwest of Loveland, Colorado. The dam and reservoir are features of the Colorado - Big Thompson Project . One campground with 41 campsites. Access is good.
Map of all 30 places
Map of 30 places loads as you scroll.
Within 30 miles (13)
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG
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- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Climbing
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
Horsetooth Reservoir
Horsetooth Reservoir, Colorado-Big Thompson Project , furnishes the main water supply for the Poudre Valley. The reservoir is 6.5 miles long, and is formed by four large earthfill dams.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Ranger programs
Flatiron Reservoir
Flatiron Dam and Reservoir are located on Chimney Hollow Creek 8 miles southwest of Loveland, Colorado. The dam and reservoir are features of the Colorado - Big Thompson Project . One campground with 41 campsites. Access is good.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Ranger programs
Carter Reservoir (Carter Lake)
Developments include 5 campgrounds with 151 campsites and 3 boat-launch ramps. A concession-operated public marina located at the north end of the lake (970.667.1062).
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Nature education
- Picnicking
- Ranger programs
Pinewood Lake
Pinewood Lake is located about 12 miles southwest of Loveland, Colorado. The Lake and Dam are a small part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project , one of the largest and most complex ever constructed by Reclamation.
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
Ansel Watrous
Ansel Watrous Campground is located on the Cache la Poudre River, 22 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colo., along Highway 14. Visitors enjoy the area for its great rafting, fishing and hiking opportunities.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
Stove Prairie
Stove Prairie Campground is located on the Cache la Poudre River, 26 miles northwest of Fort Collins, in north central Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its great rafting, fishing and hiking opportunities.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
Narrows (Co)
Narrows Campground is located on the Cache la Poudre River, 32 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado, along Highway 14. Visitors enjoy the area for its great rafting, fishing and hiking opportunities.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
Mountain Park
Mountain Park Campground is located on the Cache la Poudre River, 40 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colo., along Highway 14. Visitors enjoy the area for its great rafting, fishing and hiking opportunities.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Rafting
- Water sports
Jacks Gulch
Jacks Gulch Recreation Area is located 48 miles northwest of Fort Collins, in northern Colorado. Visitors enjoy the area for its great hiking, biking and horseback riding opportunities.
- Biking
- Birding
- Camping
- Climbing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Mountain Biking
Lake Estes
Lake Estes, a feature of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project , is formed by Olympus Dam constructed across the Big Thompson River.
- Biking
- Boating
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Marys Lake
Marys Lake is part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. There are 2 dikes on the shoreline of Marys Lake, located approximately 2 miles from Estes Park, Colorado.
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Recreational Vehicles
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Rocky Mountain National Park Aspenglen Campground
Aspenglen is located on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park near Fall River Entrance. All campsites in Aspenglen Campground are available by reservation only and can be reserved via Recreation.gov.
- Accessible Swimming
- Amphitheater
- Backpacking
- Biking
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Evening Programs
- Fishing
30 to 75 miles (17)
Dowdy Lake
Dowdy Lake Campground is located 48 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colo., near the village of Red Feather Lakes. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and trail opportunities.
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Kayaking
East Portal Reservoir
East Portal Reservoir is a feature of the Colorado - Big Thompson Project. This charming campground sits at the base of a mountain in the midst of a pine forest.
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Recreational Vehicles
- Wildlife viewing
Redfeather Ranger Station
The Redfeather Ranger Station has two cabins, and an office with a visitor's center. The Ranger Cabin and the Assistant Ranger Cabin are available for lodging. Guests must provide linens, bedding, pillows, towels and toiletries.
- Backpacking
- Biking
- Birding
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Climbing
- Fishing
Rocky Mountain National Park Moraine Park Campground
Moraine Park Campground is located on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park, overlooking Moraine Park. To access the campground, enter RMNP via Beaver Meadows, Fall River or Grand Lake Entrances and follow signs to Bear Lake Road.
- Amphitheater
- Backpacking
- Biking
- Camping
- Evening Programs
- Fishing
- Guided Interpretive Walks
- Hiking
West Lake
West Lake Campground is located 48 miles northwest of Fort Collins, in north central Colorado, near the village of Red Feather Lakes. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and trail opportunities.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Wildlife viewing
Bellaire Lake Campground
Bellaire Campground is located 47 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colo., near the Red Feather Lakes village. Visitors enjoy the area for its canoeing, fishing and trail opportunities.
- Biking
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Non-Motorized Boating
- Wildlife viewing
Rocky Mountain National Park Glacier Basin Campground
All campsites at Glacier Basin Campground are available by reservation only through Recreation.gov. To make a reservation, visit www.recreation.gov, use the Recreation.gov Mobile App, or call 1-877-444-6777.
- Amphitheater
- Backpacking
- Biking
- Camping
- Canoeing
- Evening Programs
- Fishing
- Guided Interpretive Walks
Rocky Mountain National Park
Located in northern Colorado, visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park can explore over 415 square miles (265,807 acres) within the Southern Rocky Mountains.
- Biking
- Camping
- Climbing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge
Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge is a natural oasis with native wildlife and plants in an urban setting.
- Birding
- Educational Programs
- Hiking
- Photography
- Ranger programs
- Wildlife viewing
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
This 15,000 acre site provides a Refuge for both wildlife and visitors. Through wildlife management, species like the endangered black-footed ferret are thriving in the wild and raising their young.
- Archery
- Biking
- Birding
- Cross Country Skiing
- Educational Programs
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Photography
Lake Granby
Granby Dam and Lake Granby, features of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project are on the Colorado River near Granby, Colorado. Developments include 260 campsites and 3 boat-launch ramps.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Recreational Vehicles
- Wildlife viewing
Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established on January 28, 1932, by Executive Order. Consisting of 1,928 acres, the refuge is located approximately 10 miles southwest of Laramie.
- Birding
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Wildlife viewing
Medicine Bow-Routt NFs & Thunder Basin NG
to Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland! Visitor opportunities abound on almost 2.9 million acres of National Forest System lands.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Climbing
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
Bear Creek Lake
Bear Creek Dam, the last of three dams built to protect the Denver region from floods, is located on the southwest edge of suburban Lakewood at the confluence of Bear Creek and Turkey Creek.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hotel/Lodge/Resort Privately Owned
- Picnicking
Cherry Creek Lake
Cherry Creek Dam, located at the southeast edge of Denver in Aurora, CO, was the first of the three dams to be built to protect the Denver region from catastrophic South Platte River floodwaters that plagued the area for more than 100…
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Picnicking
- Water sports
- Wildlife viewing
Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge
Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 560 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System It is situated south of Walden, Colorado at an elevation ranging from 8,100 to 8,700 feet above sea level.
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Wildlife viewing
Chatfield Lake
Chatfield Dam, located southwest of Denver on the South Platte River, was the second of three dams built to protect the Denver region from floods.
- Biking
- Boating
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
- Water sports
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Fort Collins. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
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Questions
Where is the closest place for wildlife & birding near Fort Collins?
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee NG (USDA Forest Service), about 1 miles northwest of Fort Collins as the crow flies. Next are Horsetooth Reservoir (6 mi) and Flatiron Reservoir (15 mi).
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including USDA Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.