Poudre River Trail

The Poudre River Trail is a 21-mile paved path that follows the Cache la Poudre from Island Grove Regional Park in Greeley through Weld County to Colorado Highway 392 at Windsor, where it connects to Larimer County’s River Bluffs Open Space and the trail on toward Fort Collins. It is wide, with gentle grades, kept away from road noise and busy intersections, and it runs through cottonwood stands and wetland meadows beside the meandering river; the trail association that manages it with the Town, Greeley and Weld County keeps a conditions page and a printable map. Walking, running, cycling and roller-blading are all in; it is for non-motorized use only, and dogs are welcome on a lead with waste packed out. Stay to the right, use no more than half the trail, give a greeting or a bell when passing, and faster yields to slower.

In Windsor the trail runs along the south side of Eastman Park, south of the pavilion, and the park’s big lot with indoor restrooms and drinking fountains is the starting point for most local rides. Other access points are River Bluffs Open Space (I-25 exit 262, east 1.5 miles toward Windsor, north on County Road 3, east on County Road 32E) at the west end, the Kodak Watchable Wildlife Area, and Poudre Ponds and Rover Run Dog Park on the Greeley end. The Town lists the Windsor section with fishing, restrooms and portable toilets, soft-path spurs and wildlife viewing.