Fort Collins In A Nutshell

Fort Collins is a city nestled in the foothills of the majestic Rocky Mountains in northern Colorado. It is home to Colorado State University and has been dubbed the "Choice City" for the number of "best of" lists it tops. It offers a thriving arts and music scene, eclectic shops and restaurants, hundreds of miles of walking and biking paths, a growing progressive green and tech business base, world-class beer, and access to abundant outdoor pursuits. Downtown Fort Collins is the ideal destination for exploring fine and folk art, craft breweries, independent restaurants and distinctive shops, and festivals and live performances in a lively urban environment. In close proximity to Denver, Fort Collins is known for its value and affordability, providing a perfect jumping off point for exploration.

Wide Open Spaces

Abundant outdoor adventure heavily factors into Fort Collins' reputation as a top destination - both for visitors and those looking for a new hometown. The city boasts 50 parks, 280-plus miles of trails - including paved and unpaved walking and bike trails, four recreation centers and swimming pools, three public golf courses and a racquet sports complex, two sheets of ice for hockey and free skating, and skateboard and dog parks. Add in Horsetooth Reservoir, the Poudre Canyon and acres of Natural Areas, National Forest and surrounding National Park lands and let abundance inspire adventure.

Fort Collins Loves Cyclists

Cycling opportunities prevail in and around Fort Collins and getting to know the area atop two wheels offers a bounty of benefits. Road cyclists will appreciate the 280-plus miles of relatively flat, wide bike lanes, trails and paths. Mountain bikers have many options minutes from downtown, and more just a bit further into the surrounding backcountry. Lory State Park, Horsetooth Mountain Park and Red Mountain Open Space offer abundance and intrigue. Lory State Park also features Colorado's first officially state-sponsored dirt/pump track: The Corral Center Mountain Bike Park.

The Renowned Fort Collins Bike Library

Since spring of 2008, the Fort Collins Bike Library in Old Town loans bicycles to visitors and residents. Loans are available for up to seven days with an annual membership of $10.

Platinum Level Bicycle Friendly Destination

Fort Collins received a Platinum Level Bicycle Friendly designation from the Community League of American Bicyclists in May 2013. The city also leads the U.S. in the number of bike-friendly businesses, as recognized by the same organization; Fort Collins boasts a total of 39 bike-friendly companies.

Craft Culture: College Town

Most people know Fort Collins as the home of Colorado State University (CSU), a Mecca for beer enthusiasts and the jumping off point for outdoor adventure in the northernmost part of the state. What many people don't know is that Fort Collins is also a craft culture hub. This unassumingly hip Northern Colorado college town is home to entrepreneurs and craftspeople at the top of their trade, including craft brewers, third wave coffee shops, bike manufacturers, homegrown bands, food fanatics and fine artists.

The Flip Side of Craft: Foco's Booming Tech Trade

Fort Collins boasts an alter ego born from its college town roots and its reputation as the "Choice City," topping a bevy of "best of" lists, for everything from retirement to riding a bike. Colorado State University (CSU) innovations and innovators fuel the town's tech trade and new tech start-ups are drawn to the Northern Colorado capitol like bees to the flower.

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