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Although wildlife can be seen throughout Fort Collins, some areas have higher use than others due to size, location and habitats. These natural areas are featured because of the amount and variety of wildlife use, or because of unusual characteristics.
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Gustav Swanson Natural Area
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Size: 12 acres
Key Habitats: River, ponds, riparian forest and grasslands.
Description: This area serves as a "living research site" for evaluating alternative landscaping and management methods. Forest birds, including migrant warblers, screech owls, woodpeckers, and magpies, are common to the site. Wetland birds include great blue herons, mallards, kingfishers and common mergansers.
Features: Parking lot off Linden Street; across from the Poudre River Trail; interpretive signs; restoration and enhancement projects; accessible trail.
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Cattail Chorus Natural Area
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Size: 40 acres
Key Habitats: Naturalized gravel-mined ponds.
Description: Provides habitat for a high diversity of migrant and resident songbirds and waterfowl. The cottonwoods provide a winter roosting site for great blue herons. Yellow-headed blackbirds nest in the cattails.
Features: Access from the Poudre River Trail on pedestrian-only trail; bicycle parking at trail entrance; benches; interpretive sign.
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Riverbend Ponds Natural Area
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Size: 225 acres
Key Habitats: River, ponds, marshes, wet meadows, riparian forest, grasslands, and shrubs
Description: Previously a gravel-mining site, this natural area supports abundant wildlife. This is an excellent area to view waterfowl, herons, rails, bitterns, cormorants, red-winged blackbirds, shorebirds, and other wetland birds. Painted turtles, frogs, muskrats, and beavers are also seen here. During Spring and Fall, a variety of migrant warblers and other songbirds can be seen and heard in the forest along the river. This riparian forest also supports owls, woodpeckers and songbirds throughout the year. Fox squirrels, cottontail rabbits, red foxes and both white-tailed and mule deer frequent the wooded and grassland areas. The wet meadow in the boardwalk area supports the prairie gentia, a rare plant found only in a few places in Colorado.
Features: Parking lots off Prospect, Cherly and Timberline; self-guided walk and brochure; soft-surface trails; interpretive signs; accessible fishing pier; boardwalk; benches.
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Prospect Ponds Natural Area
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Size: 25 acres
Key Habitats: Previously mined gravel ponds.
Description: This natural area is located along the river corridor near mature cottonwoods. The ponds provide habitat to waterfowl, especially in winter. Waterbirds, forest birds, beavers and muskrats can be seen here.
Features: Parking lots along Sharp Point Drive; access from the Poudre River Trail; interpretive signs; benches.
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Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area
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Size: 93 acres
Key Habitats: Previously mined gravel ponds. Gradual shoreline, wetlands.
Description: One of the two ponds has been reclaimed to create habitat specifically for shorebirds. A gradual shoreline and abundant wetland plants have been established. This natural area provides habitat to a high diversity of birds especially in the Spring and Summer. Red-winged and yellow-headed blackbirds, egrets, herons, sandpipers, pelicans and killdeer make use of the pond and wetlands. Warblers, kingbirds and song sparrows nest in the uplands. Painted turtles, foxes, muskrats, and both mule deer and white-tailed deer, inhabit this natural area.
Features: Parking lot off Prospect Road; soft-surface trail; interpretive features; benches; pedestrians only - no dogs, horses or bikes.
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Arapaho Bend Natural Area
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Size: 250 acres
Key Habitats: Previously gravel mined ponds, riparian forest, grasslands, river.
Description: This naturalized gravel mining site has several ponds which provide habitat to bass, yellow perch, and pumpkinseed fishes. Cormorants, raccoons, beavers, rabbits, snapping turtles, and skunks also live here.
Features: Parking lots at the corner of Horsetooth Road and Strauss Cabin Road, along Strauss Cabin Road, and at the Harmony Transportation Transfer Center; 2 miles of soft-surface trails; interpretive signs; benches.
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Pineridge Natural Area
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Size: 618 acres
Key Habitats: Shortgrass prairie, foothills shrubland, foothills pine forest. Adjacent to 40-acre Dixon Reservoir.
Description: The site contains a large prairie dog colony. Mule deer are common in the forest, especially in winter. Red-tailed hawks nest in the pines. A variety of foothills birds and small mammals are found here. The rare Bell's twinpod grows on the ridge on the west side. The adjacent reservoir supports migrant waterfowl and other waterbirds. Pelicans, ospreys, and bald eagles use this natural area. Mature cottonwoods and willows provide habitat for migrant songbirds, including vireos and warblers. Over 150 bird species have been seen here.
Features: Parking lots at County Road 42C and at the west end of Horsetooth Road; access from Foothills Trail; 3 miles of soft-surface trails.
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Reservoir Ridge Natural Area
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Size: 291 acres
Key Habitats: Shortgrass prairie, foothills shrubland, foothills pine forest.
Description: This site provides key winter deer habitat, and raptors are often seen here. Views of the City, Watson Lake, and Goat Hill to the north, south and east are spectacular.
Features: Parking lots off Centennial Drive and at the west end of Michaud Lane.
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Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area
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Size: 1,003 acres
Key Habitats: Shortgrass prairie, wetlands.
Description: This is a rare example of the Fort Collins landscape before settlement. A large prairie dog colony supports bald eagles and hawks. Horned lizards, ground-nesting songbirds, butterflies, rabbits, coyotes, rattlesnakes and foxes live here. The rare Bell's twinpod grows on this site.
Features: Parking lots on Shields Street and off of Seneca Street; Fossil Creek Trail; raptor observation building; brochure; interpretive signs; benches.
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Coyote Ridge Natural Area
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Size: 1,118 acres
Key Habitats: Shortgrass prairie, wetlands.
Description: Key habitat for mule deer, mountain lion, bears and rattlesnakes. Rabbitbrush, mountain mahogany and three-leaf sumac provide habitat for songbirds, lizards, rabbits, deer mice, foxes and coyotes.
Features: Parking lot on Taft Hill Road; soft surface trail (2 miles); 1/4 mile accessible loop trail (by appointment only 224-6118); restroom; brochure; interpretive features; benches. No dogs allowed.
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