From Homesteads To A Hometown
Trace the roots of Fort Collins on this two-hour guided riding tour through the Poudre River valley. Learn how trappers, farmers, and families built the foundations of the thriving community we know today.
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$35 USD
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Ages 8 +
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2 hours
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Colorado, Colorado
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Fort Collins
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- Fort Collins Founders; Poudre River Valley; Frontier Life Stories; Historic Settlement Sites; Early Town Development; Scenic Local Landscape; Small Group Experience; Riding Tour Format
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- Local historian guide, transportation, interpretive stops, historical storytelling, and small group tour format.
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- Comfortable clothing, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and water bottle.
Fort Collins: Early Settlement & Town Beginnings (Riding Tour) Features
Early Settlers Story
Learn about the first pioneers who arrived along the Poudre corridor in the 1850s.
Historic River Landscape
Explore sites where early homesteads, farms, and trading posts once dotted the frontier.
From Camp To Town
Discover how settlement grew after the military’s departure, leading to Fort Collins’ founding in 1873.
Fort Collins: Early Settlement & Town Beginnings (Riding Tour) Details
- Highlights
- Description
- Itinerary
- Price & Availability
- Food & Drink
- Instructions
- Restrictions
- Transportation
Highlights
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Fort Collins Founders
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Poudre River Valley
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Frontier Life Stories
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Historic Settlement Sites
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Early Town Development
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Scenic Local Landscape
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Small Group Experience
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Riding Tour Format
Description
Travel back to the days when Fort Collins was little more than a handful of cabins along the Poudre River. This two-hour guided riding tour explores the earliest years of settlement and the beginnings of the community that would become Fort Collins.
Your guide, a local historian, leads you through the landscape where trappers like Antoine Janis and early ranching families first settled. Learn how Euro-American pioneers were drawn to the fertile valley, how they interacted with Native tribes, and how the U.S. Army’s presence encouraged more families to put down roots.
The tour covers key sites tied to early homesteads, trading posts, and the formation of Camp Collins’ civilian community after the military’s departure in 1866. Along the route, enjoy views of the Cache la Poudre River, open meadows, and foothill ridges that remain much as they were 150 years ago.
Beginning and ending at Watson Lake State Wildlife Area near Laporte, this comfortable ride offers plenty of time for storytelling, photography, and reflection on the resilience and spirit of Colorado’s early settlers.
Itinerary
9:45 AM — Check in at Watson Lake State Wildlife Area parking lotn10:00 AM — Begin tour with overview of Poudre River settlementn10:30 AM — Visit sites of early homesteads and farmsteadsn11:00 AM — Stop for stories about Antoine Janis and early settlersn11:30 AM — Learn about the transition from Camp Collins to Fort Collins townn12:00 PM — Return to starting point; Q&A with guide
Price & Availability
$35 per adult (Ages 13 +). Discounts for children, seniors, and veterans. Groups of 4+ save 10 %. Free reschedule for weather.
Food & Drink
No meals included; guests may bring water or snacks.
Instructions
Check in 15 minutes early at Watson Lake State Wildlife Area entrance (~4900 Rist Canyon Rd, Laporte).
Restrictions
Ages 8 + recommended. Minimal walking; restrooms available at most stops. Operates May–October, weather permitting.
Transportation
Transportation provided as part of the guided ride.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins Settlement Tour
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CONTACT US
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National Park Tours
700 Rochelle Cir
Fort Collins, CO 80526 -
Meeting locations vary for each tour: You will be sent a meeting location after you book
