In the Footsteps of the Explorers, Fort Collins (Walking Tour)

Highlights

Description

Step back two centuries and trace the footsteps of America’s earliest explorers in the Fort Collins area. This two-hour guided walking tour reveals how U.S. Army engineers and naturalists mapped the wild Colorado frontier following the Louisiana Purchase.

Your historian guide leads you through the Running Deer Natural Area, where Major Stephen H. Long’s 1820 expedition crossed the Cache la Poudre River and recorded the region’s geography for the first time. As you walk along gentle trails near the junction of the Poudre and Boxelder Creek, you’ll hear stories of discovery, hardship, and the scientific curiosity that drove these early ventures westward.

The route covers roughly two miles on flat dirt and paved paths, with interpretive stops that connect the landscape to its 19th-century significance. You’ll also learn about the area’s ecology and the Indigenous peoples who lived here long before the explorers arrived.

Ideal for families, students, and history enthusiasts, this educational tour offers a tangible connection to Colorado’s earliest chapters—where the story of exploration literally meets the land.

Itinerary

9:45 AM — Check in at Running Deer Natural Area parking lot (3405 E. Prospect Rd, Fort Collins)n10:00 AM — Begin walking tour and introduction to early explorersn10:15 AM — Reach Boxelder Creek crossing site; discuss Long’s 1820 expeditionn10:45 AM — Explore the Poudre River junction and local terrainn11:15 AM — Continue trail walk and discussion of later mapping expeditionsn11:45 AM — Return toward trailhead with final stories and Q&An12:00 PM — Tour concludes; optional independent exploration of park

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 provided; guests may bring water and snacks.

Instructions

Check in 15 minutes early at Running Deer Natural Area (3405 E. Prospect Rd). Dress for variable conditions.

Restrictions

Ages 8 + recommended. Moderate walking on dirt and paved trails. Operates May–October, weather permitting.

Transportation

Transportation not included; meet directly at Running Deer Natural Area.