Puente Verde Natural Area#
Trail Status
Description#
A former agricultural site, 37-acre Puente Verde is co-owned by Fort Collins Utilities and the Natural Areas Department. Puente Verde translates to Green Bridge in English. A recycled asphalt trail provides southwest diagonal trail access from Vine Drive to Taft Hill Road where signalized crossings connect to more trails.
This area is part of a larger effort by multiple City departments and the County to improve bicycle and pedestrian access, connect people to nature, and provide neighborhood connectivity in northwest Fort Collins. This natural area helps connect schools, neighborhoods, the Poudre Trail, the Boys & Girls Club, and other nearby destinations.
The flat trail provides a nice place for a short walk or picnic. Puente Verde is a great place for birds, including red-tailed hawks and woodpeckers, and also butterflies and grasshoppers
In 2016/2017, the City completed the Project Outdoors: Plug in to Nature in Northwest Fort Collins planning process in partnership with the community and various key stakeholders. The goal of Project Outdoors was to understand the specific barriers youth and families experience to connecting to the outdoors, identify strategies to address the disconnect, and empower youth and the community to be part of a collective to solve it. Following the planning process, an Implementation Grant application was submitted to make the vision come to life. Although the implementation grant was not funded, many of the projects identified and prioritized in the planning process are moving forward.
Photos#
Puente Verde by John Bartholow
Puente Verde by John Bartholow
Trails#
A recycled asphalt trail runs southwest across the property. The total trail distance is about .3 miles. Find out more about trails and connectivity in this area.
Hours#
5:00 a.m. 11:00 p.m.
Directions#
Puente Verde Natural Area extends southeast from the intersection of Vine Drive and Taft Hill Road. The nearest parking is at Lincoln Middle School. Puente Verde has no entrance fee.
Activities and Events#
- Find free educational activities and events year-round on the Events Calendar. Activities and events in June-October are also listed in the Natural Areas Explorer.
- Learn about special events and activities each month by subscribing to the Natural Areas e-newsletter.
- Check out the Natural Areas Learning Library for self-guided activities.
Related Information#
- Know before you go safety and recreation information.
- Special people have volunteered to take an active role in the stewardship of natural areas by doing monthly litter pick-ups. You can join the fun and adopt a natural area, too!