CSU Environmental Learning Center — Local services in Fort Collins

Chill nature spot, good for a walk anytime and is connected to the Poudre River Trail. There is a commendable volunteer effort to keep the place pristine and indigenous. Many native plants like Mullein can be found all over, there's a fun suspension bridge and many tiny pier outlooks alongside the river. Many fondly remember the raptor cages – which were a huge draw for the ELC – but among other things, there was a serious avian influenza risk that caused the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program to cease use of the site. The Educational Ambassador raptors will no longer be housed at the ELC. There are however plenty of your usual Colorado forest critters, great horned owls and screech owls, and endless water fowl. This...

This was a really nice place to go to that represented how Colorado used to be. Such a bummer that the city is destroying many of the old trees here for "the river". It is debatable how much of this work is necessary. A number of trees have been taken out for a road for the construction equipment. Fort Collins used to pride itself on all the large trees and now they are taken down without a second thought. This was one of the few spots that still honored that. I guess not any more. It is very hard to believe the amount of destruction that has taken place was necessary. And the marketing around it being for ecosystems is...

A lovely place with a whimsical footbridge which was recently redesigned so as to be wheelchair accessible. A great place to take kids as there are lots of cute educational signs and you are allowed to take them off trail to play on logs or wade in the river. It's a perfect place for a short hike and is right on the edge of town. The birding is ok, it's probably one of the best places in town to see...