Weekend Guide to Fort Collins
Weekend Guide to Fort Collins
I recently paid a visit to Fort Collins, Colorado for the first time and it’s safe to say I plan to come back! Fort Collins is an hour from Denver and home to some amazing activities, restaurants, and breweries. It’s a short, easy drive so you can easily take a day trip from Denver, but my husband and I decided to spend the entire weekend there to truly explore what FOCO had to offer. We even brought our dogs to join in on the fun. I’m so excited to share with you my full weekend guide to Fort Collins! If you have any specific questions or would just like to connect, you can always reach out to me on Instagram.
Where to Stay
To start the weekend guide to Fort Collins you’re going to need a place to stay. We stayed at The Armstrong Hotel and it was incredible! It’s right in the heart of Old Town and walkable to every restaurant and brewery we wanted to visit. The staff was so friendly and the hotel was beautifully updated, yet with so much character. We stayed in one of their suites and it felt like home! Since it’s a dog friendly hotel we were able to bring both our dogs and the hotel provided us with dog beds and water bowls. It made our drive from Denver less stressful not having to pack those extra items in the car. The Armstrong hotel even shared a ‘dog friendly guide’ on hikes to take them on, dog parks, and dog friendly restaurants/breweries to visit. My dogs were living their BEST life that weekend thanks to the accommodations from the Armstrong Hotel! Inside the hotel you can find the ACE cafe, and the ACE Gillett’s lounge to enjoy!
Activities for your Weekend Guide to Fort Collins
Since we visited during the Spring, we spent a half day hiking. Living in Colorado, we hike frequently so we decided to tackle Grey Rock Mountain. Every hike we considered was roughly a 30 minute drive from The Armstrong Hotel.
Grey Rock Mountain: An 8 mile hike with over 2,500 elevation gain. We completed the loop counter clock wise, then went up to the summit. There is an option to only complete the loop and not summit. However the summit has two small ponds and amazing views so if you feel up for it I’d recommend it. In order to reach the summit, a bit of rock scrambling is involved and it is poorly marked so I’d recommend having a map pulled up at the end. We were able to take our two dogs to the summit!
Arthur’s Rock: This is a 3.4 mile out & back with 1,000 ft of elevation gain located in Lory State Park. There is a fee you will have to be pay in order to enter the park.
Horsetooth Mountain: There are multiple trails within Horsetooth. The most popular include Horsetooth Rock, and Horsetooth Falls. There is even a hike where you can see both! You’re actually able to go out and stand on Horsetooth Rock and depending on the time of the year you will see a small waterfall via Horsetooth Falls. There is a $10 fee to parking.
Horsetooth Resivor: This area is great for camping, swimming, boating, SUP, fishing, or kayaking!
Pineridge Trail: A 4 mile loop through rolling foothills with only a 250ft elevation gain. This is a great option for beginning mountain bikers or hikers, however dogs are not allowed.
Poudre River Trail: A 21 mile paved trail which is great for biking. P.S when you stay at The Armstrong Hotel, they have bikes you can rent for free!
If the great outdoors isn’t for you, spend your day exploring Old Town. It is full of shops, restaurants, and bars to keep you entertained.
Where to Eat & Drink
The weekend guide to Fort Collins wouldn’t be complete without sharing a couple spots to dine and drink! Honestly, if you walk up and down Old Town you’re bound to find a good spot, but here are my suggestions.
ND Street Bar: One of the oldest buildings in Fort Collins that was previously a bank, before it became ND Street Bar. Their dog friendly patio with heaters sits on one of the busiest corners in Old Town. Try their S.P.D.P. as an appetizer for something unique!
Old Elk Distillery: They offer whiskey flights, even flavored ones for those who don’t typically love Whiskey. My favorite was the peach whiskey! They also had delicious food.
Ginger & Baker: They have a variety of areas depending on what vibe you’re looking for! The patio is dog friendly and they even have a full menu for the dogs! I’d suggest lunch or bunch.
Lucile’s Creole Cafe: We asked a few locals their favorite Brunch spot and every single person said Lucile’s. Although there are multiple locations throughout Colorado, this specific location was very cute inside of a yellow house. You must try the beignets!
Ace Gillett’s Lounge: This speakeasy was actually attached to our hotel! It’s inside the basement and had such a fun vibe with amazing cocktails. My favorite was the Ambassador. They also offered food as well.
The Social: We didn’t have time to visit, but a few locals we chatted with said they loved grabbing a cocktail here as well!
The Exchange: This outdoor courtyard area is surrounded by different restaurants and is free of charge to enter. Whether you’re in the mood for food, drinks, or ice cream, this open air space is a perfect spot to come mid day after hiking with the dogs!
Krazy Karl’s: We did not go here, but if you’re in the mood for pizza try this spot! I’ve heard people rave about it!
Breweries for your Weekend Guide to Fort Collins
Another activity to include in the guide to Fort Collins is a brewery hop! Fort Collins is full of breweries walking or biking distance from one another. We have the ‘Hops Passport’ and used it 3 times during our weekend trip.
Odell Brewery: This is a Colorado classic, however this is the very FIRST Odell Location! They have a great outdoor space.
Crooked Stave: Dogs are allowed inside this taproom, but it’s also attached The Exchange so you can grab a beer and head out to the courtyard if you wanted! Although there is a Denver location, If you’re a sour beer lover, this spot will not disappoint!
Scrumpy’s Hard Cider Bar: Normally ciders are too sweet for me, but I had the Peach cider and it was so delicious! They served flights of cider, food, and even had outdoor fire pits.
New Belgium and Funkwerks are two others on our list we didn’t have a change to visit. I’d love to visit during the Fort Collins tour de fat held over Labor day weekend! It’s a bike parade with live music, beers, and more. I’d definitely plan to stay at The Armstrong hotel again when I do come back for that event one of these days!
I hope this Weekend Guide to Fort Collins encourages you to stay awhile & explore what the city has to offer. If you’re looking for more adventures be sure to check out my other travel guides.