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3. Lory State Park

Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Welcome to the Lory State Park Department!

Hidden in the foothills twenty minutes west of Fort Collins, Lory State Park is an outdoor recreation enthusiast’s dream. Its 2,591 acres with a varied landscape that includes unique rock outcroppings, sandstone hogbacks, grassy open meadows, shrubby hillsides and ponderosa pine forests. Overlooking the Fort Collins area from a breathtaking elevation of 6,780 feet is Arthur’s Rock, a jutting granite formation named for an early local settler. Formerly ranchland, Lory State Park was purchased from the original owners in 1967. It was named and dedicated in honor of Dr. Charles A. Lory (1872-1969), president of Colorado State University from 1909 until 1940. 

Hit the trail at Lory State Park and enjoy mountain biking, hiking, picnicking and horseback riding amid some fabulous foothills scenery just minutes from Fort Collins and adjacent to Horsetooth Reservoir.

From rolling valleys to mountainous hillsides, Lory State Park's 26 miles of trails rarely exceed a 12 percent grade. The variety of trails is great for short or long hikes, mountain bike rides, horseback rides and trail runs. Backcountry camping is also available for visitors looking for a quiet getaway close to suburban Fort Collins.

The trails on the east side of Lory provide access to some of Horsetooth Reservoir's bays and coves. Canoeists, kayakers, and rafters can hand-launch their crafts within a short walk from the North Eltuck Bay parking lot. Power boaters can launch their boats at the Horsetooth Dam boat ramp 2 miles away in Horsetooth Reservoir. Power boating is also available at the nearby Boyd Lake State Park. Boaters and off-highway vehicle users can now register boats, OHVs and snowmobiles at Lory State Park during visitor center business hours.

Upcoming Activities   Calendar

Register	Astronomy Program with NOCO Astro Society   Saturday, 27 July 2024 |   08:00 PM | Lory State Park |  Registration Required Join NOCO Astronomical Society at Lory State Park when they bring out their telescopes! A short program on dark skies with be conducted at 8 p.m. followed by stargazing when it gets dark.  more
Register	Junior Rangers: Well Gulch Hike   Tuesday, 30 July 2024 |   10:00 AM | Lory State Park |  Registration Required Put your skills to the test in this summer's final Junior Ranger program! Junior Rangers will use everything they've learned this summer and take a full guided hike on Well Gulch trail.  more
Waitlist	Pinecones: Trees   Tuesday, 30 July 2024 |   09:00 AM | Lory State Park |  Registration Required Learn about trees, how they help the planet, and the many different kinds there are at this pinecones program! This is a very sensory involved program where kids will be able to touch trees, sniff them, and see which animals use them for shelter! ...  more
Register	Junior Rangers and Pinecones Graduation   Tuesday, 06 August 2024 |   10:00 AM | Lory State Park |  Registration Required It's time for graduation! If your child has attended at least 3 junior ranger or pinecones programs at Lory, come join us for graduation and get sworn in by a REAL park ranger. Where: Lory State Park Visitor Center When: August 6th at10:00 am  more
Register	Goodbye to Summer Overnight Campout   Saturday, 10 August 2024 |   05:00 PM | Lory State Park |  Registration Required We're hosting our popular overnight camp at the Timber Pavilion at Lory State Park! Join Lory State Park naturalists overnight and listen to campfire stories, roast marshmallows, and more. Camping gear will be required, please bring your own tent!...  more
Register	Guided Geology Hike   Wednesday, 14 August 2024 |   08:30 AM | Lory State Park |  Registration Required Join a geologist who will guide you through Lory State Park’s 1.7 billion year history whose rocks, canyons, and hogbacks tell a fascinating story of repeated mountain-building, erosion and deposition. It will be about 1.5 mile long hike with som...  more
Register	Mindful Birding   Saturday, 17 August 2024 |   09:00 AM | Lory State Park |  Registration Required Mindful Birding combines observing birds with mindfulness techniques, creating a practice that builds a heightened awareness. Counting or identifying birds is not the primary focus, but rather, slowing down and increased attention, using birds as ...  more
Register	Casting Nature's Magic Through Poetic Spells: A Poetry 101 Workshop   Sunday, 18 August 2024 |   04:00 PM | Lory State Park |  Registration Required Poetry is one of the oldest art forms of humankind, beginning before the written word. Attend this program to learn about a brief history of poetry, different styles of poetry that's been written, and see how you can be inspired by nature to weave...  more
Register	August Full Moon Hike   Monday, 19 August 2024 |   07:30 PM | Lory State Park |  Registration Required Discover Lory State Park at night under the light of the full moon! Learn hidden wildlife secrets that you would never find during the day. An experienced naturalist will guide you along Well Gulch Trail and share some of their nocturnal knowledg...  more
Register	Birding By Ear   Sunday, 25 August 2024 |   09:00 AM | Lory State Park |  Registration Required The flowers are blooming, old friends are returning, and birdsong is at its peak. The sheer volume of songs and calls can often feel overwhelming for birders, but these sounds offer an opportunity and a challenge. Can you learn how to identify bir...  more