1.  CPW
2.  CPW Connect
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.

Featured Activities

Family Fall Movie Night Series

  Friday, 03 October 2025 |   06:30 PM | Lory State Park

Grab your blankets, bundle up and join us under the autumn sky for our Family Fall Movie Night Se...

 Sign Up

Upcoming Activities   Calendar

Sign Up	S'mores and Stories: Star Stories   Saturday, 20 September 2025 |   06:30 PM | Lory State Park Gather around the glow of the campfire for a magical evening of stories and s'mores in the park. This family-friendly event is the perfect way to spend an evening connecting with nature and enjoying quality time together. We will share fun tal...  more
Sign Up	Family Fall Movie Night Series   Friday, 03 October 2025 |   06:30 PM | Lory State Park Grab your blankets, bundle up and join us under the autumn sky for our Family Fall Movie Night Series. Each week we will feature a family-friendly Halloween favorite on the big screen surround by the crisp park air and the fall leaves. Enjoy ta...  more
Sign Up	Full Moon Guided Hike   Monday, 06 October 2025 |   06:30 PM | Lory State Park Discover Lory State Park at night under the light of the full moon! The pink moon will illuminate the secrets of the park after dark. Learn about the wildlife that come awake during the night and the adaptations that allow them to survive the dark...  more
Sign Up	Family Fall Movie Night Series   Saturday, 11 October 2025 |   06:00 PM | Lory State Park Grab your blankets, bundle up and join us under the autumn sky for our Family Fall Movie Night Series. Each week we will feature a family-friendly Halloween favorite on the big screen surround by the crisp park air and the fall leaves. Enjoy ta...  more
Sign Up	Family Fall Movie Night Series   Saturday, 18 October 2025 |   06:00 PM | Lory State Park Grab your blankets, bundle up and join us under the autumn sky for our Family Fall Movie Night Series. Each week we will feature a family-friendly Halloween favorite on the big screen surround by the crisp park air and the fall leaves. Enjoy ta...  more
Sign Up	Scary Movie at the Park   Friday, 24 October 2025 |   06:30 PM | Lory State Park Dare to be scared? Join us after dark for a special outdoor screening of a classic horror film that is not for the faint of heart. This spooky night under the stars is the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit....if you are brave enough. ...  more
Sign Up	Lory State Park Trunk or Treat   Saturday, 25 October 2025 |   04:00 PM | Lory State Park REGISTRATION ONLY NEEDED FOR TRUNKS. DO NOT REGISTER AS A PARTICIPANT Join us for our first ever trunk or treat at the park! We will have trunks set up at the Soldier Canyon Parking Lot. The event will end with a showing of spooky movie with sc...  more