Rating: Easy

Distance: 4.75 miles (one-way)

Surface: Paved

Width: Unknown

Grade: Max: 4%

Cross-slope: Unknown

Trail Notes: This multi-use concrete, multi-use, non-motorized trail connects Loveland’s Recreation Trail at Sunset Vista Natural Area with Fort Collins’ Fossil Creek Trail at Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area, running along the east side of North Taft Avenue in Loveland and South Shields Street in Fort Collins.

The trail connects western Loveland and Fort Collins through five existing open spaces and natural areas. The natural areas in Fort Collins accessible from this trail include Colina Mariposa and Hazaleus. The trail also connects Loveland’s Sunset Vista Natural Area and Larimer County’s Long View Farm Open Space. These public lands are used for growing local food and provide valuable wildlife habitat.

The trail provides a safe alternative to walking or biking along busy roads in the beautiful setting of protected farmland and public lands.

Habitat & Wildlife: Near the northern end of this route, at Hazaleus Natural Area you’ll see wetlands and native grasslands. Impressive wildlife species have been documented including bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, ferruginous hawks, Swainsons hawks, coyotes and foxes.

Towards the middle of this route, a unique feature at Colina Mariposa Natural Area is the high butterfly diversity on the eastern ridge, which led to the site name, Colina Mariposa - Spanish for butterfly hill. Bald eagles, turkey vultures, northern harriers, red-tailed hawks, and ferruginous hawks also use the habitat here.

Continuing south, you’ll pass Long View Farm Open Space, on your left which is jointly owned by Larimer County and the Cities of Loveland and Fort Collins. It is protected to preserve the agricultural character of the area and to provide an undeveloped visual open space between the two cities. Wheat farming has long been an indispensable part of the agricultural history of Larimer County.

On your right is Coyote Ridge Natural Area, an example of a transition zone between grasslands and montane forests sometimes called montane shrublands.

At the southernmost end of the trail, Sunset Vista Natural Area provides a sanctuary for wildlife such as songbirds, raptors, amphibians, coyote, red fox, and deer. Tributary wetlands, a section of the Louden Ditch, and agricultural lands provide wildlife habitat, cover, and movement corridors for these species. Wetlands support common cattail, reed canarygrass, Emory and Nebraska sedge, coyote willow, and plains cottonwood.

History: The Long View Corridor has been a longtime conservation and recreation priority for Loveland, Fort Collins and Larimer County. It represents a unique opportunity to explore natural areas managed by different local agencies.