Tucked into the foothills between Fort Collins and the Rocky Mountains, Horsetooth Mountain Park. There are 29 miles of trails nestled into this park, with connector trails heading into the adjacent Lory State Park. Lots of potential here. One of the granite outcroppings herein, according to lore, is the remains of the heart of the Great Red Warrior slain by the Great Black Warrior.
As with pretty much every ride on the Front Range, enjoyable descents are dearly paid for by long, grueling climbs.
A map courtesy of: http://www.co.larimer.co.us/parks/Htmp.htm
We opted for gruel consisting of Audra Culver (all up) to Wathen, to Herrington, to Stout, to Towers Road (all up) to Spring Creek, to Horsetooth Falls. Left unexplored was the north half of the park.
A view south to Long's Peak.
On Stout, looking eastward, nice Laramide folds there.
The Reservoir (Horsetooth) and Fort Collins down there in all that taupey miasma.
