Trail
Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area
1,400 acres of prairie, wetland and reservoir southwest of town between Timnath and Fort Collins, an Audubon Important Bird Area with bald eagles in winter, bird blinds and short trails. Hikers only; no dogs or bikes.
The reservoir southwest of town, between Timnath and Fort Collins, is a joint Fort Collins and Larimer County natural area of about 1,400 acres: rolling prairie, wetlands and a tree-lined reservoir that the National Audubon Society lists as an Important Bird Area, with wintering bald eagles, shorebirds and waterfowl, and coyotes, deer and prairie dogs. Three short trails from the Carpenter Road (Colorado 392) entrance: the quarter-mile paved Heron Loop with picnic shelters, the 0.4-mile Sandpiper Trail and the 0.76-mile Cattail Flats Trail to viewing blinds, with seasonal closures to protect eagle roosts. Hiking only: no dogs, bikes or horses. Dawn to dusk.
At a glance birding · eagles · hiking · no dogs
Checked October 3, 2026 against fortcollins.gov. Hours and phone numbers change fastest, so the business’s own page is the record. Report a correction · Know something opening or closing? Tell us
In the guides
Read about Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area
- Timnath with kids: the splash pad, the new park, a fishing pond and a soda fountain
Where to take children in Timnath: the Community Park splash pad and its hours, WildWing Park, the pond at Weitzel Park, the reservoir beach and the soda fountain on Main Street.
More in Timnath
Things to do
- Poudre River Trail Trail
- Timnath Community Park Park
- Timnath Reservoir Trail
- Old Town Main Street Venue
- Timnath Presbyterian Church Venue
- Timnath Town Center Venue
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