Fort Collins Names 4 New Natural Areas – Opening Soon [PICTURES]

The City of Fort Collins has named four new natural areas, but they are not open to the public yet. Two of the sites will be open within a year and access to the other two sites is expected after management planning efforts, public input, and trail construction is completed.

Goose Hollow Natural Area

Goose Hollow Natural Area is on 4-acre site leased in partnership with Fort Collins Housing Authority in northeast Fort Collins to provide future public access to Evergreen West Pond.  The property will be accessible to the public in 2017 from a trail on the north side of the affordable housing neighborhood of Village at Redwood, which is currently under construction.  Geese nest on the banks of the pond and on a small island.  A variety of ducks and songbirds use Goose Hollow throughout the year.

Tanglewood Natural Area

Tanglewood Natural Area is on a 10-acre site on Spring Creek, west of Taft Hill Road which is now co-managed with City of Fort Collins Stormwater Utility.  Natural Areas plans to manage the site for public access and wildlife habitat. Visitors will enjoy the birds that forage through the downed wood, shrubs, and vines as well those that use a small pond. A pair of red-tailed hawks nested on the site this year.  Public access will be available later this fall from the Spring Creek Trail, about 1/4 mile west of Taft Hill Road.

Soaring Vista Natural Area

Soaring Vista Natural Area is on a 113-acre site on County Road 30 in the Loveland Community Separator will be managed for local agriculture and wildlife habitat.    Raptors and mountain views are easily seen. Outreach is planned for this fall. No public access is available at this time.

Flores del Sol Natural Area

Flores del Sol Natural Area is a 76-acre site west of Timberline Road and south of Carpenter Road. It will provide open space adjacent to a section of the future Colorado Front Range Trail.  The site will likely feature local agriculture and wildlife habitat. The name means “flowers of the sun” in Spanish. This sunny prairie site will feature wildflowers on a portion of it. No public access is available at this time.