Top Fort Collins Culture

Explore Fort Collins' history and cultural heritage with experienced local guides. Discover the city's highlights and hidden gems as your local expert shares the many tales the city has to tell.

Winding their way across the Great Plains like so many ribbons, rivers and streams were vital to survival for all lifeforms that inhabited the parched expanse. For humans, watercourses also served as directional aids, tracks for travel corridors, and convenient boundaries. The Cache la Poudre was such a river. Its verdant valley was referred to as the jáaianahâw by the Arapaho people and first appear on a map of the region as a result of Major Stephen H. Long’s expedition of 1820. By 1835, it was being called the Cache la Poudre, or “hide the powder.” Significant at various times, in various ways, the Poudre River has many tales to tell. From the 1820s to the 1870s this “downstream” segment factored prominently in river lore. This tour takes you around the circumference of Rigden Reservoir while stopping at several sites during the walk to relate stories of the people and events that added to its colorful history.

Curious about the lesser-known stories of Fort Collins? Starting with the very first steps of this playful walk, you’ll experience the thrill and beauty of discovery. Location-based riddles will show you the way to our favorite local places, including quiet courtyards, forgotten stories and cute hidden spots we’ll keep secret... for now! Fun fact: this trail was created by our local creator. - Explore Fort Collins (Colorado) during this interactive and fun discovery walk - Learn about the history and local stories of the city centre in a playful way - Solve 12 location-based riddles to unlock directions to your next stop along the route - See popular sights like the Fort Collins Power plant and the Poudre River from a different angle and discover hidden local spots This discovery walk is an educational and fun activity for friends, couples, families with kids, curious locals, visitors, and team building.