Fort Collins rides on the Horsetooth and Lory foothills just west of town. Trails like Blue Sky, Towers Road, and Mill Creek climb hogback ridges and reservoir shorelines, with sandy, quick-draining soils that ride through much of the year. It's one of the Front Range's most reliable shoulder-season hubs.
163 featured mountain bike trailselevation 4,849–8,445 ft
Is it muddy in Fort Collins right now?
Right now about 121 of 127 featured Fort Collins trails are riding well. Conditions change daily with rain and snowmelt, so the list below shows the live read for each trail, and the chart shows which day ahead is your best bet.
Done. We'll email you the day Fort Collins flips to good.
Best time of year to ride Fort Collins
Typical riding conditions by month, blending heat and trail conditions from 10 years of local climate data — so you can plan a trip for the right window.
The best time to ride Fort Collins is March through April and June through November, when daytime highs sit in the 49–85°F range and the dirt is typically dry. May tends to be the wettest, muddiest stretch, and January through February and December rides cold. Planning a trip? Those are your safest bets — and for this week, the live forecast below shows exactly which days are riding well (right now 121 of 127 featured trails are good to go).
PrimeMud seasonCold
Bar height = our ride-friendliness score for a typical year; colour = the main limiting factor; the number under each month is the average daytime high. Based on 2014–2023 climate normals (ERA5). This year's live conditions are below.
Best Fort Collins mountain bike trails to ride right now
What are the best mountain bike trails to ride near Fort Collins right now?
Today the trails riding best near Fort Collins are Alt Line, Aurthurs Rock / West Valley Trail and Cathy Fromme Prairie Trail. The full list below is sorted by today's real conditions, best first, and refreshes every morning, so the top of the list is always your best bet right now. See live conditions →
When will the mountain bike trails in Fort Collins dry out?
It depends on recent rain and each trail's soil. The 10-day outlook on this page shows how many Fort Collins trails are expected to be riding well each day, with rain markers, so you can pick the right day instead of guessing. See the 10-day outlook →
Is it too muddy to ride in Fort Collins after rain?
Right now 6 of 127 featured Fort Collins trails are reading soft or too muddy to ride. Fort Collins is mostly loam soil, which drains at a moderate pace, so after a storm some trails firm up within a day while others stay greasy. Riding wet, soft dirt damages trails and leaves ruts, so check the live mud reading on each trail before you head out. Check the live mud reading →
How many mountain bike trails are in Fort Collins?
Fort Collins has 163 featured mountain bike trails tracked here for conditions, with more searchable on the live map.
How high are the Fort Collins trails?
Fort Collins trails run from about 4,849–8,445 ft. Higher trails hold snow later into spring and dry out later than the lower ones, so conditions can vary a lot across the same area on the same day.
When is the best time to ride mountain bikes in Fort Collins?
The best time to ride Fort Collins is March through April and June through November, when daytime highs are in the 49–85°F range and the trails are typically dry. May tends to be the wettest, muddiest stretch, and January through February and December rides cold. This is based on 10 years of local climate data; check the live conditions on this page for how the trails are actually riding today.
Local resources near Fort Collins
The people who build and protect these trails, plus where to get local beta. If you ride here, support your local trail org.