Fort Collins Parks and Natural Areas: Gateway Natural Area
One of the best kept secrets of the 
Fort Collins Parks and Natural Areas is Gateway Natural Area. Just 15 miles from Old Town Fort Collins and 2 miles from the mouth of the Poudre Canyon, Gateway Natural Area is the former water filtration plant for the City of Fort Collins and is nestled at the confluence of the Main Stem and North Fork of the Cache La Poudre rivers. This certified Natural Area offers the best of both worlds – it is a city park of sprawling lush grass, ancient cottonwood, elm, apple and pine trees; picnic tables, barbecue grills, and 2 covered pavillions. It is simultaneously a gorgeous introduction to one of most beautiful canyons of the Rocky Mountains: towering granite spires, steep canyon walls, two rivers boasting riparian wildlife like trout, beaver, mink, bear, deer, fox, and mountain lion and well kept trails to explore all of it.
Although both archeological evidence and local folklore confirm that native peoples and pioneer settlers have inhabited and enjoyed this site for thousands of years, it was in 1903 that the City of Fort Collins secured senior water rights to the river and built a filtration plant of several two story brick buildings, settling ponds, charcoal and gravel raceways, and diversion structures to provide a thirsty growing city with clean drinking water. Known as “Water Works Park”
from the turn of the 20th Century until the late 70’s, the area remained open to the public and was a hidden gem for residents of that era. The plant was in operation until the late 1980’s when it was shuttered due to functional obsolescence and the Fort Collins Utilities opened a modern, higher capacity plant closer to town.
Through the efforts of local community organizations, grants, and citizen initiated tax dollars, over a million dollars was spent to improve access from Highway 14 (Poudre Canyon Highway), secure the old water works buildings and reopen the park to the public in 2002. For more information click on the Fort Collins Parks and Natural Areas link.
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