Arthur’s Rock Trail is a short but moderately strenuous hike in Lory State Park. The route climbs through meadows and pine forest before reaching sweeping views of Horsetooth Reservoir and Fort Collins.

At 3.4 miles round trip, the hike delivers plenty of scenery without taking all day. Don’t let the mileage fool you, though. You gain about 1,100 feet in 1.7 miles. It’s a hike to a granite outcropping named for an early settler. 

Getting to Arthur’s Rock Trailhead

Arthur’s Rock Trail is inside Lory State Park, northwest of Fort Collins in Bellvue.

The park is open daily from 5 a.m. until sunset. A Colorado state parks pass or daily entrance pass is required.

Arthur’s Rock Trail Stats

• Distance: Approximately 3.4 miles round trip
• Route: Out and back, with optional connecting trails
• Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
• Elevation gain: About 1,100 feet
• Summit elevation: Approximately 6,780 feet
• Dogs: Allowed on leash
• Best seasons: Spring through fall

Hiking Arthur’s Rock With a Friend

My friend Mindy joined me for an early Sunday morning hike. She wrote the third edition of 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Denver and Boulder, and we’re frequent hiking buddies.

We arrived around 8:15 a.m. and found plenty of parking. The lot was full when we returned. This trail is popular, especially on weekends, so hiking early is smart.

After a short walk on a multiuse trail, we reached Arthur’s Rock Trail. The climbing started almost immediately.

Wildflowers and blooming cactus lined the first section. A series of switchbacks quickly led us to our first view across the foothills.

It was only a preview of what was ahead.

When my friend Mindy, author of the 3rd edition of “60 Hikes Within 60 Miles of Denver and Boulder,” and I got to the trailhead about 8:15am on a Sunday morning there was still plenty of parking. When we finished, the lot was full. If you want to do this hike, go early. We saw a ton of dogs on this trail as well as families. Both of us have hiked this trail before so we knew we were in for a moderately strenuously hike filled with some great views. After short walk on a multi-use trail, we saw the sign for Arthur’s Rock Trail. It’s a foot traffic only trail that starts climbing right off the bat. We started seeing wildflowers and blooming cacti in this first section. After we zigzag up the first switchbacks we were treated to the first view point. It’s a prelude of what’s to come.

Meadows, Forest and Reservoir Views

At roughly half a mile, Arthur’s Rock Trail intersects Howard Trail. We stayed on Arthur’s Rock Trail and crossed an open meadow.

The granite outcropping rose directly ahead of us. The route then continued through forest and across another sloping meadow.

Gradual switchbacks made the steady elevation gain more manageable.

Around 1.1 miles, you reach a marked scenic overlook. It’s worth scrambling onto the boulders for views of Horsetooth Reservoir and the ridges stretching south.

Wildflowers filled the nearby meadow during our summer hike. Spring brings fresh green vegetation, while fall offers cooler temperatures and golden grasses.

The Final Climb to Arthur’s Rock

The trail becomes rockier near the summit. About a tenth of a mile from the top, we turned into a steep rock gully.

With the sun directly ahead, it felt like climbing a stone staircase into the sky. The section is short, but careful footing is essential.

The summit view is worth every uphill step.

Horsetooth Reservoir spreads below the rock, with Fort Collins and the plains beyond it. We found places to sit, pulled out our snacks and stayed longer than planned.

We even added a little summit yoga. Tree pose seemed appropriate, although balancing on uneven granite added another degree of difficulty.

Return on Fireline Trail

After descending to the scenic overlook, we took Fireline Trail instead of retracing our entire route.

The connecting trail was much quieter. We passed only three hikers. A guy hiking up said, “this is the secret trail.” That “secret” has great views of the reservoir and virtually no one on it, at least that’s what we experienced.

Fireline eventually reconnects with Arthur’s Rock Trail for the return to the parking area. Check the park map before adding this option because connecting trails change the total mileage.

Arthur’s Rock is one of my favorite Front Range hikes. It is challenging enough to feel satisfying, yet short enough to leave time for more Fort Collins exploring.

The summit view isn’t bad, either.

For more northern Colorado adventures, hike Horsetooth Rock and Devil’s Backbone, explore more things to do in Fort Collins or spend a day in Red Feather Lakes.