7 Winter Activities To Do in Fort Collins, Colorado

By Elana Goodwin on January 18, 2016

This article is brought to you by District at Campus West, a dynamic community steps away from the Colorado State University campus in beautiful Fort Collins. To learn more about District at Campus West, please call us at 970-658-5540 and visit us here.

We’re well into the winter season and that means it’s the perfect time to enjoy fun winter activities that are only available when it’s cold out — and if you’re a student in the Fort Collins, Colorado, area, here are some cool winter activities you should put on your to-do lists.

Photo Credit: Flickr/chris_hau

1. Go ice skating. 

You can’t go wrong with this winter activity that’s relatively cheap and super fun. If you’ve got your own ice skates, you can head to Sheldon Lake at City Park, which is open when weather permits and doesn’t boast much maintenance, but a sign near the parking area will indicate whether it’s open or closed for skating.

Don’t have skates? Not to worry! You can still skate outside at Blue Heron Lake where you can rent skates and hit the ice when conditions are good, or just head to EPIC and make the most of their public skate hours on their indoor rink.

2. Hit up the winter farmers’ market.

Can’t wait for summer to get some fresh veggies? You don’t have to in Fort Collins since their winter market is open on Saturdays throughout the winter.

Walk through the market and pick up fresh greens, local mushrooms, root veggies, soft cheeses, and more, and enjoy browsing the tables of local homemade artisan crafts also featured at this market. Not only is this a great winter activity, but you’ll get some yummy food out of it!

3. Check in to the District at Campus West.

As the snow starts falling in Fort Collins, District at Campus West looks at the past semester and reflects on the fantastic programming that has taken place in 2015. A touching campaign to battle breast cancer was a big success, and the Thanksgiving and winter renewal festivities warmed everyone’s hearts.

This winter as a resident, you’ll be able to sit by the toasty fire and enjoy a nice hot cup of cocoa or coffee from the Starbucks coffee machine and start your New Year’s resolutions by working up a sweat at the 24-hour gym before relaxing in the saunas or taking a dip in the year-round hot tubs.

Come join the fun at District at Campus West so when the snow starts to melt in Fort Collins you know you’ve locked in a great place to live while at Colorado State University.

4. Take a carriage ride.

Carriage & Wagon is Northern Colorado’s premier provider for horse-drawn carriages and wagons and offers carriage rides throughout the winter. Through February 14, you can take a horse-drawn carriage ride to see the Downtown Holiday Lights, which would be a perfect Valentine’s Day activity to do as a couple or with friends, and won’t break the bank.

You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a movie when you sit back and enjoy seeing Fort Collins in the winter from a horse-drawn carriage — so what’s not to love?

5. Go cross-country skiing.

A popular winter activity in Fort Collins, there are many trail options to choose from if you want to go cross-country skiing. As a novice, you may want to check out the City Park Nine Golf Course which offers beginner cross-country skiing that’s perfect for a trail run.

Other great trails for all levels of skill can be found at Lory State Park and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, so if you want to embark on a winter adventure, look into going cross-country skiing.

6. Visit a museum.

There are plenty of days in the winter where it’s too cold to be outside — and when one of those days rolls around, consider visiting a museum in Fort Collins. If it’s the first Friday of the month, you can tag along to Downtown Fort Collins’ gallery walk and visit the art museums and local galleries while enjoying the holiday lights.

On other days, explore the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and learn about science and Fort Collins’ history, check out the Center for Fine Art Photography and look at awesome photos, and visit the Fort Collins Museum of Art to see different exhibits featuring beautiful artwork.

7. Go sledding.

The perfect winter activity (weather-permitting, of course), there are some great hills around Fort Collins that you can head to for some sledding. Hughes Stadium and EPIC have great hills for sledding, so grab your friends, pack up your sleds, and pick a spot for some awesome winter fun — it’s free!

Make the most of your winter in Fort Collins by adding these fun winter activities to your to-do list — because the season will be over before you know it!

Looking for a great place to live off-campus within a stone’s throw of campus? Please visit District at Campus West to see our dynamic community in action. To visit our website, please click here or call us at 970-658-5540 to get more information and schedule a tour.

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