Phantom Canyon Preserve
One of Northern Colorado's Last Roadless Canyons

"It was a mountain valley of the narrowest kind - almost a chasm; and the scenery very wild and beautiful. … Below, the green river bottom was a wilderness of flowers, their tall spikes sometimes rising above our heads as we rode among them."
~John Charles Fremont,  July 29, 1843

Why You Should Visit    
At the time of this journal entry, Fremont found himself within a spectacular region of Colorado known as the Laramie Foothills. Today considered one of the last great Front Range landscapes, this preserve features a spectacular roadless canyon - a rim-to-rim sanctuary encompassing six miles of the North Fork of the Cache la Poudre River.

There is a lot to see here. More than 100 bird species have been spotted in this foothills ecosystem - in the grassy uplands, along the river's edge and soaring above the canyon walls. And varied topography, slope and soil conditions combine to create habitat for more than 200 plant species.

Early summer visitors/volunteers can experience two treats: the colorful, melodious migration of neotropical songbirds and the remarkably colorful display of native wildflowers.   

Location
North-central Colorado: 30 miles northwest of Ft. Collins; about two hours from Denver 

When to Visit
This preserve is surrounded by private land. To visit, you have to join a guided field trip or participate in a volunteer workday.

Size
1,700 acres

What to Expect
Hiking is permitted only on Conservancy-arranged field trips.

The canyon boasts two well-maintained trails:

• The Rim Trail is an easy 0.6 mile loop through prairie and shrublands with views of the canyon and distant mountain vistas.
• The Canyon Trail winds 500 feet down to the canyon floor, where you can stroll along the banks of the Cache La Poudre River.

How to Prepare for Your Visit
You will encounter rocky areas with low brush and cactus - and maybe even a rattlesnake! - so please wear a pair of sturdy leather boots.

What to See: Plants
This is one of only a handful of locations in the world containing Larimer Aletes (Aletes humilis), a rare member of the parsley family.

Other native plants include the

• Bells twinpod
• Needle-and-thread grass, and
• One-sided penstemon.

What to See: Animals
The preserve provides habitat for many wildlife species, including black bear, mountain lion and bobcat.  All three can be found on the Colorado species of special concern list.

Bald eagles use the canyon in the winter months. Golden eagles, prairie falcons and redtail hawks nest high along the canyon walls.

Why The Conservancy Selected This Site  
Because this extensive foothills ecosystem supports the Larimer Aletes, a rare member of the parsley family. The plant's distribution is limited to Larimer and Boulder counties in Colorado, with the most occurrences here at the preserve.

This is one of the last remaining roadless canyons along Colorado's Front Range.

What The Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Conservancy protected this preserve in 1987.

Conservancy staff and volunteers are working on the following projects:

• Reintroducing the natural ecological processes of grazing and fire
• Restoring the prairie through seed collecting, planting and invasive weed management
• Creating partnerships and relationships within the local community to promote conservation through conservation easements and best management practices.

Get Involved
The Nature Conservancy and its partners are offering a variety of field trips, education and outreach opportunities.  Learn more >>

Download a Brochure:
Colorado's Last Great Places:
Nature Conservancy Preserves & Cooperative Projects You Can Visit
(.pdf, 1.4 MB)