Eagle's Nest Open Space

South of Livermore

Know BEFORE you go
CoTrex Trail ReportsPlan to arrive before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. as the open space may reach capacity, especially on weekends in the summer. Check Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) at https://trails.colorado.gov for the most up-to-date trail conditions, closures, and alerts. Or check under the "Trails & Weather" tab below.

Eagle's Nest Open Space's 755 acres offer river access for anglers and almost 5 miles of trails for hikers and equestrians. The local landmark Eagle's Nest Rock has been home to nesting golden eagles for over a hundred years!

Along the North Fork of the Cache La Poudre River, this open space has breathtaking views of the Laramie Foothills. Mountain mahogany foothills interspersed with rabbitbrush and ponderosa pine provide diverse habitat for deer, elk, coyote, mountain lion, black bear, and small mammals.

Trail locations avoid intrusions on sensitive wildlife habitat and the golden eagle nesting area. From February through July, the area downstream of the bridge is closed to fishing and public access to protect the nesting area. Please stay on designated trails, respect seasonal closures, and observe Leave No Trace practices. Drinking water is not available at the trailhead, so bring plenty for your day.

Eagle's Nest Open Space has no entrance fee, is open year-round from sunrise to sunset and is located northwest of Fort Collins near Livermore, Colorado.

Brochure Brochure (Spanish) Trail Map Regulations

Features

Biking
Fishing
Hiking
Horse
Hunting
Restroom

Map & Directions

  • Take Highway 287 north from Fort Collins to Livermore. Take Red Feather Lakes Road (C.R. 74E) west for about 1/3 mile. The entrance is on the south side of the road.
  • Follow the road about one mile to the trailhead parking.

Trails & Weather

Trails Report

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Weather

Air Quality

Updates every half hour.

Fishing

Fishing is permitted from the bridge to the private property line to the north and the east. There is private property north and south of Eagle's Nest Open Space. Please honor the "NO TRESPASSING" signs. A valid fishing license is required, and we recommend using only artificial lures and "catch and release" practices.

Boating

Only the lesser take of Archery and Muzzleloader hunting are allowed within Eagle's Nest Open Space boundaries on weekdays during the fall deer and elk seasons. Hunters must possess a current Colorado Division of Wildlife hunting license valid for Game Management Unit 191. Properly permitted hunters are allowed to access U.S. Forest Service land via the Eagle's Nest trails any day of the week. Hunters must have their firearms unloaded while passing through Eagle's Nest Open Space. Rifle hunting and small game hunting are not allowed within the boundaries of Eagle's Nest Open Space at any time.

All hunters must park within the Eagle's Nest Open Space parking lot - parking along Rattlesnake Rd. is prohibited and violators may be ticketed or towed at the owner's expense. Overnight Parking is not allowed. Regulation brochures are available at the trailhead.

Photos

Click a photo to enlarge.

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Image © Charlie Johnson
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Image © Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero
Image © Joachim Vogl
Image © Joachim Vogl
Image © Zach Schierl
Image © Jeanie Sumrall-Ajero

Tips & Info

The best way to feel that complete connection to a piece of land is learn all you can about it. The following is a reading list selected to cover a variety of topics associated with Eagle's Nest Open Space and the surrounding areas. Check this list periodically for new additions. These books can be found in local libraries, bookstores, and the Internet.

History

  • History of Larimer County / Ansel Watrous: a good basis for area history
  • Cavalry & Coaches: The Story of Camp and Fort Collins / John S. Gray: a detailed, interesting look at the U.S. Army and the Sioux and Cheyenne Indian wars in this area, including some incidents near Livermore
  • Among These Hills: A History of Livermore Colorado / Livermore Women's Club: focuses on the characters and history that formed the Livermore area with references to Eagle's Nest
  • Memoirs of an Old Timer / Wesley Swan: chronicles the pioneers of Livermore and vicinity
  • Those Crazy Pioneers: With Life and Times of Lady Moon & Vignettes of History / Lafi Miller: great stories and characters of this area

Geology

  • Prairie Peak and Plateau: A Guide to the Geology of Colorado / John and Halka Chronic: tells you how those vistas were created and what you are looking at

Wildlife

  • Mammals of the Central Rockies / Jan L. Wassink: gives you a good idea of what you might see out there
  • Animal Tracks (Peterson Field Guides) / Olaus J. Murie: whether in summer dust, fall or spring mud, or winter snow, this book tells you what has gone down the trail before you
  • Tom Brown's Field Guide to Nature Observation and Tracking / Tom Brown Jr. and Brandt Morgan: not only gives you a guide to animal tracks, but also has some fun methods for tracking and observing
  • Rocky Mountain Wildlife / David Dahms: a good guide book for the kids
  • Animal Tracks of the Rockies / Ian Sheldon: a very good pocket guide; has a section on how a set of tracks look when the animal is moving

Birds

  • Western Birds (Peterson Field Guides) / Roger Tory Peterson: the classic bird field guide most often used
  • All the Birds of North America (American Bird Conservancy's Field Guide) / J. Griggs: also very good, a little easier to use, and gives you a little different perspective in the bird illustrations

Wildflowers and Plants

  • Guide to Colorado Wildflowers: Plains and Foothills / G.K. Guennel: a very complete and easy to use reference for identifying wildflowers
  • Manual of the Grasses of the United States / Agnes Chase: if you are serious about knowing the grasses that grow on Eagle's Nest

Regulations

For specifics, ask a ranger or see a kiosk for a copy of the Regulations Brochure.

  • Day use only. Closed sunset to sunrise. The gate at the trailhead opens and closes automatically - please time your hike/ride accordingly.
  • No bicycles or motorized vehicles.
  • Pets must be kept on leash at all times.
  • Please pack out all trash and dog refuse.
  • Drones are prohibited.
  • Stay on designated trails to avoid resource damage, wildlife conflicts and private property trespass.
  • Rock climbing, camping, fires, firearms and fireworks prohibited.

Management Plan

Resource experts developed the management plan for Eagle's Nest Open Space with the help of extensive public input. The detailed plan emphasizes the protection of the diverse habitat at this open space.

Eagle's Nest Open Space Management Plan

Type of Acquisition#AcresProperty
Value		Partnerships
Bargain Sales
Donations		Date
Acquired		Public
Access
Fee Simple755$ 2,000,000Larimer Co. - $ 1,711,000
GOCO* - $ 200,000
Legacy Land Trust - $ 89,000		2001Yes
Conservation Easement72 Larimer Co - $ 0
Landowner - $ 54,500		2002No

*Great Outdoors Colorado