Natural Areas: Bobcat Ridge

But on a crisp January day
during winter break, I had a chance to get a better feel for Bobcat Ridge. A
few miles west of Fort Collins, this natural area covers 2,600 acres and has a history
of farming and ranching dating back to the 1880s. My family and I took the
relatively quick hike back to the Kitchen/Smith Cabin, so named because it was built
in 1917 by Ed Kitchen with the help of Edward and Eugene Smith, who owned the
land. The cabin retains its original walls and stone foundation, but the rest
has been restored as needed to keep it in safe, usable condition.
Bobcat Ridge is also home
to one of the city’s Wildlife Project cameras. Eight motion/heat sensitive
cameras capture candid shots of the area’s wilder residents going about their
daily and nightly business on and off the trails. The photos are available for viewing online
and provide a fascinating peek at some of the many species (aside from
rambunctious fifth-graders) that can be found in the foothills just west of
town. (The only critters we saw this time were the always-entertaining prairie
dogs.)
For more information about
Bobcat Ridge, including history and trail conditions, click here.
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