Mariana Butte Natural Area

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Mariana Butte Trails

MAP AND REGULATIONS (Mariana Butte and Oxbow Natural Area)

Trail History

For years, neighbors enjoyed a quick hike on Mariana Butte and developed informal walking trails through the area. In order to preserve the site and create a more sustainable trail system, the Open Lands Division worked with a local volunteer group (Colorado Addicted Trailbuilders Society – CATS) to improve the natural-surface pedestrian trails at the Butte.

The Mariana Butte Trail System, including the Hidden Hogback trail, was constructed from 2015-2017 and provides over 1.25 miles of hiking trails with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities and panoramic views. Trails are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

To best preserve the landscape, hiking is limited to the established trail and bicycles are prohibited.

Parking, restrooms and concessions are available at the Mariana Butte Golf Course clubhouse.

The new sustainable trails have been constructed 100% by volunteers. The Colorado Addicted Trailbuilders Society Loveland/ Fort Collins Chapter is a non-profit organization dedicated to trail construction in Northern Colorado. These volunteers provide quality work at public sites at no cost. CATS welcomes new volunteers and will provide applicable training. More information: http://trailcats.org.

Butte Loop Trail

The 1-mile loop trail around the Butte was completed in 2016. Two trail sections were constructed in 2015 and the final loop connection was completed in spring 2016 (see MAP). A new and improved summit trail to the top of Mariana Butte was completed in late 2016. In addition to relocating the “social trails," the volunteer trail-builders also helped revegetate and close the former trails.

Hidden Hogback Trail

In 2017, CATS volunteers completed a new trail connection called the “Hidden Hogback Trail,” which provides public access along the hogback and the Big Thompson River to Rossum Drive and Oxbow Natural Area. This trail offers the community a unique experience along the ridges and the river corridor and provides an off-street connection to the paved Recreation Trail system at Rossum Drive.

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