THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Ride a guided van through sites that shaped early Fort Collins — river crossings, Army encampments, and surviving pioneer cabins — led by a costumed interpreter who brings frontier military history to life.
Ride a guided van through sites that shaped early Fort Collins — river crossings, Army encampments, and surviving pioneer cabins — led by a costumed interpreter who brings frontier military history to life.
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Book directly with Traces of the Past History Tours for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
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Operated by Traces of the Past History Tours · Fort Collins, Colorado
A late-morning van pulls up beside the Cache la Poudre, the river pushing a steady, audible current beneath the bridge. Mark Serour steps down in period coat and hat, the fabric and voice doing more than tell — they invite you to walk the 1860s borderlands in a way a textbook cannot. The tour moves between easy roadside stops and short walks, the riverbanks, old fort sites, and Library Park’s weathered cabins framing the story.
easy.
2 hours.
Suitable for most fitness levels; able to step on/off a van and walk short, flat segments
The tour meets at the Watson Lake State Wildlife Area parking lot near the bridge on Rist Canyon Road (closest address 4900 Rist Canyon Rd., Laporte), and returns there at the end.
Yes — the content is family-friendly and walking is light, though very young children should be prepared to sit in the van or on laps during driving segments.
Walking consists of short, mostly flat walks at each stop, typically under 15–20 minutes per segment; the tour is designed for easy mobility.
The guide provides some historic object viewing and handling of reproductions; follow the guide’s instructions to protect original artifacts and sensitive sites.
Camp Collins began as a Civil War–era Army post in the early 1860s to protect mail routes and settlers; the decision to relocate the post downstream shaped the modern city’s footprint.
The Cache la Poudre watershed is an active focus for river restoration and sustainable water management; visitors are asked to stay on trails and pack out trash to protect wildlife and riparian habitat.
Traces of the Past History Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Book with Traces of the Past History Tours
Book directly with Traces of the Past History Tours for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
Reserve Now