My wife, Jenny,  and I went for a walk over the weekend and stumbled upon what I believe is the coolest bridge in Fort Collins. It's a very long and unique box bridge, made of wood and steel, on the Poudre Trail, just west of Butterfly Woods Natural Area. The best way to get there is to take Overland Trail to Lions Open Space, just south of LaPorte. (2425 N Overland Trail) Then just take the trail under the road and take the bridge over the river.

I have heard that Butterfly woods is pretty amazing in the spring and summer.

In the past, Butterfly Woods was a small-fruit agricultural area, and it is gradually being restored to a natural riparian (riverside) forest and upland.

 

Visitors may see squirrels, foxes, raccoons, mule deer, mourning doves and woodpeckers. This natural area is home to the two-spotted skipper and the smokey-eyed brown butterfly both rare species whose habitat is protected by the on-trail only policy.

I can only imagine how spectacular the bridge is when all the leaves are green or turning colors in the fall. Jenny and I got a couple of pictures with my iPhone. I wish we would have taken her fancy Nikon camera. Maybe next time.

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