Colorado Boulevard (CR-13) Trailhead
Windsor, Colorado
A large portion of the Poudre River Trail wanders through what was once the Frank State Wildlife Area. This 326-acre area has several ponds and is an excellent place for birdwatching. It is also an exceptionally pretty section of the trail. The area on the north side of the Poudre River was closed for gravel mining. This area may not be a State Wildlife Area (SWA) in the future as it has become municipal. The Town of Windsor is attempting to take over the easement from Colorado Parks & Wildlife and keep this area as a protected wildlife area. Hunting is no longer allowed in this area. For your own safety, please do not enter mining areas that are marked no trespassing.
Trailhead for the Poudre River Trail
To get to the trailhead from Highway 392, turn South on Colorado Boulevard (County Road 13) and drive 0.5 mile. The trailhead going East has parking for this section and informational signs. There is no restroom at this trailhead.
Click on adjacent map to get a downloadable and printable map.
This section of the trail has the steepest sections of the trail, but they are still only a gentle climb, and only for a short distance. You will come across an old wooden structure and some old fences that reflect the history of the area. You will also see signage for the B.H. Eaton Ditch. This four-mile ditch was named after a former governor of the State of Colorado that was also a leading figure in irrigation development for Colorado in the 1800s.
As you travel this section you will see active gravel pit mining. The gravel is used for roads and concrete. Many of the ponds that you see along the Poudre River are the result of gravel pit mining. Ground water fills in these pits and eventually the grasses, cattails and cottonwoods re-establish themselves in the area. These ponds create an excellent habitat for the local wildlife.