Fort Collins Community
Photo courtesy of the City of Fort Collins.
Colorado State University’s main campus is located in Fort Collins, a vibrant and diverse community of some 170,000 residents near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and alongside the banks of the Cache La Poudre River. Residents enjoy a moderate, four-season climate with an average of 300 days of sunshine and 14.5 inches of precipitation annually.
Fort Collins maintains an array of parks and recreational opportunities, offering easy access to bike trails, hiking, skiing, water sports, rafting, fishing, and other outdoor sports.
Located about an hour north of Denver on Interstate 25 and about 45 minutes south of Cheyenne, Wyoming, the city is within an hour’s drive of major recreational areas, including Estes Park, Red Feather Lakes, Horsetooth Reservoir, the Roosevelt National Forest, Rocky Mountain National Park, and several mountain parks.
Fort Collins offers safe and reliable public transportation through Transfort – including MAX Bus Rapid Transit, FLEX regional transport, and the late-night Gold Route. There also are 200 miles of on-street and off-street trails for pedestrians and bicycles, and 35 miles of multi-use trail. In 2018, Fort Collins was named the No. 1 City in America for Cycling by PeopleForBikes.
The city is home to an active and varied arts and entertainment community, anchored by arts and entertainment venues, including the Lincoln Center and several museums and theater companies. Fort Collins also hosts a multi-location public library district, a civic symphony, and a vibrant live local music scene. The Colorado State University Center for the Arts also serves both the local community and hosts a wide range of campus events, include athletics, guest speakers, exhibits, theater, cinema, and concerts.
The natural beauty of its mountain setting, excellent climate, robust transportation systems, and wide range of outdoor and cultural opportunities combine to make Fort Collins an outstanding place to live and learn.