Indian Trail

Indian Trail is a short one — about eight-tenths of a mile of dirt singletrack tucked into the Roosevelt National Forest, under the care of the U.S. Forest Service’s Canyon Lakes Ranger District. It’s open to boots, bikes, and horses alike, and COTREX marks it as dog-friendly, so it’s an easy one to fold into a bigger day or to walk on its own when you just want a little dirt underfoot and some room to breathe. This isn’t a marquee summit hike; it’s the sort of humble trail that stitches a forest together, and there’s a real pleasure in that.

Because it’s a small, out-of-the-way segment, come with a good map and treat the route as a piece of the larger network around it rather than a destination in itself. We’ve mapped the line straight from Colorado’s official trail data, but signage on the ground can be thin on trails like this — so pull up the map before you go, and check current conditions and any seasonal closures with the Canyon Lakes Ranger District. Wear something that shrugs off dust, and enjoy the quiet.

Trail Facts

Getting There

In the Roosevelt National Forest southwest of Fort Collins, within the Canyon Lakes Ranger District. This is a short forest trail off the back roads of the district — pull it up on the map to find the nearest access, and confirm the trailhead and any road or seasonal closures with the Canyon Lakes Ranger District before you head out.

Know Before You Go

• Multi-use. COTREX lists Indian Trail as open to hikers, mountain bikers, and horses — share the tread and yield with courtesy.
• Dogs are welcome here per the state trail data, but keep them under control and pack out what they leave.
• It’s a connector. At under a mile, this is part of the wider Canyon Lakes Ranger District trail network — best enjoyed linked with nearby routes rather than as a stand-alone outing.
• Check conditions first. Confirm access roads, seasonal closures, and current trail status with the Canyon Lakes Ranger District before you go.