Lory State Park is part of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife System. This 2,600-acre park in Bellvue, Colorado, offers a waterfall, fishing, and boating. Lory State Park is close to Bellvue-Watson State Fish Hatchery and Horsetooth Reservoir.
Table of Contents
Entering Lory State Park
There is one entrance to enter Lory State Park.
The annual affixed pass is $83. The annual pass allows you access to all of the parks in the Colorado State Park System. There are pass options for veterans, individuals over 64 years old, and income-eligible individuals. Visit the Official Colorado State Park Entrance Pass page to learn more.
Lory State Park is at 708 Lodgepole Drive, Bellvue, Colorado 80512.
From North Fort Collins – Take US 287 north to County Road 54G (LaPorte). Turn left onto CR52E/Rist Canyon Road. Continue west and turn onto County Road 23. Continue north and take a right on Lodgepole Drive (CR 25G). The park is approximately 1.6 miles up Lodgepole Drive on the left.
From South Fort Collins – Take Harmony Road / 38E west. Turn right onto CR23. Proceed north until t-intersection. Turn left at the stop sign onto CR23. Proceed north until Lodgepole Drive, turn left. Go 1.6 miles to the park entrance.
What You Can Do At Lory State Park
Some of these activities may be seasonal, require an additional fee or have limitations and/or restrictions. We recommend checking with the park for additional information, such as safety equipment, hours, locations within the park, and any potential hazards that may exist.
Facilities
- Campgrounds
- Conference Rooms
- Group Picnic Area
- Picnic Sites
- Trails
- Visitor Center
- Wedding Facilities
Recreation
- Backcountry Camping
- Biking
- Boating
- Dog-Friendly
- Education Programs
- Fishing
- Geocaching
- Group Picnicking
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting
- Picnicking
- Rock Climbing
- Volleyball
Hiking
Lory State Park has 12 trails that cover 26 miles. The trails range from a short 0.1 mile (Waterfall Trail) to a longer 4.2 miles (Timber Trail). View the Official Lory State Park brochure to learn about the trails.
Waterfall Trail
The main reason we visited Lory State Park in August 2021 was to see the waterfall on Waterfall Trail. We were excited about the very short, quick, and easy 0.1-mile hike to the waterfall. The trailhead was a short drive from the Visitor Center. It was the first trailhead on the right-hand side. There were plenty of open parking spaces. This was one of the group picnicking sites. There was a volleyball net, a covered area with multiple picnic tables, restrooms, and the sign leading to the trail.
The other thing that I appreciated about Waterfall Trail was the picnic tables. We sat at them both before and after the short walk to have a drink of water. Many birds were flying around. There was a nest with about five baby birds in it. We watched as the mother/father bird flew back and forth to feed the babies.
Waterfall at Waterfall Trail
There was a short wood bridge walkway that was part of the trail. I have been on many trails, but this one felt like I was stepping into a magical area of a forest. The light was hitting the inner trees like a welcome mat. There were a series of rock stairs that led us closer to the trail.
We walked a short distance more to the waterfall. Surprise! There was no water. We were warned that this was a possibility at the visitor center. There are times throughout the year that there is water.
It was still a cool trail since it was short, shaded, and felt a little magical.
Tips For Your Visit To Lory State Park
- Nearby Attractions: Your visit to Lory State Park can be combined with the Bellvue-Watson State Fish Hatchery (free) and/or Horsetooth Reservoir. They are both close by and offer great views.
- Visitor Center: Be sure to look for wildlife when you are at the Lory State Park Visitor Center. While we were standing on the Visitor Center viewing platform, I told my kids to look out in the distance for wildlife. In about 30 seconds, they saw a mule deer eating standing directly next to the platform. We were able to watch it for a few minutes.
- Colorado Park Passport – The Colorado State Park System offers a Colorado Park Passport. You can ask for this free passport at the Visitor Center or the regular admission gate. The park passport is a small booklet that lists information about each park. The park rangers can stamp the booklet at each park. Once you collect all of the stamps, you can send the park passport in for a free prize!
