Hey there, NOCO Crew!
A friend of ours went hiking at State Forest State Park last weekend (that name seems made up — I mean, I guess when you think about it, ALL names are made up…)and came back with a report: the aspens were full-on gold. That was enough to make us start looking at the calendar. The leaves change quickly up there, and one golden stand of trees can be plenty of reason to get out of the house and have a look.
This week, we have two hikes and a campground for a fall-color outing. We’re also looking 50 years ahead with a time capsule that will end up in Loveland, peering under Greeley’s downtown streets, and stepping inside a Berthoud grain elevator that’s become a place to hunt for old things.
Grab a coffee, and let’s dig in!
– Megan & David
The Sky Report
Tuesday around Fort Collins: Cloudy stretches with a chance of thunderstorms and a high near 70°F. Check the forecast before a mountain trip; conditions at the trailheads can be very different from town. Sunrise is about 6:54 a.m., sunset about 6:45 p.m., and we have just under 11 hours, 51 minutes of daylight. The moon is waning gibbous.
What Would You Send to 2076?
Fifty years from now, someone in Loveland is going to open a box, and try to imagine going back in time. What small item would you place in this capsule to convey to them what it felt like to live here in 2026?
A photograph of a familiar view? A child’s drawing? A grocery receipt? A menu from a place you never want to forget? Colorado’s statewide time capsule is asking for those ordinary pieces of life. It marks the state’s 150th birthday and the nation’s 250th, and its permanent home will be The Ranch Events Complex. The plan is to place it there in November and open it in 2076.
The capsule itself is being made from a repurposed industrial pipe. Organizers say a committee will choose what goes inside, then vacuum-seal the selected material for preservation. Sending items in to the committee does not guarantee it will be included.
You can mail an eligible item to Colorado Capsule, c/o Loveland Visitor Center, 5400 Stone Creek Circle, Loveland, CO 80538, by October 13, or send a letter, memory, or photograph through the digital submission form. The project lists October 20 for final in-person submissions, but has not posted a location for that last opportunity; check the website before making plans. Physical items must fit within 12 inches on each side; no food, liquids, batteries, or hazardous materials. Read the full submission guidelines before mailing anything.
So: what would you put in the capsule? Hit reply and tell us. We might share a few of your answers in next week’s Bulletin, with your permission.
Three Paths To (Potential) Gold
A friend’s report from State Forest State Park got us thinking about where to go while the aspens are showing off. Here are three different kinds of outings: a hike with a climb, a Poudre Canyon camping stop, and a longer loop on the other side of Cameron Pass. Color changes by elevation and by grove, so treat these as places to look, not a guarantee that every tree will be golden.
Bierstadt Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park. Start at the Bierstadt Lake Trailhead on Bear Lake Road for an uphill walk through aspen toward the lake. The park lists the lake as 1.4 miles one way with 566 feet of gain from this trailhead, so budget for the climb and the return. To reach Bear Lake Road between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. through October 18, you need the park’s Timed Entry + Bear Lake Road reservation as well as a park entrance pass.
Aspen Glen Campground, Poudre Canyon. This is the low-effort choice if you’re planning a night outdoors: a small, nine-site Forest Service campground among aspen, conifers, and meadow beside Highway 14 and the Cache la Poudre River. It’s a campground, not a named hiking loop, so be aware that the camp sites may be booked. Check its current status and campsite availability before setting out.
Forest Service campground informationGould Loop, State Forest State Park — worth the drive. COTREX maps this as a 5.2-mile loop beginning at the Moose Visitor Center, following the Michigan River toward the Ranger Lakes area. Its ‘easy’ rating describes the route, though five miles at high elevation is still a real outing. This is the park where our friend found gold last weekend; we don’t know which path she walked. Give wildlife room, especially if you encounter a moose.
If you end up on an outing, send us a photo and tell us where you took it. We’ll take a good field report any day.
What Greeley Is Digging Up Beneath Downtown
Street closures are a nuisance. But in downtown Greeley right now, it's also an opportunity to take a look at the systems under our feet that most of us never see.
The city is working through nearly 20 blocks, replacing water and sewer pipes, adding stormwater capacity, and rebuilding stretches of street and sidewalk. Some of the pipe being replaced is more than 100 years old. The goal is plain: fewer breaks, and better drainage when a hard rain hits downtown.
On 9th Avenue between 11th and 12th streets, crews are building the big stormwater structures in place because the work zone is too tight to lower prefabricated pieces into it. That block was set to close as early as September 21 and stay closed for several months. Detours shift as the phases move, so check the city’s project dashboard and parking map before a downtown trip. Businesses are open through construction, and would certainly appreciate your patronage.
The Rancher’s Wife | Berthoud
Old things, local finds, and a grain elevator with a new life.
Why we love them: The Rancher’s Wife fills Berthoud’s old Lovejoy Grain Elevator with antiques, vintage finds, furniture, western décor, and goods made in Colorado. Berthoud Main Street says the elevator was built in 1910, operated until 1980, and sat vacant for decades before the shop moved in in 2013. More than 75 vendors and artisans now give people a reason to step inside a piece of the town’s agricultural history.
That is the fun of this stop: you can go looking for an item and wind up paying as much attention to the building that holds it. We haven’t visited this week, so we won’t pretend to know what treasure is waiting on the shelves today. Go explore!
How to support: Browse the shop online or plan a visit to the Lovejoy Grain Elevator on Third Street in downtown Berthoud. More on the building and business.
Riding up the canyon. Standing at a workbench. Walking the dog. Pain can keep us from enjoying the little things in life that make life, well… life.
Sam Fischer and the team at Choice City Physical Therapy offer one-on-one care in Fort Collins.
40-minute appointments with a licensed physical therapist. Treatment built around you, and the activities you want to get back to enjoying in life.
3938 John F. Kennedy Parkway, Unit 11E · Fort Collins
970-460-8544
The Christmas Tree Farm in Windsor
For years, people came to 33741 Highway 257 to pick a Christmas tree. Now the former farm is for sale: 6.07 acres with a house, two ponds, a sunroom, and a heated Quonset building, according to the listing. It’s the sort of place that makes you wonder what’s next for this property — it may make a great venue!
The current asking price is $1,200,000; see the listing and photos.
GOT TOO MANY TOMATOES? Larimer County’s Grow & Give program can connect extra garden produce with local food pantries. Its next Harmony Library collection is Sunday, October 4, 1–3 p.m. at 4616 S. Shields St. There are also donation sites around the county. Find one near you.
BIG DOGS, SMALLER BILL. NOCO Humane says adoption fees are waived for dogs weighing 40 pounds or more from September 30 through October 4 at its three campuses. Check the individual dog’s profile for location and adoption fit. Meet the dogs.
ELK WEEKEND. Estes Park’s free Elk Fest is October 3–4 at Bond Park and the Estes Park Events Complex, with wildlife exhibits, talks, and demonstrations. Give the actual elk plenty of room if you encounter them elsewhere in town.
Festival details.
THE WEEKLY STUMPER: Last week’s equinox answer: due east!
Meet Phoot
Phoot is a 10-year-old Boerboel at NOCO Humane’s Larimer Campus in Loveland. She’s a big girl at about 95 pounds, and the shelter says she enjoys spending time with her people and getting treats. That’s what we know; the profile doesn’t tell us how she does with children, cats, or other dogs, so ask the shelter about their ideal fit before making a plan. Her ID is A961116. See Phoot’s adoption details.
Every contribution keeps us out in the field, digging into local history, and showing up for the towns we cover. We're grateful for every bit of support. Thanks for being part of this.
— Megan & David
