River Bluffs — two short paved returns

River Bluffs — two short paved returns — detailed guide

Source review: 2026-10-11. A dated source review does not guarantee current-day conditions.

Ride about 1 mile total on two short out-and-backs from River Bluffs Trailhead. This combines a short eastward section of the Kyger Trail with a short westward section of the Poudre River Trail, returning to the same head after each arm. The published mile already includes both returns. It is not a circuit around Kyger Reservoir.

Use the public River Bluffs Open Space entrance on County Road 32E. From I-25, take Exit 262 east for 1.5 miles, turn north on County Road 3 for 0.5 mile, then east on County Road 32E for 0.3 mile; the entrance is on the right. The named head is approximately 40.486146, -104.958625. This point locates the trailhead, not a parking stall. COTREX lists no fee, a restroom and water at this head. Bring your own water because a listed facility does not guarantee it is operating when you arrive.

From the head, follow the paved Kyger Trail east to the eastern turnaround shown on the official one-mile route map, approximately 40.486171, -104.953532. Turn back along the same path to the head. Then follow the paved Poudre River Trail west to that route’s western turnaround, approximately 40.486105, -104.962171, and return to your starting head. These coordinates identify generalized route turn points, not marked signs or surveyed locations; use the official map to recognize the short arms. Do not continue east into the regional connection or south onto the longer Poudre excursion.

Both named underlying trails explicitly allow ordinary bicycles. The county welcomes nonmotorized bikes on designated paths and allows Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes, while prohibiting Class 3. Yield to walkers, slow at the head and junctions, and keep dogs leashed. Horses are not allowed here. The short course uses shared park paths, but parking approaches and pedestrian interfaces remain.

The featured route describes paved tread and lists average and maximum grade as 0%, with about 3 feet of total ascent. Treat 0% as the publisher’s rounded description, not proof of perfectly level ground. Width, cross-slope and difficult spots are unknown. The route was modified June 3, 2026; this research is not a fresh field survey. The separate 1.75-mile Poudre outing publishes a maximum grade of 5% and is excluded from this short guide.

River Bluffs is for day use; its trailhead is closed from sunset to sunrise. Stay on designated trails and respect private land beyond them. Check the current bridge-fencing closure notice before riding. On October 11, 2026 UTC, that notice still said “until further notice” even though its title specified October 5–9. Its mapped closure lies east of the selected short arms, but that geographic distinction does not guarantee access on the day of your ride. Obey every barrier and do not invent a detour.

The official short-route geometry is approximately 0.98 mile before rounding, including repeated tread. It contains six paved bicycle-permitted pieces, an outward Kyger piece that exactly retraces its bicycle-permitted return, and a short unnamed approach near the head. Those source limitations are retained. Generalized endpoints do not create an exact navigation track; no stitched GPX or surveyed parking point is supplied. The county’s older PDF map was not visually reviewed because it could not be retrieved.

Sources: official short route, public trailhead and facilities, county public access, hours and rules, Kyger bicycle permission, River Bluffs Poudre permission and current fencing notice. An internal comparison of route and closure geometry was visually reviewed. This original written entry is complete with these qualifications; current posted-access checks and integration into the separate USA website remain before launch.