Wildflowers line the Spring Creek Trail - the longest segment of the Horsetooth Mountain Loop

Horsetooth Rock from the West Ridge Trail

A hiker navigates the rocky scramble to the top of Horsetooth Rock

The Horsetooth Mountain Loop Trail descends thorough wide meadows with great views of the Horsetooth Rock area

A red fox scans the tall grass for a morning meal

Large outcrops dominate the Horsetooth Mountain landscape and provide shelter to a diverse set of wildlife

The Horsetooth Rock summit affords sweeping views of the Fort Collins back range

Healthy pine trees cover the area adjacent to the summit of Horsetooth Rock

After being likened to a giant heart by Native Americans - settlers renamed the formation after its resemblance to horse teeth.

Looking west towards Horsetooth Rock from the Spring Creek Trail

A lone tree marks the location where the trail ends and the scramble to the summit begins

Horsetooth Rock marks the highest point in all of Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

The Horsetooth Falls Trail

Looking up at a barely running Horsetooth Falls.

From atop Horsetooth Rock - views to the northeast of Fort Collins and Horsetooth Reservoir.

Healthy pine trees give way to beautiful rock formations as the trail nears the Horsetooth Rock approach.

The summit of Horsetooth Rock

The Horsetooth Falls Trail winds through a mixed grass prairie

Sandstone rock layers erode at different rates, resulting in spires and nobs along outcrops

The loop includes the Horsetooth Falls Trail which traverses through tall grass meadows