Shields Street River Access

Poudre River winding through natural area on a stormy summer afternoon.

This parking area provides access to the Cache la Poudre River, the Poudre Trail, North Shields Ponds and McMurry natural areas. It is a convenient river access for recreationists who kayak, canoe or tube. Use the underpass or sidewalks to stay safe. The parking lot is owned by Larimer County and managed by City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department.

View the Natural Areas Map(PDF, 25MB) for more information. This document is provided for printing purposes. For assistance viewing or reading this document, please contact the City's ADA Coordinator via email adacoordinator@fortcollins.gov or phone: 970-416-4254.

Plan Your Visit

Popular times.

Graph of popular times at Sheild Street River Access. Weekday visits rise from morning, peaking 2–3 p.m. Weekends are busier overall, with the highest use late morning through mid-afternoon, especially 2–3 p.m.