Everyone who considers themselves the least bit outdoorsy has a special spot. Not necessarily a favorite spot or a spot that was on your bucket list or anything that dramatic. Rather, a spot that’s a “go-to.” A spot that you crave when the rain sets in. Picking this spot can be difficult and more often than not, the spot picks you. It might be the park across the street or the one across town. If you’re lucky enough to have a piece of property that is worthy of exploration then it might be in the far corner under a tree that’s not visible from any roads or front porches.
These spots are special, even when they’re not. The hum of a freeway may plague this spot. It may not be as secluded or romantic as these spots often are in movies. These spots may not always offer respite from the whole world, but they can let you escape your world.
What is Red Fox Meadows?
Red Fox Meadows is a city-maintained natural area near the Shields neighborhood on the west side of Fort Collins.
The trail features several ponds, a creek, walking trails, and a bridge, and is dog-friendly. No camping, fireworks, firearms, or hunting of any kind is allowed. The trails are often flooded after a rainy day forcing walkers to brave the mud or find an alternate route. These routes may include the parking lot of an apartment complex or a tick-infested meadow. Picking up after your dog is encouraged but ultimately optional. Cooler times of the day during the summer months make the area a breeding ground for West Nile Virus. The water in the creek that runs through the natural area is almost black. Sometimes it can be seen carrying an empty soda bottle or several floating apples (depending on the time of year). The street near the northern border of the park is mostly used by students leaving campus. This means the area is filled with the soft purr of motorcycles and the throaty roar of heavily modified Japanese cars.
Red Fox Meadows is my spot, and it’s perfect.
Trails at Red Fox Meadows
The trails snake almost randomly through the meadows, either taking you into the middle of a field of grass that can get to waist high in late summer or next to a serene pond, complete with ducks, fish, and two small turtles that enjoy sunbathing on the partially submerged log on the eastern shore. Look out for cranes during the springtime. You can see them dipping their beaks into the murky sludge before taking silent flight across the pond in search of a safer spot to quench their thirst. A snapping turtle that is comically out of place is also frequently in the area. He is likely the product of a banished pet from some years ago that grew uncontrollably without its natural predators.
At the end of September, the meadows shift suddenly from bright greens to tender yellows and vibrant red. Seeing the changes at this time feels like watching Bob Ross paint the same scene over and over again. But with a mood that is steadily growing more melancholic. The leaves represent the final moments of summer before Colorado skips the autumn season and thrusts the state into winter.
But snow or no snow (Colorado’s two seasons), Red Fox Meadows is my spot. Perhaps it’s the proximity to busy streets and suburban neighborhoods that make the tree-covered dirt trails seem like some sort of Rocky Mountain oasis, but it is distinctly calming.
Why I love it
The fact that I still enjoy this pond despite the number of people who frequent Red Fox Meadows is a bit of a surprise, at least to me. Normally, I shy away from places with lots of people. Especially when those people are as unavoidable as they are on narrow dirt paths. But there seems to be a mutual agreement amongst solo travelers on the twisting paths. Aslight nod of the head or a “Don’t talk to me” face is sufficient to keep any fellow travelers off your back. The comradery among people who don’t want to be bothered is the closest thing to a community that I am currently interested in.
The trail also loops several times back to the same point, allowing for dozens of combinations for those who like to keep things fresh. This also has the added advantage of taking the bulk of decision-making away, ensuring that a walk to clear your head doesn’t become a multi-mile trek upon looking up and realizing you have no idea where you are. Some may see that as a con.
Red Fox Meadows is imperfect in all the right ways. When I eventually leave this town, it might be one of the things I miss the most. It’s not that there are so many good memories in this city-maintained natural area, just that there aren’t any bad ones. I won’t be thinking about the ducklings I saw there while I’m on my deathbed, and I won’t be thinking about the sun-bathing turtles that are on the same log every morning either. But I definitely won’t forget them.