Timnath Reservoir and Poudre River Trail: Your Fall Access Guide

"After five decades, the Poudre River Trail now connects northern Colorado communities diagonally from Bellvue to Greeley, providing 45 miles of continuous, paved, multi-use trail that runs east and west of I-25 connecting communities and open spaces."

Larimer County posted that line in its June 5, 2026 trail update. The last piece of those 45 miles runs through Timnath, and so do this year's other outdoor projects. Timnath Reservoir's posted season for motorized boats ended on October 1. The town's next outdoor improvements are concrete trails on the reservoir property, scheduled for the months when the water is quiet. Through 2026, Timnath's outdoor work has gone into paths you walk and ride on, and this fall is the first full season to use them.

The Final Mile Starts in South Timnath

The new segment is about one mile of 10-foot-wide concrete trail between south Timnath and north Windsor. The County's project report gives the route as "CR 32E north to Timnath." A January construction brief in the Coloradoan described a crosswalk over Larimer County Road 32 as part of the work.

The segment also includes a bridge over the Greeley No. 2 Canal. The County says the bridge spans 83 feet and weighs about 9 tons. Connell Resources built the segment. Funding came from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the North Front Range MPO and CDOT. Larimer County, Fort Collins, Timnath, Windsor and CDOT worked on the project together.

Timnath hosted the celebration. On June 13, 2026, the "Connecting Communities" event opened with a 9 a.m. ceremony on the east side of Timnath Community Park at 5500 Summerfields Parkway. The I-25 pedestrian underpass people often link to this trail is a separate piece. The County lists it as a Fort Collins segment finished in 2024.

Some finishing work continues. The County's status report, last updated in September 2026, says trail and fence construction are complete. Replanting is still in progress, and more fence work is expected this fall. Expect crews along the edges this month, though the report does not list a scheduled closure.

Where to Get On Once You're Off the Water

Timnath Community Park hosted the celebration, but neither the Town nor the County names it as an official trailhead or lists trail parking there. These named access points on the corridor have posted parking:

1. Eastman Park, Windsor. The trailhead sits at Eastman Park Drive and County Road 17/7th Street. It has ample parking, and the trail runs along the park's south side.
2. Kodak Watchable Wildlife Area. Reach it from County Road 19/Highway 257, just under two miles south of Windsor's Main Street. It has a parking lot and a portable restroom.
3. River Bluffs Open Space. Take I-25 to Highway 392, then County Road 3 and County Road 32E, the same road named at the southern end of the new segment. It has parking and restrooms.
4. CSU's Environmental Learning Center. The parking lot is at the end of the gravel road off Environmental Drive. Bikes are not allowed on the Center's own internal trails, so riders should stay on the Poudre route.

Just east of Eastman Park, the corridor passes Treasure Island Garden. Farther along are the Poudre Learning Center at 8313 W. F St. in Greeley and Signature Bluffs. The Poudre Learning Center in Greeley and CSU's Environmental Learning Center in Fort Collins are two different places.

Conditions farther east change often. Greeley held an October 1 open house about a planned closure on the Narrows section for erosion repair, but its notice gives no closure dates or detour. The trail organization calls COTREX its most up-to-date closure source, and it's worth checking before a long ride toward Greeley.

Timnath Reservoir After October 1

The reservoir doesn't close when the boat trailers leave. It changes hours. The property covers about 580 to 600 acres of water with a 6-mile perimeter. The New Cache La Poudre Reservoir Company owns it, and the Town leases it for recreation. That lease took effect in 2016 for a 15-year term.

In October, dusk usually comes before 7 p.m., so an after-work visit has less daylight than the summer schedule allowed. Permits still apply. Every visitor needs one, and it must be displayed on the vehicle. For Timnath households, the annual shore use permit is free and a single-day guest vehicle pass is $8. For residents of the Town's growth management area (GMA), the annual household permit is $65. Shore use covers fishing from the shore or piers, picnicking and general time on the shore. Leashed dogs are allowed, and bicycles are the only recreational vehicles permitted. Card-only day-use shore permits and non-motorized boat permits can be bought at the reservoir itself.

Two seasonal notes from the Town's own page are worth knowing in fall. The reservoir is a working irrigation reservoir, so water levels rise and fall with irrigation demand. Blue-green algae has been confirmed there in past years, usually late summer into early fall. The Town says blooms can last into fall and recommends keeping people and pets out of discolored or scummy water.

The Reservoir's Own Trail Work Was Scheduled for Right Now

On April 14, 2026, Town Council approved a design work order with J-U-B Engineers for up to $128,500, plus a $10,500 contingency, for the Timnath Reservoir Trail. The design has three parts:

• Area A. A 10-foot concrete ADA trail from the park entrance to an existing trail near the event space. It includes fencing along the ditch and a solar-powered gate.
• Area B. A 10-foot concrete ADA trail over the dam that ties the attendant shed to two existing trail pieces on the loop.
• Area C. Regrading of the maintenance road. According to the work order, the road "channels any moisture down" and has caused significant erosion at a trail and a boat ramp.

The engineer's schedule set September 1 to 25 for advertising and awarding the construction contract. Construction was planned for October 5 through December 31, 2026, which starts four days after the motorized boat season closed.

The project has moved since then. On September 8, Council approved $62,888 more for J-U-B to manage construction, bringing the work order to $201,888. Staff wrote that the Town was "ready to issue the Request for Proposal (RFP) to engage a Construction Contractor at this time." A procurement listing shows a construction services request issued September 14 and due October 2. As of this weekend, no contractor award or construction start has been announced, and no reservoir trail closure has been posted. October 5 is a target in a schedule, not a confirmed start date.

The next public update has a date. The agenda for the Town's Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails (PROST) committee meeting on Wednesday, October 7 lists "Reservoir Updates" and "Project Updates." That meeting is the first place a construction timeline, or any change to shore access during the work, is likely to come up.

The Rest of the Season, Mostly Outdoors

The Fall Festival took place September 26. Two dates are left on the calendar between now and the end of the reservoir's construction window.

The Timnath Chamber lists the free Timnath Connect Harvest Market for Saturday, October 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pedro's Coffee Shop, 2100 S. Colorado Boulevard.

The Town's Holiday Festival is set for December 5, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m. at Timnath Community Park, the same park where the trail celebration took place in June. The Town's page mentions Santa, local performances and ice sculptures. It doesn't give a tree-lighting time yet.

By December 5, the reservoir's posted construction window will be nearly over and the new Poudre River Trail segment will have had its first fall of use. The December 31 end date and the County's fall fence work are the next things to watch.

If you're thinking about how trail access, reservoir permits or a planned construction season fit into your plans for life in Timnath, Rachel Vesta is happy to talk it through with you, from the details on the Town's calendar to how they shape everyday life on a particular street. Book a consultation whenever you're ready, and we'll take it from there.

This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.