Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area

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Parks

Colorado

Nearby: Registry Park Hazaleus Natural Area

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area is a 240-acre natural area located in Fort Collins, Colorado.

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Summary

The area is managed by the City of Fort Collins and is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, wildlife watchers, and nature lovers.

Some good reasons to visit Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area include its scenic beauty, diverse wildlife, and abundant plant communities. The area is home to a variety of grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs, as well as numerous species of wildlife, including prairie dogs, coyotes, and birds of prey.

Specific points of interest to see at Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area include the prairie dog colonies, the native grassland areas, and the riparian corridors. There are also several hiking and biking trails that wind through the natural area, offering visitors a chance to explore and experience the area's unique beauty up close.

Interesting facts about Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area include that it was named in honor of Cathy Fromme, a local naturalist and environmental activist who played a key role in preserving the area. The natural area is also home to several rare and endangered plant and animal species, including the western painted turtle and the northern harrier hawk.

The best time of year to visit Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area is typically in the spring and summer months, when the wildflowers are in bloom and wildlife is most active. However, the area is open year-round and offers visitors a chance to experience its beauty and diversity in every season.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

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