The 2016 annual entrance permits (left) are available until Dec. 31, 2016. The 2017 permits (right) will be available starting Jan. 1, 2017. Permits are good for 12 months.

Annual Entrance Permits Make Great Holiday Gifts!

Give the gift of the great outdoors with an annual entrance permit to Larimer County's parks and open spaces. Permits are good for 12 months of access to camping, hiking, biking, boating, fishing, horseback riding and more!

Purchase permits online, call (970) 619-4570 or visit any Larimer County Department of Natural Resources office, the Citizen Information Center at the courthouse in Fort Collins or local businesses such as Jax and REI.

Earlier this month, Santa Claus took a break from making presents to catch fish at Horsetooth Reservoir. Maybe the jolly old elf is on Foursquare! Photo by Devin Neumann.

Horsetooth Reservoir Among America's Best 'Lakes'

We'll take the bronze! Horsetooth Reservoir ranked third on a list of America's best lakes published by the popular social media platform Foursquare.

View the full list, or read about the ranking in the Coloradoan newspaper.

Larimer County commissioners drew the grand prize winners of The Larimer County Passport to Your Open Spaces in early December. Photo by Alisha Jeffers.

20th Anniversary of Open Spaces Tax Comes to a Close

In 2016, we celebrated 20 years of the Help Preserve Open Spaces sales tax and the impact it's had on all of us in Larimer County. Thank you to everyone who participated in activities! View photos of volunteer projects, education programs and more by searching #OpenSpaces20th on Facebook and Twitter.

Keep working on your passport! As part of the 20th anniversary, we launched The Larimer County Passport to Your Open Spaces. The program will continue in 2017. If you're still completing your passport, please keep collecting rubbings and submit your passport to win cool prizes and enter next year's drawing.

Hermit Park Open Space is located in the mountains near Estes Park. Photo by Gregory Mayse.

Reminder: Hermit Park Closed for Season Starting Tuesday

From Dec. 20 to the end of February, Hermit Park Open Space will be closed because of winter weather changes and wintering wildlife habitat.

Get directions and info on visiting Hermit Park »

This mountain lion was captured on a wildlife camera at Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch by David Neils. David is leading hikes to learn about predators in January.

Upcoming Guided Hikes and Programs

On the Trail of Predators: Part 1 - Jan. 7 (Sat.), 8 a.m., Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch

On the Trail of Predators: Part 2 - Jan. 21 (Sat.), 8 a.m., Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch

Stargazing with Northern Colorado Astronomical Society - Jan. 21 (Sat.), 7 p.m., Devil's Backbone Open Space

CSI: Critter Scene Investigations - Date TBD, Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Registration is required for all programs.

Information and registration: www.larimer.org/NRregistration/, or Heather Young at (970) 619-4489 or hyoung@larimer.org.

Apply to Become a Volunteer Ranger Assistant

Have you ever wanted to be a ranger? Now you can! Volunteer Ranger Assistants help visitors, report maintenance issues and educate people about regulations on Larimer County's open spaces and City of Fort Collins' natural areas. A training is set for the evenings of Feb. 21 & 23 and all day Feb. 25.

Apply by Jan. 20 on the City of Fort Collins' website.