Red Feather Lakes offers remote living in the Rocky Mountains
Red Feather Lakes, established in 1923, sits at an elevation of over 8,200 feet in the Rocky Mountains, affording sweeping views, snowy winters and a secluded feel surrounded by lakes and forests. “We just celebrated our centennial in 2023, and we’ve got fourth-, fifth- and gosh, probably even sixth-generation families still living up here,” says Lon Hughes, a Realtor at Ponderosa Realty Associates whose family has lived in Red Feather Lakes for over 70 years. “There’s also a lot of snowbirds that show up on Memorial Day weekend and then they get out of town by Labor Day or when we get the first dusting of snow.” Ten miles from the nearest highway and 45 miles from Fort Collins, both seasonal and year-round residents trade a certain level of convenience for the wealth of fishing lakes and hiking trails. The Fox Acres gated community and Crystal Lake subdivision offer the same natural beauty, with a few added conveniences like better road maintenance and private amenities.
Mostly wood cabins, plus Crystal Lakes and Fox Acres subdivisions
Homes near the village center include historical properties and wood-built cabins from the early 20th century. Development extended outward in the latter half of the 20th century, including more ranch-style homes and A-frame cabins. Forested lots provide a degree of privacy and seclusion, with most lots starting at a quarter-acre. Generally, most home prices range from $100,000 to $500,000. The Crystal Lakes subdivision, on the north side of Red Feather Lakes, has late-20th and early-21st century cabins and ranch-style homes on larger half-acre, full-acre and multiacre lots. Due to the larger parcels, prices here tend to range from $340,000 to $740,000. The Fox Acres gated community is the most sought-after area in Red Feather Lakes, offering larger contemporary homes with golf course views, private lake access and other community amenities. Custom estate-sized properties within Fox Acres can sell for between $820,000 and $1.1 million; some townhouses are also available, with prices ranging from $490,000 to $710,000.
Lakefront activities, forested hiking trails and a scenic golf course
Naturally, the community’s many lakes and ponds are one of the biggest draws for seasonal and full-time residents. Some lakes are privately owned with fishing memberships available for purchase, though there are also several public lakes open to fishing, kayaking and boating. Parvin, Dowdy and West lakes are some of the main spots for waterfront activities. The Crystal Lakes subdivision also has its own lakes and ponds, as well as preserved open spaces with hiking and skiing trails that wind through the community. The Golf Club at Fox Acres has an 18-hole course that's open to the public. Red Feather Lakes is surrounded by Roosevelt National Forest, which has miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. Campsites are plentiful and other popular activities include hunting and cross-country skiing in the winter.
A few long-standing local businesses with more options in Fort Collins
A few businesses are concentrated in the Red Feather Lakes village center, including an Ace Hardware and Red Feather Lakes Trading Post, a locally owned grocery that’s been a mainstay since 1924. Aside from these smaller businesses, residents make the drive to Fort Collins for things like big-box stores, and full-time residents are careful to stock up during the snowy season. “The whole area is accessible year-round, but you still may get a two-foot snow where you’re not going anywhere for a day and a half, no matter how many snowplows they get. There’s mom and pop stores if you need a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread. Most folks like myself go down to Costco once every ten days,” Hughes says. “While they’re down there, they fill up their gas tanks too because it’s 50 cents more per gallon up here.” The community is also home to a select few restaurants. The Tavern at Red Feather Lakes is housed in a rustic wood cabin, serving comfort food with a full bar and live music. Potbelly Restaurant & Lounge is a cozy café offering sandwiches and burgers.
Local elementary school, students bused to middle and high school
Poudre School District’s Mountain Schools, which earn an A-minus rating from Niche, include three campuses that are technically operated as one school, each serving the more remote mountainous communities in northern Colorado. The Red Feather Lakes Elementary campus is one of the Mountain Schools and has very small class sizes, with two grade levels combined in each classroom. For higher grade levels, students are bused into Fort Collins. Cache La Poudre Middle and Poudre High both earn a B-plus rating and offer athletic programs like basketball, volleyball and wrestling.
Larger cities and services are nearly 50 miles away
Red Feather Lakes is about 45 miles from Fort Collins, 25 miles from Route 287 and 10 miles from state Route 14. Major medical centers like the University of Colorado Health Poudre Valley Hospital are more than 45 miles away. Northern Colorado Regional Airport is about 60 miles away, while Denver International Airport is over 110 miles away.
Annual Fourth of July festivities on the waterfront
The Red Feather Lakes Community Association organizes an annual Fourth of July celebration, usually held on the weekend. The day begins with a craft vendor fair and food trucks, followed by a community parade and fireworks in the evening over Hiawatha Lake.
