Spring Creek (Fort Collins, Colorado)

Spring Creek[1]
Spring Creek in 2007 following minor flooding; note the effect of the water flow on nearby vegetation
Physical characteristics
Source
• coordinates	40°31′48″N 105°08′30″W / 40.53000°N 105.14167°W / 40.53000; -105.14167
Mouth
• location	Confluence with Cache la Poudre
• coordinates	40°34′08″N 105°01′39″W / 40.56889°N 105.02750°W / 40.56889; -105.02750
• elevation	4,898 ft (1,493 m)
Basin features
Progression	Cache la Poudre— South Platte—Platte— Missouri—Mississippi

Spring Creek is a 12.7-mile-long (20.4 km)^[2] tributary of the Cache La Poudre River in the state of Colorado in the United States.

Spring Creek begins north of Horsetooth Mountain within Horsetooth Mountain Park just west of Fort Collins, Colorado, and flows into Horsetooth Reservoir. [1] After leaving Horsetooth Reservoir out of Spring Canyon Dam, Spring Creek flows through central Fort Collins just south of Colorado State University. [2] For most of its passage through the city, it is paralleled by the city-maintained Spring Creek Trail.

The Spring Creek Trail follows Spring Creek through several parks in mid Fort Collins. It currently extends from Spring Canyon park at the southern end of Overland Trail to the confluence of Spring Creek and the Poudre River where it joins the Poudre Trail. The Spring Creek Trail extends through a new underpass of Taft Hill Road. This highly popular trail continues to Spring Canyon Community Park and the Pineridge Natural Area. The Spring Creek Trail is 6.6 miles.[3]