The road from Fort Collins to Walden used to be used by Native Americans and white explorers to travel through the north central region of Colorado. This route follows the Cache la Poudre, the only official Wild and Scenic River in Colorado. The terrain is an alternation between the tumultuous chaos of the canyon and the serenity of open plains and alpine meadows.

The land of North Park was once home to thousands of bison that roamed the plains. Nowadays you mainly see deer, antelopes, moose, beavers and coyotes. Now the Cache la Poudre is intensively managed for the water management of this area. The Scenic Cache La Poudre byway starts in Fort Collins and takes you through Roosevelt National Forest along the Poudre River, through Poudre Canyon to Cameron Pass, and descends to North Park.

Lovers of fishing should bring their equipment. The clear water river is easily accessible and along its banks there is the possibility to fish for trout in the eddies and reservoirs which are just a few steps from the side roads.

There are also several places where you can rent a raft, canoe or kayak to conquer the river, such as at Gateway Natural Area (RP9), where you can enjoy the peace and nature, ideal for a picnic. This is a very popular spot with the town's old water filtration plant where the North Fork of the Poudre River meets the main artery of the Poudre River. Another option for lunch is at the Mishawaka Ampetheater (RP10), an open-air single-stage concert venue about 25 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado, on Colorado State Highway 14. It is located on the banks of the River Poudre. The restaurant, with its lovely terraces, is open all year round and the amphitheater is open from May to September

At RP11 you can stop at Arrowhead Lodge, originally built as a summer mountain resort. Construction began in 1933 and the lodge opened in 1935. In 1984, Arrowhead Lodge was transferred from private to public ownership in a land exchange with the US Forest Service. Today, Arrowhead Lodge serves as a visitor center for those traveling and recreating in the Cache la Poudre River corridor. The staff will answer questions and sell forest maps and federal recreation passes. The lodge is also known as a viewing point for bighorn sheep, usually on the slopes behind the main buildings.

We drive through the Cameron Pass (RP14), a mountain pass with an altitude of 3132 meters in north-central Colorado in the Rocky Mountains. The pass is an opening between the south side of the Medicine Bow Mountains and the north side of the Never Summer Mountains. It sits on the boundary between Jackson County and Larimer County, about 3 miles north of the Rocky Mountain National Park boundary. The pass is the most optimal route between Fort Collins and Walden in North Park, via State Highway 14.

Driving along the Cache La Poudre byway you can see unique formations from the earthquakes of many years ago, such as the peaks of the Nokhu Crags RP15 (Eagles Nest) which reach a height of 3,807 meters.

At RP16 you can visit the Moose Visitor Center. Operated by Colorado State Forest State Park, the center is located near the former Gould logging camp. It tells the story of the moose from North Park and the old wood camps. It also includes information about the park and its wildlife.

From the Cache La Poudre byway, Wyoming's Medicine Bow Mountain Range is visible in the distance as we approach Walden. It is well worth the effort to visit the Arapahoe National Wildlife Refuge RP20 just beyond Walden. This is a popular spot for bird watching. Set up to breed and create a habitat for migratory birds, you can spot Wilson's falarope, American avocet, Willet, sandpipers, yellow-legged, dowitchers, sage grouse, golden eagles and hawks. After this last stop we drive to the hotel in Walden.

Outdoor enthusiasts can plan a longer stay in this area to visit the Rawah Wilderness Area. The area consists of 309.16 km2, U-shaped glacier-carved valleys and peaks cover the area. The melt water has formed the 26 lakes in the region which are filled with rainbow and brown trout. More than 120 kilometers of trails provide access to hiking, horseback riding or cycling. In the fall, many deer and moose hunters visit the region. You can also enjoy other activities such as backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, horseback riding, bird watching and star gazing. Winter sports are plentiful in the highlands. Many Forest Service roads and trails are being converted into snowmobile and cross-country skiing paradises.