North Fork Cache la Poudre River
Encyclopedia
The North Fork Cache la Poudre River (locally called the North Fork) is a tributary of the Cache la Poudre River
, approximately 59.2 miles (95.3 km) long, in north central Colorado
in the United States
. It drains a mountainous area of north central Larimer County
northwest of Fort Collins
on the western side of the Laramie Foothills.
It rises in remote northwestern Larimer County in the foothills of the Roosevelt National Forest
east of the Medicine Bow Range. It flows generally east, passing south of Virginia Dale
, where it is impounded by the Halligan Reservoir. It turns roughly south, flowing past Livermore
and joining the main branch of the Poudre from the north near the mouth of the Poudre Canyon
between Poudre Park and Teds Place. The valley of the North Fork was historically used a trail route between the Colorado Piedmont
and the Laramie Plains
, including the Cherokee Trail
and the Overland Trail
. The valley of the North Fork later became the route of the Union Pacific Railroad
, and later of U.S. Highway 287 between Fort Collins and Laramie, Wyoming
. Communities in the valley of the North Fork include Livermore
.
Cache La Poudre River
The Cache la Poudre River is in the state of Colorado in the United States.Its headwaters are in the Front Range in Larimer County, in the northern part of Rocky Mountain National Park. The river descends eastward in the mountains through the Roosevelt National Forest in Poudre Canyon...
, approximately 59.2 miles (95.3 km) long, in north central Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It drains a mountainous area of north central Larimer County
Larimer County, Colorado
Larimer County is the seventh most populous and the ninth most extensive of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. The county is located at the northern end of the Front Range, at the edge of the Colorado Eastern Plains along the border with Wyoming...
northwest of Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
on the western side of the Laramie Foothills.
It rises in remote northwestern Larimer County in the foothills of the Roosevelt National Forest
Roosevelt National Forest
The Roosevelt National Forest is a National Forest located in north central Colorado. It is contiguous with the Colorado State Forest as well as the Arapaho National Forest...
east of the Medicine Bow Range. It flows generally east, passing south of Virginia Dale
Virginia Dale, Colorado
Virginia Dale is a tiny unincorporated town located in northwestern Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Virginia Dale is situated in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains on U.S. Highway 287, approximately 45 mi northwest of Ft. Collins and approximately 4 mi south of the Wyoming...
, where it is impounded by the Halligan Reservoir. It turns roughly south, flowing past Livermore
Livermore, Colorado
Livermore is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. The Livermore Post Office has the ZIP Code 80536....
and joining the main branch of the Poudre from the north near the mouth of the Poudre Canyon
Poudre Canyon
The Poudre Canyon is a narrow verdant canyon, approximately 40 mi long, on the upper Cache la Poudre River in Larimer County, Colorado in the United States...
between Poudre Park and Teds Place. The valley of the North Fork was historically used a trail route between the Colorado Piedmont
Colorado Piedmont
The Colorado Piedmont is the geologic term for an area along the base of the foothills of the Front Range in north central Colorado in the United States...
and the Laramie Plains
Laramie Plains
The Laramie Plains is an arid highland in south central Wyoming in the United States. The plains extend along the upper basin of the Laramie River on the east side of the Medicine Bow Range. The city of Laramie is the largest community in the valley...
, including the Cherokee Trail
Cherokee Trail
The Cherokee Trail was a historic overland trail through the present-day U.S. states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming that was used from the late 1840s up through the early 1890s. The route was established in 1849 by a wagon train headed to the gold fields in California...
and the Overland Trail
Overland Trail
The Overland Trail was a stagecoach and wagon trail in the American West during the 19th century. While portions of the route had been used by explorers and trappers since the 1820s, the Overland Trail was most heavily used in the 1860s as an alternative route to the Oregon, California and Mormon...
. The valley of the North Fork later became the route of the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
, and later of U.S. Highway 287 between Fort Collins and Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie, Wyoming
Laramie is a city in and the county seat of Albany County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 30,816 at the . Located on the Laramie River in southeastern Wyoming, the city is west of Cheyenne, at the junction of Interstate 80 and U.S. Route 287....
. Communities in the valley of the North Fork include Livermore
Livermore, Colorado
Livermore is an unincorporated town and a U.S. Post Office in Larimer County, Colorado, United States. The Livermore Post Office has the ZIP Code 80536....
.