Attention hikers and bikers, a new trail opened at Horsetooth Reservoir Friday morning, the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources announced.

The Bay to Bay trail at Horsetooth Reservoir is now open and offers 1.8 miles of hiking and biking.

The trail travels the peninsula at the southern part of Inlet Bay to the existing swim beach at South Bay, connecting two popular areas via a natural surface trail, according to the department (LCDNR).

“We are thrilled to add the Bay to Bay Trail to Larimer County’s system of trails in the Horsetooth area,” Meegan Flenniken, LCDNR’s Land Conservation, Planning and Resource Division manager said. “This trail offers an excellent option for nature-based access at the south end of Horsetooth Reservoir.”

The LCDNR said the trail can be accessed from the existing Blue Sky Trail trailhead or in the parking area at Horsetooth Reservoir’s South Bay near the swim beach.

The trail is said to offer hikers and bikers outstanding views of the reservoir along a moderate-level, 2-foot wide, sustainable route.

“Due to its steep cross slope, exposed ridges, rocky terrain and limited horse trailer parking, this trail is only open to foot and bike use,” the LCDNR said.

The trail was designed to follow the shoreline to avoid fragmenting wildlife habitat, bisecting mountain mahogany shrublands and limiting the visual impact to the hogback viewshed.

The Bay to Bay trail puts LCDNR at just over 100 miles of natural surface trails across its system of open spaces. Across all jurisdictions within Larimer County there are over 1,000 miles of natural surface trails.

A portion of the project funding came from Great Outdoors Colorado and the Bureau of Reclamation. Officials offered thanks to the funding partners, numerous trail-building volunteers as well as the Larimer County Conservation Corps who spent numerous weeks building portions of the trail.

Recreationalists looking for Bay to Bay trail conditions throughout the year can check Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) for the most up-to-date conditions, closures, and alerts.