The Lost Cache of Cache la Poudre.

They say the river was named for a hidden stash of gunpowder; but, was it ever found?

Before there were towns, trails, or state lines, this stretch of Northern Colorado was wild — untamed, unclaimed, and crawling with fur trappers chasing pelts and profit across the Rockies.

One snowy day in the 1820s — or maybe it was 1836, depending on who you ask — a party of French trappers found themselves caught in a brutal snowstorm along the banks of what is now known as the Cache la Poudre River. Faced with dwindling options and heavy loads, they made a fateful decision: bury their excess supplies, including precious gunpowder (la poudre), to lighten the load and survive the journey. The term “cache,” meaning to hide or stash, gave the river its name: Cache la Poudre — “hide the powder.”

They say some of the men returned for the cache. But did they find it all?

The story’s been passed down through generations of ranchers, river runners, and front porch storytellers. While the basics seem simple — a snowstorm, a hidden stash, a name that stuck — the full details remain shrouded in mystery. Which trapping party was it, exactly? Where did they bury the goods? And were all the supplies ever recovered?

Some believe the cache is still out there, buried in the banks near Bellvue or further up the canyon. In fact, there is a claim that treasure hunters have searched for decades, convinced that along with powder, the trappers may have hidden a stash of gold or other valuable trade goods never retrieved.

Whatever the truth, the name lives on — etched in maps, highway signs, and hearts all across Northern Colorado.

So next time you’re near Fort Collins or winding through Poudre Canyon, take a moment. Look out over the water. You just might be standing where a few young, snow-blind mountain men hid a piece of early Colorado history.

The Steller’s Jay: A True Native.

This jay is named after the German naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller.

The Steller’s Jay makes its home in Colorado year-round, usually at altitudes of low and moderate elevations; however, this particular Jay pictured was found in Estes Park on the Emerald Loop Trail, near Alberta Falls.

The Steller’s jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) and the blue jay are the only ‘New World’ jays that use mud to build their nests. The nests—which are built near the trunk of a tree—are cleverly hidden, and can sometimes be as high as 30 feet.

Steller's jays are monogamous birds. The clutch is incubated entirely by the female for about 16 days. The male brings food to the female while she valiantly guards the clutch. They are quite a loud bird; but, they prefer discretion while growing their family.

🍦 Scoop, There It Is! 🍦

Josh & John's is truly a Colorado gem! What started as just one shop in Colorado Springs has churned its way into a beloved local institution. With five welcoming retail locations, a booming wholesale presence, charming vintage VW Scoop Buses that add fun to any event, and the Churn Barn at the heart of it all, this place offers so much more than just small-batch ice cream.

Stopping by for a scoop is an absolute must. Check out their Loveland or Fort Collins (Jessup Farm) shop for amazing flavors, great customer service, and a pleasant atmosphere for friends and family.

 Fort Collins: America’s Chill Champion.

In a world that moves too fast, it’s no small thing to be named the most peaceful place to live in the entire U.S.

That’s the honor bestowed this month on Fort Collins by Travel + Leisure, who praised our “clean air, low crime, friendly faces, and abundance of trails” as reasons why life here just… feels better.

It’s not the first time our little city has earned national love — but this one hits different. It’s not about the best brewery scene or most charming downtown (though we’ve got those too). It’s about the way Fort Collins makes you breathe easier.

They highlighted the 50+ parks, the 280+ miles of bike trails, and our “balance between activity and calm.” Add in a low crime rate, steady economy, and kind neighbors, and it starts to make sense why this foothills city was chosen.

If you live here, you already know: peace isn’t always silence. It’s access. It’s a lake at sunrise, a bike ride to a trailhead, a friendly barista who remembers your name. It’s the ability to step outside and feel okay.

Whether you’re in FoCo or one of our smaller NOCO towns, that sense of peace — real, grounded, golden-hour kind of peace — is what ties us all together.

Adapted from Travel + Leisure

🔥  Get Fired Up: It’s BBQ for a Cause!  🔥

Disabled Resource Services is bringing the sizzle to the summer with the 1st Annual Abilities BBQ; and you’re invited!

📍 Where: Boyd Lake State Park
📅 When: Saturday, July 26
🍖 Why: BBQ, good vibes, and making a BIG difference!

Feast on finger-lickin’ eats from Southern Twist Foods, soak up the sun lakeside, and enjoy games & activities for all ages. It’s a day of delicious fun — all while supporting people with disabilities right here in Northern Colorado. 💙

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Bring your BBQ crew and snag your tickets now before they’re gone!

Let’s eat, play, and make an impact — together. 🌞🔥

From Berthoud in the south to the Wyoming state line up north, Fort Morgan in the east to Estes out west, each week we will to pull together a list of the top events happening all over Northern Colorado.

July 22-28, 2025

Tuesday, July 22

David Stryker: Magic and Mentalism @ Historic Park Theatre (Estes Park) — 4pm

Colorado Manufacturing Happy Hour @ New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins) — 500 Linden Street Fort Collins, CO 80524 expand your network and celebrate the future of manufacturing in Colorado — 4pm

Planetscapes in a Bottle (Greeley) — LINC Event Space @ the LINK Library Innovation Center — 2pm to 3pm

Wednesday, July 23

Lagoon Concert Series: Salsa Forte Latin Collective (Fort Collins) — 6:30 to 8:30pm @ CSU Lagoon

Live Music Wednesdays: Awen Family- Boogie Rock @ Odelle Brewing (Fort Collins) — 5 to 7pm — 800 East Lincoln Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80524

Sustainable Living Association (SLA) 25th Anniversary & Beer Release (Fort Colins) — 4 to 9pm — 800 East Lincoln Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80524

Banned Book Club Meeting @ Loveland Aleworks — (Loveland) 5pm to 6pm — 118 West 4th StLoveland

Dani Hagan & The Reverie (Presented by Rock Godz™) @ Historic Park Theatre (Estes Park) — 7pm — special guest to be announced

Thursday, July 24

4th Annual Crab Boil on the Roof (Loveland) — 6pm to 9pm @ desk chair workspace, 201 East 4th Street, Loveland, CO 80537, USA

Campfire Sessions w/ Graham Good @ Riverside Colorado (Bellvue) — 7pm — 9940 Poudre Canyon Rd, Bellvue, CO 80512

Game Night + Dungeons & Dragons @ Slyce Pizza Co. (Fort Collins) – 120 S. Mason St. Fort Collins, CO 80524 — 5 to 11pm

Knife Skills Class @ Ginger & Baker (Fort Collins) – 5:30 to 8:30pm — $95 — 359 Linden St Fort Collins, CO 80524

The River Arkansas / The Lonesome Heroes / Alysia Kraft @ Atrium Music Lounge (Fort Collins) — 7 to 11pm — 120 1/2 West Laurel Street, Suite B, Fort Collins, CO 80521

Family FunPlex 2025 Summer Concert Series: John Mills Orchestra (Greeley) — 7 to 8pm — Greeley Family FunPlex1501 65th Avenue Greeley, CO 80634

Silent Film Festival @ Historic Park Theatre (Estes Park) — Three short silent movies starting at 1pm

Introduction to Butterflies of Rocky Mountain National Park by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy (Estes Park) — 9:30 am to 1:30pm — Meet at the Fall River Visitor Center 3450 Fall River Road, Estes Park, CO 80517 — tickets $85.31

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Greeley) — Langworthy Theater — Frasier Hall, 1710 9th Ave, Greeley, CO 80631 — 7:30pm

Friday, July 25

Sounds of Centerra – Hazel Miller and the Collective (Loveland) — 7pm — 2425 Kendall Pkwy, Loveland, CO 80538, United States

KOAN Sound w/ Machinedrum and Sylph @ The Mishawaka Amphitheatre (Bellvue) — 8pm

Marcus James on the Roof! @ Bogey’s Sports Bar (Estes Park) — 9pm — 281 W Riverside Dr, Estes Park, CO 80517

Bats of Colorado and Rocky Mountain National Park by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy (Estes Park) — 6:30 - 10:30pm — Meet at the Fall River Visitor Center 3450 Fall River Road, Estes Park, CO 80517 — tickets $85.31

Friday Live Music: Restless Spirit @ Snowy Peaks Winery (Estes Park) — 4:30 to 6:30pm

Historic Fall River Open Day (Estes Park) — 12 to 4pm with guided tours at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm — 1754 Fish Hatchery Rd, Estes Park, CO 80517

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Greeley) — 7pm — Hensel Phelps Theatre Union Colony Civic Center

Weld County Fair at Centennial Village Museum (Greeley) — 10am to 4pm — 1475 A St, Greeley, CO 80631

Live on the Lanes presented by Odell: Purple Blues @ Chipper Lanes (Greeley) — Doors open at 6:30pm Music at 7pm — 2454 8th Ave. Greeley, CO

Nick Critchlow @ The Tavern at Red Feather Lakes (Red Feather Lakes) — 1078 Ramona Drive Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545 — 7pm

Saturday, July 26

All Them Witches w/ Los Toms @ The Mishawaka Amphitheatre (Bellvue) — 8pm

SadGirl + The McCharmlys with The High Curbs (Fort Collins) — 8pm — 204 S. College Ave Ft. Collins, CO 80524

The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show  (Fort Collins) — 6 to 9pm — $76 — 350 E Horsetooth Rd Fort Collins, CO 80525

Live at The Gardens: Marc Broussard @ The Gardens on Spring Creek  (Fort Collins) — 2145 Centre Ave. Fort Collins, CO 80526 — 6pm

DRS BBQ: Celebrating All Abilities @ Boyd Lake State Park (Loveland) — 11am to 2pm — proceeds support Disable Resource Services

Sipping with Succulents @ the Windsor Gardener (Windsor) — 10:30am to 12pm — 6461 Colorado 392 Windsor, CO 80550 — tickets 55.20

Mala Making 101 @ To The Fives Taproom & Lounge (Loveland) — 2:30 to 5:30pm —hosted by Lovenzen Apothecary — 423 North Cleveland Avenue, Loveland, CO, United States, Colorado

Greeley Arts Picnic & Music Festival (Greeley) — 9am to 5pm — Lincoln Park, 917 8th St.

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Greeley) — 7pm — Hensel Phelps Theatre Union Colony Civic Center

Astronomy Nights at the Soaring Eagle Ecology Center (Red Feather Lakes) — stargazing starts at 8pm — 505 Colorado Road 73C, Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545

Pride & Prejudice - Free Movie Saturday @ Historic Park Theatre (Estes Park) — 10am to 12:20pm — 130 Moraine Ave, ESTES PARK, CO 80517

Estes Park Car Club: Cool Nights Cruz In (Estes Park) — 3 to 6pm — $5.00 to show a car free to spectate 119 850 N. Saint Vrain Ave

Sunday, July 27

Sugar Britches at Odell Patio (Fort Collins) — 3 to 5pm — 800 E Lincoln Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Flow on the Terrace @ The Elizabeth Hotel (Fort Collins) — 111 Chestnut Street Fort Collins, CO 80524 — 10 to 11am

Pressed Flower Frames Class at Bath Garden Center (Fort Collins) — 12 to 1pm — Bath Garden Center & Nursery 2000 East Prospect Road Fort Collins, CO 80525

Greeley Arts Picnic & Music Festival (Greeley) — 10am to 4pm — Lincoln Park, 917 8th St.

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder (Greeley) — 2pm — Hensel Phelps Theatre Union Colony Civic Center

Monday, July 28

Open Mic at The Lyric (Fort Collins) — 6 pm — 1209 N College Ave Fort Collins, CO 80524

Reframe: augmented realuty posters by Amplifier (Fort Collins) — in the Computer Lab area of Morgan Library's first floor during Library hours — 1201 Center Avenue Mall Fort Collins, CO 80521-1019

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