Mountain magic awaits up the Poudre

This edition of Travel Westword is made possible by Riverside Colorado and Mishawaka Amphitheatre. Prefer a video experience? We’ll have two Reels for you to watch featuring experiences at Riverside and the Mish. 

During a recent chat, a co-worker and I acknowledged the shared fear that if we don’t block off dedicated weekends for summer camping, our calendars fill up so fast that before we know it, it’s back to ski season. Colorado life, right?

If you’re like me and crave relaxing, iconic Colorado getaways to make the most of your summer, look no further. A long weekend in the Poudre Canyon is the perfect antidote to Denver’s summer heat.

Dani Grant has owned Mishawaka Amphitheatre since 2010 and Riverside, a self-described wilderness retreat, since 2023. She has worked tirelessly with agencies on permits for renovations and improvements, letting her passion for the projects drive her to the finish line. 

“The Mish was in such disarray when I took it over; they wanted to turn it into a boat ramp,” Grant recalls. “Everybody wanted this to happen — everyone we worked with. It was just a matter of getting over the next hurdle. The end result is such a magical situation.”

Grant, an entrepreneur and artist advocate, moved from Philadelphia to Boulder in 1998 with nothing but a mountain bike and a U-Haul. Her soul craved the mountains. 

“It’s hard to describe the feeling of such a magical place,” she says. “It’s such a privilege to have that kind of full-service restaurant and incredible musicians in that environment. My hope is that people will experience it and help preserve it.”

Read on for a guide to making your own mountain magic up the Poudre.

Campfire sessions under the stars

Leaving work on a Thursday at 4 p.m. in Denver will get you to Riverside around 5:40 p.m. (assuming there’s no traffic). The journey itself is beautiful as you weave through the canyon along the river. The sun glistens on the water as fly fishers cast their lines.

There are options of many sizes and styles when choosing lodging at Riverside, from tiny homes to cozy cabins to glamping tents. No matter the size of your group or the vibe you’re chasing, Riverside can likely accommodate it. We had three nights booked here in a tiny cabin — Tiny Home 5, Profile Rock — that was delightfully cozy. 

This cabin, complete with A/C, features a single bathroom with a stall shower, a kitchenette with a sink, microwave, and mini refrigerator, two lofted queen beds and two twin beds on the main floor. 

After checking in at the general store, which sells snacks, candy, grab-n-go food options like wraps, and, most important, a solid selection of beer (I highly recommend the Odell Mishawaka Ale), we walked down to the campfire sessions.

As described, Riverside’s campfire sessions offer acoustic music under the stars. The fires are all propane, so they are safe if an early-stage fire restriction is in effect. 

Fort Collins-based musician Elise Wunder started her set with a magical performance of “Colors of the Wind,’ from the 1995 “Pocahontas” soundtrack. It was a beautiful way to start the evening, nestled among the trees with the sounds of the rushing Poudre River flowing in the background. 

Private beach on the river by day

Right on the Riverside grounds is Kind Bean Coffee, which serves coffee, lattes, breakfast burritos and baked goods out of an Airstream. Riverside also offers a wider breakfast menu, made to order and delivered to your cabin. Fill out an order form the night before at the general store, and Riverside will take care of the rest. 

After breakfast, I grabbed a book and a blanket and took the short walk down to Riverside’s private beach. The water was cool, the beach was quiet, and I was embracing the Colorado summer. 

There are plenty of activities on the Poudre. Be sure to check out Liarflies, one of two outfitters in Colorado permitted to offer guided fly-fishing trips on the Cache La Poudre and Big Thompson rivers. The Poudre is home to brown trout, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. Along with guided trips, Liarflies offers classes and whitewater rafting.

Hiking the trails in the Poudre Canyon

There are plenty of local hiking trails in the area to choose from, and multiple trails less than three miles from Riverside, including Greyrock, Young Gulch and Hewlett Gulch. We chose to take on Hewlett Gulch.

An 8.5-mile out-and-back trail in Roosevelt National Forest, this hike gets about 1,118 feet of elevation gain, according to AllTrails. Trails are well marked, and there are a variety of wildflowers and streams, scenic views and — the highlight for us — bighorn sheep.

We watched three of these majestic animals walk down the mountain and into the canyon, munching on mountain mahogany and bitter brush. While two ate, one stood guard, turning its head toward us from time to time. The encounter left us with a beautiful memory from our hike. 

Mishawaka Amphitheatre: A Colorado icon

The highlight of staying at Riverside is the ease and convenience it offers in getting to and from Mishawaka Amphitheatre. You don’t have to worry about anything: Jump on the shuttle when you want to head over, and when you’re ready to leave, the shuttle will be there, waiting to take you back. It’s that simple.

Inside the Mish, as we waited for Mountain Grass Unit to take the stage, we enjoyed the canyon setting while grabbing a beer and some food. It’s such a stunning place, right on the Poudre River; it’s no wonder that it won the 2026 Best of Denver Readers’ Choice award for Best Outdoor Venue, or that it’s on our lists of best music venues in Fort Collins and best outdoor venues in Colorado.

On dethroning Red Rocks Amphitheatre for Best Outdoor Venue, Grant says everyone recognizes how special Red Rocks is, but “the Mish is a different kind of special.”  

Enjoying the ease of the shuttle once more, we headed back to the Mish to see the ambient electronic offerings from Tycho. This was such a vibe at this venue. With a capacity of 1,000 people, the Mish is intimate. There’s not a bad seat in the house — also thanks to the cushy turf. You might even see a deer while walking back from the bathroom.

So go make the most of your summer in the Poudre Canyon. See a show. Soak in the scenery. Take a hike. Read by the beach. The magic starts and ends at the Mish and Riverside Colorado.

Check out upcoming concerts at Mishawaka Amphitheatre here.