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Arapaho Bend Natural Area, Fort Collins, CO. Arapaho Bend Natural Area is a series of ponds and small lakes lying adjacent to the Poudre River along I-25 on the eastern edge of town. The Poudre River bike trail passes through its western edge and draws a great many bicyclists and joggers to the area. There are always a half dozen or so fishermen along the banks of the ponds. Informal trails though the rabbitbrush and giant cottonwood trees provide access to the river, where Carol and I once hunted for Eastern Screech Owls for a Citizen Science project. (We didn't find any!) It appears to me a great many children learn to fish at this easily accessible location.