The Fort Collins Ice Cream Trail: Visit All 9 Shops

We have nine ice cream shops in Fort Collins. Nine. For a city of 170,000 people, that's an embarrassment of frozen riches. So we asked ourselves the obvious question: can you hit all nine in a single day?

The answer is yes. We did it. And we mapped the optimal route so you can do it too — by car, by bike, or (for the truly ambitious) on foot. Here's the Fort Collins Ice Cream Trail.

The Rules

Before we lay out the route, some ground rules:

1. One scoop per stop. A single small scoop or a kid's size. You're doing nine stops. Pace yourself.
2. Water between stops. Hydration is not optional. Especially in a Fort Collins summer.
3. Start early. Most shops open between 11 AM and noon. Hit the road by 11.
4. Bring friends. This is way more fun as a group. Split scoops if you need to.
5. No skipping. The trail is all nine. That's the whole point.

The Route

We've organized this north-to-south, starting in Old Town and ending on South College. If you're biking, this route follows the Mason Trail and College Avenue corridors. Total driving distance: about 6 miles. Total biking distance: roughly the same, mostly on bike-friendly roads and trails.

Stop 1: Walrus Ice Cream

125 W Mountain Ave | Full Review

Start at the legend. Walrus has been scooping since 1987, and beginning the trail here feels right — you're paying respect to the OG of Fort Collins ice cream. The shop opens at 11 AM, so you can be first in line.

Insider tip: Go with a classic flavor to start. Their vanilla and chocolate recipes haven't changed in decades, and there's a reason for that. Save the adventurous picks for later stops.

Order: One small scoop in a cup. Save your cone appetite.

Stop 2: Josh & John's Ice Cream

140 S College Ave | Full Review

A two-minute walk south from Walrus. Josh & John's serves the densest, richest ice cream in Old Town, so a small scoop goes a long way here.

Insider tip: Their loyalty card is worth grabbing even if you're just visiting once. And ask what's new — they rotate seasonal flavors that aren't always on the board.

Stop 3: Kilwins

114 S College Ave | Full Review

Right next door, practically. Kilwins is a franchise, but don't sleep on the experience — watching them make fudge in the front window is pure Old Town entertainment. Grab a small scoop and enjoy the show.

Insider tip: If you're starting to feel full, get a mini scoop and add a piece of fudge for later. Kilwins' fudge is honestly better than their ice cream.

Stop 4: Ben & Jerry's

1 Old Town Square | Full Review

You know what you're getting here, and that's fine. Ben & Jerry's is the familiar checkpoint on the trail. Grab a kid's scoop of something you can't get at the grocery store — ask for the shop exclusives.

Insider tip: Their non-dairy flavors are surprisingly good and will feel lighter in your stomach at this point. Smart trail strategy.

Stop 5: Old Town Churn

120 W Laurel St | Full Review

Head west to Laurel Street for the Little Man outpost. This is where the trail gets creative — Old Town Churn's flavors are more inventive than the traditional shops, and a small taste of something unusual is exactly what you need at the halfway mark.

Insider tip: Ask what's freshest. Old Town Churn's best flavors are the ones that just came out of the machine. The staff will tell you if you ask.

Stop 6: Gelato & aMore

130 S Mason St | Full Review

Walk over to Mason Street for a palette cleanser. After five stops of American-style ice cream, authentic Italian gelato hits completely differently. The texture is lighter, the flavors are more intense, and your stomach will thank you for the break from heavy cream.

Insider tip: Get a fruit sorbet. Seriously. At this point in the trail, a lemon or raspberry sorbet will feel like a cold shower on a hot day. It resets your palate for the final three stops.

Stop 7: Dairy Queen

1015 S College Ave | Full Review

Time to head south on College. DQ is the wildcard stop — it's fast food soft serve, and it's a completely different animal from the craft shops you've been visiting. That's the point. Get a small cone, appreciate the contrast, and keep moving.

Insider tip: A mini Blizzard is actually the smart play here. The soft serve is lighter than scooped ice cream, and you need to save room for the final two stops, which are the best.

Stop 8: Heaven Creamery

3500 S College Ave | Full Review

Now we're on South College, and the trail is about to peak. Heaven Creamery's health-conscious approach — 50% less sugar, organic ingredients, 18+ vegan flavors — is a strategic advantage at stop eight. You've been eating ice cream for hours. A lighter, less sugary scoop is exactly what your body is asking for.

Insider tip: Try one of their vegan flavors even if you're not vegan. At this point in the trail, the lighter base feels like a gift. Their coconut-based flavors are outstanding.

Stop 9: Glacier Ice Cream (The Grand Finale)

3015 S College Ave | Full Review

We saved the best for last. Glacier Ice Cream is our #1 ranked shop in Fort Collins, and ending the trail here is the reward for completing all nine stops.

With 40+ rotating flavors, you'll find something you haven't tried at any other stop. Get a homemade waffle cone — you've earned it. If you've been eating cups all day, this is the moment to upgrade. Glacier's waffle cones are baked fresh daily and they're the best in the city.

Insider tip: Ask the staff what their personal favorite is. Glacier's team is passionate about their flavors, and they'll steer you toward whatever's peaking that day. Also, check out their gluten-free cones if you need them — Glacier is the only shop in town that offers them.

Sit on the patio. Look at the foothills. Reflect on the fact that you just visited nine ice cream shops in one day. You are a champion.

Trail Logistics

Total time: Plan for 3 to 4 hours including travel and short breaks.

By car: About 6 miles total, 15 to 20 minutes of driving. The rest is eating and walking.

By bike: Fort Collins is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, and this route follows College Avenue and the Mason Trail corridor. Biking the trail adds a fitness element that almost justifies the calorie intake. Almost.

On foot: Possible but ambitious. The Old Town stops (1 through 6) are all walkable. The gap between Old Town and South College (stops 7 through 9) is about 2 to 3 miles. Bring good shoes.

Best day to do it: A weekday in early summer. Shops are less crowded, the weather is warm but not scorching, and you'll have the patios to yourself.

Make It Social

The Fort Collins Ice Cream Trail is the perfect group activity. Bring four or five friends, split scoops at each stop, and you'll actually be able to taste everything without feeling like you need to be rolled home. Take a photo at each shop, tag us, and join the ranks of trail completers.

For detailed reviews of every shop on the trail, check out our Best Ice Cream in Fort Collins rankings. And if you want to dive deeper into any single stop, we have individual shop reviews for all nine.

See you on the trail, Fort Collins.