Entry No. 15 — the Fort Collins file — filed under: outdoor
Bingham Hill Cemetery
Larimer County's oldest cemetery, established around 1862, sits on a hillside just west of Overland Trail near LaPorte — a small, under-two-acre plot holding upwards of 300 burials from Colorado's territorial era. Most early graves had no markers at all; wooden headstones rotted away unrecorded. The site was largely forgotten until 1987, when neighbor Rose Brinks spent years researching newspapers and conducting interviews to identify more than 150 people buried here and published her findings. Among the graves: Barbara Bingham, who died of a nosebleed at 19 the day before her wedding in 1876; three grandchildren of Eliza Robertson, ages three to six, who died of smallpox in 1911. A community guest book near the white metal gate entrance has collected over 50,000 visitor signatures.
The move: Walk the short boardwalk path in through the gate at golden hour, read the weathered stones aloud to each other, and talk about the lives behind the names. Follow up with a drink at the Howling Cow Cafe in nearby Bellvue, where Rose Brinks's book on the cemetery is sold.
📍 Before you go The cemetery sits on private land; respectful visitors are welcome but no formal hours are posted. Access is through a white metal gate on Bingham Hill Road — park on the road shoulder and follow the dirt path and boardwalk in. No restrooms on site. The Historic Larimer County organization offers arranged tours through Judy Jackson (historiclarimercounty.org). Bring your own water; the closest services are in LaPorte or Bellvue.
- 📍 Fort Collins
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Bingham Hill Road, LaPorte, CO 80535 (just west of N Overland Trail Rd)
Hours: Added 2026-06-11 — confirm current hours before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4
last checked: 2026-06-11