The story of how the Cache la Poudre River got its name involves a snowstorm, a load of gunpowder, and a group of trappers.

Although the official story is still debated, legend has it that a group of French fur trappers traveled north and camped along the banks of a river near present-day LaPorte.

As night fell, the group was hit by a storm that brought a large amount of snow. The next morning, they decided to hide (cache) their gunpowder (la poudre) to lighten their load. The river was later named Cache la Poudre, which translates to “hide the powder.”

Abner Loomis told the story of the French fur trappers to the Fort Collins Courier in 1883, according to the Fort Collins History Connection. A large party of trappers and employees in the service of the American Fur Company were on their way from St. Louis to Green River, Wyoming when they camped near the present site of Bellvue and were hit by the heavy snowstorm that lasted several days. To lighten the load of the wagons, they dug a large, cellar-like pit and placed the goods that could be spared, much of which was gunpowder. They then filled the pit in and placed a pile of brush on it to make it look like an old campsite so nobody would steal the goods. Some of the trappers returned later in the season (when the weather was better), and retrieved the supplies.

However, the Poudre River Trail claims that the dates (1820s or (1836) and the original party (William Ashley party or a fur trading company) are up for debate. Fort Collins History Connection reports that there was no known American Fur Trade expedition to the area in 1836. And in a letter from Antoine Janis (who was in the group of fur trappers), states that the first came to Colorado in 1844. Some historians also believe that this story actually refers to another expedition to the area, as William Ashley had a similar story of being caught in a snowstorm near Bellevue.

But Cache la Poudre is not the only name this river has had. According to the Fort Collins Local History Archive, the river’s earliest name was Pateros Creek. Major Stephen H. Long referred to what is thought to be the Cache La Poudre River as Pateros Creek on his 1820 expedition to the Rocky Mountains.

Although the story of how the river got its name is still somewhat of a mystery, it’s no secret that it provides great rafting, fishing, and other water-related opportunities for fun.