Beautifully Scenic Vistas

Loveland boasts 27 public parks that cover more than 700 acres of developed and undeveloped land. Three public golf courses offer scenic vistas, beautifully maintained greens and plenty of hills and interesting water hazards.

The Hatfield Chilson Recreation Center (located at 700 E. Fourth Street) features a swimming pool with water slide, racquetball courts, basketball courts, two hot tubs, a steam room and a full fitness center. There are 14 miles of paved trail, beginning at Boyd Lake State Park and winding through Loveland before ending at the Big Thompson River.

Loveland is fortunate to have the Larimer County Parks & Open Space right in our backyard. Loveland’s county park space includes the Devil’s Backbone, Carter Lake, Pinewood Reservoir, Flatiron Reservoir and Ramsay-Shockey Open Space.

As Highway 34 makes its way from I-25 westward through Loveland, a treat greets travelers as they enter the Big Thompson Canyon. The rock formations, that over time have been tip-tilted nearly 90 degrees by the movement of the earth, add to the scenic drive between Loveland and Estes Park. The area is also home to Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep.

For years Loveland has been known as the “Gateway to the Rockies.” Rocky Mountain National Park, the number one vacation destination in the state of Colorado with about four million visitors a year, is 30 miles west of Loveland. This beautiful national park encompasses more than 265,000 acres of land — including 178 mountain peaks above 10,000 feet in elevation, 355 miles of trails, nearly 600 campsites and more than 140 lakes.

Open from Memorial Day until October, Trail Ridge Road is often bordered on both sides by snow banks that sometimes tower as high as 28 feet – making it a favorite photo shoot opportunity. In summer, distant peaks loom in all directions, while fragrant wildflowers blanket the tundra. Meandering to an elevation of 12,183 feet, Trail Ridge Road is the highest paved through road in the U.S.

Devil’s Backbone is a geological landmark on the western edge of Loveland just off Highway 34. Added to the county’s open space in the fall of 1999, the Devil’s Backbone offers a 3.5-mile loop trail for hiking and running.

Carter Lake, located in the foothills in southwest Loveland, is three miles long and 180-feet deep at the deepest point (1,000 acres surround the 1,100-acre reservoir). Sitting just over a mile high, Flatiron Reservoir is located northwest of Carter Lake, and is surrounded by 200 acres of public lands. Stocked with rainbow trout several times in the spring and fall, the reservoir’s 47 acres of water is popular for fishing.

Also open year-round, Pinewood Reservoir is just beyond Flatiron, and sits at 6,580 feet elevation. More than 300 acres of open land surrounds this popular trout fishing and camping area. Ramsay-Shockey Open Space, across from Pinewood Reservoir, was purchased in 1997 to protect important wildlife habitat. Horsetooth Mountain Park and Horsetooth Reservoir is just to the north.

Several smaller lakes are located within the city’s boundaries. Boedecker Reservoir (two miles west on First Street to County Road 21 then a half-mile south) is a wakeless boating area. Lon Hagler Lake is also a wakeless boating area. Boyd Lake State Park offers camping, boating, trails, and beautiful waterfowl and wildlife.

For more information:
www.coloradoparks.org
www.larimer.org/parks
www.ci.loveland.co.us/golf/golfmain.htm
www.ci.loveland.co.us/parksrec/Prmain.htm
www.ci.loveland.co.us/parksrec/Chilsonmain.htm
www.nps.gov/romo