Loveland Colorado Attractions

Loveland has many things-to-do and attractions to keep the whole family busy for many months. There are people who have lived here for years who have yet to visit all of the many Loveland area attractions. The attractions below are the major ones in the Loveland area. There are of course many more attractions in neighboring cities. The cities of Fort Collins, Greeley and Estes Park.  If you are interested in arts & entertainment or Museums you can find them too. There are also many Loveland hotels at which to stay while you are visiting this area. You may book reservations for  Loveland Colorado Hotels Here   Come for a short visit or stay awhile.

Sculpture In The Park. This is an amazing collection of Sculpture. I have not counted but there are dozens. It is located in Benson Park on 29th St. There is a annual festival in August. See events calendar Link to the left.

Big Thompson Canyon. Just a few miles west of Loveland on Highway 34 this canyon is a beautiful narrow canyon along the Big Thompson River. This canyon is the gateway to the high mountain parks. A 35 minute drive to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Rocky Mountain National Park. Located west of Loveland about 45 miles.  West on US34 to Estes Park up the Big Thompson Canyon and through Estes Park. Open Year around. Trail Ridge Road, Highest continues highway in US, Open Memorial Day to Labor Day. The road rises to 12,183 feet. Where snow drifts can be 28 feet deep. On the west side of the  Park the terrain is almost completely different. Huge meadows abound and the Colorado River which headwaters here runs through the main valley. Just outside the park is the Village of Grand Lake. Deer, Elk, moose, coyote, bear, cougar and big horn sheep call this park home.

Boyd Lake State Park Great fishing, sailing, boating and walking trails. a sandy beach and war, water make this a good summer recreation spot.

Art Castings Of Colorado Loveland has become on of the leading sculpture centers in the US. This foundry is where the serious artists come and you can see it too. Tours can be arranged.

Budweiser Events Center. Located just off I-25 North of the Highway 34 interchange. A new state-of-the-art center is the home of professional sports teams Colorado Chill women's basketball and the Colorado Eagles Hockey. The center has a full schedule of attractions. The entire complex is called The Ranch.

Larimer County Fairgrounds is located in The Ranch complex on I-25 just North of Highway 34 at the Crossroads exit. The fairgrounds are right next to the Budweiser Events Center.

Carter Lake is located southwest of Loveland against the foothills. The lake is 1,100 acre reservoir surrounded by 1,000 acres of public lands. It is a popular spot for sailing, camping, swimming and water skiing.

Anheuser-Busch Brewery & Clydesdale Barn. Located just off I-25 at Mountain Vista Dr.  North of Ft Collins. A very popular attraction.
Tours Oct-May: Thursday-Monday 10:AM-4:00pm.
Tours June-Aug: 9:30AM-4:30PM.
Tours: Sept. 10:00am-4:00pm.

Pawnee National Grassland. Located 70 miles East of Ft. Collins on Highway 14. A visit to this National Grassland is like returning to the way it was in the 1860's when the first white settlers arrived here. Michener's book Centennial was based on this grassland area. Great walks,  hiking and birding. At night the stars are unreal.

The Outlets at Loveland. For those folks who like to shop, Loveland is the home to one of the largest Outlet Malls in Colorado and the only Outlet mall in Northern Colorado. Over 80 stores with many national outlets.

The Fall River Road. This one way dirt road located in Rocky Mountain National Park was completed in 1921 and is the original automobile road over the mountains. This road is narrow and windy but the scenery and wildlife is awesome. National Historic road leads to the Fall River Pass Store also a National Historic Site. Open summers only. If narrow roads and tight turns with drop offs bother you please read the web site. 

Trail Ridge Road. this modern highway is the replacement for Fall River Road. This road started in 1929 and was finished in 1938 when it reached Grand Lake Colorado. It rises to 11,794 feet at Fall River Pass. It is the highest continuous highway in the US

Horsetooth Reservoir. Just West of Ft. Collins behind the first ridge of foothills. 1900 acres of great boating and fishing water. 2,000 acres of public land. Campgrounds. Near or around are many trails and horsetooth rock. Rialto Theater 228 E. Fourth St. This restored theater has been fully restored and updated. Celebrating it's 85th Anniversary in 2005. Old Movies and other unusal but high quality fair.

Swetsville Zoo is located at the 1-25 Harmony Exit in Timnath, directly east of Ft Collins on Harmony Road. The zoo contains strange metal creatures and wind sculptures made with welding iron and scraps by it's curator Bill Swets a native of the area. You have to see this one to believe and understand.

Colorado Welcome Center. Just off I-25 at Prospect exit. Go west 1/2 mile entrance on left. 

Estes Park Colorado. This small village west of Loveland is considered the entrance to the Rocky Mountains. There are many events held there almost year around. Estaes Park is the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park from the east. It's downtown area is full of shopping, restaurants and some really great accommodations.

Fort Vasquez Museum. 13412 Highway 85 south of the city of Platteville. Go back into history and visit an 1835 fur trading fort. This adobe fort and outpost employed such trappers as Baptiste Charbonneau and Jim Beckwourth both featured in the movie Centennial. The fort owners Louis Vasquez and Andrew Sublette were among the first settlers and permanent traders along the South Platte Basin.

Trail Ridge Winery This area once home to thousands of fruit trees is now growing grapes for specialty wines. Trail Ridge Wines use grapes apples and cherries for their wines.

McGregor Ranch Estes Park. This ranch which was started in the late 1800's is now a museum and a sample of a working ranch much the way it was before Rocky Mountain National Park was founded. The ranch is actually inside the park and is nestled against the Lumpys. The Lumpys are small very rocky group of mountains just to the north of Estes Park Village.