Forming part of the Front Range Urban Corridor, Loveland is a bustling municipality on the eastern face of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Once serving as a base for French fur trappers, it was officially established in 1858 as Fort Namaqua, a trading post and stopover for stagecoaches.
Things to do in Loveland
Learn about the people, events and industries that have shaped the city at the Loveland Museum, which was founded in 1937 by local collector and mountain guide, Harold Dunning. See how it developed from a pioneer settlement to a thriving artistic community while browsing the household artefacts and vintage tools on display. The Loveland Museum also boasts an extensive art collection, including sculptures inspired by the area’s bronze industry.
Sprawling north-east of Loveland is Boyd Lake State Park, which provides a popular setting for fishing, biking and hiking. In the summer months, you can swim in the refreshing waters, launch a canoe to slowly paddle along the lake shores or get your adrenaline pumping while jet skiing and water skiing. Kayaks and paddleboards can be rented at the park’s campground.
On the other side of Loveland is the Devil's Backbone Open Space, a dramatic landscape of towering rock formations and wildflower-filled grasslands. It boasts more than 25 kilometres of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails to explore, several of which connect to the Rimrock Open Space and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space. Be sure to admire the famous “Keyhole” while keeping your eyes peeled for elk, deer and coyotes.
Getting around Loveland
Loveland is around 45 minutes’ drive from Boulder and one hour from Denver. Denver International Airport is about an hour away and has flights to destinations across North America. Buses connect from Fort Collins and Denver to Loveland and travel throughout the city itself.