It seems like just yesterday, a monolith mysteriously appeared on a Northern Colorado hillside earlier this summer and was promptly removed. While its origins are unknown, it was quite a spectacle. Fortunately, there are still many more natural and human-made wonders worthy of a visit to Loveland and it’s surrounding NoCo communities. These must-see sites are accommodating to visitors and any or all are the perfect incentive for an expedition.
Mother Nature’s Monuments:
Follow the Devil’s Backbone to Keyhole Arch
Take a moderate hike alongside the stunning two-mile strip of Dakota sandstone known as the Devil’s Backbone and look out for the unique “keyhole” arch formation along the route. Devil’s Backbone Nature Trail is part of a 12-mile scenic trail network in the 2,198-acre Devil’s Backbone Open Space, which also connects to Rimrock Open Space and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space. The area is perfect for hiking, biking, horseback riding, running, wildlife viewing and observing nature.
See Horsetooth Rock Up Close
Horsetooth Rock is the most iconic natural monument in Fort Collins and the 360-degree views from the summit feature Rocky Mountain National Park and miles of the eastern plains. This local landmark is visible from almost anywhere in Fort Collins and its origin story is tied to a Native American legend. The Valley of Contentment (now called Horsetooth Reservoir) was once guarded by a giant to ensure buffalo, deer and antelope weren’t hunted in the area. Chief Maunamoku led his tribe to slay the giant, and legend says the chief slashed at the giant’s heart – first in the center, then on the right and the left using a tomahawk from the heavens. The next day, the giant turned into the stone now known as Horsetooth Rock. The trail to Horsetooth Rock is well-marked with a bit of slickrock navigation.
Marvel at the Lindenmeier Site
One of the most important archaeological sites in North America is in a Northern Colorado Natural Area. Discoveries made in the 1930s at the Lindenmeier Archaeological Site, located in Soapstone Prairie Natural Area north of Fort Collins, definitively dated human occupation in North America to over 11,000 years ago. In 1935, excavation crew member Loren Eiseley uncovered an ancient Bison antiquus vertebra with a human-made spear point embedded in it. Archaeologists say the humans who occupied Colorado at that time were “Paleoindians;” many Native Americans refer to them as “Ancestors” or “Ancient Ones.” Visit the exhibit at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery to see artifacts excavated from the site.
Visit Pawnee National Grasslands
Just 35 miles east of Fort Collins, Pawnee National Grasslands boasts nearly 200,000 acres of wide-open spaces and scenic rocky buttes. Hike the Pawnee Buttes Trail and watch for hawks and falcons nesting in the iconic rocky cliffs. Each spring, thousands of migrating birds visit the area. The Pawnee National Grassland Bird Tour (click here for pamphlet) is 21 miles long and passes through a variety of bird habitats. Along with birdwatching, stargazing is amazing at Pawnee National Grasslands thanks to minimal light pollution and a flat landscape. Late fall, when the nights are longer and the sun sets earlier, is perfect for stargazing.
Explore the Majestic Big Thompson Canyon
For eons, the Big Thompson River has been cutting a track through what we now call the “Big Thompson Canyon”. Those many thousands of years of erosion has gifted us with it’s majestic cliffs that tower well above the river, below. Enjoying the canyon is easy, with US Highway 34 winding along the river bank. Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park is the perfect mountain playground for daytrippers and those headed to and from Estes Park. The park features river access, picnic shelters, and trailheads stemming from the park, ready for hikers. On your way back to Loveland, stop by the Colorado Cherry Company for some of the best pie in the state.
Human-Made Wonders:
Tour the 150-Year-Old Milner-Schwarz House
There is a tidy two-story farmhouse perched on a hill overlooking the Big Thompson River that has endured at least three major floods to become the oldest surviving brick homestead in Larimer County. The Milner-Schwarz house recently reached a major milestone, celebrating its 150th anniversary. The house was purchased in 2002 by the City of Loveland and painstakingly restored to near-original condition by Historical Society volunteers. The home contains period furniture and artifacts from the Milner and Schwarz families, and the grounds feature a kitchen garden maintained by master gardeners from the CSU extension office and a history-themed miniature railroad. Visitors can tour the home on select dates.
Lock Your Love at Loveland’s Love Lock Sculptures
With a name like LOVEland, a visit would be incomplete without locking your love on one of the two love lock sculptures in town. The LOVE sign, located at the Visitor’s Center, is the largest of its kind in the U.S. The second sculpture, shaped like a heart, overlooks Lake Loveland with the majestic Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. Be sure to buy a lock and engrave it for free inside the Visitor’s Center before heading to either sculpture location. When you post your photos on social media, tag us for a chance to be featured! #Visitloveland #lovelandlovelocks
Honor the Local Statues of Liberty
Did you know Northern Colorado is home to two Statue of Liberty replicas? Part of a Boy Scout project from the 1950s, the Lady Liberty replicas are among an estimated 200 statues placed across the U.S. The Fort Collins replica is located on the outskirts of City Park, while Loveland’s statue is located alongside Lake Loveland.
Join the Circle of Peace Sculpture in Benson Sculpture Garden
Sculpture #64 in Loveland’s renowned Benson Sculpture Garden, created by Gary Lee Price and installed in 2001, is an inviting, interactive display. The Circle of Peace features a circle of children holding hands with an empty space to join in. The sculpture has become a beloved icon among the astounding 187 sculptures in the park.
Climb the Lookout Tower at The Dam Store
A visit to Northern Colorado isn’t complete without a trip up Big Thompson Canyon and a stop at The Dam Store. Located just past Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch on Hwy. 34, this historic family-owned-and-operated shop is home to a lookout tower that features views of the nearby falls.
Hunt for heARTs
Loveland is home to heaps of fiberglass hearts – each 5-feet tall and 4.5-feet wide (perfectly pint-sized) – “hidden” throughout town. The City with HeART™ program encourages all ages to explore the city on the hunt for 50 heart sculptures, each individually sponsored, named and designed by an artist. Download or pick up a HeART map at the Loveland Visitor’s Center and hunt to your heart’s content.
