Reporting by Miles Blumhardt, Fort Collins Coloradoan
It’s easy to overlook Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park in the Big Thompson Canyon, what with the goal of many to see picturesque Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.
That would be a mistake.
This 400-acre park managed by the city of Loveland opened in 1925 but has since been ravaged by floods, only to be rebuilt twice. It serves as a refreshing, family-friendly stop where you can play in the Big Thompson River, hike trails, have a picnic and learn history, all for free.
What to know about Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park in Big Thompson Canyon
- Where: 1211 W. U.S. Highway 34, four miles up the Big Thompson Canyon from the Dam Store.
- Hours: Sunrise to sunset daily April through October.
- Cost: Free.
- Why go: The soft-surface trail system weaves in and out of historical exhibits of the 1976 and 2013 floods that ravaged the park, stone picnic structure built in 1935, nature cabin’s Colorado wildlife interpretive displays, playground and the the refreshing Big Thompson River. The river can be a little chilly and a little fast even in midsummer. No worries, there is a wading area, protected from the main river, next to the bridge near the south parking lot. Great for kids but don’t forget the floaties.
- Who is the park named after and how do you pronounce the first person’s name? Charles Viestenz, pronounced Vee-Steenz, was a Loveland city council member who led the campaign to build a municipal hydroelectric plant built in 1925, and Ray Smith was the city engineer who supervised its construction.
- More adventure: Hike the Round Mountain Trail located across U.S. 34 to the south. The summit trail is 4.7 miles one way with 2,707 feet of elevation gain to get your heart pumping, or you can opt for the much easier 1-mile Foothills Nature Trail.
- More information: Visit the Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park page on the city of Loveland’s website.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan.
