Loveland Activities

Loveland has more than two dozen city parks, a mountain park, three golf courses, and hiking trails, some of which are discussed below. Information on the city-run recreation sites is available from Loveland Parks and Recreation Department, 500 E. Third St. (tel. 970/962-2727; www.ci.loveland.co.us/parksrec/prmain.htm).

Boyd Lake State Park (tel. 970/669-1739; www.parks.state.co.us) is located a mile east of downtown Loveland via Madison Avenue and C.R. 24E. One of the largest lakes in the northern Front Range, with 1,700 surface acres when full, Boyd Lake is geared to watersports, including water-skiing (on the south end of the lake only), sailing, and windsurfing. There are sandy beaches for swimming, 148 campsites ($12-$18), including some with electric hookups, plus showers, a dump station, picnic areas, a children's playground, a paved walking/biking trail that connects to the city's path system, two paved boat ramps, and excellent fishing (especially for walleyes). Visitors often see foxes, beavers, coyotes, great-horned owls, hawks, eagles, and other wildlife. The daily park entrance fee is $6 per vehicle Memorial Day to Labor Day, $5 the rest of the year. A commercially run marina (tel. 970/663-2662) is open in summer, with boat slips and moorings, a full-service gas dock, boat rentals, bait, groceries, and other supplies. A restaurant is also open daily in summer.