Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park

Print Feedback

Font Size: + -

1211 W. Highway 34, Loveland, CO

Located 4 miles west of the Dam Store and the entrance to Big Thompson Canyon. Take US Hwy 34 west of Loveland, through the narrows of the Big Thompson Canyon to the mountain park. For specific directions, click on the address above, or search for Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park. Using the street address itself to navigate will not be accurate.

View map of Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park (PDF)

Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park Sign

Hours of Operation

The mountain park is open for the 2026 season. Regular hours are sunrise to sunset, weather permitting. Temporary closures due to weather or other conditions are posted on COTREX.

Picnic & Park Use Information

The Mountain Park is open daily from April through October, sunrise to sunset, weather permitting.
Picnic shelters and the historic stone structure are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
No electricity is available for public use, and generators are not permitted due to fire risk.
Only gas grills are allowed. Charcoal and wood-burning grills are prohibited.
Parking is limited — carpooling is highly encouraged.
Dispose of trash properly in wildlife-proof receptacles available at the west parking lot and near the central restrooms. Close the doors completely after depositing trash. Wildlife is active in the park.
How do you pronounce the name of this park? "Vee-uh-Steen" "Smith"

In cases of inclement weather and/or other environmental factors (e.g. threat of fire, flood, etc.) during the season that Viestenz-Smith is open (April through October), the park may be subject to intermittent closure. Check the state's COTREX website or the free app for current park status before leaving town - cell service is not available in the canyon.

The Mountain Park Nature Cabin is open on select days, when trained docents are available to interpret displays about Colorado wildlife. See the Offero calendar for specific dates and times.

The Round Mountain Trailhead is located across the road from Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park, on the south side of US Hwy 34. A pedestrian trail is available connecting the two sites. Use caution when crossing the road - vehicles are not required to stop for pedestrians. Vehicle parking is also available at the Round Mountain Trailhead. Two trails begin from Round Mountain Trailhead:

Round Mountain Foothills Nature Trail

Round Mountain Summit Adventure Trail

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Download Acrobat Reader Download Windows Media Player Download Word Viewer Download Excel Viewer Download PowerPoint Viewer

100th Anniversary Celebration

Celebrate this momentous milestone throughout July and learn about the history, nature and landscapes of this beautiful mountain park. Additional opportunities for engagement will be shared closer to summer.

Registration required for all programs at Offero.CityofLoveland.org

• Th, 7/9 – Rockhounds Rock! Family Program | 10–11:30A | Free
Join us for a family education program focused on the rocks and geology of Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park. Tailored to families with children ages 5–10, all ages welcome. Parents/guardians must attend with children.

• W, 7/15 – Origins of Colorado's Scenery – Evening Lecture | 6:30–8P | Free
Colorado is renowned for its spectacular mountain scenery. Explore the forces that created and shaped these mountains. This lecture will be held in the CCC picnic shelter, ending 30 minutes before sunset.

• Th, 7/16 – History of Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park – Morning Guided Tour | 10–11:15A | Free
Join a "Stroll Down Memory Lane" learning the unique features and human history of Loveland's mountain park. This 1-mile walk is on level gravel and paved trails. A visit to the Nature Cabin is included.

• F, 7/17 – Loveland's Mountain Park – Evening Guided Tour | 6:30–8P | Free
After a short presentation on the history of the park, we'll study the native and non-native plants and look for signs of wildlife. This tour has greater focus on natural history. Nature Cabin is included. ADA friendly.

Plus!

Nature Cabin – open Tuesdays and Saturdays in July, 10A–2P
Loveland Museum – 50th Anniversary of the 1976 Big Thompson Flood
Downloadable Mountain Park Family Scavenger Hunt coming soon!

Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park History

Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park first opened one year after the historic Loveland Light and Power plant opened in 1925. In 1926 the site was expanded to include 400 acres and was opened for picnics and hiking. In 1976 the Big Thompson River experienced a dramatic flood, during which the water flowed an estimated 30,500 cubic feet per second faster than normal. The dam was washed out, approximately 1,700 feet of pipeline was destroyed, and the entire hydroelectric dam was washed away. A new efficient power plant was constructed out of the pathway of future floods, and a new flood-resistant dam replaced the one before. The plant was reopened in 1978 and the park was restored at the same time. The floods in 1976 and in 2013 devastated the park and the river cut a new path each time further south within the park.

During the 2013 flood, the river breached, cut south in the park towards US 34 and caused severe bank erosion and scoured the park away south of the river. The flood destroyed the vehicular/pedestrian bridge, parking lot, sidewalks, irrigation pond, pump, playground and all the picnic and memorial plantings and benches. The historic Civilian Conservation Corps structure was washed away along with landscaping and trails. All associated infrastructure was destroyed. After the flood the city placed the river channel back to its pre-flood location. The city also completed other emergency repairs along with debris removal in the winter of 2014. The city now desires to work with nature and move the channel to its flood location and expand picnic and fishing opportunities on the north bank of the river, out of the floodway.

As a general philosophy, the City desires to approach proposed bank protection, armoring, or river training measures from a perspective that strongly considers natural aesthetics and an ecologically sound approach. Therefore, bio-technical/bio-engineering measures are desirable where they are appropriate within the project constraints and hydraulic conditions. Infrastructure protection that requires traditional hard armoring (i.e., riprap) is acceptable but the approach will be to bury, hide, and use vegetation over hard armoring whenever possible.

Grand Re-Opening (Sept 2018)

Handouts

Historical Articles

"Charles Viestenz Showed Dam Foresight" - by Kenneth Jessen
Loveland Reporter Herald article from October 27, 2013
"History of Loveland's Municipal Light & Power Plant"
By Charles Viestenz (PDF)
"Local Voices for Local Utilities: Electric Service- Page 1"
Utility News - January 2000 (PDF)
"Local Voices for Local Utilities: Electric Service- Page 2"
Utility News - January 2000 (PDF)

City of Loveland

Recommended Searches

Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park

1211 W. Highway 34, Loveland, CO

Hours of Operation

Picnic & Park Use Information

Exploration Zone

"Memoria" Sculpture by DeWitt Godfrey