This year marks 100 years for the City of Loveland’s Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park, a one-of-a-kind city park that has connected generations of residents and visitors to the natural beauty of the Big Thompson Canyon. Located just four miles west of the Big Thompson canyon entrance along U.S. 34, the park remains a cherished gateway to mountain recreation and local history.
Originally opened in the 1920s following the construction of the Loveland Light and Power hydroelectric plant, Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park quickly grew into a 400-acre destination for picnicking, hiking and enjoying the outdoors. Throughout the past century, the park has endured and evolved through major flood events in 1976 and 2013. Each rebuilding effort honored the park’s historic character while enhancing its natural charm and public amenities.
Today, the park stands as a peaceful public mountain space, featuring picnic shelters, places to rest, ADA-friendly fishing access and a rustic-themed play area. There are paths beside the Big Thompson River, a nature cabin and various interpretive signs highlighting the 1920s hydroelectric plant, Civilian Conservation Corps craftsmanship and stories of the region’s early settlers.
As Loveland’s only city park located in a mountain canyon, Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park offers a rare blend of history, recreation and wilderness, making its centennial an especially meaningful milestone for the Loveland community. For additional details and visitor information, visit the Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park webpage.
