The City of Loveland Community Placemaking Department invites community members to be among the first to walk or bike along the city’s newest publicly accessible trails in the Dakota Ridge and Skyline Natural Areas. The new trails will open to the public at 6 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 30.
Construction of the new 7.65-mile Dakota-Skyline Trail System began in October 2025. The soft-surface trail system is accessible from two public trailhead areas that include parking and restrooms. The site is for day use only and will be open from dawn to dusk. Please return at a different time if all parking spaces are filled. Visitors are asked to hike or bike from surrounding neighborhoods, if possible.
- The southern trailhead is located at Highway 34 and Rossum Drive (4459 W. Highway 34).
- The northern trailhead is located at 4284 W. 43rd St.
Kiosk signage is available at the trailheads with maps and regulations. E-bikes are prohibited except on the Dakota Trail (northeast part of the property).
Located in the foothills west of Loveland, the trail system extends across the Dakota Ridge and Skyline Natural Areas, which form a contiguous 418-acre expanse of conserved land. This diverse landscape features upland meadows, shrublands, ponderosa pine woodlands and riparian drainages, with more than 400 feet of elevation change.
In addition to accommodating hikers and mountain bikers, the site will continue to be a vital space for wildlife. The site was designed and planned with a focus on an ecological approach to balance conservation with recreation, ensuring sustainable management practices that will protect natural resources while enhancing public access. For the safety of wildlife and dogs, dogs are not allowed on this site.
The city will plan several volunteer restoration projects and programs on the site in the future. Volunteer and program opportunities can be found at offero.cityofloveland.org.
Project updates and information can be found on the city’s Dakota Ridge and Skyline web page. Trail information can be found at trails.colorado.gov.
Funding information
The city purchased the parcels that comprise Skyline and Dakota Ridge Natural Area between 2015 and 2026 using Loveland’s share of the Larimer County Open Space Tax, which also paid for the $2.7 million construction of the new Dakota-Skyline Trail System. Loveland’s open space tax dollars are used for the acquisition, development and maintenance of natural areas in and around Loveland; this is only one of a number of capital projects planned over the next few years. No General Fund dollars are being spent on this project.
