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Courtesy of the City of Loveland.
Courtesy of the City of Loveland.
Loveland celebrates 100 years of Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park
ColoradoBiz Staff //July 9, 2026//
In Brief:
- Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park opened in the 1920s
- Park rebuilt after floods in 1976 and 2013
- Includes ADA-accessible fishing and nature cabin
- Located 4 miles west of Big Thompson Canyon entrance
LOVELAND — The City of Loveland is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park, the city’s only park located in a mountain canyon.
Located about 4 miles west of the entrance to Big Thompson Canyon along U.S. Highway 34, the 400-acre park opened in the 1920s following construction of the Loveland Light and Power hydroelectric plant. It has served as a destination for picnicking, hiking and other outdoor recreation for generations.
The park has been rebuilt following major floods in 1976 and 2013 while preserving its historic features and expanding public amenities.
Today, Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park includes picnic shelters, ADA-accessible fishing areas, a nature cabin, riverside trails, a rustic-themed playground and interpretive displays highlighting the hydroelectric plant, Civilian Conservation Corps projects and the area’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,” the city said in announcing the centennial celebration.
The park remains a public recreation area connecting residents and visitors to the Big Thompson Canyon and its history.
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