Impress your date or your out-of-town guests by taking them to the Colorado Continental Divide…read morelandmark. You may have heard it one too many times, or not at all, but the Colorado Continental Divide means that on the east of the Continental Divide all the rivers flow toward the Atlantic Ocean, and on the west of the divide the rivers flows toward the Pacific Ocean. In Colorado, residents are not as familiar with this thing called water, so this fact to us is not only interesting, but a moment to make us feel smart... And offer you one of those facts that you are sure to hear on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" The divide is a fun visit any time of the year, but it is at almost 12,000 feet, so if your guest or date is already feeling ill, dizzy, sleepy or grumpy, and it is not from you, then it might not be good to surprise them up past here which is above tree-line. When you get up to the monument, you can take a walk along a trail that looks like it goes on-and-on forever, but this is high mountain hiking, so don't expect there to be many tree stumps to take a seat on... And in the summer, or any season for that matter, storms can roll in faster then you can roll your Spanish rrrr's , so only hike if you are prepared. Note: The hike is not a loop.... If I am correct, it is about 3 miles long... But if you are new to hiking, keep an eye on where you started and head back after a little while to avoid rolling down the mountain and having to explain to people that you thought you were on a survivor game show. (Note: If you are on a date, do not tell you her that you are on a survivor game show and you have to pretend like this is your last day on earth... That might seem like a good pick up line , but trust me, when you are dehydrated and sun scorched, you wont be getting any high mountain booty any time soon, so take my advice and bring extra water and energy food.) * Star one for water that flows ** Way up there star two is for the high altitude and treeless mountain tops *** Look at me now star three is for perfect picture opportunity ****Isn't this elevation romantic star four is for a creative date idea or not so romantic out-of-town guest site ***** Don't forget to breath star five is for a long hike that is a great stretch during long car rides

It's certainly beautiful up here! Though if you're looking for an interesting roadside…read moreattraction/pit stop, this will last you all about two minutes before you head back to the car. Take your pictures of the sign, tell your friends you saw the "continental divide," and that's about all there is to do up here. Be sure to get some great looking photos of yourself though!

Hard to believe that this is in out backyard !!…read more DEFINITE destination when in NoCo !! Can get crowded on the water so plan accordingly ;-)

Just had my second visit to Horsetooth! The first time following all of the spring rains mid June I…read morewas impressed by how much the landscape resembled part of Oregon I traveled through on a road trip (Lowell) This last time over Labor Day weekend however, with the water levels lower by a hundred feet, for a moment it occurred to me they decided to put a more traditional "beach" area there. The water had been up to the rocks near the parking area at the South Bay swim area. In the late summer, it had more of the expected high desert vibe. It's nice that they have a no-wake area for paddle boarders and swimmers. Although it is a reservoir, the ugly wall is not a prominent visual feature like ie: Cherry Creek reservoir. I enjoy how this one is situated in a valley surrounded by mountains. Next time, I am absolutely bringing a paddle board. This time however, I was amused and inspired by one man who was not immediately deterred by the fact that he fell off his again and again. When he finally gave up, he had the same problem with his inner tube. The bathrooms/showers were not disgusting but I wasn't so sure how sanitary those children's diapers were in the water. .

What a great place for hiking! I'm from near Boulder, so getting in the car and driving an hour up…read morethe front range just to hike,we'll, we have hiking here too. But I was very impressed with the size and scope of this mountain park! Sitting right next to Lory State Park, you can really get a lot of distance done on these trails. It's a nominal fee to park, and there's maps and bathrooms at the trailhead. I found there to be parking much of the day. However, the waterfall attracts many folks on weekends. I would start with an ascent of Horsetooth Mountain, if you feel able. Even if you can't get all the way up, the views get better and better. There's lots of side trails to customize your adventure. However, don't get lost! The final few steps on the peak are a big rock scramble, so be careful! It's worth it though. I then went down to the cove and had a nice private lunch. Plenty of bikers use the trails on the lower half, so be aware. I found hiking before 10 am was best, and encountered few bikers out that early. This was a fantastic place to hike, and I got nearly 15 miles down. There's a beautiful section on the Stout Trail, and it leads down to a cool waterfall, so I'd definitely at least recommend that section!

An amazing and challenging outdoors experience not too far from town. A harder hike with a bit of a…read morechallenge to get up to the peak of horsetooth, but definitely doable with amazing views ! Parking: We went on Monday morning and there was plenty of parking. That being said, I can see how the parking lot would be full on a busier day or the weekend. Facilities: There are toilets and water fountains in the parking lot, as well as maps and a covered picnic table. There is a apy station at the entry to the hike as well. There is a bug posted map as well as some paler maps for you to take. Hikes: There seemed to be 2 major hikes according to the posted map. You can hike to the falls but make sure to check if they have water ahead of time. Since there wasn't water when we went, we opted for only doing the hike up to horse tooth itself. The trails are very clearly marked which is really appreciated! Each trail is marked by a color and there are colored arrows showing you which way to go on your chosen path. The hike up to horsetooth itself can be strenuous! Not being used to the elevation should definitely be something taken into consideration if you're new to the area. It's consistently uphill for the first half (and downhill for the 2nd half of course). The views are absolutely amazing the whole way with a great look over the huge reservoir! You may also run into some wildlife - we passed by some very calm deer right on the trail and met some very cute chipmunks who came right to us. There's also some benches along the trail to take a break and take in the views. Once you get to the top of the trail, you can climb to the top of horse tooth - and I mean climb! You definitely don't have to have rock climbing experience but you do need to be ready to use hands and feet to get up there. This trail is dog friendly and you will run into people with dogs. Leashes are required.

The view of the mountains to the west is one of the most beautiful anywhere! This trail is next to…read morea neighborhood and a golf course, so park in the bottom lot of the golf course. It is a single track easy meandering type trail, but beware of the cacti right next to and even on the trail. There is an elevation gain to get to the top of the butte, but as it is only a 1.3 mile total loop, it is not hard. Dogs are welcome, but must be on leashes.

Close to Devils head with a few trails around the butte and great views. Rarely busy.read more

Decent park. Love fishing here. Dog park has mulch which is way better than the crushed rock at…read moretwin silos. Hockey rink, skate park, basketball, tennis as well.

This is a lovely park with tons of parking and so much to do! Will certainly be utilizing this for…read moreour evening walks from now on. It has a great long path to walk with beautiful scenery, a playground, sports fields, etc. It is clean and well taken care of. The playground itself is great for the kids with options for all ages with slides, swings, things to climb on, and so much more! The Fossil/Prehistoric theme makes it stand out among other parks.

This campground, essentially right next to Loveland, is a gem. It's clean, well maintained and…read morefairly spacious. It's a big place, but right next to the lake and hiking trails. Unfortunately, it was cold and rainy while we were there, so didn't get much of a chance to explore.

Pretty nice lake. Boating, fishing, paddle boarding, nice beach area. The water felt good. I'd…read moredefinitely go back. I like that there was enough space for paddle boarders to not have to worry about boats and jet skis.

Bless Your Heart Ranch is an amazing place to not only ride, but learn all about horses! Brooke is…read morea personable, super friendly, professional instructor with so much knowledge and experience. She allows the students to be hands-on from Lesson #1, all while giving easy to learn, informative instructions. If you want to learn more than just the standard riding techniques, this is the place! My daughter never wants to leave at the end of the lesson! :)

From the owner: We aim to be a positive and encouraging place of learning on a ranch setting. Our focus is on…read morenatural horsemanship, horse training, riding lessons and memorable goat experiences. You can also enjoy a unique experience of hiking with goats! Animals are a way of life out here and there is nothing more enjoyable than sharing them with others.

Lake Loveland is such a beautiful spot- whether it's a quiet morning walk, watching the sunset over…read morethe water, or just relaxing with the family, it's one of my favorite places in Northern Colorado. The views of the mountains reflecting on the lake never get old! As a local real estate agent here in Northern Colorado, I love sharing gems like this with clients who are getting to know the area. It's one of those spots that really shows off what makes Loveland so special - peaceful, scenic, and full of community charm.

Nice sidewalk around the lake with sculptures and benches to rest along the way. The lake water…read morelevel is low so I'm sure it would be much prettier after a lot of rain. We enjoyed the easy stroll with the mountains in the background and numerous sculptures along the way. The beach is off limits for swimming or wading.