Informational Open House

Thank you to those who attended the Skyline Natural Area Informational Open House on July 17, 2024.

The meeting included several stations highlighting areas of the Skyline Natural Area management plan. Boards presented at the meeting are linked below with the stations where they were presented. 

Stations included:

• Trail Use Options, Alignment and Viewsheds (Site Plan, Viewsheds)
• Operations, Security, Maintenance (Visitor Management and Security)
• Resource Management (Resource Management)
• Fire Management and Wildfire Safety (Wildfire Safety)
• Funding (Timeline)

Management Plan

The Skyline Natural Area Management Plan documents existing conditions and identifies management actions to develop the property for public access and appropriately steward the site's resources.  

The planning process provided information about Skyline to the public and gathered input and feedback on proposed plans. The information below was presented for public input at an Open House meeting in 2019 and made available online,  and comments received were considered in the development of the draft management plan. The draft plan was available online and comments were incorporated into the final plan in 2020. 

• Regional Context
• Existing Conditions Map
• Site Photos
• Site Character & Management Goals
• Site Plan
• Trail Use Options
• Questions / Comments

Skyline Natural Area is a collection of seven parcels that make up the nearly 170-acre property on the west side of Loveland. The City of Loveland acquired these properties from 2015-2021. The site is located north of Hwy 34 and west of Morning Drive and includes the ridge where the Winter Holiday Council's Namaqua Star is located (see MAP). 

The public was invited to help name the site, resulting in more than 120 unique name suggestions. The name Skyline Natural Area was selected by the Open Lands Advisory Commission and staff based on the 360-degree skyline views from the top of the ridge. 

The natural area provides habitat for mule deer, bobcat, coyote, red and gray fox, elk, mountain lion, and black bear. The property also hosts many other species of small mammals, birds of prey such as kestrels, red-tailed hawks, and eagles, and numerous species of songbirds.

Future uses of the area will include soft-surface trails for non-motorized activities such as hiking, bicycling, wildlife viewing and nature study. 

Click on the map below for a full-size PDF map.     

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