City of Loveland
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Long View Trail is a joint project between the City of Loveland, the City of Fort Collins and Larimer County to create a regional trail from Sunset Vista Natural Area in Loveland to Cathy Fromme Natural Area in Fort Collins.
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Long View Trail Location
871 W 57th St
Loveland, CO 80538
(NE corner of Taft Ave & 57th St)
The Long View Trail begins at 57th St. and Taft Ave. and is part of Loveland's 32-mile paved recreation trail system.
The 4.4-mile long, 10-foot wide Long View Trail runs along the east side of North Taft Avenue in Loveland and South Shields Street in Fort Collins and provides a safe, detached, non-motorized alternative for traveling between the two cities. Utilizing the Long View Trail and the Front Range Trail on the east side of Loveland and Fort Collins, users can travel a loop connecting the two cities' trail systems.
Maps
View the Loveland Recreation Trail map (PDF)
View the Long View Trail map (PDF)
Areas of Travel
The Long View Trail passes through a City of Loveland natural area (Sunset Vista), three City of Fort Collins natural areas (Colina Mariposa, Hazaleus and Cathy Fromme Prairie) and a Larimer County open space (Long View Open Space). The five public spaces, consisting of protected agricultural lands and wildlife habitat, offer trail users sweeping views of the foothills and mountains.
On the south end, the trail ties into the Loveland Recreation Trail at Sunset Vista Natural Area at West 57th St. and North Taft Ave.
On the north end, the trail ties into a sidewalk and underpass leading into Fort Collins’ Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area and the Fossil Creek Trail.
Project Funding
The total mileage of the Long View Trail is 4.4 miles and the trail traverses regional natural areas/open lands in Loveland, Larimer County and Fort Collins.
Grants covered almost half the cost of construction thanks to a $1 million grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) Transportation Enhancement (TE) Grant as well as a Great Outdoors Colorado's (GOCO) Paths to Parks Initiative grant for $999,550.
Loveland’s share of the project was $1.6 million and includes street and crosswalk improvements at 57th Street, a parking lot, one mile of paved recreation trail, three bridges, a vault restroom, and wetlands restoration.
"Copper Ridge" Trail Connection
The final segment of the Loveland Recreation Trail loop was completed in 2021. The Copper Ridge Connection improved safety along 57th Street and across the BNSF railroad tracks. The loop trail around Loveland is now complete and is 21 miles in total length, with connections to other regional trails including Long View and Front Range trails.
More Trail Info
Related:
- Gov. Hickenlooper signs HB 18-1400 at Sunset Vista
- Blog Taft & 57th Update
- Blog Bike Loop Near Sunset Vista
- Long View Trail story map, courtesy of Larimer County Department of Health and Environment
Questions about Long View Trail? Contact Marilyn Hilgenberg, Open Lands & Trails Manager