Summit Adventure Trail

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The Upper Part of the Round Mountain National Recreation Trail

Location

1300 W. U.S. Hwy 34
Loveland, CO 80537

Summit Adventure Trail

The Summit Adventure Trail is part of the Round Mountain National Recreation Trail, which also includes the Foothills Nature Trail.

The Summit Adventure Trail is a 4.7-mile (one-way) moderate hike to the summit of Sheep Mountain. A full day should be allowed for the 9.4-mile round-trip hike.

The trailhead parking area is located in the Big Thompson Canyon, approximately four miles west of The Dam Store on CO Hwy 34 (approximately 12 miles west of Loveland). The trailhead is located just southwest and across the highway from the entrance to Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park.

A vault toilet is available near the trailhead. From April to October, water is available at Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park. Please see the area Rules & Regulations below.

To take this trail, start at the Round Mountain Trail parking area and go about 1/4 mile up to the signed split in the trail, where the Foothills Nature Trail continues straight and the Summit Adventure Trail turns left.

Summit Adventure Trail Overview

Most of the Summit Adventure Trail was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s. Portions have been rebuilt by the Loveland Ranger Force, a group of teenagers from Loveland. The Summit Adventure Trail portion of the Round Mountain National Recreational Trail is primarily maintained by hikers and the U.S. Forest Service, as part of the Roosevelt National Forest. Along with the City staff who maintain the lower portion of the trail known as the Foothills Nature Trail, there are volunteers who help to maintain and patrol the upper portion of the trail known as the Summit Adventure Trail through a program with the Poudre Wilderness Volunteers. The trail has been "adopted" by the Loveland Mountain Club whose members also help maintain it. Please stay on trail and pack out all trash, including dog waste.

Poudre Wilderness Volunteers compiled t his information about the Summit Adventure Trail, including a detailed trail description, trail elevations graph, topographic map, GPS coordinates, and area regulations.

Beginning elevation at the Round Mountain National Recreational Trail is 5,747'. The Summit Adventure Trail portion begins at 5,890', where it splits from the Foothills Nature Trail. Peak elevation at the summit of Sheep Mountain is 8,450', or a 2,707' elevation gain. Much of this trail is south facing, and is clear of snow much of the year.

Be prepared for all types of weather!

Please stay away from exposed areas and ridges during lightning storms. It is recommended that you have the following gear with you for this hike:

Sturdy footwear
Drinking water (for humans and pets)
Windproof and warm clothing and rain gear
Energy snacks
Map/compass/GPS
Photographic equipment

Trail Rules & Regulations

To help preserve the Foothills Nature Trail and Summit Adventure Trail, please obey the following rules and regulations.

Do not remove, destroy, or injure any natural or man-made trail features or facilities.
Please leave all wildflowers for the next person to enjoy.
No Overnight Camping along the City-owned portions of the trail. Please refer to the US Forest Service for guidelines on their portions of the trail. Visit the Arapaho/Roosevelt/Pawnee website.
No use of firearms, fireworks or explosives are permitted along the City-owned portions of the trail. All other portions follow the US Forest Service Rules & Regulations. Please refer to the US Forest Service Shooting Guidelines on the Arapaho/Roosevelt/Pawnee website.
Pets must be kept on a leash, and under human control at all times.
Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
Please do not litter. Pack out all trash, including dog waste.
Motorized vehicles are prohibited on the trail.
Please stay on the established trails; they are designed to minimize your impact on the environment. Shortcuts cause erosion!
For nature's sake, please DO NOT BUILD FIRES.
Please respect the "Leave No Trace" approach to our recreation trail areas. Visit the official Leave No Trace website.

2019 Project Information from Big Thompson Watershed Coalition

In just five weeks, the Round Mountain Forest Health Demonstration Project restored about 12 acres of ponderosa pine forest to historical stand conditions. By removing dense thickets of young trees, low hanging branches, and other ladder fuels, our teams created healthier conditions for the forest.

This restoration will aid the section of forest in withstanding and bouncing back from stressors such as wildfire, pests, and disease. The gaps created between trees reduce the likelihood of low and medium intensity fires climbing into tree canopies and fueling more intense forest fires that can threaten our forests and infrastructure.

This influential project, managed by the Big Thompson Watershed Coalition, City of Loveland, and Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, demonstrates a crucial step towards large-scale forest health and wildfire risk reduction for the Big Thompson canyon.

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