Big Thompson Canyon

The thirty-two mile drive from the city of Loveland to the entrance of Estes Park is one of the most beautiful drives in Colorado. The Big Thompson Canyon is a heavily wooded area of scenic beauty with rugged cliffs and high mountains bordering the Big Thompson River. The road follows the river, and winds around walls of granite, which lift their heads thousands of feet in the air, past timber and grass covered slopes. The views presented along the route through this wonderful canyon are beyond comparison and one never tires of looking at and admiring the wonderful works of nature.

The Big Thompson River and Canyon were named for David Thompson, an English engineer and astronomer, who, early in the 19th century, explored many streams in the Mid-West and mountain states in search of trapping camps on the Big Thompson and Cache Le Poudre rivers.

The modern history of the Canyon started in earnest when Loveland merchants wanted to build a road through the Canyon. Difficult to build, it was so narrow that problems arose when wagons met in an area with no pullouts. The Loveland to Estes Park Stage Coach had the right-of-way in both directions, so when the stage met a freight wagon they had no option but to unhitch the horses from the wagon and drive the entire team around the stage. The wagon would be unloaded, wheels removed, and the wagon tipped up on its side to allow the stage to pass. Then the wagon was reassembled, reloaded and both would go on their way. As time went on the road was improved making it the most spectacular ways to travel to Estes Park and the Rocky Mountains.

The towns of Drake and Glen Haven were stage stops allowing travelers a chance to get out of the dusty, bumpy stage and stretch their legs and get food and drink. These stage stops quickly expanded into small villages that catered to travelers. Locals from the Front Range built cabins and cottages in the Canyon to escape the heat of the summer sun. Many of the cabins and cottages in the Canyon that date back to the turn of the last century have been modernized and are available for rent. A variety of accommodations offering year-round lodging are available in the Canyon. Today, visitors can choose from charming motels, family friendly or secluded cabins and cottages, romantic bed and breakfasts, vacation homes or RV and tent campgrounds.

There is an abundance of wildlife that inhabits the canyon. Thousands of hummingbirds follow the lead of summer residents and tourists and come to the canyon to escape the summer heat. Big horn sheep, mule deer and elk graze in the canyon and can frequently be found along the roadside nibbling on the tender shoots of grass. On occasion you may find a mountain lion, bobcat or bear.
You will find historic shops that specialize in goods from Colorado. Southwest and American Indian artists as well as shops specializing in locally produced foods and t-shirts.

The splendor of the Big Thompson Canyon with its tumbling river is awe-inspiring. It is an area of enormous beauty, which attracts vacationers from all over the world. Picnic areas and look out points abound. Visitors enjoy hiking, world-class trout fishing, rock climbing, antiquing, shopping, and simply enjoying the areas majestic scenery. Do stop and enjoy all the Canyon has to offer. You may not be able to find some of these items anywhere else.