Living in Berthoud, Colorado
Berthoud is a small, friendly town on the Front Range with a walkable Mountain Avenue downtown, local breweries and cafés, and the Rockies on the western horizon. Heron Lakes and TPC Colorado sit on its northwest side, with Loveland, Longmont, CSU in Fort Collins and CU Boulder all close by.
Small-town Berthoud, with Loveland, Longmont and the Rockies close by
Heron Lakes sits in northwest Berthoud, minutes from US-287 with easy I-25 access. Downtown Berthoud's Mountain Avenue is a short drive, Loveland and Longmont are close by, CSU in Fort Collins is about 30 minutes and CU Boulder about 45, Big Thompson Canyon is about half an hour west, Denver International Airport is less than an hour, and Estes Park is about an hour. Select any place to visit its website.
Drive times are approximate and vary with traffic.
Seasonal events in the coming weeks
Holiday lights, parades and festivals around Berthoud, Loveland, Longmont, Fort Collins and Estes Park. Updated October 25, 2026; please confirm details with each organizer.
Berthoud Scarecrow Contest
Through Sat, Oct 31 · Downtown Berthoud businesses (pick up the Scarecrow Map). Stroll downtown and vote for your favorite scarecrows.
Longmont Halloween Parade
Sat, Oct 31 · 10 am · Main Street (line-up 9:30 am at Roosevelt Park). Free costume parade down Main Street. No registration needed.
Downtown Holiday Lighting
Fri, Nov 6 · 5:30–7 pm · Old Town Square. The downtown lights switch on after a 6:30 pm ceremony.
Rocky Mountain Craft Spirits Festival
Sat, Nov 7 · 12–5 pm · Estes Park Events Complex. 40+ vendors sampling Colorado craft spirits, beer and non-alcoholic drinks.
Loveland Festival of Lights
Fri, Nov 20 · 5–8 pm · 4th Street, downtown Loveland. Tree lighting, entertainment and a holiday market.
Estes Park Tree Lighting
Sat, Nov 21 · 3:30–6 pm · Bond Park, downtown Estes Park. Carolers, Santa and Mrs. Claus, carriage rides and a train ride.
Catch the Glow Parade
Fri, Nov 27 · 5:30–7 pm · Elkhorn Avenue, downtown Estes Park. Estes Park's lighted holiday parade the day after Thanksgiving.
Small Business Saturday
Sat, Nov 28 · Downtown Berthoud shops. Holiday specials at Berthoud's local boutiques and cafés.
Estes Park Holiday Wine Festival
Sat, Nov 28 · 11 am–5 pm · Estes Park Events Complex. 20+ Colorado wineries plus holiday vendors (21+ to taste).
A Very Merry Berthoud & Parade of Lights
Sat, Dec 5 · all day; parade 5 pm · Throughout Berthoud; parade on Mountain Avenue. Photos with Santa, carolers and markets, then the Parade of Lights and tree lighting (about 5:45 pm).
Longmont Lights Festival
Fri, Dec 11 · Roosevelt Park. Longmont's holiday lights festival. Check the link for times.
Garden of Lights
Select nights Dec 11–27 · 5–9 pm · The Gardens on Spring Creek. A walk-through holiday light show (closed Dec 24–25; tickets required).
Map of the area
Tap a pin to see the place, visit its website or get directions from Heron Lakes.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. The star marks TPC Colorado; the homes are on Newfound Lake Road beside the course. Locations are approximate.
Restaurants & coffee near Heron Lakes
Trailhead Cafe
A local favorite for breakfast and lunch with espresso drinks, open daily 7am-2pm. 375 Meadowlark Dr.
Kofe House
Family-owned downtown coffee shop serving breakfast and lunch seven days a week. 434 Mountain Ave.
Rise Artisan Bread
Artisan breads, bagels, pastries, coffee and pies. 403 5th St.
Cocina & Cantina
Mexican and Southwestern restaurant and bar on Mountain Avenue. 316 Mountain Ave.
City Star Brewing
Downtown brewery and taproom, open daily. 321 Mountain Ave.
Berthoud Brewing Company
Local craft brewery. 450 8th St.
Turner's Pit BBQ
Downtown barbecue, open daily from 11am with late hours Thursday-Saturday. 237 Welch Ave.
Berthoud Pizza Company
Hometown pizzeria a few blocks off Mountain Avenue. 527 N 4th St.
Brick Oven Pizza
Wood-fired pizza on Mountain Avenue. 269 Mountain Ave.
Benny's Tacos
Casual, inexpensive taqueria near downtown. 535 3rd St.
Boutiques & antiques in downtown Berthoud
The Rancher's Wife
More than 75 vendors and artisans: antiques, vintage, western and farmhouse decor and Colorado-made goods. 604 3rd St.
Cobblestone Corner
A vintage market with 140+ vendors in the old Masonic Lodge. 349 Massachusetts Ave.
Wishful Living
Eclectic home and gift shop: wall art, jewelry, textiles and vintage decor. 321 Mountain Ave.
House of Rossi Boutique
Women's clothing boutique on Mountain Avenue. 311 Mountain Ave.
Homestead Fine Art Gallery
Paintings, prints, photography, sculpture and glass art. 344 Mountain Ave.
Indigo Sky Trading
Handcrafted jewelry, woodcraft, mosaics and stained glass from local artisans. 212 Mountain Ave.
Marley & Moose
Eco-minded children's shop, a sweet stop for grandkid gifts. 520 Mountain Ave.
Shops on Longmont's Main Street
About 20-25 minutes south, Downtown Longmont is a walkable, tree-lined historic Main Street and a state-certified Creative District.
Composition Shop
Independent bookshop with a well-chosen selection. 356 Main St.
Fig & Ivy
Custom furniture, original art, lighting, rugs and design services. 436 Main St.
Old Town Marketplace
A marketplace of small makers and boutiques under one roof. 332 Main St.
Wolf & Wren
Letterpress greeting cards, stationery and small gifts. 331 Main St.
Bricks on Main
Hand-poured candles, custom tees and locally roasted coffee. 471 Main St.
Juniper Goods
Curated clothing, objects and everyday essentials, plus coffee. 659 4th Ave.
Adorn Home & Gift Gallery
Home decor, accessories and keepsakes a block off Main. 661 4th Ave.
Barbed Wire Books
A longtime downtown bookstore. 504 Main St.
Grandrabbit's Toy Shoppe
A classic downtown toy store. 346 Main St.
Shopping in Loveland
About 15 minutes north, Loveland has a walkable downtown of boutiques and galleries plus big outdoor shopping centers near I-25. More at Visit Loveland.
Downtown Loveland
A walkable downtown district with boutiques, galleries and restaurants along 4th Street.
Pilar Boutique
A downtown boutique. 136 E 4th St.
Vintage Willows
A locally owned downtown boutique.
Olive & Herb
Artisan olive oils, vinegars and spices.
Canyon Collectibles
Antiques and collectibles downtown. 213 E 4th St.
Sculpture Depot
Sculpture and decor in Loveland, a city known for its public art. 418 8th St.
The Promenade Shops at Centerra
An open-air shopping center with national retailers and dining at I-25 and US-34. 5971 Sky Pond Dr.
The Loveland Yards
A community-focused retail destination being redeveloped from the former outlets.
REI, JAX and Sportsman's Warehouse
Loveland has an REI, two JAX Outdoor Gear, Ranch & Home stores and a Sportsman's Warehouse, with Scheels nearby in Johnstown.
Farmers markets
The Berthoud Market at Town Park
Saturdays 9am-1pm, mid-June through late September (2026: June 13-Sept 26). Produce, baked goods, coffee, crafts, live music. 200 N 7th St.
Longmont Farmers Market
Saturdays 8am-1pm, early April through late November (2026: April 4-Nov 21), at the Boulder County Fairgrounds. One of the area's biggest markets.
Loveland Farmers Market
Sundays 9am-1pm, June through September, at Fairgrounds Park, with artist markets on the last Sunday of the month.
Market days and seasons change each year. Check each market's website for current dates.
Groceries & everyday shopping
Hays Market
Berthoud's grocery store, in the Berthoud Village Shopping Center. 939 Mountain Ave.
King Soopers
The nearest King Soopers, in south Loveland. 1275 Eagle Dr.
The Promenade Shops at Centerra
Open-air lifestyle center in Loveland at I-25 and US-34, with national retailers and restaurants.
Parks, trails & lakes
Carter Lake
A 1,100-acre foothills reservoir west of Berthoud for boating, sailing, swimming, camping, climbing and hiking. The {"marina"} rents pontoon and fishing boats.
Devil's Backbone Open Space
A dramatic sandstone hogback west of Loveland with 17+ miles of trails linking to Horsetooth Mountain.
Boyd Lake State Park
Swim beach, camping, fishing and 200+ bird species. The marina and motorized boating are closed for 2026; paddle craft are still allowed.
Berthoud Reservoir Park & Open Space
Fishing, a bike trail and ADA access, close to Heron Lakes. 2486 N Berthoud Pkwy.
Berthoud Recreation Center
The town recreation center at Waggener Farm Park. 1000 N Berthoud Pkwy.
Rocky Mountain National Park
About an hour away via Estes Park, for hiking, wildlife and Trail Ridge Road.
More golf nearby
Mariana Butte Golf Course
City of Loveland public course with holes along the Big Thompson River.
The Olde Course at Loveland
A classic 1960 municipal layout with mature trees.
Ute Creek Golf Course
City of Longmont public course designed by Robert Trent Jones II.
Medical care
UCHealth Primary Care - Berthoud
Care for all ages, weekdays 8am-5pm, on Grand Market Ave near Heron Lakes. 1335 Grand Market Ave #110.
Banner Health Clinic - Berthoud
Family medicine with same-day appointments for urgent needs. 401 10th St.
UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies
Full hospital and Level I trauma center in Loveland. 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave.
UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital
Hospital with a 24/7 emergency department in Longmont. 1750 E Ken Pratt Blvd.
Longmont United Hospital
24/7 hospital with an emergency department. 1950 Mountain View Ave, Longmont.
Banner North Colorado Medical Center - Loveland
Specialty campus with Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center (it no longer has an emergency department). 2000 Boise Ave.
Universities
Colorado State University (CSU)
Fort Collins campus, about 30 minutes from Heron Lakes.
University of Colorado Boulder
CU Boulder, about 45 minutes from Heron Lakes.
Lifelong learning
OLLI at Colorado State University
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers no-tests, no-grades courses for adults 50 and older, from history and art to music, on campus or online.
Front Range Community College
Non-credit continuing education classes, from computer skills and photography to creative writing and languages.
Dog-friendly Berthoud
Off-leash parks, leash-friendly trails and patios where your dog is welcome. Rules change, so check each link before you go.
Berthoud Dog Park
Opened in 2020, this fenced park has separate small-dog and large-dog areas, water stations, waste-bag posts, rocks to jump on and a covered shelter, but no restrooms.
Fairgrounds Park Dog Park
Fenced off-leash play and training areas, plus a separate enclosure for small or shy dogs, with a water fountain that is shut off for winter and waste-bag dispensers.
Mehaffey Park Dog Park
Fenced off-leash play and training areas with a crushed-fines surface and a separate small/shy-dog enclosure, about the closest city dog park to west Loveland.
Union Reservoir Nature Area Dog Beach
A year-round dog beach on the reservoir, open even after the swim beach closes for the season. Daily vehicle fee.
Longmont Dog Park #1 and Dog Park #2
Both city dog parks are open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset; #2 has restrooms and a seasonal water spigot (mid-April to mid-October).
Trails & leash rules
Larimer County parks & open spaces
Dogs must be leashed on county parks and open-space trails; they are banned only at Red Mountain Open Space and on the Rimrock Trail at Devil's Backbone.
Carter Lake
Leashed dogs (10 ft max) are welcome, but not at the swim beach. A Larimer County park entrance permit is required.
Devil's Backbone Open Space
Leashed dogs are welcome on about 7 miles of unpaved trails, including the 3.5-mile Backbone loop, but not on the Rimrock Trail; a $10 daily vehicle permit is required.
Loveland parks, natural areas & Recreation Trail
Pets must be leashed and under control everywhere except inside dog park enclosures, and are banned at Prairie Ridge Natural Area and Morey Wildlife Reserve.
Rocky Mountain National Park: pets not allowed on trails
Pets are banned on all park trails, tundra and meadows; leashed pets (6 ft maximum) may go only on roads, in parking areas, and in established campgrounds and picnic areas.
Patios & pet care
City Star Brewing
The brewery's own site says 'Dogs welcome,' and BringFido notes that friendly, leashed dogs can join guests at the partially shaded patio's picnic tables.
Left Hand Brewing - The Garden
Left Hand's outdoor beer garden page says 'Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome!' and points to its FAQ for the full dog policy.
Berthoud Animal Hospital
Full-service veterinary clinic (wellness, dental, vaccines, surgery, spay/neuter) open weekdays 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Snow report
Heading to the slopes? Check today's conditions at Colorado ski resorts on the Colorado Ski Country USA snow report. Back home, Berthoud gets plenty of sunshine between snows, so winter golf days happen too.
Looking at Heron Lakes? Read the Heron Lakes community guide for amenities, HOA details and five years of home sales.
Kristen Danzig
Osmirelly Kidwell