Is Loveland Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Love is definitely in the air in Loveland, Colorado.

This northern Colorado city has a little bit of excitement for everyone and a lot of fun for lovebirds.

This is not about the Loveland Ski Area, which is two hours south of the city of Loveland.

Loveland is a suburban area with all the typical amenities mixed with incredible art, creative dining, and expansive shopping.

Mountain lovers will get a kick out of Devil’s Backbone, an open space on the west side of the city.

With more than 3,000 acres to explore, it’s the jagged rock formations that give it its name that bring the most crowds.

Art lovers won’t be able to get enough of the sculpture parks that span the city with creative work by local artists.

The artistic flair is also seen in downtown Loveland, mixed with coffee shops, breweries, restaurants, and boutiques.

Don’t forget to bring a lock to “lock in” your love at the Loveland Lock sculpture.

It’s the largest love displaying sculpture you can find in the whole country.

The city gives you easy access to Rocky Mountain National Park, just an hour away, and Fort Collins, just 30 minutes north.

The mountain community of Estes Park is a great place for a day’s getaway to explore the entrance to the national park surrounded by the Rocky Mountains.

Warnings & Dangers in Loveland

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low overall risk here. The crime levels are low and the people are friendly here. It's more of a city built around outdoor activities than indoor attractions.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

City of Loveland Transit (COLT) is the public bus system to get around town. Taxis and rideshares are plentiful. There's low risk with any form of transportation, but having a car is ideal for exploring the nearby mountains.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk. Three pickpockets were reported in 2020, and while the theft rate is higher than the national average, a good chunk of the theft numbers are shoplifting.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM

Loveland faces the winter storms risks any Colorado community does. There's also a risk of flooding coming down from the mountains into the city, which has been the site of deadly floods twice in the past 100 years. Warmer months bring a high wildfire risk around the city that could lead to evacuations. There's a medium risk because of all the possibilities, but rest assured, the city has a great emergency management plan and they've dealt with all these disasters before.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

There were 18 robberies in 2020 and two of those were in public places, so you can feel safe that there's a low risk of getting mugged.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

There's a low risk here but Denver is medium risk. However, being an hour away from Denver is a nice buffer should anything happen. There are no hard targets in Loveland.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

There's a low risk of a tourist being scammed, as most of the commonly reported ones impact residents of Loveland. Be aware that when traveling, if your bank doesn't know there might be fraud alerts that come up with you making charges. Just be sure you can verify you are speaking to an actual bank representative, and not a scammer when confirming that activity.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women should feel safe when traveling here and there's a low risk of any dangers. There is even the Sylvan Guest Ranch, which is designed, in part, for female travelers' getaways to a working ranch.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The water in Loveland meets or exceeds all required state and federal standards. There's low risk when using it and people are encouraged to drink tap water instead of bottled water to protect the environment.

Safest Places to Visit in Loveland

A great place to start is the Visitor’s Center next to the Love Sculpture.

You can get tourism information, of course, but you can also place your lock on the sculpture.

You can buy the locks ahead of time and get them engraved for $25 or you can bring a lock of your own.

Other sculptures can be found in Benston Sculpture Garden and Chapungu Sculpture Park.

Downtown Loveland is a vibrant community rooted in history but growing with modern buildings and amenities.

Better yet?

The parking is free!

This district is also great at having festivals, fairs, and events throughout the year to bring even more people downtown.

Throughout the summer there are weekly “One Sweet Summer” events.

The Loveland Creative District was recently added to the downtown area with artist spaces and events as well.

For shopping, you can check out The Outlets at Loveland, a discount center with name brands, or visit the Promenade Shops at Centerra, an open-air mall with the most popular stores, unique restaurants, and some outdoor spaces to relax.

Devil’s Backbone is on the west side of town and goes up into the foothills.

This is an outdoor space for everyone, from the casual hiker to the talented equestrian.

The rock formations here are going to fill up your Instagram stories quickly.

There’s drinking water for free at the trailhead, so you don’t have to bring bottled water.

Boyd Lake and Lake Loveland are the two “watering holes” for summer activities.

I’d recommend Boyd Lake as Lake Loveland itself is privately owned, so there are all kinds of rules about what you can and can’t do there.

Boyd Lake, on the other hand, is open to everyone for $10 per car.

Loveland is also known as the “Gateway to the Rockies” and Estes Park is just 45 minutes away, a great mountain town to explore.

Leave early to avoid traffic up the mountain.

Places to Avoid in Loveland

The southeast section of the city has the highest crime rate, but that doesn’t mean avoiding it.

Just be a little more aware of the people around you there.

It’s also one of the busier parts of the city.

If you get to Devil’s Backbone and the parking lot is full, that means the trails are full too and the park service recommends you find another place to explore until more spots open up.

Avoid driving into the mountains, especially in winter, without at least an AWD vehicle.

You should also know the Colorado Traction Law as when it goes into effect during winter weather, there are specific requirements for what you need to drive to go on the mountain roads.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Loveland

So... How Safe Is Loveland Really?

Loveland’s violent and property crime rates are lower than the national and state averages.

The only high category that concerned me was the theft rate, with more than 1000 thefts in 2020.

The highest theft categories were shoplifting (270) and auto break-ins (391).

Here is how the risks break down:

• Violent Crime: 1 in 429
• Theft: 1 in 71
• Robbery: 1 in 4243

The city hasn’t had a homicide since 2018.

This is a family-friendly community where safety is paramount.

It’s a tight-knit town that celebrates artistic creativity and loves the outdoor Colorado lifestyle.

You shouldn’t have many concerns about visiting Loveland at all.

How Does Loveland Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

You will get processed with a Visa or passport when you enter the United States. There's no processing needed between states or cities.

Currency

The U.S. Dollar is the only currency accepted here. Paying with a mobile device or credit card is ideal, as it reduces the need to carry cash around and also offers protection in case of fraud.

Weather

You'll need to bring a lot of winter clothing if you are visiting during that season. Coloradans don't let the winter keep them from going outside or planning activities. Waterproof and insulated boots are a great idea. Hiking boots that have been broken in will be a great asset when you go hiking. Bring sunscreen year-round because Loveland is at a higher elevation than many cities.

Airports

Denver's airport is an hour away, but it's a great place to get wherever you're going as it's a major hub for several airlines, including United. Northern Colorado Regional Airport is just eight miles away, but it's a very small airport with limited flights, some of which just take you to Denver anyway. There are charter flights available here too.

Travel Insurance

You'll want travel insurance due to possible weather-related flight delays and the dangers of outdoor activities in Colorado.

Loveland Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Colorado - Safety by City