Trek the Thompson

An annual community celebration of the Big Thompson River

 

Celebrating and sharing the beauty of the Big Thompson River

Trek the Thompson is a free community celebration of the Big Thompson River and watershed located along the Big T River at Fairgrounds Park in Loveland, Colorado. This year, we are also right next to the Farmer’s Market, so you can grab all your fresh produce and market goodies while learning about the Big T!

The family-friendly event features interactive educational activities for all ages where community members and watershed visitors can learn about all that the Big T provides for Northern Colorado. Attendees will learn about wildlife, watersheds, forest health, emergency response, our trail systems, flyfishing, and more from many different participating organizations including the City of Loveland, Rocky Mountain Flycasters, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers, Northern Water Conservancy District, Loveland Fire Resuce Authority, Colorado State Forest Service, plus many more.

In addition to interactive education stations, attendees can sign up for guided treks which vary from year to year but often include birding, macroinvertebrate collection, water sampling and more. You can also spin our prize wheel to win some market bucks to spend at the Farmer’s Market!

So, bring your kids, dogs, and friends and join us to celebrate one of Loveland’s most treasured resources!

2026 Trek the Thompson

Follow the Trek the Thompson Facebook page to stay up to date on all the event details and learn more about activities, raffle prizes, and the participating organizations.

Follow us on Facebook

Welcome to the Big Thompson Watershed

Click on the interactive map to learn more!

Home Map

The Big T is a critical freshwater resource linking diverse communities through environment, agriculture, industry, recreation, and more.

The Big T is an anchor for the largest transmountain diversion in the U.S. - the CO-Big Thompson Project - bringing water from the west slope to Front Range communities.

The Big T is a high quality water source for 1+ million water users, 32 communities, and numerous irrigators.

The Big T is a gateway for 4.5 million annual visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park.

From its sparkling headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park to its confluence with the South Platte, the Big Thompson watershed provides the water we drink, the food we grow, the wood we harvest, the fishing and wildlife habitat we enjoy, and the beauty we treasure. Whether you are a resident within the watershed, a downstream water user, or one of millions who visit and explore the Big Thompson River every year, this waterway holds special value to the livelihoods and lifestyles of those connected to it.