Entry No. 146 — the Denver file — filed under: bronze-faces
Faces Bridge
Tucked beneath the Wilson Avenue bridge along the Big Thompson River trail, dozens of bronze faces — human, fantastical, and at least one alien — stare out from the underpass wall, a 1999 public art commission by sculptor Randy Hand that most trail users walk right past without looking up. The installation survived Loveland's catastrophic 2013 flood and remains in place as a quietly weird gem in a city already known for public sculpture.
The move: Park near Wilson Ave and 1st St, then walk the Loveland Recreational Trail to duck under the bridge and spend time hunting every face on the wall — count them, photograph your favorites, debate which is strangest. Continue the trail along the Big Thompson for a riverside stroll, then cap the outing with dinner or drinks in downtown Loveland a few blocks away.
📍 Before you go This is in Loveland, roughly an hour north of Denver, so treat it as a day trip. Park off Wilson Avenue near 1st Street and walk down to the Loveland Recreational Trail — the faces hang on the underpass wall beneath the road bridge, so look up; most people stride past without noticing. A wooden footbridge crosses the river on one side and a sidewalk climbs Wilson on the other, handy for orientation. It's free, public, and always open-air, no reservations. Warmer months are easiest; the trail sits in the Big Thompson flood zone and can close after heavy rain when the river runs high. Downtown Loveland is a few blocks away for food and drinks.
- 📍 Loveland
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Wilson Avenue bridge over the Big Thompson River, Loveland Recreational Trail, Loveland, CO 80537 (trail access at Wilson Ave near 1st St)
Hours: Mined 2026-06-07 — confirm current hours before you go.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · publicartarchive.org · flickr.com
last checked: 2026-06-07