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 story
Loveland is famous in sculpture circles for its manicured bronze gardens and foundry legacy, but the city's strangest public art commission isn't sitting on a pedestal in a sunlit park. In December 1999, the local Visual Arts Commission dedicated a subtle installation by sculptor Randy Hand tucked directly beneath the Wilson Avenue bridge. If you aren't paying attention while walking the paved underpass along the Big Thompson River, you'll walk right under it: dozens of small bronze faces embedded into the concrete retaining wall, ranging from weathered human profiles to fantastical masks and at least one unmistakable alien head.
Most cyclists and joggers sprint past without looking up. An official marker once explained the artwork along the path, but roadwork eventually swallowed the sign, leaving the wall with zero context or labels. When the catastrophic September 2013 flood tore down the Big Thompson Canyon and submerged the underpass in roaring water, the bronze castings held fast. They remain there today, entirely unbothered by river floods, traffic rattling overhead, or the thousands of trail users passing beneath them unawares.
What it's like
Park near the intersection of Wilson Avenue and 1st Street, pick up the Loveland Recreational Trail, and walk down toward the river bridge. Duck beneath the road bridge and look up at the concrete wall above the riprap boulders. The setting is quiet and low-key—you'll hear tires humming on the asphalt overhead and water moving through the channel while you pick out individual bronzes from the cluster. If you scramble across the rocks for a closer peek, mind your footing, and keep in mind that the underpass trail can flood and close after heavy summer rains.
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.
Pair it with
- Redman (Trail of the Whispering Giants) — Follow up your underpass bronze hunting with another oversized piece of local portraiture—a 37-foot wooden head carved from a fallen cottonwood three miles away.
- Mon Ami Salt Cave & Spa — Swap the gritty concrete underpass for a quiet sit-down over 3,000 pounds of pink salt less than half a mile away.
- Lyons Memorial Labyrinth — Connect the underpass bronzes that survived the 2013 flood with a stone labyrinth down in Lyons crafted from the very cobbles that same flood washed down.
- Little Thompson Observatory — Pair an afternoon spent searching for bronze alien faces with an evening spent looking at real celestial bodies through a 24-inch telescope in nearby Berthoud.
Good to know
How much does it cost to see Faces Bridge?
Nothing. It sits along a free, public multi-use trail with no admission fee or reservations required.
Where do I park to access the underpass?
Park in the public area near Wilson Avenue and 1st Street, then take the paved trail lead-in down toward the river underpass beneath Wilson Avenue.
What hours is the trail open?
The Loveland Recreational Trail is open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM, though sections under the bridge may be restricted when river water runs high.
What kinds of faces are on the wall?
The installation by sculptor Randy Hand includes dozens of varied bronze faces—some realistic, some whimsical, and one classic alien gray head.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · publicartarchive.org · flickr.com
last checked: 2026-06-07