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Best Dog Vacations In Colorado – I grew up in Littleton, Colorado and didn’t know the mountains until I left Go. I guess it’s normal – we take things for granted… In college, the flatness of Dallas made me miss the Rockies, and I started spending more time hiking and exploring every time I came home. And now, even though I love New York deeply, I have to escape back to the mountains a few times a year.
Alice may be small (and old), but she’s strong, agile, and a fearless hiker! We hike as much as possible when we visit Colorado – preferably just the two of us, but sometimes friends or family join us. Whether you live in Denver or are traveling above sea level, it’s extremely important to know the elevation above sea level when hiking in the Rockies – this applies to both people and dogs! Alice and I will be doing shorter hikes at lower elevations for the first few days in Colorado until we get used to being a mile above sea level. The summer sun can be very strong even at high altitudes – use sunscreen and pay special attention to dark or furry dogs. Even if you only plan to hike a mile or two, bring plenty of water for you and your kids! Take frequent breaks and be extra careful about their energy levels.
Best Dog Vacations In Colorado
I’ve divided these dog-friendly tours into two groups: those that drive an hour or less from Denver, and those that drive an hour or two from downtown Denver. This is approximate and if you are outside of Denver, travel times may vary! Unfortunately, there aren’t many options for hiking without a car. Some of these hikes involve unpaved trails that are rocky and a bit sketchy… so a higher clearance vehicle is recommended. Also expect your mobile carrier to drop! So pay attention to your route and surroundings to get home, even if you can’t connect to Google Maps right away.
Pet Friendly Estes
Especially far in the mountains, many of these hikes are (easily) accessible from late spring to early fall. Even in June or July, the road can be wet or muddy due to snowfall at high altitudes. You may be able to check recent trail conditions by looking at reviews of all the trails or other websites for the particular trail you plan to hike.
Run around the ice rink in the middle of summer and wade in the melting snow lake. The hike to the lake is fairly short, about 3/4 of a mile, but steep and rocky. However, I highly recommend a walk around the lake and a little ice climbing! You can also camp here. There are two parking spaces on the side of the railroad that cost $5 and there are restrooms in the parking lot.
This moderate four-mile trail is located on Glacier St. near the track. Maarja and another beautiful alpine lake. Most of the roads leading to the lake are service roads, but there are beautiful views. The lake itself is beautiful and if you dare, you can walk around it or go to the upper lake! One day in July, there was no one else on the road.
The Eagle View Trail in Reynolds Park is one of my favorite overlooks! You can see Pikes Peak as well as many other mountains. There’s plenty of shade, some access to the creek, and it’s usually not too crowded. We recommend this moderate (at times steep uphill) four kilometer trail near Havupuu. Free parking at the Reynolds Park Trailhead, which also has restrooms!
Paws-itive Vacation: A Pet-friendly Glenwood Springs Itinerary
Alice and I love this park. There are many different trails, all moderately easy, some for hiking only and some for hikers, mountain bikers and horses. All trails are dog-friendly as long as dogs are kept on a six-foot leash. One of the closest trails is the Horseshoe Trail, which is past the visitor center. This trail has an abundance of wildflowers in late spring and summer, and golden aspens and incredible fall foliage in September and October. But it’s worth driving a little further to reach Panorama Point for great views and take on the Mule Deer Trail or Raccoon Trail. Pay for the $10 day pass at the Visitor Center (with restrooms) upon arrival. You can even camp here!
I walked it for four miles with my mum, Alice and Emmy in early April. The trail is smooth, so we used Yaktrax sandals that can be pulled on with normal hiking boots/shoes. Very beautiful mountains in the snow – the contrast of the trees on the white background looks amazing. There are several viewpoints, including one at Mt. of Evans.
Echo Lake itself is quite beautiful and would make a great stop on your way up Mount Blue Sky (the highest paved road in North America). This trail is really fun with views and creek crossings. The route is about an hour from Denver.
The view from the Continental Divide Overlook is divine. It is quite steep at times and you pass the beautiful buildings of the hotel on the way up! I would park and start here and take the short Fowler trail to the Rattlesnake Gulch trailhead to make it a 3-4 mile hike (depending on whether you turned in at the top or not). There is a $10 per vehicle fee at the Fowler Trailhead.
An Unforgettable Guide To Dog Friendly Death Valley (with Hidden Gems!)
The Flatirons are the iconic backdrop of the Boulder area. You can walk through Chautauqua Park to reach the first and second platforms of the 5.5-mile route. This is a rare moderate hike that requires rock climbing near the summit! This may not be possible for many dogs, but hiking up to it is great. There are many other trails in the park that you can explore as well. Chautauqua often is
It gets crowded in the summer, so be there early in the morning or on weekdays if you want to find a parking spot!
The Royal Arch Trail is also part of Chautauqua Park in Boulder. I would describe this four mile hike as moderate, but there are some steep spots and some large rocks to climb/bike over. When you reach the top, you’ll see an incredible rock arch and a view of Boulder Valley below.
Maxwell Falls is a very popular 4 mile hike near Conifer and Evergreen, so parking is sometimes difficult – there are two trails, lower and upper. The trail itself is mostly shaded by beautiful scenery and waterfalls. The hike is pretty easy, parking is free, there are no bathrooms.
Best Dog Friendly Hike Near Rocky Mountain National Park? Lake Isabelle Hike From Brainard Lake
This trail is located in Corwina Park in Morrison. This is an easy three mile hike that includes an out and back trail along the creek that takes you to the Break Creek Trail. Halfway around you’ll find Panorama Point, which offers a great view of the Continental Divide. The trailhead is incredibly easy to access and parking is free – although there are no restrooms at the trailhead, you can find them at the nearby Bear Creek trailhead. You can also reach the Panorama point from this route, but as far as I can remember, access to the stream/overlook remains.
Yes, the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater is also a park with some hiking trails! All trails are fairly easy and short, but offer great views of Denver and the colorful rocks surrounding the park. Don’t wear white – the red dust will make you look different than when you arrived – and know that there is no shade on these trails! You can park in the free lot and use the amphitheater bathroom (and walk through the amphitheater with a view of downtown Denver) unless there is a concert that day.
This trail is east of Red Rocks and overlooks Red Rocks Park throughout the hike! The hike is about 5 kilometers long and has several ups and downs. Our friends Casey (@caseylaynechampagne) and Chessy are joining us! The road was busy on Sunday afternoon, even though there was still some snow in a few sections at the end of March. There is a large parking lot, but it was probably three-quarters full when I arrived early in the morning. Although there are no toilets on the sidewalk, there are two gas stations across the road. The main road is off I-70 so you can easily get to the mountains from here!
Located about a 30-minute drive from Denver, this Morrison park has many trails. Be sure to go up the Castle Trail to see the remains of the burnt castle, and the Tower Trail to the Eagle’s Eye shelter and lighthouse for great views. Another path takes you through the forest, around a meadow and to a point