Best Dog Friendly Hikes In Colorado – I grew up in Littleton, Colorado and didn’t really appreciate the mountains until I moved. I think that’s normal – we take things for granted that are constant… During college, the apartment in Dallas made me long for the Rocky Mountains and I started spending a lot of time hanging out all the time. And even though I love New York City so much, I have to escape to the mountains a few times a year.
Alice may be small (and getting bigger), but she is a strong, agile, fearless little witch! When we visit Colorado, we walk as much as possible – usually just the two of us, but sometimes friends or family join us. Regardless of whether you live in Denver or are traveling at sea level, it is very important to be aware of elevation when hiking in the Rocky Mountains – this applies to both people and dogs! Alice and I took short, low-altitude hikes the first two days in Colorado until we got used to being a mile above sea level. Even at high altitudes, the summer sun can be very strong – use sunscreen and pay particular attention to dark colors or particularly cute dogs. Even if you only plan to walk a mile or two, bring plenty of water for you and your cat! Take frequent breaks and pay more attention to your energy levels.
Best Dog Friendly Hikes In Colorado
I divide these dog-friendly trips into two groups: those that are an hour or less from Denver by car, and those that are an hour or two from downtown Denver. This is a guideline. If you live outside of Denver, travel time may vary! Unfortunately, there aren’t many options for getting around without a car. Some of these tours involve unpaved roads that are rocky and somewhat muddy. Therefore, a vehicle with high ground clearance is recommended. Also take into account that the starting point may be out of service with your mobile provider! So pay attention to the directions and your surroundings so you can get home even if you lose connection to Google Maps.
Top 10 Nearby Dog-friendly Hikes In Colorado
Especially higher up in the mountains, many of them are only (easily) accessible to tourists from late spring to early fall. Even in June or July, roads can experience wet or muddy conditions as snow accumulates at higher elevations. You may be able to check the current status of the trails by looking at the comments on all trails or by searching other websites for specific trails you would like to hike next.
In the middle of summer, you can walk around the icy glacier and sit in the icy lake. The trail to the lake is very short, about 3/4 mile, but wide and rocky. However, I recommend hiking further around the lake and up the glacier! You can also camp at this place. There are two parking lots on either side of the trailhead that cost $5 cash, and there are restrooms in the parking lots.
This moderate, four-mile trail is close to the St. Mary’s Glacier Trail and leads to another spectacular alpine lake. Most of the way to the lake is a residential road, but there are nice views. The lake itself is beautiful and you can take a short walk around it or to the upper lakes if you dare! There weren’t many other people on the trail on a weekday in July.
The Eagle View Trail in Reynolds Park is one of my absolute favorite viewpoints! You can see Pikes Peak and many other mountains. There’s plenty of shade, river access and it’s usually not too crowded. This moderate (sometimes uphill) four-mile loop trail near Conifer is highly recommended. Free parking at the Reynolds Park trailhead, which also has restrooms!
Dog-friendly Parks & Hikes In Colorado Springs
Alice and I love this park. There are many different trails, all easy to moderately difficult – some are purely hiking routes and others for hikers, mountain bikers and horses. All trails are dog-friendly as long as dogs are kept on a 6-foot leash. One of the closest trails is a horse trail located directly behind the visitor center. There are lots of wildflowers along the way in spring and late summer, as well as incredible golden aspens and fall foliage in September/October. However, it’s worth walking a little further to Panorama Point with its spectacular views and taking the Mule Deer Trail or the Raccoon Trail. When you arrive, pay a $10 day pass at the visitor center (with restrooms). You can also camp here!
I hiked this moderate, four-mile route in early April with Mom, Alice, and Amy. The trail was full of snow so we used Yatrax traction blocks that you can put on your regular hiking boots/shoes. The mountain was so beautiful in the snow – it looked amazing against the white ground between the trees. There are several points, one of which is Mt. Evans.
Echo Lake itself is very beautiful and would be a great stop if you are driving to Mount Blue Sky (the highest paved road in North America). This route is very pleasant, with some beautiful views and stream crossings. The drive from Denver takes about an hour.
The view from the Continental Divide overlook is divine. It’s a pretty steep climb at times and you’ll pass some cool hotel ruins along the way! I would park and start here and take the shorter Fowler Trail to Rattlesnake Gulch Trail to make it a 3-4 mile hike (depending on whether you do the summit loop or not). There is a $10 fee per vehicle and restrooms at the Fowler Trail.
35 Best Dog-friendly Hiking Trails In Colorado Springs
The Flatirons provide a breathtaking backdrop to the Boulder region. You can hike the 3.5 mile round trip through Chautauqua Park to reach the first and second levels. It is a moderate to difficult trail that requires some climbing near the summit! For many dogs this may not be possible, but walking to this point is great. There are many other hiking trails in the park that you can explore as well. It looks like a rat
It gets crowded in the summer, so stay here early in the morning or on a weekday if you’re looking for 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/climb. Once you reach the top, you’ll see an incredible, massive rock arch and views of the Boulder Valley below.
Maxwell Falls is a popular four-mile hike near Conifer and Evergreen, so parking can sometimes be difficult – there are two trails, the lower and upper. The trail itself is mostly covered in beautiful scenery and cascading waterfalls. Walking is very easy, free parking, no toilets.
The Best Dog-friendly Hikes In The U.s.
This trail is located in Corvina Park in Morrison. It is an easy, three-mile trail that includes an out-and-back trail along a creek that takes you to the Break Creek Trail Loop. Halfway along the loop you’ll find Panorama Point, which offers great views of the Continental Divide. The trail is incredibly easy to access and parking is free – although there are no restrooms on the trail, you can find them at the nearby Bear Creek trailhead. You can also access Panorama Point this way, but if I remember correctly, you lose access/view of the creek.
Yes, the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater is also a park with some hiking trails! The trails are very easy and short, but there are beautiful views of Denver and the colorful rocks surrounding the park. Don’t wear white – the red dirt will leave you a different color than when you came – and know that there is no shade on these trails! You can park for free in the parking lot and use the amphitheater baths (and walk through the amphitheater while taking in the views of downtown Denver), unless there is a concert that day.
This trail is east of Red Rocks and offers views of Red Rocks Park throughout the entire ride! The hike is approximately five miles round trip and features several climbs along the way. Our friends Casey (@caseylaynechampagne) and Chasey have joined us! There was a lot of activity on the route on Sunday afternoon, even though some sections were still quite snowy at the end of March. There is a large parking lot, but when I arrived early in the morning it was probably three quarters full. Although there are no restrooms along the way, there are two gas stations on either side of the highway. The trailhead is right off I-70, so you can easily get further into the mountains from here!
There are several hiking trails at this park in Morrison, about a 30-minute drive from Denver. Be sure to take the Castle Trail to see the remains of a ruined castle and the Tower Trail for breathtaking views of the Eagle Eye Shelter and Fire Tower. Other paths lead through the forest, around a meadow and to a point
