Dog Friendly Vacations In Colorado – We got one more ride this year before we put our van away for the winter. We had planned to go to the ski town of Telluride, Colorado this summer, but postponed the trip to comply with our state’s COVID travel restrictions. We finished at the end of September and it turned out well because we could see the leaves changing.
A little about the gondola, but first let’s talk about the stay. The town of Telluride has limited options for RVs: there are no private campgrounds in town, and the Town Park campground is reservation-only, and there were no spots available for our dates. There are closed sites within 30-60 minutes outside of the city, either relatively close but on a slow road, or further away but on a freeway but close to Telluride with a usable mobile data signal (free or paid) finding a campsite is a real challenge. . . We would like to return with a reservation in the coming years and explore more of the city with a few days walk from the city park.
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I had to work on Friday so we decided to stay in the “main area” at the east end of Million Dollar Road because it had a reliable cell signal. Many other campers were involved!
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Although the main camp was a bit crowded, it was a good place to stay for two nights. We did several hikes right from the van and experienced the leaves starting to change.
After working on Friday, we were ready to explore Telluride on Saturday. We went ahead and enjoyed a beautiful sunset on Million Dollar Road before driving 30 minutes into town.
Before you come, you might want to do a little research on parking in Telluride. The signs are not very good, you better know where you are going. The city does not allow overnight RV parking, street parking is usually metered, and parking is very limited for larger vehicles. Tommy says don’t try to get a trailer in town; Workable but not fun. Here’s what we did:
Park at Caring in the southwest corner of town. It’s free, the most spacious parking in the city and everything is within walking distance.
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From the parking lot, we took the scenic river walk, which is a dirt road that follows the river. There are many places where dogs can access the river. It is about 1.7 miles to the Bear Creek Falls Trailhead.
Bear Creek Falls is one of the most popular hikes in town and is 8 miles out and back. Be prepared for a gradual climb to the waterfall. Just a few minutes into the journey, we were treated to such a sight!
Since we started early, we didn’t see many other hikers on the trail. About 50% of the people we passed were wearing masks and the path is very narrow in places. We made sure to always wear a mask when passing others.
Note that we visited in September which means the falls are not as spectacular as other times of the year.
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We sat and admired the waterfall for about 30 minutes while eating our packed lunch. All 3 dogs cooled off in the pool below the waterfall and enjoyed the break.
On the way back to the city, the view of the valley is amazing! Plus, it’s good post-climbing behavior when we’re all down.
After our walk, we let the dogs cool off in the river and then walked around town a bit to get lunch.
We ordered a pizza from Brown’s Dog Pizza (I mean, why not!?) and while we waited for our order to be ready, we went to PET Telluride for a dog treat. We felt very safe (regarding COVID) in both places. Brown Dog had an employee outside to take and deliver orders, so you never had to go inside, while PET Telluride only allowed a hand full of customers into the store at a time (masks required).
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We wanted to explore the city more but it was crowded and crowded and the dogs were very tired. It was gondola time.
This cable car connects Telluride and Mountain Village with 1 stop at San Sophia Station. Completely free and dog friendly! Due to COVID-19, each vehicle is limited to 1 group (which is actually a good thing since you have your own private gondola!) You must wear a mask throughout the tour.
When we first passed the gondola at 8am on the way to Bear Creek Falls, there was no line. By noon, the line stretched about a block. At 8,750 feet above sea level, the sun was shining brightly, so I went and got on the line myself while Tommy hung out with the dogs in the shaded green area of the gondola and Lily took a nap. . It took me about 25 minutes to get to the entrance, by which time Tommy and the dogs had joined me.
Our dogs went on the gondola for the first time. Lily, our smart mama dog, did great. Neither of us were happy with the experience. However, this practice is difficult! You ask your dog to enter a moving box in a noisy building. The gondola doesn’t stop (except in emergencies), the cars only slow down on board. There is no time to calm the dog because you only have a few seconds. Lily and Tommy went first—Lily climbed in without hesitation—then Moshi and Delta followed eagerly. If you have a small to medium-sized dog, it is best to bring it with you when disembarking.
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As soon as it is lifted, the doors close automatically and are gently rocked as the cab leaves the building. Neither dog liked this part, but once you leave the building it quiets down which was great. Lily happily joined Tommy on the bench enjoying the view.
After boarding the gondola, you can choose between two locations. Since we already had a long day, we decided to get off at the first stop, which is San Sofia, which is 8 minutes from where you disembark. You can walk on the ridge and get a great view of the city below. We decided to take the gondola back to Telluride, but the other way is to go down! The broad trail descends the mountain and is about 1 mile long. We met several people with their dogs on this trail and Lily had so much fun watching them from the gondola.
After our long day of adventure, we loaded our 3 tired dogs into the van and headed home. We decided to spend an extra night in a small corner between the highway and the river. These places can be infuriatingly loud during the day, but since the highway is quiet at night, they are great for overnight stops. There is no cell signal in the area, but there is good access to the river for dogs.
To get here, we switched the range of parking bumpers to bumper campers. We don’t know why none of them have taken this place! You can see the river on the right, just behind the trees, and the highway on the right.
Pet Friendly Telluride, Colorado
Telluride is a ski town and perhaps a very different experience during the winter tourist season. If you’re visiting between November and April, do your homework because there are more dog rules during peak times, for example. The gondola closes for maintenance in the spring and fall (we visited a few weeks before the fall closure), so choose your tour dates accordingly.
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Our top tips for new campers with dogs? We were once too! Like it’s really new. We went from never RVing to full time Class A with two dogs. First photo as a caravan owner in 2016! Going from zero to full time can be scary, but don’t let that stop you. We have compiled a list
Chaco Canyon Tour with Dog. What is Chaco Canyon? Chaco Canyon in northwest New Mexico was the center of Native American cultures from 800 to 1100. It is now protected as a World Heritage Site by the Chaco Culture National Historical Park. It has many castles with many different architectural styles and probably serves as one of the most pet-friendly states in the United States. Colorado is the ultimate dog paradise with countless miles of wonderful hiking trails.
