Best Dog Friendly Hikes In Us – I grew up in Littleton, Colorado and didn’t really appreciate the mountains until I moved away. I think it’s normal – we take the eternal things for granted … In college, the flatness of Dallas made me miss the Rockies, and every time I came home, I started hanging out. Now, even though I’m deeply in love with New York, I have to go back to the mountains a few times a year.
Alice is small (and growing), but she is a strong, active, fearless little hiker! When we visit Colorado, we hike as much as possible – often just the two of us, but sometimes with friends or family. Whether you live in Denver or travel from sea level, altitude awareness is important when hiking in the Rockies – both people and dogs! Alice and I stick to short hikes at low altitude for the first two days in Colorado until we’re about a mile above sea level. The summer sun can also be very strong at high altitudes – use sunscreen and take special care of dark or particularly furry dogs. Even if you only plan on hiking a mile or two, bring plenty of water for you and your dog! Take frequent breaks and be more aware of their energy levels.
Best Dog Friendly Hikes In Us
I divide these dog-friendly tours into two groups: those within an hour or less drive from Denver, and those within an hour or two drive from downtown Denver. This is approximate and drive times may vary if you live outside of Denver! Unfortunately, there aren’t many options for hiking without a car. Some of these hikes involve unpaved roads that are rocky and a bit dodgy… so a high clearance vehicle is recommended. Also, expect your mobile carrier to be down! So pay close attention to directions and your surroundings so you can get back home even if you’re not currently connected to Google Maps.
The Best Dog-friendly Hikes In The U.s. — From Easy Loops To Tougher Treks
Especially in the high mountains, many of these hikes are only (easily) accessible from late spring to early fall. Even in June or July, the trails can have wet or muddy conditions as the snow sticks to the higher elevations. You can check current trail conditions by checking comments on other websites for all trails or for a specific trail you want to hike.
Running around an icy glacier and wading in a melting lake in the middle of summer. The hike to the lake is short, about 3/4 mile, but steep and rocky. However, I recommend going around the lake and up a little glacier! You can also camp here. There are two parking lots on either side of the trail that have $5 cash and restrooms.
This moderate four-mile trail is very close to the St. Mary’s Glacier Trail and leads to another beautiful alpine lake. Most of the way to the lake is a service road, but there are beautiful views. The lake is beautiful and you can walk around it a bit or go to the upper lakes if you dare! On a weekday in July, there weren’t many people on the trail.
One of my favorite views is the Eagle View Trail in Reynolds Park! You can see Pikes Peak as well as many other mountains. There’s plenty of shade, access to the creek, and it’s usually not crowded. We recommend this moderate (sometimes steep on the way up) four-mile loop trail near Haupu. Free Parking, Restrooms at Reynolds Park Trailhead!
Top Dog-friendly Hiking Trails In Colorado Springs, Co
Alice and I love this park. There are many different trails, all ranging from easy to moderate – some just for hiking 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 routes to the Horseshoe Trail is to the right of the visitor center. The trail features wildflowers in late spring and summer, as well as spectacular golden aspens and fall foliage in September and October. But it’s worth walking a little further and taking the Mule Deer Trail or Raccoon Trail to Panorama Point, where you’ll get a great view. Pay for a $10 day pass at the visitor center (with restrooms) when you arrive. You can even camp here!
I hiked this moderate four mile trail with my mom, Alice, and Amy in early April. The entire trail was covered in snow, so we used Actrax traction cleats, which you can pull on regular hiking boots/boots. The mountain was beautiful in the snow – the contrast of the trees against the white ground looked amazing. There are several viewpoints, one of which is Mount Evans.
Echo Lake is beautiful and makes a great stop if you’re driving up Mount Blue Sky (highest paved road in North America). This trail is really fun with beautiful scenery and river crossings. The route is about an hour from Denver.
The views from the Continental Divide Overlook are divine. It’s very steep in places, and you’ll pass some cool hotel ruins along the way! I’d park here and hike the short Fowler Trail to the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail for about 3-4 miles (depending on if you take the loop from the top). There is a $10 fee per vehicle and a restroom at the Fowler Trailhead.
The Best Dog-friendly Hiking Trails In Atlanta
The Flatirons are a popular backdrop in the Boulder area. You can hike through Chautauqua Park to reach the first and second platforms on a 5.5 mile trail. This is a moderately difficult hike that requires some rock climbing at the top! This may not be possible for most dogs, but it’s great to get to this level. There are many other trails you can explore in the park. Chowtuple is happening
It gets crowded in the summer, so be there in the morning or on weekdays if you hope 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 to climb and some large rocks. Once you reach the top, you can see incredible views of Giant Rock Arch and Boulder Valley.
Maxwell Falls is a popular four-mile hike near Conifer and Evergreen, so parking can be difficult at times – there are two routes, lower and upper. The trail is mostly shaded with beautiful views and waterfalls. The hike is easy, free parking, no toilets.
Dog-friendly Hikes: Montana
The trail is located in Corvina 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 Loop. Halfway through the loop, you’ll find Panorama Point, which offers spectacular views of the Continental Divide. Access to the trailhead is easy and parking is free – although there are no restrooms at this trailhead, you can find them at the nearby Bear Creek trailhead. You can also hike this trail to Panorama Point, but if I recall you lose access/view of the creek.
Yes, the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater is also a park with some hiking trails! All trails are fairly easy and short, but offer beautiful views of Denver and the colorful rocks surrounding the park. Don’t wear white – the red dust leaves a different color than when you arrived – and know that there is no shade on these trails! If there’s no concert that day you can park in the lots for free and use the amphitheater bathrooms (and walk around the amphitheater for views of downtown Denver).
The trail is east of Red Rocks and overlooks Red Rocks Park during the hike! The hike is about five miles, with several ups and downs along the way. Our friends Casey (@caseylaynechampagne) and Chessie joined us! Even though it was snowing in some places in late March, the trail was bustling on Sunday afternoon. There is a large parking lot, but it was probably three-quarters full when I arrived in the afternoon. Although there are no bathrooms at the trailhead, there are two gas stations across the road. The trailhead is right off I-70, so you can easily get to the mountains from here!
Morrison Park, a 30-minute drive from Denver, has several trails. Be sure to hike up the Castle Trail to see the remains of the burned castle and the Tower Trail to the Eagle Eye Shelter and Fire Tower for great views. Other routes take you through forests, around meadows, and to a specific location.
