Dog Friendly Hiking Trails in Central City, CO

Chautauqua Park welcomes leashed dogs on the grassy lawn and nearby trails of this beautiful, scenic hiking area in Boulder, CO. This pet-friendly park welcomes you and Fido to enjoy an afternoon picnic or hit the Chautauqua Trail for some exercise and fresh air. Be sure to pack water for you and your pup, and remember to clean up after your pets during your visit.

Royal Arch Trail is a challenging and heavily trafficked 3.2-mile hike in Boulder, CO, that will take about 4 hours to complete with Fido. You can't get any closer to the vertical face of the Flatirons unless you are a climber, so bring Fido along to enjoy the views and exercise. Dogs must be leashed while on the trail.

St. Mary's Glacier Trail is a beautiful, pet-friendly hiking trail in Idaho Springs, CO, with great views from the top. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash at all times. Within 30 minutes of setting off, you'll be at the top of the glacier enjoying the refreshing lake of St. Mary's. This is a moderate 2.4-mile trail that is highly trafficked by lots of pups.

Elk Meadow Park in Evergreen, CO, encompasses 107 acres of open space and offers two dog-friendly hiking trails. Take the trail from Elk Meadow Lewis Ridge Trailhead and admire beautiful mountain scenery and herds of elk. Elk Meadow Stagecoach Trailhead, accessible from 32281 Stagecoach Blvd, is best suited to adventurous and experienced hikers. This 4.7-mile hike leads to stunning views from 9,708-foot Bergen Peak. Much of the park is not fenced so Fido should be leashed during your visit.

Eldorado Canyon State Park is dog friendly, located just down the road from Boulder and a stone's throw from Denver in Colorado. This picturesque park contains sandstone cliffs, South Boulder Creek, and several sheer golden walls for climbing. You must keep Fido on a leash while exploring.

Two- and four-legged friends are welcome to explore the dog-friendly Echo Lake Park in Evergreen, CO. This recreation area, located along the Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway, offers hiking, fishing, and scenic drives. Visitors will find a stone shelter with picnic tables and barbecue grills on one end of the lake, and the 1926 Echo Lake Lodge and an Arapaho National Forest campground at the other.

Leashed dogs are welcome on Beaver Brook Trail, a strenuous, pet-friendly hike on the south rim of Clear Creek Canyon in Golden, CO. Even though the trail isn't far from Denver, it's difficult enough that Fido will think he's on a rural, backcountry hike. The trail is not a loop, but is 10-miles one-way with limited trail markers. Please remember your starting point, and bring a map, food and water on this difficult hike.

Leashed dogs are welcome to join you on a hike at Flatirons Vista and Doudy Draw Trail in Boulder, CO. This pet-friendly, 3.7 mile hike takes about 3 hours to complete. This is a gorgeous hike for early spring when the mesa is in full bloom, and a stunning evening hike during the summer when you can watch the sunset behind the mountains.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park in Golden, CO, is a dog-friendly scenic area covered in dense forest and rocky peaks. You and Fido will discover over 35 miles of paths through fields and woodlands, including some of the most popular trails: Horseshoe Trail, Snowshoe Hare Trail, and Mule Deer Trail Loop.

Leashed dogs are welcome to hike Mesa Trail in Boulder, CO. This pet-friendly hike usually takes about 4 hours to complete. You and Fido can explore the many detours and loops through differing terrain including meadows, creeks and springs.

Boulder Reservoir is a pet-friendly destination in Boulder, CO. Leashed pets are welcome seasonally at this popular recreation area, which includes swimming areas, fishing and wildlife viewing. On the North Side of the lake, dogs can take the short hike from the Open Space parking lot down to the beach and then run for miles. On the South Side of the lake, from Labor Day until mid-May, dogs are allowed to play on the Reservoir’s “people beach." Dogs are prohibited from May 15 through Labor Day.

Lair o’ the Bear Park in Idledale, CO, is a pet-friendly favorite of visitors and families due to its abundance of picnic tables, charcoal grills and proximity to Bear Creek for fishing. Leashed pets are welcome and the Bear Creek Trail is 12 miles roundtrip.

Silver Dollar and Murray Lakes Trail in Dillon, CO, is dog friendly. Bring Fido to venture along this 4.4 mile trail in Arapaho National Forest. This 3-hour hike will take you by over 100 species of wildflowers, a thinning forest, several lakes, and a small creek.

Dog-friendly Fraser River Trail is a multi-use trail that's a great place to walk Fido in Winter Park, CO! The map below shows a trailhead where you can pick up the Fraser River Trail. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has generously provided map data for this trail to Bring Fido for informational purposes only. For more detailed trail information, please visit TrailLink.com.

Rosalie Trail in Bailey, CO, is a 12.4 mile hike in Pike National Forest that will take about 9-10 hours to complete with Fido. Most of this pet-friendly trail will lead you through lush, dense forest fed by creeks. There are sections of the trail that will take you above the timberline where afternoon storms can blow in. Fido will have to be leashed as most of the trail is in a wilderness area.

Leashed dogs are welcome at Green Mountain Summit Loop Trail, a pet-friendly trail in Boulder, CO. This 5.3 mile hike that will take about 5 hours to complete with Fido. This strenuous loop, known for its numerous butterflies, is just west of the Flatirons and can be accessed by several trails. It is recommended to bring water along, and to hike this trail earlier in the day to avoid thunderstorms.

The Apex Trail in Golden, CO, is a pet-friendly, 4.7-mile hike in Jefferson County Open Space that will take about 4 hours to complete with Fido. However, the gravel trail is very steep and narrow, so it's only appropriate for dogs (and humans) that are experienced hikers.

White Ranch Park in Golden, CO, is a beautiful, pet-friendly park with over 18 miles of varied trails. The park is accessible via Route 6/Route 93- Golden Gate Canyon Road, and is located about 15 miles from the center of Golden. Rawhide Trail is a beautiful loop with plenty of shade and beautiful views of Denver, Golden and the surrounding mountains. The trail is challenging but not too strenuous, rocky and steep at some points but fairly simple for both dogs and humans to navigate. Lots of flat and downhill terrain throughout the loop.

Leashed dogs are welcome on Mount Sanitas Trail in Boulder, CO. This pet-friendly trail is a challenging yet rewarding outing, with many stairs leading to the summit. Easier hikes are also available in the same location.

Lake Isabelle and Pawnee Pass Trail in Ward, CO, is a 7-mile, pet-friendly hike in Roosevelt National Forest that will take about 6 hours to complete with Fido. Lake Isabelle is prone to crowds because of its beauty complete with vistas, wildflowers, and streams. If you are able to get an early start, go during the week, or hike far enough you should be able to avoid the crowds. Fido must be kept on a leash, and during the busy season nominal use fees will apply.