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10 of the best Colorado dog parks that earn two paws up
Ten great dog parks in Colorado you and your canine friend should visit.
There’s a popular mantra among dog owners and trainers: A tired dog is a happy (and well-behaved) dog.
This is particularly true if you’ve got a high-energy breed (like my Rhodesian Ridgeback, Daisy, for instance). If you don’t get your dog the proper exercise she needs every day, she may get bored and, possibly, destructive while you’re out of the house. While some dogs might be all set with a brisk morning walk, others need to run and play a lot.
Though you may have your go-to Monday-through-friday dog park, Colorado has some pretty amazing off-leash dog areas for those weekends when you want to get outside, enjoy the sunshine and spend a little quality time with your pup.
Need some inspiration? Here are
10 of the best dog parks in Colorado. (If you know of an epic dog park that we missed, let us know.)
Twin Lakes, Gunbarrel
If your dog loves to romp around in the water, head to Twin Lakes in the Gunbarrel area of Boulder. There are two lakes here, but only one is sanctioned for off-leash dogs — the west lake — so if it’s your first time visiting, make sure you visit the right one.
Once you go through the gate, you and your pup can walk around the dirt path that circles the lake (it’s 0.7 miles around, so you’ll likely want to make a couple of laps). When there’s water in the lake, it’s a fun place for your dog to play fetch or just splash around. But be forewarned: When the water levels are low, this place gets super muddy, so you’ll want to bring a towel with you.
One of the best parts about Twin Lakes is that it’s super close to both Boulder and Longmont. Oh, and it’s super close to several dog-friendly breweries, so you can make an afternoon of it and head to Avery, Beyond the Mountain Brewing or Finkel and Garf when your pet is all tuckered out from playing.
Westminster Hills, Westminster
Westminster Hills is so big you might just forget that you’re at the dog park — seriously. This 420-acre spot between Boulder and Denver attracts pet parents from miles around. It’s massive, so your dog can sprint to her heart’s content (mine always gets the zoomies when we come here!). In the spring and summer, there’s water in a pond and a canal that flows through the park, so your pup can splash and swim a bit.
When you’re all done, head to the appropriately named 4 Noses Brewing for a pint. The owner’s four dogs inspired the name and, of course, it’s dog-friendly.
Rita Valentine Dog Park, Steamboat Springs
If you’re visiting Steamboat Springs during ski season (or, really, anytime for that matter), you should know about Rita Valentine Dog Park. This sprawling, off-leash dog area is just a few minutes away from the ski resort, so you can get your pet some exercise before you lay fresh tracks. As an added bonus, it offers gorgeous views of the slopes as well.
The park is an open, 20-acre plot of rolling hills surrounded by houses. But be warned: Parking is super limited here, so you may want to arrive early or prepare to walk a bit to actually get to the park.
Union Reservoir, Longmont
Calling all dog-paddlers: This park’s for you. Technically, it’s not a park, but a reservoir located on the far east side of Longmont. For a $10 day pass, you can access the dog off-leash swim and beach area on the south side of Union Reservoir (an annual pass is $65 for residents, $150 for non-residents).
This is a great spot for relaxing for the day, so be sure to pack a picnic, some towels and plenty of water for your dog. You can laze the day away watching the sailboats, kayaks, paddleboards and boats on the water.
Bighorn Park, Vail
This little neighborhood gem is tucked away in east Vail. Bighorn Park has no fence; it’s just a big open park with a pond and some walking paths. It’s especially gorgeous in the winter, when snow covers the park and you can still see and hear water moving through nearby Gore Creek.
Vail has another great option, on the west side of town. Stephens Park is also located along Gore Creek, so your pup can splash to his heart’s content.
Cherry Creek, Aurora
If you don’t mind paying a little bit of money for your weekend dog romp, head to Cherry Creek State Park, which has 107 acres of off-leash open space dedicated to dogs. This Aurora spot is $3 for the day (or $25 per year), plus $10 for the general park day pass. Cherry Creek flows through the middle of this space, so your four-legged friends can splash around here, too. They do limit it to three dogs per handler, so bring a friend if you’ve got more dogs that need to run. Warning: This place gets packed on the weekends, so head over early or be prepared to wait in line to find a parking spot.
Chatf ield State Park, Littleton
If your pups love to splash around, be sure to take them to Chatfield, another state park that has an awesome off-leash dog area. This 69-acre spot in Littleton has two ponds and both paved and unpaved walking trails. Plus, there are plenty of sticks for fetching or chewing on. As with Cherry Creek, it’s $3 for a day at the off-leash dog area (or $25 for the year), plus $10 for the state park day pass.
Glendale Farm Open Space, Castle Rock
Though it’s right next to Interstate 25, Glendale Farm Open Space is a great spot for your dog to stretch her legs and romp around a bit. The dog off-leash area is 13 acres, so there’s plenty of room to roam. Plus, it’s located inside the larger 145-acre open space property, which you could explore afterward on the 1.6-mile Glendale Trail. (Your dog needs to be on-leash for this part.)
Bear Creek Dog Park, Colorado Springs
This 25-acre dog park in Colorado Springs is super popular — roughly 100,000 people visit here each year. (Unfortunately, El Paso County doesn’t have any statistics on how many fourlegged friends visit the park.) At Bear Creek Dog Park, your dogs can splash in a L-mile section of Bear Creek, run among the open prairie and hills or take a stroll with you along several walking trails. There is also an agility training area and bathrooms for humans, too.
Durango Off-leash Area, Durango
Durango is dog-friendly to begin with — walk into nearly any store along Main Avenue and chances are an employee will ask if she can give your dog a treat. But on top of that, the city has an impressive off-leash dog area. This 24-acre park gives your dogs access to the Animas River, so they can splash and play until they’re ready for a nap. Plus, since it’s located at the base of Smelter Mountain, you can go for a little “hike” without leaving the designated off-leash area.
Bonus: Taprooms with Dog Parks
For those times when you want to relax with a beer and get your dog some exercise, here are two popular Colorado bars and taprooms that also double as dog parks.
Romero’s K9 Club and Tap House
This dog-friendly taproom is in the heart of Lafayette. The inside bar area is for humans, while the outdoor biergarten is for humans and their off-leash pets. You can also hang out in the enclosed pavilion with your dog on a leash. To play in the biergarten, you’ll first need to register your dog at the bar (you must show proof that your dog has a current rabies vaccine) and you’ll also need to pay the $5 day pass fee (or $8 for two pups). Romero’s K9 Club and Tap House, 85 S. Public Road, Lafayette, 720-485-5968, romerosk9club.com.
Watering Bowl
Watering Bowl is a dog-friendly bar with an attached dog park. (There are 9,000 square feet of patio space here.) Dogs are allowed outside only and there’s even a separate entrance that takes you right to the dog area (service dogs are allowed indoors). Plus, there are drink specials during “yappy hour” every weekday, plus bottomless mimosas on Saturdays and Sundays. No fee or registration needed for your dog. Watering Bowl, 5411 Leetsdale Drive, Denver, 303-5919069, denverwateringbowl.com.