Are you planning a hike with your dog in Colorado? Red Rocks might come to mind since it’s close to Denver and truly beautiful. In the summer, though, it gets crowded, especially on concert days. Personally, I like Red Rocks best in the winter, when there are fewer people and it feels a bit more magical.
There are plenty of quieter, dog-friendly trails in Colorado if you know where to look. Here are some of my family’s favorite hikes with great views, fewer crowds, and lots of fun for your dog.
Please note that dogs must be leashed on all of these hikes. It’s for everyone’s safety, including your dog’s. Colorado trails are full of wildlife, and the last thing you want is your dog chasing a squirrel, a marmot, or something much larger and faster. A leash also helps prevent dogs from getting lost or injured. It keeps wildlife wild, other hikers happy, and your dog safe so you can all enjoy the trail.
Beaver Meadows, Evergreen
Hidden Gem
My husband prefers to have trails all to himself, so he was happy when he discovered this hike was relatively close to our home in Denver. This less-traveled trail is only open in the summer (mid-June through Sept 1), requires driving 5 miles down a washboard rough dirt road, and is teeming with mosquitoes. Plus, you’ll need a fishing license to hike – even if you’re not fishing. But I promise it’s all worth it!
The trail is not particularly difficult, but if you walk all the way to Lincoln Lake, it’s almost 11 miles roundtrip. Even if you only go a few miles, you’ll travel through dense old-growth pine, wildflower meadows, beaver ponds, and beautiful views of nearby Mt. Evans.
Historical Beaver Meadows Shelters
There are two historic shelters along the Beaver Meadow trail. The Beaver Meadows shelters were built in 1917 as part of a Mount Evans recreation plan. There was a proposal to make the Mount Evans area a National Park. While the city of Denver supported the proposal, it was opposed by the Forest Service, who had lost many thousands of acres of National Forest to new National Parks, including the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915.
Abert’s Squirrels
You may spot a somewhat rare Abert’s squirrel on this hike. They have long tufted ears and are only found in isolated portions of Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and the mountains of Mexico. Evergreen, Colorado, is the perfect habitat for Abert’s squirrels because of all the ponderosa pines, which are their primary diet.
Keep your dog leashed so they can’t chase the squirrels. In addition, you don’t want your pup to end up in the barbed wire that marks the nearby private property! Furthermore, Moose are frequently spotted on this trail, so that’s another reason to have your dog on a leash.
Tips:
- Remember to bring mosquito repellent!
- A valid state hunting or fishing license from Colorado Parks & Wildlife is required to enter Mount Evans State Wildlife Area.
- Mount Evans State Wildlife Area is open from June 15 to December 31. Closed to vehicle access and all activities except hunting after Labor Day.
Directions:
From Denver, take I-70 west to Evergreen Parkway exit, go 6 miles south on CO 74 to Evergreen Lake, turn right on Upper Bear Creek Rd., 6.5 miles to County Road 480, go 3 miles right on County Road 480. Continue on road 195 to Camprock Trailhead.
If you’re using the COTrex app, it’s trail #44 Beaver Meadows. For more information, see https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/arp/recreation/beaver-meadows-44
Herman Gulch, Dillon
Challenging Hike
Herman Gulch is one of the best if you’re looking for a wildflower meadow and a high-altitude alpine lake. Bring plenty of water and food because it’s a steep hike straight uphill at 10,000-12,000 ft altitude for 7.5 miles. In summer, you’ll see marmots and rare alpine wildflowers. Above all, once you get over the initial ridge and away from I-70 traffic, you’ll be deep in the beautiful Colorado mountains.
This is a challenging hike. Murphy was able to do it when he was eight, but it would have been too hard in his later years.
Fun Fact: The Herman Gulch Trail is a small section of the much longer Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.
Tip: You’ll need to get to the trailhead early to find a spot in the small parking lot. Hike on a weekday, if possible.
Directions:
The Herman Gulch Trailhead is located about 20 miles west of Idaho Springs via I-70. From Denver, it’s about a 60-minute drive. The trailhead is right off Exit 218 by taking a right onto Watrous Way.
Loveland Pass Lake
Dramatic Alpine Tundra
One summer, we were driving down I-70 and took a detour at the Loveland Pass exit to stretch our legs. Now, we stop there every chance we get. It’s almost like cheating that you can get such majestic views without first hiking uphill.
We discovered alpine lakes surrounded by high-altitude wildflowers, such as paintbrush and Elephant’s Head. The best time to see the wildflowers is mid-July through mid-August.
At 11,991 ft elevation, the area is very popular with birders. You may spot larks, sparrows, mountain chickadees, pipits, or even a ptarmigan. You may also see marmots, pikas, or mountain goats! I only saw a few chickadees, but that’s probably because my golden retriever isn’t the best birdwatching companion.
Directions: Loveland Pass on US Highway 6
From I-70, take US 6 south towards Loveland Pass. You’ll pass the Loveland Ski area. Pass all the tourists posing by the Loveland Pass Continental Divide sign. Of course, you can stop and see that too! Keep going south for approximately a half mile, and you’ll see a lake on the right (west). The parking lot is the Pass Lake trailhead. You may have to wait for a spot, but there is a fair amount of turnover.
North Table Mountain, Golden
Views of Denver – Nice for Winter Hikes
When we need a hiking fix in the middle of winter, we head to Golden. North Table Mountain is a favorite because the views are stunning from the top. It’s interesting how different the wildlife habitat is on top of the mesa. There are waterfalls and unusual birds! The boardwalk makes it an excellent dog-friendly hike in winter.
My tips for North Table Mountain are:
- Skip it if it’s windy. 17 mph winds in town felt more like 50 mph winds up there. We almost blew off the mountain! I’d also skip it if it’s muddy.
- If there’s no parking in the lot, don’t be tempted to join everyone in parking illegally along the road. We noticed they all got tickets. Ouch.
- There are more mountain bikers in the summer than in the winter.
Directions:
The main parking lot is off Highway 93, just north of Golden, Colorado.
Sandstone Ranch, Larkspur
Ranching History
Sandstone Ranch is one of Murphy’s favorite hikes because the wide sandy paths are soft on his paws and his arthritic joints.
2,038-acre Sandstone Ranch is Douglas County’s newest Open Space property. It has 12 miles of trails for you and your dog to explore. There are red rock formations, meadows, forested canyons, and even Colorado ranching history.
Note: There isn’t much shade, so it’s probably too hot in the summer. Of course, sunshine is very welcome in winter.
Directions:
Sandstone Ranch is located at 9268 S Perry Park Rd, Larkspur, CO 80118
From I-25, north or south, take the Larkspur exit 173. Continue to S Spruce Mountain Rd for nearly one and a half miles. Upon reaching the stop sign in Larkspur, turn right onto Perry Park Avenue. Where Perry Park Avenue dead ends, take a left onto CO-105 E. Sandstone Ranch is approximately 0.6 miles ahead on the left.
Shrine Ridge Trail, Vail
Wildflowers Worth the Drive
The colors and variety of wildflowers on this trail blew me away. Some of the best wildflowers in Colorado are on this 4.3-mile out-and-back trail! No need to go all the way to Crested Butte.
It was a little steep in places for my aging golden retriever, but Murphy still scrambled up the path. He wasn’t stiff the next day, so I’ll call this hike moderately challenging.
The trail goes through the forest, so there’s a little shade to break it up. There are also a few creeks where your dog can get his paws wet and cool down.
Directions: From Vail, take the I-70 E to Exit 190. Turn right and follow the signs directly ahead for Shrine Pass Road (Forest Service Road 709). The dirt road is a little rough, so keep that in mind. If your car doesn’t have enough clearance or all-wheel drive, you may want to skip it. Follow 2.2 miles to a parking lot on the left. The trailhead is left of the metal fence at the end of the gravel driveway.
Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/whiteriver/recreation/shrine-ridge-th-2016
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, Vail
A Rare Dog-Friendly Botanic Garden
Technically, this isn’t a hike, but if your dog can’t walk far, this garden is worth checking out. I love gardening and dogs, so the fact that I could bring Murphy to the Betty Ford Alpine Garden makes it five stars. The garden is also ADA-accessible, so it’s awesome for everyone!
There are lots of comfy benches and places to picnic nearby. In the summer, light refreshments and ice cream are available at the Schoolhouse Museum & Gift Shop located across from the main garden entrance. The plantings are inspiring, and the garden is involved with alpine plant conservation. There’s a $20 suggested donation per person, but there is no required admission fee.
You could spend hours relaxing here or make a quick pit stop on your way home from the mountains. If you want to grab a meal, it’s a quick walk into town. We had dinner at Up the Creek, and it was excellent. They have outdoor seating, and well-behaved dogs are allowed.
Directions: 522 S Frontage Rd E, Vail, CO 81657
It’s relatively close to the highway, so it’s easy to find the garden’s parking lot. If you want covered parking, use the Vail Village Parking Structure, which is free in the summer. It’s less than a 10-minute walk to the garden from the Vail Village Parking public parking and close to restaurants.
White Ranch Park, Golden
Close to Town
I like this trail for fall photoshoots and early winter hikes. White Ranch has 20-plus miles of trails, so you can choose a different route each visit. There are stunning views of the city in one direction and mountains in the other.
Tip: Mountain bikes are allowed on some trails, so if your pup is afraid of bikes, keep that in mind. A 0.9-mile segment of the Longhorn Trail is designated for bike-only and one-way use.
Directions:
White Ranch East Trailhead
21827 West 56th Avenue
Golden CO, 80403
White Ranch West Trailhead
25373 Belcher Hill Road
Golden CO, 80403
I prefer the West trailhead because it has better views of the city. However, the East trailhead is closer to town. The East trailhead is often closed in the spring due to mud.
I hope you have fun exploring these trails! If you know of a dog-friendly hike that I would enjoy, let me know.
Would you love an adventure photoshoot with your dog at one of these locations? Head over to my contact page so we can start the process.
About Karen Hoglund Photography
About the photographer: Karen Hoglund is a professional pet photographer based in Denver, Colorado. She specializes in dog and cat portraits, which are works of art for your home. Each photoshoot is created uniquely around your pet’s needs so they’ll feel at ease. For more information, please call 720-238-3337, visit Karen’s portfolio and follow Karen on Facebook or Instagram.
