Socializing and Exercising in Nature

By Emily Moyer

Colorado is home to many places worth barking about, from the beautiful Rocky Mountains to the vast, open prairies and foothills of the Front Range. Enjoying the outdoors is as much a part of the Colorado lifestyle as drinking craft brews, skiing and owning a dog. Although many parks prohibit off-leash play with your pet, Colorado caters to pet owners and their companions by providing incredible outdoor parks made just for Lassie and Fido. With colder weather coming on, dog parks become even more important so your pup can let loose and fuel their natural inclinations to run and explore.

Devon’s Dog Park, Larkspur
Devon’s Dog Park is just off Interstate 25 at Exit 167 and is the perfect playground for pups. The park is a large, 17-acre, off-leash playground with farm-country views. The park is fenced, and although it has no separate fenced areas for smaller dogs, it is peaceful and quiet for canines and their companions alike. The trail is mostly flat, with surrounding hills and it includes a small agility course for training. The big bonus of this park is an adjacent field of grazing cattle where you can greet the cows on your stroll through. There are waste bags widely available and port-a-potty bathrooms for humans as well. Easy to find, plentiful parking makes this a great place to stretch the legs for both furry friends and their owners.

Chatfield State Dog Park, Littleton

This 70-acre, fully fenced off-leash park is a playground for pets and humans alike. This park costs $8 a day or you can use your state parks pass or buy an annual pass for $70. It is worth the fee for an abundance of terrain for you and your best friend to explore. From mountainous trails with stunning views, to picturesque ponds and grassy fields, there is so much to explore at Chatfield. Abundant cleaning stations throughout the state park help keep the grounds looking pristine for continuous enjoyment. Because of the sheer amount of space, it never seems like the park is too busy, even on the weekends and during peak seasons.

Bear Creek Dog Park, Colorado Springs

Bear Creek Dog Park is revered as one of Colorado’s best parks on BringFido.com because it is accommodating to pooches and their owners. The park is 10 acres, with two acres fenced for smaller pups. It provides activities for canines that are energetic, as well as those that are relaxed. The park has hills and wooded areas for hiking and is abundant in local wildlife. It’s located across from the Charmaine Nymann Community Garden where there are not only activities for dogs, but humans too! You can also walk the entire Bear Creek Regional Park while Fido’s on-leash, or opt for the off-leash park, where there is a beautiful, slow-moving creek that any sized dog can splash in. Not only is this park free, but it has abundant watering stations for you and your pup. Bear Creek also has plentiful cleaning stations with waste bags and a hose to rinse off in the parking lot after playing in the creek all day.

Tony Grampsas Dog Park, Golden

Tony Grampsas Dog Park isn’t as large as many parks but it still ranks as one of the best parks to take your dog in Colorado because it is located along a small creek with plenty of shade. In the summertime, the shade provides the perfect environment for a relaxing stroll along the trickling water. Bowls and waste bags are readily available year-round making this park ideal for owners that want a park that is clean and low maintenance. This park also has adjacent baseball diamonds and is near New Terrain Brewing Co., which is pet friendly and within walking distance.

The Bone Yard, Erie

The Bone Yard dog park is the quintessential park to visit with your pup if you are excited about learning some new training and agility techniques. There are lots of toys, tennis balls, ramps, and hoops for your dog to jump through and play with. The puppy playground is guaranteed to help your dog get rid of all that extra energy. The park is also located next to a children’s playground and the park itself isn’t too big, so both your dog and your children can burn off a little enthusiasm while you relax and keep an eye on them from nearby benches. There are three separate sections at the park: one for little pups, big pups and agility training for those dogs with an endless amount of energy. The Bone Yard is within walking distance of The Industrial Revolution Brewing Co., a dog-friendly hangout for you and your pet to refresh yourselves after a long day at the park.

Bighorn Park, Vail

Nestled in a quiet, residential neighborhood in Vail, the park is worth the trouble of finding it. Bighorn has a massive pond for your dog to play and splash in with a sandy beach to decrease muddy messes. Although this park is not fenced, it is massive, with acres of grass to play in, and a quiet trail that wraps around the pond for a relaxing stroll. There are restrooms, a pavilion for hot summer days for you to catch some shade, as well as a massive playground for kids. The park is ideal in the summer or winter.

Riverbend Dog Park, Palisade

Alongside the beautiful, flowing Colorado River runs a smooth, paved trail for dogs and their owners to roam. This off-leash park has several small fenced areas near the river for your K-9 to enjoy a splash. Located in the small town of Palisade, the park has plenty of shade, picnic benches and restrooms. Large grassy areas provide your dog with ample space to frolic, while water fountains supply relief during the summer months. To quench human thirst, Palisade Brewing Co. is near the park and allows pets on the patio so you can grab a pint and kick back with your most loyal companion.

Durango Dog Park, Durango

Keep an eye on the four-leggers at this park, which features six square miles for you and your dog to explore. At the base of Smelter Mountain, the park is just off downtown in Durango. Your pup can enjoy an afternoon of chilling in the Animas River. The river runs fast each spring, which is more suited for large dogs who love water. With stunning mountain views, the park features open spaces where you can watch kayakers and canoers paddle along the stream. Although this park is not fenced, the rivers and hills provide natural barriers to keep your pet within site on your hike. Head across the river to The Dawg House, a pet friendly restaurant where you can enjoy brews and good food with your four-legged kids in tow.

Westminster Hills Dog Park, Westminster

Westminster Hills Dog Park is in the perfect northwest suburban spot to take your dog for a stroll. The park has wide-open spaces and more than 400 acres of trails to explore. It’s located near the southeast corner of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and offers stunning views of the Flatirons. The space is partially fenced in, and owners are required to enter and exit the park with their dog on leash. Just a short stroll away is the famous eagle’s nest on the northwest edge of Standley Lake Regional Park. The dog park is abundant in cleaning stations and water spigots, and has a pond for pups to cool off in. Just a short drive up the street is 4 Noses Brewing Co., a dog-friendly stop to quench your thirst.

Coal Mine Avenue Brewing, Littleton

It's a win-win for pups and humans at Coal Mine, a brewery and dog park combined. The 2,500-square-foot patio welcomes your unleashed furry friends to sniff, bark, dig and have the chance to be a dog - unapologetically. And bonus, Coal Mine cleans up the park to keep things healthy. Pre-register your pooch online for a seamless entry into the brewery.