Two things are constant in Colorado: people love hiking and people love their dogs. It seems that wherever you go—dog parks, city parks, neighborhood streets and mountain trails, you’ll most likely encounter a dog with its owner.
If tackling a trail with your dog is your cup of tea, make sure both of you are prepared and well-equipped for the best Colorado mountain experience.
Here’s how you and your pup can enjoy hiking Colorado’s backcountry.
ACCLIMATIZE
If you’re a visitor, you’ve no doubt heard the need to acclimatize yourself to Colorado’s higher elevations. The same advice applies to your dog. If you arrive from sea level one day and attempt to bag a 14,000 ft. peak the next, you’ll end up feeling lousy—and so will your dog. Even if you’re not headed up 14,000 ft., you still need time adjusting to our thin air. For the first few days of your visit, both you and your dog should take it slow and easy.
TAKE CUES FROM YOUR DOG
When hiking, it’s always a good idea to pay attention to your dog’s body language. Even the hardiest and most active canine may struggle at higher elevations, and their innate desire to please may push them to exhaustion. I always know when my dog, Coal, is getting tired. Instead of him leading me, I begin leading him—a sure sign to slow down and head back to the trailhead. Just like humans, dogs require extra caloric energy and hydration while hiking. Make sure to pack nutritious snacks and meals, along with extra water. Experts advise a small handful of your pup’s favorite kibble as a healthier alternative to dog treats.
Nothing looks as refreshing as a high-altitude stream or lake, but beware: untreated water contains bacteria and parasites that can cause unpleasant side effects of nausea and diarrhea for both dogs and humans. Collapsible dog bowls are an inexpensive and lightweight solution and many have a carabiner to clip to your pack.
Don’t forget a first aid kit with necessary medications for your dog, including heartworm meds. It’s always a “better safe than sorry” scenario that can prevent and treat any sickness or injury for you both.
If this all seems a bit too much to carry, consider a doggie backpack. Packs fit for dogs can be used to carry their food, snacks and poop bags. While some dogs tolerate packs, some don’t, so introduce it to your dog before heading out for a big hike. Unless your dog is a large breed, don’t ask your pup to carry too much water, since it can be pretty heavy.
TO LEASH OR NOT TO LEASH
It’s always a good idea to check if dogs are allowed in your intended destination and whether a leash is required.
For instance, in the Pikes Peak region, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument does not allow dogs on any of its trails. The rules for state parks can vary; Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs only allows dogs on certain trails, while both Mueller State Park in Divide and Roxborough State Park near Castle Rock do not allow dogs on any trails. Staunton and Eleven Mile State Parks allow leashed dogs, while Castlewood Canyon State Park allows dogs on all trails except those on the east side of Highway 83. Check before you go.
In land owned by the U.S. Forest Service or the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, dogs are usually allowed off-leash. Keep in mind, however, that this allowance doesn’t equal having carte blanche for your pup to wreak havoc. In Colorado, not only is it a crime for your dog to harass wildlife, but it can be dangerous for both. Dogs running off-leash have been known to kill fawns. If that happens, not only can you be cited for “harassing wildlife,” but also for taking a deer without a license, which is a fancy way of saying “poaching,” and carries hefty fines in Colorado. If that doesn’t convince you, understand that deer, elk, coyotes, bobcats, mountain lions and moose have been known to attack and even kill dogs that were being pesky.
According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife District Wildlife Manager (a.k.a., “game warden”) Aaron Berscheid, wildlife officials will not take any action against wildlife that attacks a dog not under control. His advice: save yourself and your dog a lot of trouble and keep them leashed at all times. You may still be liable if your dog damages another’s property or causes injury to someone else, or their own pet.
THE GOLDEN RULE: PICK UP THE POOP
No matter where you go, pick up after your dog. Not only is it the law, it’s also damaging to the environment—especially water (see above)—to leave dog poop behind, whether on the ground or in plastic bags. Plus, everyone around will hate you for it. Don’t be the dog owner everyone hates.
WHERE DO COAL AND I LIKE TO HIKE?
Here are some of our favorites:
In Colorado Springs, Ute Valley Park has a little bit of everything: open areas, wooded sections and expansive views of Pikes Peak and the foothills. Coal loves the sharp ridgeline of the Hogback Trail on the park’s westside because its rock formations allow him to hop from boulder to boulder.
El Paso County’s Bear Creek Park on Colorado Springs’ southwest side is an award-winning dog park where your pooch can run loose with other pups. It offers miles of trails, some of which connect to the Pike National Forest, and is a good starting point for you and your best friend to get warmed up or cooled down after hiking in the adjacent foothills.
If you want to visit one of our beautiful state parks with your pup, Castlewood Canyon, Eleven Mile and Staunton State Park allow dogs.
Dogs are allowed almost anywhere in the unlimited national forest trails. To find a trail to your liking, I recommend Colorado’s Trail Explorer (COTREX), available either at trails.colorado.gov or as an app on your smartphone. Not only can you determine a trail’s elevation profile, but also any restrictions, including whether dogs are allowed.
Make no (dog) bones about it—hiking with your dog in our state is the cat’s meow.
Now go out with your dog and have fun!
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Meet Coal, “Hiking Bob’s” Trail Buddy
Whenever Bob Falcone, a.k.a. “Hiking Bob” goes hiking, his loyal four-legged companion, Coal, is often at his side.
The 7-year-old rescue border-collie-lab mix (and maybe a little shepherd, too), loves to hike. Together with his owner, Coal has visited trails in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah, logging as many as 13 miles in a single trip. In 2022, he hiked a mere 420 miles, a significantly lower total due to a torn ACL in Coal’s right knee.
When not out hiking, Coal enjoys staying at home with Bob and his wife, Joanne, playing with his bouncy balls and squeaky stuffed animals while keeping a vigilant eye out for “enemies”—cats, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons and even cars. He is especially fond of his plush dog bed, but like any creature of comfort, will sneak onto the couch or bed when he can.
He loves zucchini.
An incredibly photogenic dog, Coal gets his photo taken constantly by Bob and even has his own Instagram account (@CoalTheDog_CO). If you ever see him, make sure you get his signature paw print.
