Recommended 4 Trails For Hiking With Your Dog Near Denver

Hiking is a fun activity for humans but many don’t know how much dogs also love this activity. It helps them stretch their legs and expend some energy. So when next you think about hiking alone, think again. 

Doing that walk with your dog is the ultimate fun especially. But not all hiking trails allow dogs which means you need to make sure they are dog friendly before visiting. 

The Denver area features some dog friendly hiking trails you do not want to miss. From easy to hard trails, trails you can complete under an hour to those that require several hours of walking. 

It can even go further depending on your needs like the amenities on the trail. All these will help you determine the best hiking trail for you and your pup. 

In this piece, we’ll highlight some of the best dog friendly hiking trails in the Denver area so you do not have to waste time looking for a route to hike with your tail wagging companion. 

Saint Mary’s Glacier

7599 Fall River Road,
Idaho Springs, CO 80452

Love a great view while hiking? Then the Saint Mary’s Glacier dog friendly trail should be at the top of your mind. The icy trails are sights to anticipate with most dogs loving the snowy glacier that forms in the middle of the summer. 

This is a 1.7 mile long hike that can be completed in 50 minutes. It is generally considered an easy route despite some steep climbs. Family friendly and welcoming, this trail allows everybody in the family including your pup to spend some time together. 

Saint Mary’s Glacier is dog friendly but must be leashed at all times. You’ll find a lake and forests on the trail that further makes this rocky path an exciting one. 

The trailhead to this out and back trail is at the parking lot after taking Exit 238 and following Fall River Road. with parking available on either side of the road, however, you’ll need to pay a small fee to use this parking.

Saint Mary’s Glacier is one of the most popular dog friendly hiking trails near Denver so expect to meet others while hiking. 

Washington Park Loop

701 S Franklin St
Denver, CO

The trailhead of this dog friendly 2.3 mile hiking trail starts from Washington Park Denver and will typically take about 43 minutes to complete. Regarded as an easy route, Washington Park Loop, as the name implies, is a loop trail that starts and ends in Washington Park.

It is highly accessible with at least 4 designated accessible spaces in the parking lot. Washington Park Loop is a daily flat trail with minimal elevation.

Washington Park Loop is a forest-like trail that goes around Smith Lake and Grasmere Lake and through two breathtaking flower gardens. The views from these areas will leave you and your dog staring. 

Your pup must be on leash at all times while on this trail. It is open all year round with different advantages depending on the season. Bear in mind that lots of birders, hikers and bikers also use the trail so be on the look out for other users on the way. 

Due to the minimal elevation on the trail and its paved and smooth surface, Washington Park Loop is wheelchair and stroller friendly. 

12 Mile Trail and Cherry Creek Loop

4 S University Blvd
Denver, CO 80209

The 12 Mile Trail and Cherry Creek Loop is a 2.3 mile long loop trail with very little elevation. As a fairly flat trail with this distance, it is typically classified as easy and can be completed within 45 minutes. 

This interesting trail is all within the fenced off leash Cherry Creak Dog Park. with the trail head starting at the park’s visitors center and going through the off leash dog park. 

Bear in  kind that you’ll be walking through an off leash dog park, so you have to be mindful of pups running around and other dog owners. You can also enjoy this walk with your dog off leash but make sure to keep your dog leashed if needed. 

The 12 Mile Trail and Cherry Creek Loop features minimal shade so prepare for this by starting hydrated and using your sunscreen where needed. You also need to pay a small fee to use this trail. 

You’ll find an intersection where the 12 Mile Trail exits the park which you can take if you want a longer trail. Otherwise, join the Cherry Creek trail and continue to the Northwest corner of the park. 

Kendrick Main Reservoir Loop Trail

9351 W. Jewell Ave.
Lakewood, CO 80232

Kendrick Main Reservoir Loop Trail is a 1.2 mile dog friendly walking and running trail around the beautiful Kendrick Main Reservoir in Colorado. This trail is considered an easy route you can complete with your dog in 22 minutes. 

This is a visible trail that is easy to follow round the reservoir. It is family friendly and as a loop trail, starts and ends at the same point in Denver. 

Beautiful downtown views are some of the pulls to this trail as well as the calm reservoir. The trail is quite popular for walking and is not the busiest so you can enjoy some solitude here if you visit at the right time. 

The best time to visit Kendrick Main Reservoir Loop Trail is between March and November when the weather is just right for hiking the area. Bear in mind that there can be strong winds here depending on the weather. 

With minimal shade along the trail, you want to come prepared for this. The trail itself starts off paved before transitioning into a sandy surface. 

Finally

Doing fun activities with your pup is a way to grow stranger bonds while doing something you both love. 

If you love hiking, your dog will love spending that time with you. You just have to choose the most suitable trail for you both while considering the length and difficulty of the terrain. 

The Denver area presents some interesting dog friendly hiking trails with varying difficulties. Dogs love to run around, play, and expend pent up energy and hiking gives them the opportunity to do so considering they are mostly confined to a small space in their homes.

You can make it eleven more conducive and give them better access to the outdoors by installing dog friendly doors. Dogs love hiking and running outside, fixing these special doors lets them access the more expansive outdoors.

All Pro Dogs have some of the best collection of these dog friendly dogs that gives your fur baby easy access to the outdoors while keeping them safe.