Where can you hike with your dog near Denver? The truth is that you can take your dog with you on most trails near Denver–but there are exceptions. And there are some trails that require scrambles or have surfaces that just are not well suited for your dogs paws. So, we have used the following criteria for selecting this Top 10 list of dog friendly trails.
#1 Dogs are allowed
#2 We got feedback from our Black Lab, Francine. She’s confident that your dog will love them.
#3 They are within 30-45 minutes of Denver
To Leash or Not to Leash? It should be noted that all these hikes require our dogs to be on a leash unless otherwise indicated. This is essential for the safety of others, the health of the environment, and so that dogs don’t get banned from these great places. Finally, we love to keep this list updated, so send us your comments and emails to let us know if you have any votes and ideas on more dog-friendly trails you’d like us to profile. Use the table below as table of contents to find a dog friendly hike that best matches your preferences.
Elk Meadow Park | An easy 2.6 mile loop trail |
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Mount Sanitas in Boulder | A moderate 3 mile loop hike |
Red Rocks Trail | A longer and moderate 6 mile hike |
South Valley Park in Littleton | An easy 1/2 to 3 mile hike among red rock formations |
White Ranch Sunset Loop | A moderate 2 mile loop in the foothills |
Mt. Galbraith Loop | A moderate 5 mile loop near Golden |
Raccoon Loop in Golden Gate | An easy 2.5 mile hike in Golden Gate Canyon |
Davis Ponds Loop at Staunton | An easy 2 mile loop hike to ponds |
Bear Creek Trail | An easy almost 2 mile hike close to Denver |
Alderfer and Three Sisters Park | 18 miles of easy trails in Evergreen |
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Elk Meadow Park – South Loop
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Mt. Sanitas Hike Near Boulder
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Red Rocks Trail at Red Rocks Park
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South Valley Park Trails
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White Ranch Sunset Loop Near Golden, Colorado
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Mt. Galbraith Loop via the Cedar Gulch Trail
Distance: 4.9 Miles
Difficulty: Medium
Drive Time from Denver: Approx. 30 Minutes
Hiking Mt. Galbraith near Golden, Colorado will spoil you with its views into two canyons and into the City of Golden. Mount Galbraith is about 25 minutes from downtown Denver, so it makes for a quick escape from the bustle of life in town to take in the fresh air of the foothills.
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Raccoon Loop Hike in Golden Gate Canyon State Park
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Davis Ponds Hike at Staunton State Park
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Bear Creek Trail at Lair o’ the Bear Park
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Alderfer and Three Sisters Park Hikes
Distance: 2.6 miles Round Trip
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 35 Minutes
Elk Meadow Park is a wonderful place to go hiking with your family, if you have your kids with you, or if you just want to spend time with a friend as you hike and bask in the spectacular views of Colorado. There was a great off-leash area nearby, but this has been closed for restoration.
Distance: 3.1 Miles or 2 Miles
Difficulty: Medium+ with Easier Options
Drive Time from Denver: 45 Minutes
Mt. Sanitas gives you several trail options ranging from an easy stroll along a meandering brook to a demanding trail up the mountainside. Explore the full trail profile for more detailed information.
Distance: 6 Miles Round Trip
Difficulty: Medium
Drive Time from Denver: 25 Minutes
The Red Rocks Trail at Red Rocks park gives you a chance to wander through the meadows just east of the imposing red monoliths that this Denver Mountain Park is named after. Close to Denver, the Red Rocks Trail is great for a sunrise hike, an inspiring trail run or a challenging bike ride. There’s more: a cave carved into the sandstone a great geological overlook.
Distance: .5 Mile to 3 Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 30 Minutes
The trails of South Valley Park are perfect for an after work hike or run in South Denver. The expansive valley near the neighborhood of Ken Caryl is enclosed on its eastern side by the exposed red rock formations of the hogback and the green foothills to the west. Views to the south are incredible, making South Valley Park especially enchanting during the early morning hours and at twilight.
Distance: 2 miles Round Trip
Difficulty: Medium
Drive Time from Denver: 45 Minutes
This loop hike in White Ranch Park is a great escape, a place to watch the glow of twilight on the city of Denver as the sun sets in the West. This Colorado trail is set at the very beginning of the foothills. You’ll journey across a tranquil meadow punctuated with ponderosa pine and decorated with Spring and early Summer wildflowers.
Distance: 2.5 miles Round Trip
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 50 Minutes
Our kids loved this 2.5 mile Raccoon Loop Hike in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. The trail has a lot of shade, panoramic views of snowcapped peaks, wildflowers, and trickling brooks.
Distance: 2.15 Mile Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 45 Minutes
The Davis Ponds loop is a short and easy hike, perfect for young families. Davis Ponds is a great place to take your kids fishing near Denver.
Distance: 1.7 miles Round Trip
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 30 Minutes
The Bear Creek Trail at Lair o’ the Bear Park may be the best family hike near Denver. The park features great hiking trails, Bear Creek, and some good picnic areas. Even the drive along the way into the canyon on Bear Creek Road is wonderful.
Distance: 18 Trails: .2 to 10+ Miles
Difficulty: Easy
Drive Time from Denver: 40 Minutes
Alderfer and Three Sisters Park in Evergreen, Colorado is a great collection of many trails that it could get confusing without a map. However, this is a family favorite of some good friends of ours. The trails come with different choices: from short, casual strolls to more demanding climbs and a long loop hike.
Aaron Johnson has been hiking in Colorado for over 20 years. The owner and editor of Dayhikes Near Denver, Aaron writes every trail profile as a local guide who has hiked hundreds of miles of trails along the Front Range and deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.