Best Dog Friendly Backpacking Trips – It rains and there are lots of little pools for kids (and people!) to play in. The yellow branch is one of the most beautiful.
Lauren Gwinn is a writer and photographer and runs Palmetto Moon Pointers, a blog about hiking, backpacking, and dog travel. You’ll find him in the mountains, or on his horse, always with his two Vizslas, Sutton and Banks, and his Border Collie/Heeler mix, Davis, by his side! Follow @palmettomoonpointers on Instagram and visit his blog:
Best Dog Friendly Backpacking Trips
So who really needs dog accessories? As travel and dog travel experts, we are often asked this question and our answer is that every dog can benefit from exercise! Maybe you and your best friend want to take a weekend drive to the farmers market or go on a road trip to visit […]
Best Dog Friendly Hikes In Pittsburgh
Trying to decide which is best for your dog – collar or harness? The short answer is: you may need both. It really depends on the size and condition of your dog and what it takes to keep him healthy.
A barking dog in the backseat of a car can be a major distraction—even dangerous—for human drivers. But for dogs, barking is a way of communication. To put the kibosh on that pesky grass, we first need to figure out why our city friend, who I grew up with in Littleton, Colorado, has been barking and not liking it since I moved to the mountains. I think it’s for everyone – we give things their due… In college, living in Dallas made me long for the Rockies, and every time I came home I spent a lot of time walking and looking. And now, even though I love New York City, I have to escape to the mountains a few times a year.
Alice may be young (and growing), but she’s a tough, strong, fearless adventurer! We travel as much as possible when we visit Colorado – usually just the two of us, but sometimes friends or family with us. Whether you live in Denver or are traveling from sea level, it’s important to know the elevation when you’re hiking in the Rockies—this is true for both people and dogs! Alice and I stayed at a low altitude for the first two days we were in Colorado until we adjusted to being a mile above sea level. The summer sun can be very intense at high altitudes – use sunscreen and pay extra attention to red or especially tan dogs. Even if you only plan on walking a mile or two, bring plenty of water for you and your little one! Take frequent breaks and be aware of their energy levels.
I divide these dog-friendly trips into two groups: those that are an hour or less drive from Denver, and those that are within a one to two hour drive of downtown Denver. This is approximate and drive times may vary if you live outside of Denver! Unfortunately, there are not many options to get around without a car. Some of these include hiking trails that are rocky and some are questionable… so a large vehicle is recommended. Also, we hope that the exact method can be useless for mobile providers! So pay attention to directions and surroundings so you can get back home, even if you can no longer connect to Google Maps.
The Best Dog-friendly Hikes In All 50 States
Especially further up in the mountains, many of these hikes are only available (easily) from late spring to early fall. Even in June or July, you may experience wet or muddy road conditions as snow settles on the mountain tops. You can check the latest trail conditions by looking at all trail reviews or other websites for specific trails you want to hike.
In the middle of summer walk through the snow fields and walk on the snow lake. The hike to the lake is short, about 3/4 mile, but wide and rocky. I recommend going further around the lake and climbing a bit on the glacier, though! You can also camp in this place. There are two parking spaces on both sides of the street, which cost $5 cash, and the cafe has restrooms.
This four-mile intermediate trail is located near St. Peter. Maria, and went to a large lake. Most of the road to the lake is a service road, but with spectacular views. The lake itself is beautiful and you can take a short walk around it, or to the upper lakes if you dare! There are not many people on the street on a weekday in July.
The view of the trail at Reynolds Park is one of my absolute favorite views! You can see Pikes Peak and many other mountains. It has plenty of shade, easy access and is usually not crowded. Highly recommend this moderate (sometimes longer) trail of about four miles near Conifer. Free parking at the Reynolds Park trailhead, which also has restrooms!
Tips For Hiking With Dogs
Alice and I love this park. There are many trails, all easily accessible – some for hikers only and others for hikers, mountain bikers and horses. All trails are dog-friendly, as long as dogs are kept on a six-foot leash. One of the nearby trails is a horse trail that runs past the visitor center. The trail has wildflowers in late spring and summer, and spectacular goldenrods and fall foliage in September/October. But it’s worth walking a little further to Panorama Point, with its spectacular views, and taking the deer trail or the raccoon trail. For a 10-day pass at the Visitor Center (which has restrooms) when you arrive. You can also camp here!
I went on a four mile walk with my mum, Alice and Amy at the beginning of April. The trail is packed with snow, so we used Yatrax cleats, which you can take off your normal hiking shoes. The mountain is very beautiful in the snow – the contrast between the trees and the white ground is amazing. There are many sights, one of which is Mt. Evans.
Echo Lake itself is beautiful and would be a great stop if you are driving Blue Sky Mountain (the most paved road in North America). This route is really fun, with beautiful views and waterfalls. The drive is about an hour from Denver.
The ideas on the continental divide are God’s. It’s a nice walk in parts, and you’ll pass some beautiful hotel ruins along the way! I would park and start here and take the short Fowler Trail to the Rattlesnake Gulch Trail for a 3-4 mile hike (depending on whether you take the loop to the top or not). There is a $10 fee per vehicle and rooms on Fowler Street.
A Guide To The Best Dog-friendly Trails In Alberta
The Flatirons are a beautiful part of the Boulder area. You can walk 3.5 miles through Chautauqua Park on the out and back trails to reach the first and second floors. It’s a medium difficulty level that requires some rock climbing near the top! This may not be possible for many dogs, but so far so good a ride. There are many other trails in the park that you can explore as well. Uncle wants to stay
It gets crowded in the summer, so come early or on a weekday if you’re hoping for a parking spot!
The Royal Arch Trail is also located in Chautauqua Park in Boulder. I would describe this four mile hike as moderate, but there are some big hills and some big rocks to climb around. Once you reach the top, you’ll see a spectacular, massive, rocky arch and views of Boulder Valley below.
Maxwell Falls is famous for its four-mile hike near Conifer and Evergreen, so parking can sometimes be difficult – there are two trails, lower and upper. The trail itself is mostly covered with beautiful views and waterfalls. Easy walk, free parking, no toilets.
5 Best Dog-friendly Hiking Trails In La Crosse, Wi
This trail is located at Corvina Park in Morrison. It’s an easy three-mile hike that includes an out-and-back trail along the creek that will take you to the Break Creek Trail Loop. Stop near the loop and you’ll find Panorama Point with a great view of the Continental Divide. Access to the trail is easy and parking is free – although there are no restrooms on this trail, you can find them at the nearby Bear Creek trailhead. You can also go to Panorama Point from this road, but if I recall you will lack access or view.
Yes, the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater is also a park with several hiking trails! The trails are very easy and short, but they have beautiful views of Denver and colorful rocks around the park. Do not wear white – red clay
