In September of 2020 I brought home my English Cream Golden Retriever puppy named Breck (after Breckenridge, CO, one of my favorite mountain towns!) and have been a loving and over obsessive dog parent ever since. I enjoyed so many things about the newborn puppy stage and wouldn't take it back for anything, but it was definitely a lot of work and there were some activities that needed to be put on hold. One thing I came to realize is that while puppies are certainly high energy, that energy comes and goes in short bursts. Little pups can't start hiking right away, and they need baby steps to build up the strength and endurance to keep up with their humans on longer hikes once they are fully grown.
I started easing Breck into hiking this past winter, when he was around 6 months old, with shorter 1-2 mile low elevation gain trails in the Boulder/Golden area. He loves being in the mountains and has always been happy whenever he is on any trail, but he definitely tired out quickly at first. After Breck turned 1 this summer, we started exploring longer, higher elevation hikes. Typically I wouldn't make an hour plus drive to a trailhead just to do a short hike of only a couple miles (my normal go-to distance was around 6-9 miles RT), but having a puppy gave me an excuse to check out some of these beautiful hikes that I might not otherwise have gotten the chance to enjoy. I've grown to love some of these spots, and they are a great way to mix up your routine of longer and more challenging hikes, if you have a young family, or if you are just getting into hiking. A lot of these are so much fun and so beautiful that I will continue to explore them with Breck even now that he is fully grown!
Puppy Friendly Hikes Within 1.5 Hours of Denver/Boulder
Clear Creek County:
Saint Mary's Glacier
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Difficulty Level: Easy-Moderate
Distance: 2.4 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 1,030 ft
Drive Time: 1 hour 15 min (Boulder) / 55 minutes (Denver)
Located in Idaho Springs, this hike is a quick drive from the Denver/Boulder area. I arrived to the TH at about 8am on a weekday and there was plenty of parking left. However, this trail is a popular one so if you plan to go on a weekend I would recommend getting there between 7:30-8:30am. There is also a $5.00 parking fee to hike here and you need to pay through a self service station so make sure to bring the exact amount of cash!
In just over a mile you will gain 1,030 ft of elevation. It was a bit warmer when we did this trail over the summer so I made sure to stop a few times and give Breck plenty of water. The trail is well maintained, easy to follow and we would definitely hike this again! This is also a good hike to take out of town visitors to who don't necessary want to experience a longer and more challenging hike but still want to spend time outdoors and earn their beautiful views. My personal favorite part about this hike is that before you make it to the Glacier you will pass Saint Mary's Lake which is a perfect spot for your pup to take a dip and play fetch!
Post Hike Lunch Ideas: Post hike swing by Westbound & Down Brewing Company's dog friendly patio in downtown Idaho Springs and grab a local brew and bite to eat. They typically open at 11 am but on weekends they open at 8 am so even if you start hiking early they will be open by the time you make it back to town!
Loch Lomond
Idaho Springs, Colorado
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Distance: 4.6 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 895 ft
Drive Time: 1 hour 15 min (Boulder) / 55 minutes (Denver)
The hike up to Loch Lomond has an elevation gain of 895 ft and has very pretty views of the surrounding peaks all the way up to the top! It is important to note that the trail also doubles as a rocky mountain road so make sure to have your pups on a leash as cars will be driving up and down the path. I started this hike around 7:30am on a Saturday morning and passed 10-15 cars total (there & back) so it wasn't overwhelming but you do need to keep an eye out for them. Since the hike is on a mountain road the trail is pretty exposed so bring plenty of sunscreen/water especially during those summer months!
Once you reach Loch Lake you have the option of tacking on an additional 2.2 miles (elevation gain of 580 ft) to see the upper lakes looking down on Loch Lake. I initially planned on including this in our hike, however it was super windy at the top so I opted to check it out on our next trip to Loch Lake instead. If you plan on starting from the bottom like Breck and I did and hiking up to the Lake, there is not a designated parking lot at the trailhead but there is plenty of parking along the side of the road. We only saw two other cars parked there at 7:30am and about an additional 15 cars when we arrived back down the mountain around 10am with still plenty of parking space left!
You also have the option of driving your car to Loch Lake and just hiking the 2.2 mile Loch Lomond and Upper Lake Hike instead. There is a rather large dirt parking lot at the top that was very empty when we went. This is also a really great spot for car camping which we are hoping to do next summer! On your hike or drive up you will pass plenty of campsites. Just make sure whichever car you bring up as good 4 wheel drive and high clearance to avoid getting stuck!
Post Hike Lunch Ideas: As this hike is off the same road as Saint Mary's Glacier listed above, I recommend driving back down to Idaho Springs and checking out Westbound and Down Brewing!
Silver Dollar Lake and Murray Lake Trail
Georgetown, Colorado
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Distance: 4.1 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 1,066 ft
Drive Time: 1 hour 30 min (Boulder) / 1 hour 15 minutes (Denver)
This hike is located near Georgetown, Colorado and has a total of 1,066 ft elevation gain. The trail is well maintained, easy to follow, and is one of my favorite shorter pup friendly hikes in the area. You start at about 11,200 ft so the air is already pretty thin from the start but the views right off the bat are incredible and you feel like you are at a very high elevation the entire time. Throughout this hike you will pass two lakes- Silver Dollar Lake and Murray Reservoir (your final destination). Murray Reservoir lays just below the Continental Divide and has beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. If you want to tack on .8 miles RT to your hike you can also stop at Naylor Lake back towards the trailhead (which you look down on for a good portion of the trail).
Despite Breck's facial expression in the photo above (he just about had enough with the camera that day) he LOVED it! We went in the beginning of September and since the top two lakes are at higher elevations the water was colder so Breck didn't swim but I saw plenty of other pups throughout our hike swimming in the lakes. Breck and I arrived at 7:30am on a Saturday morning and practically had the trail to ourselves, however on the way back down we passed tons of hikers and the parking lot was full by the time we reached our car so I would recommend getting here by 8am on a weekend to avoid the crowds.
Post Hike Lunch Ideas: Cabin Creek Brewing in Georgetown has a dog friendly patio right on Georgetown Lake and is a great spot for a post hike beer and pizza! There is even a walking path on the lake called Tom Benhoff Lake Trail that you can stroll along post lunch once you've refueled.
South Park 600 to Square Top Lakes
Georgetown, Colorado
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Distance: 5 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 935 ft
Drive Time: 1 hour 30 min (Boulder) / 1 hour 15 min (Denver)
This is a perfect day hike only a short drive from the Denver/Boulder area. The trailhead begins at the top of Guanella Pass and has a large parking lot, and plenty of overflow street parking.
Although the trail is not particularly steep, it starts at very high altitude and the air is pretty thin from the start! The trail is also completely exposed 100% of the time because it's above tree line. If you have a dog that likes to swim make sure to bring a tennis ball, etc since there will not be any sticks for fetch on the trail. Once you reach the first lake, keep hiking up to the final one- it's worth it! The views of both lakes, and looking down at the valley are incredibly beautiful!
Jefferson County:
Evergreen Mountain Trail
Evergreen, Colorado
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Distance: 4.2 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 816 ft
Drive Time: 1 hour 15 min (Boulder) / 45 minutes (Denver)
The Evergreen Mountain Trail is located in Evergreen, Colorado and is the shortest drive from the Denver area out of all the hikes mentioned in this post. I had not been to Evergreen before this hike and boy was I missing out! There are so many great hiking trails in the area and the downtown is also super cute. I were drawn to the Evergreen Mountain Trail specifically because it was the perfect distance of 4 miles RT with 816 feet of elevation gain. The trail is also well marked and easy to follow.
There are a decent amount of mountain bikers on this trail through so make sure to have your pup on a leash! Breck and I arrived to the trailhead at about 10am on a Saturday and while I was able to find parking on the side of the road (the parking lot was full) the trail was already very crowded. This isn't a hike you have to wake up super early for but would recommend getting there around 8:30-9am to beat the crowds or going later on in the afternoon- weather depending. The views at the top of the mountain are beautiful and I think this would be a very scenic fall hike during foliage season with the wide open views of the valley and the high peaks!
Post Hike Lunch Ideas: On your drive back down to town post hike, stop at Cactus Jack's Saloon and Grill's dog friendly patio for a burger and drink. Their property is situated right alongside Bear Creek, has beautiful views, and the best part is that they have live music on their patio! Post lunch, take a stroll by the Evergreen Dam for some more scenic views and let your pup cool off in the creek. The Dam is about a two minute walk from Cactus Jack's.
Larimer County:
Lily Mountain
Estes Park, Colorado
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Distance: 3.7 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 1,246 ft
Drive Time: 1 hour (Boulder) / 1 hour 30 minutes (Denver)
Many of the National Parks unfortunately do not allow dogs, and RMNP is no exception to that. However, don't let this policy rule out traveling to Estes Park with your furry friend! There are still plenty of trails in Estes right outside of RMNP that are dog friendly and have beautiful views. Our favorite one (so far) is Lily Mountain, pictured above! This hike is a good quick burn with 1,246 ft of elevation gain throughout the (almost) two miles up to the top.
Once you arrive at the summit there are 360 degrees views of the mountains and you are looking over RMNP and Estes Park! Parking typically is not an issue on this hike- there is no designated lot, you just park along the side of the rode by the trailhead. Breck and I started hiking Lily Mountain at 4:30pm on a week night this summer and practically had the mountain to ourselves.
Post Hike Lunch Ideas: Stop by the delicious farm to table restaurant Bird & Jim in Estes Park on your way back down the mountain. I have been here about 5 times now and have loved every meal. Their dog friendly patio is the perfect spot to hit up post hike, they have epic views of the high peaks in RMNP and their delicious craft cocktails are a must.
Boulder County:
Lake Isabelle via Pawnee Pass Trail
Lake Brainard Recreation Area in Ward, Colorado
Difficulty Level: Easy-Moderate
Distance: 5.5 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 551 ft
Drive Time: 50 minutes (Boulder) / 1 hour 20 minutes (Denver)
Lake Isabelle is a stunning hike that doesn't require too much elevation gain to reach these gorgeous views! This hike in particular would be a great trail to start your pup on since there is only 551 feet of elevation gain throughout the trail. I can't believe that after four years of living in Boulder I had not been to the Lake Brainard area until this Fall and was for sure missing out!
Since Lake Isabelle is located in the Lake Brainard Recreation Area, you will need to make a reservation in order to access this trail during prime hiking season (mid June-mid October). The reservations have a timed entry and are divided up by trailhead parking lots (for Lake Isabelle you need to reserve a Long Lake Trailhead Day Use Pass). If you are planning on backpacking, you will also need to reserve an overnight pass versus a day pass. More information can be found HERE.
While it can be a pain to reserve the tickets a few weeks in advance, it is 150% worth it. With the staggered timed entry we noticed that the trail never seemed too crowded, which is uncommon especially on weekends with this area's proximity to Boulder/Denver. The fee to park here is $14.00 per vehicle and the time slots are divided up by three hour windows. I've purchased both the 5am-8am and 8am-11am entry tickets and had no complaints on either.
Overall, I loved this hike and would certainly do it again! This is also a great trail to take out of town guests on who don't want to hike a super steep trail but are still looking for stunning views and perhaps some wildlife sightings- moose are commonly seen along this trail! There is also an option to make this trail more challenging and hike the Isabelle Glacier Trail which surpasses Lake Isabelle and heads up to the second lake and glacier (8.4 miles RT / 1,660 ft elevation gain). Your options are endless with Lake Isabelle and I can't recommend it enough!
Post Hike Lunch Ideas: On your drive back down to Denver/Boulder you drive through the super small mountain town of Ward, down through beautiful Lefthand Canyon and pop out in North Boulder. Once you arrive in North Boulder I recommend checking out the Rayback Collective, they are a well known food truck and beer garden venue that has a great outdoor space, is dog friendly, and has live entertainment!
Blue Lake via Mitchell Lake Trail
Lake Brainard Recreation Area in Ward, Colorado
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Distance: 6.2 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 994 ft
Drive Time: 50 minutes (Boulder) / 1 hour 20 minutes (Denver)
Like Lake Isabelle, Blue Lake is also located in the Lake Brainard Recreation Area and requires a reservation to access the trailhead parking lot during prime hiking season. For Blue Lake, you will specifically want to book the Mitchell Lake Trailhead- Day Use Parking Pass. Although this hike is just over 6 miles, I still wanted to include it in the pup friendly hiking guide since the trail is not too steep and if you are looking to stay closer to five miles, you do not need to hike all the way alongside Blue Lake once you've arrived, which adds on that extra mileage.
The trail leading up to Blue Lake is spectacular passing through wide open fields, shaded forests, lakes, and bridges over creeks. The chances of spotting wildlife on this trail are high, we saw two moose during our trip from a distance (one was taking a drink by the lake, the other was napping in a field). However, I have read on previous AllTrails user reports that moose are known to block the path so sometimes you have to hike back up and wait for them to pass!
Once you reach Blue Lake the views are stunning. I highly recommend hiking to the opposite side of Blue Lake and climbing up the rocks to take in the views looking down at the lake, pictured in the middle photo above! If you want to add on an additional challenge you can hike up to Little Blue Lake from Blue Lake which adds .4 miles RT to your hike and an additional 450 ft of elevation. The hike to get up to Little Blue Lake is more of a scramble and not too dog friendly, but if you don't have a pup with you this is a good extra challenge to tack onto your hike!
Post Hike Lunch Ideas: As this hike is off the same road as Lake Isabelle listed above, I recommend driving back down to North Boulder and checking out the Rayback Collective for an array of food trucks & the beer garden!
Lost Lake via Hessie Trail
Nederland, Colorado
Difficulty Level: Easy-Moderate
Distance: 4 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 830 ft
Drive Time: 40 minutes (Boulder) / 1 hour 10 minutes (Denver)
Lost Lake is located right by Eldora Ski Resort in Nederland, Colorado and the trailhead is a quick 40 minute drive from downtown Boulder making for the perfect day trip! You will gain 830 ft of elevation on the 2 mile trek up to the lake- the first half mile starts out relatively flat, picking up in heavier elevation gain for the following mile and a half.
The lake itself is beautiful and is the perfect spot to enjoy an afternoon lunch or snack while your dogs take a swim in the lake. Lost Lake is also a popular spot to camp since there are no advanced reservations required, so you will see a lot of backpackers hiking up and down the mountain.
This trail is heavily trafficked so the sooner you begin your hike, the better. The trailhead parking lot is small and tends to fill up quick (both weekdays and weekends). However, on weekends from May through mid October there is an option to park at Nederland High School and ride the free shuttle that drops you off 0.5 miles away from the trailhead instead if the parking lot is full. The shuttle arrives every 15 minutes and the ride is approximately 10 minutes to the trailhead. Mostly importantly- dogs are allowed to ride on the shuttle! More information can be found HERE.
Post Hike Lunch Ideas: On your drive back down to Denver/Boulder you will pass through downtown Nederland. Stop at Crosscut Pizzeria and Taphouse's dog friendly patio for some post hike pizza and beer. The views from their patio are beautiful and the food is delicious!
That's a wrap on my pup friendly beginner hiking guide! We had such a fun spring/summer/fall season checking out these beautiful spots with Breck, and will continue to update this post if we come across any new trails that are great for beginner puppy hikes! Have you completed any of these trails?! If so, drop a comment below on which hike was YOUR favorite. :)
Happy Hiking!
-Casey & Breck
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