Rocky Mountain National Park is a really special place and it would be great if you could share it with your dog, wouldn’t it? It’s a beautiful park full of mountain views, sparkling lakes, and of course tons of elk and moose. But the question remains – is Rocky Mountain National Park dog friendly?
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Is Rocky Mountain National Park Dog Friendly?
And when I say, nope, I really mean it!
National Park Dog Friendly Rating:
Rocky Mountain National Park is unfortunately not very dogs friendly, so it may be best to leave the pups at home if you want to spend most of your time inside the park. However, if you are willing to change your plans a bit, there are PLENTY of dog friendly places nearby in Colorado.
Where Are Dogs Allowed Inside The Park:
- Leashed pets may join their people in the following areas:
- Along established roads or in parking areas
- In established campgrounds and picnic areas
- Pets must be kept on leashes no longer than six feet.
- Pets may not make noise that impacts visitors or wildlife.
- Pet owners must pick up and dispose of pet excrement in trash receptacles.
Where & Why Are Pets Prohibited:
- Pets are prohibited on all trails, tundra, and meadows inside the park.
- Rocky is a wilderness. For this reason, your pup could become prey for wildlife like coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, or even a great horned owl. They can also spook bigger mammals in the park, such as elk.
- Dogs are predators that can chase, scare, and transmit diseases.
- Did you know that dogs leave behind a ‘predator’ scent? They do, and the scent can linger, disrupting the native animals this park protects.
- Pets may dig or trample fragile vegetation.
Know Before You Go: Rocky Mountain National Park Edition
- You will need to pay an entrance fee at Rocky Mountain National Park. One Day Passes Prices listed below. You can also purchase a 7 day pass.
- Automobile – $25.00
- Per Person – $15.00 (walk-ins, bicycles)
- Motorcycle – $25.00
- Rocky Mountain Annual Pass – $70.00 (buy online here)
- American The Beautiful Pass – $80.00 (buy online here)
- No cash is being accepted at this time (2021). Only debit/credit card payments at the gates.
Know Before You Go: Pup RMNP Edition
- You may not leave your pet unattended in vehicles if it creates a danger to the animal or if the animal becomes a public nuisance.
- Pets may not be left tied to vehicles, trees, or other objects.
- Pets are incredibly susceptible to overheating. Even in the mountains on mile days, temperatures inside vehicles rise quickly, and pets left in vehicles can overheat and die. Cracked windows provide very little relief.
- Pets are not allowed in any park visitor centers.
- Doggy daycare, boarding facilities, and veterinary clinics are available in nearby communities.
Find out more here.
Dog Boarding Kennels Near Rocky Mountain National Park:
*Please note, I have not tried any of these places and am simply going on reviews.
Mountain Mongrels Dog Boarding
- 525 Grand Ave, Grand Lake, CO 80447
- (970) 531-0837
Estes Park Pet Lodge
- 1206 Manford Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517
- (970) 586-9282
Rocky Mountain Kennels
- 1066 Co Rd 32, Longmont, CO 80504
- (303) 651-3647
Veterinary Offices Near Rocky Mountain National Park:
Animal Medical Center – Estes Park
- 1260 Manford Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517
- (970) 586-6898
Animal Hospital Of The Rockies
- 453 Pine Rive Lane, Estes Park, CO 80517
- (970) 586-4703
But What Can I Do With My Pups?:
It’s a general rule of thumb that state and national forests offer dog friendly trails and are usually pretty close by National Parks that do not.
Check out Estes Park and Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest for more dog friendly options close to the park.
Plus, I’ve got this handy list for ya!
7 Fun Things To Do With Your Pups Near Rocky Mountain National Park
1. Drive Trail Ridge Road Inside RMNP –
Covering the 48 miles between Estes Park on the park’s east side and Grand Lake on the west, this road does not disappoint. There are plenty of overlooks and pull offs for you to enjoy on the drive. And 11 miles of the road go above the treeline and venture near 11,500 feet. If there is one thing you do while at Rocky Mountain National Park, I highly recommend driving Trail Ridge Road. You also have the chance to see wildlife.
2. Enjoy A Drink Or Meal In Estes Park –
There are several pet friendly options in Estes Park.
- 1825 N Lake Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517
- Offers a wide range of yummy sounding whiskeys.
- 390 W Riverside Dr, Estes Park, CO 80517
- Offering a wide range of craft brews including a delicious sounding IPA.
La Cabana Mexican Bar & Grill –
- 165 Virginia Dr, Estes Park, CO 80517
- Their food sounds amazing!
3. Take A Hike In Estes Park:
Kruger Rock Trail
- Distance: 4 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 977 ft
Crosier Mountain Trail
- Distance: 10.3 miles
- Rating: Hard
- Elevation Gain: 3,284 ft
Lake Estes Trail
- Distance: 3.8 miles
- Rating: Easy
- Elevation Gain: 190 ft
I’ve kayaked in Lake Estes and it’s beyond gorgeous! So is this trail!
Panorama Peak & The Notch Trail
- Distance: 7.3 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 1,4000 ft
4. Visit Boulder, Colorado
Approximate Travel Time: 56 minutes
It doesn’t get more dog friendly than Boulder, Colorado. And there are tons of things to do with your pup!
Top Dog Friendly Things To Do In Boulder:
Sip Or Eat At A Dog Friendly Patio –
The Kitchen & Next Door
- 1039 & 1035 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302
- These two side-by-side sister restaurants offer true farm-to-table goodness and perfect patios to enjoy the food with your pups!
Sanitas Brewing
- 3550 Frontier Ave Unit A, Boulder, CO 80301
- Craft beer, a patio with picnic-style tables, and mountain views – what’s not to love?
Upslope Brewing
- 1898 S Flatiron Ct, Boulder, CO 80301
- 1501 Lee Hill Drive, Boulder, CO 80301
- Both Upslope locations allow dogs in both their taprooms and patios as long as they are on leash. How awesome?
Take a Hike –
Wonderland Lake Trail
- Distance: 1.7 miles
- Rating: Easy
- Elevation Gain: 82 ft
Chautauqua Trail
- Distance: 1.2 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 419 ft
- **be cautious of algae blooms in lake and ponds in this area. These algae blooms can be toxic to both dogs and humans.
Grab Some Locally Baked Treats For The Pup(s) –
Farfel’s Farm
- 906 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302
PC’s Pantry
- 2828 30th Street, Boulder, CO 80301
5. Make Sure To Check Out Fort Collins –
Approximate Travel Time: 1 hour
Fort Collins is a can’t miss if you are looking for dog friendly options in Colorado.
Top Dog Friendly Things To Do In Fort Collins:
Hike Horsetooth Falls & Horsetooth Rock Trail
- Distance: 6.4 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 1,584 ft
Sip At New Belgium Brewery
- 500 Linden Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524
- New Belgium is the perfect place to spend a sunny day for a great outdoor experience with the pup(s). They’ve got food trucks, games, but keep in mind dogs aren’t allowed on the brewery tour and must be leashed at all times while on the premise.
Cool Off With Popsicles At Revolution Artisan Pops
- 309 S Summit View Drive Ste 5, Fort Collins, CO 80524
- Revolution Artisan Pops offers fresh and locally sourced gourmet popsicles AND pupsicles. That’s right, you and your dog can enjoy these treats to cool off on a hot summer day.
6. Don’t Skip Colorado Springs –
Approximate Travel Time: 2 hours
Colorado Springs is an incredibly dog friendly area. While it’s a little hike from RMNP it’s well worth the trip to spend the day with your furry friend.
Top Dog Friendly Things To Do In Colorado Springs:
Visit Garden Of The Gods
There are many dog friendly trails at Garden Of The Gods including
Palmer, Buckskin-Charlie, Niobrana and Bretag Trail
- Distance: 4 miles
- Rating: Easy
- Elevation Gain: 449 ft
Perkin Central Garden Trail
- Distance: 1.1 mikes
- Rating: Easy
- Elevation Gain: 75 ft
Susan G Bretag Trail and Palmer Loop Trail
- Distance: 2.5 miles
- Rating: Easy
- Elevation Gain: 312 ft
Drive Pikes Peak Toll Road
The Pikes Peak Toll Road allows you to drive your car up to the top of Pikes Peak at an altitude of over 14,000 feet. Dogs are not allowed on the Cog Railway. And need to be leashed at all times when outside of your vehicle. Find out times and prices here.
Check Out A Trail At Red Rocks Open Space With Your Pups
Sand Canyon, Mesa, Greenlee, Red Rock Canyon Loop
- Distance: 5.1 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 885 ft
I’m going to do another post on ALL of the dog friendly things to do in Colorado Springs soon.
7. Visit another National Park In Colorado –
Great Sand Dunes National Park:
Approximate Travel Time – 5hours
Great Sand Dunes is a much more pup friendly National Park. Although it isn’t very close to RMNP it is a nice little day trip. Dogs are permitted at a few places in Great Sand Dunes.
Some Dog Friendly Great Sand Dunes Trails:
Sand Dunes Loop Trail
- Distance: 5 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 741 ft
Mosca Pass Trail
- Distance: 6.4 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 1,459 ft
Dunes Overlook Sand Ramp Trail
- Distance: 1.5 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 265 ft
Things To Keep In Mind: Great Sand Dunes
- Pets are not permitted inside visitor center, bathrooms, backcountry areas, and off of the Dunes Overlook Trail.
- Hot Sand Temperatures during the summer months. The surface temperatures can reach up to 150 degrees F. So plan to hike the dunes early in the morning.
- As always, do not leave pets unattended in vehicles for any reason During the summer months temperatures reach dangerous levels within minutes.
- Be aware of the prickly pear cactus in the park. If your pet walks into the grasslands make sure to walk slowly to avoid injury from the sharp cactus spines.
- Be aware of the dangerous animals in the park – these include deer, mountain lions, bears, coyotes, badgers, and porcupines.
Find out more here.
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison:
Approximate Travel Time – 6 hours
While not all of the trails in Gunnison are dog friendly there are several options within this beautiful park.
Cedar Point Nature Trail
- Distance: .4 miles
- Rating: Easy
- Elevation Gain: 52 ft
North Rim Chasm View Nature Trail
- Distance: .1 miles
- Rating: Easy
- Elevation Gain: 0 ft
Rim Rock Trail
- Distance: 1.5 miles
- Rating: Moderate
- Elevation Gain: 187 ft
Find out more here.
What To Pack For The Dogs
- Extra tags (incase of loss)
- Copy of Rabies Vaccines – Vet/Vaccine Records
- Leashes
- Harnesses
- Hammock Seat Cover
- Dog Seat Belts
- Crate/Kennel
- Dog Bed (I usually bring one for the car)
- Food & Water Bowls
- Care Products – I always bring Benadryl, Famotidine, Nose & Paw Ointment
- Dog First Aid Kit
- Poop Bags (and please use them) And THIS handy little thing
- Cleaning Supplies (at the very least carpet cleaner)
- Toys/Kong/Bones/Treats (Freya needs distractions on long roadtrips)
- Ball (its always a good idea to have at least a ball)
- 50 ft leashes for Airbnb yards
- Towels (esp if you have messy dogs like mine)
- A Current Photo (in case they get lost)
- Backpack
- Collapsible Water Bowl
New To Traveling With Your Dog? Need A Packing List?
Mapping Out
Dog Friendly Rocky Mountain National Park:
There are so many great, pet friendly things to do in Colorado! The next time you visit Rocky Mountain National Park remember there are many pet friendly options right outside the park. Bring the furry kids with you on your next trip to Colorado, you won’t regret it!
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