Dog walking in Roxborough Park

Chatfield State Park

The dog park at Chatfield State Park sprawls over 69 acres on Roxborough Park's northern border. Yes, you read that right: a whopping 69 fully-fenced acres where your pack can run free. With prairie, paved, and natural trails, and two ponds, there's so much to do that you might stay all day. A small fee applies in addition to the standard Park Pass admission to Chatfield State Park: the combined daily cost would be $10, but we think you'll want to invest in a cost-saving annual pass. Waste removal is required, so bring bags. You'll also need a leash for the trip from the car to the fence or to check out the other park trails. There are 20+ miles of park trails to explore; all allow on-leash pets, including the Chatfield Dam Trail and Chatfield Equestrian Loop (each approximately 3 miles long).

N Rampart Range Rd

Stretching east and west of N Rampart Range Road in southern Roxborough Park, a network of community trails gives your pup plenty of room to roam. To the east, trails run along Rampart near Village Circle East and connect to Crystal Lake for a lovely loop around the water. To the west, trails wind among ponds and trees in the green space adjacent to the Roxborough Skate Park and provide a pedestrian link to Village Circle West and Waterton Road. On the other side of Waterton is a trailhead for the High Line Canal Trail. This 71-mile dog-friendly hiking trail leads from Roxborough up through the southern Denver suburbs along the winding High Line Canal; you can follow it all the way to Aurora. 

Southwest Ken Caryl

Directly north of Roxborough Park, a cluster of huge county-managed parks lie along Deer Creek Canyon Road at the edge of Ken Caryl. South Valley Park features 7.5 miles of trail around sandstone outcroppings where on-leash dogs are welcome as long as they (and you) refrain from climbing on the delicate rocks. South Valley adjoins Deer Creek Canyon Park for a combined property of over 2,500 acres. The Deer Creek trail system is more than 13 miles long, and hikers and their pets need to keep a sharp eye out for rattlesnakes and large predators in this deep wilderness; you’ll be glad Spot is with you, but keep a tight hold on that leash. For a tamer adventure, Two Brands Trail at Hildebrand Ranch Park is a 5-mile loop, a third of which treks through a suburban neighborhood and the remainder through wildflower meadows and rolling hills.

Westridge

Highlands Ranch is about 14 miles northeast of Roxborough Park, just south of Littleton. This dog-loving city has 4 off-leash dog parks; Rover's Run at Redstone Park in the Westridge neighborhood features a large fenced enclosure for all your pup's frolicking needs. If you're working on fitness goals of your own, the park is a great launching point for serious on-leash hiking. You can catch the High Line Canal Trail in Redstone and follow it all the way home or north through the suburbs. Or, try a local trail: the Plum Valley Trail leads to Plum Valley Park and a cluster of parks on the south side. An urban trail connects Redstone Park to shopping centers on Town Center Drive, where you'll find a handful of dog-friendly restaurants with outdoor seating, including the pawpular brunch spot Eggs & I.

Morrison

The tiny town of Morrison (pop 435) is 19 miles north of Roxborough Park and adjacent to Red Rock Park and Amphitheater. Explore the dramatic rock formations with your on-leash buddy on a 7.4-mile loop hike on the Dakota Ridge Trail and Red Rocks Trail. For lunch, stop in downtown Morrison at The Cow Eatery. Locals love the food and rave about the heated, covered patio; it's pet-friendly and comfy year-round. Just south of town, scenic Mount Falcon Park is over 2,200 acres with 12 miles of dog-friendly trail. If your pup isn't wild about bikers or equestrians, try the hiking-only Turkey Trot Trail. For more adventurous pups, consider the Tower Trail: your buddy can even join you on a climb to the top of the namesake wooden lookout tower.