Long Lake

Colorado is a pawsome place to go hiking with your fur buddy. If you're near Long Lake in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area, there's a trail there which you and your pup just shouldn't miss. Think stunning mountain scenery, a pristine lake surrounded by pine forests and grasslands specked with wildflowers and you'll be halfway to imagining how idyllic the Long Lake Trail is. To enter the Brainard Lake RA, you'll need to pay an $11 vehicle pass fee at the entrance station. The pass is valid for three days. If you're walking in, then the charge is just $1, and your fur baby goes free. 

To reach the trailhead, drive straight past the Pawnee Campground to the very end of Long Lake Road. Try to get there early as the trailhead parking lot fills up quickly and you could find yourself queueing for a spot. Being cooped up in the car for an hour or more is not what your fur buddy needs. They do need to be leashed on this trail though, and once you've gone a few hundred yards, you'll understand why. 

Once you and your hiking fur buddy get away from the parking lot, you'll be in a different and much less populated world. You may not see any other hikers while you're on the trail, but there's a good chance you might run into a moose or two. This dirt trail is an easy hike with no steep inclines to cope with, but that doesn't mean it's short on superior scenic views. 

Everywhere you turn, you'll be blown away by the vistas of mountains and the lake. It is so beautifully peaceful up there; you might not want to return to civilization. Take lots of food and water, as you may want to continue hiking with your fur baby. The Long Lake trail links up with the Jean Lunning Loop and the Pawnee Pass trail which you and your pup may want to trek along too. Have a pawsome time in the Colorado mountains!