12 Colorado Dog Adventures That Go Beyond The Usual Hiking Trail

Somewhere in Colorado right now, a dog is riding a gondola 10,500 feet above a mountain town, and nobody thinks that is strange.

This state has a habit of saying yes to pups in places most others would say no. Gold mines, drive-in movie lots, historic railcars, whitewater rafts: leashes are welcome at all of them.

If your walks have started feeling a little too familiar, here are twelve outings that swap the same old dirt path for something far more interesting.

1. Ride the Leadville Railroad

Clickety-clack beats crunch-crunch some days. The Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad at 326 E. 7th St. welcomes leashed, well-mannered dogs through spring, summer and fall.

Coach class is the spot. Lounge Car and 1007 Coach seats stay off-limits unless your pup is a service animal.

Owners sign a waiver at boarding.

Dogs over 20 pounds may need a child-rate seat and must stay on the floor. Views of Fremont Pass and Mount Elbert make it worthwhile.

2. Go rafting on the Arkansas River

Most Arkansas River outfitters wave dogs off. Monumental Expeditions, running trips near Buena Vista and Salida, does the opposite and invites them along.

Your pup needs a snug personal flotation device, which the outfitter can supply. Custom doggie decks can be added to the raft for extra comfort.

Pack a leash, water, collapsible bowl, treats and waste bags. Trips scale from mellow Salida Valley floats to splashier Browns Canyon stretches.

3. Take the Telluride Gondola

Free rides with a mountain view? Telluride delivers.

The gondola links town to Mountain Village with a stop at San Sophia Station, and it costs nothing to hop aboard.

Look for cabins marked with paw prints or a black lab sticker. Those are the designated pet cars, and roughly a quarter to half the fleet qualifies.

The trip runs about 12 minutes. Keep the leash on, and enjoy sweeping San Juan Mountain scenery.

4. Paddle Standley Lake

Calm water, big Front Range views, one firm rule. At Standley Lake Regional Park near 100th Avenue and Simms Street in Westminster, dogs paddle but never swim.

The lake supplies drinking water for several cities, so wading is off the table. Leashes stay on throughout the park.

Every craft enters through the main gate for an Aquatic Nuisance Species spray. Fees apply, rentals exist, and the season runs May through September.

5. Paddleboard Ridgway Reservoir

A thousand acres of blue with the Cimarron and San Juan peaks standing guard: Ridgway State Park at 28555 Highway 550 is a paddler’s happy place.

Dogs are welcome on boards and around developed areas, always leashed, even in the water. The fenced swim beach stays people-only.

Rent gear at the Blue Heron Marina from May through September. Dallas Creek makes an easy launch for non-motorized craft.

6. Explore the Great Sand Dunes

Picture your pup galloping across what looks like a desert, then splashing into a creek that appears out of nowhere. Great Sand Dunes National Park at 11999 CO-150 in Mosca allows leashed dogs in the main dunefield up to the first high ridge.

Medano Creek flows late April through June, peaking in May.

Summer sand hits 160 degrees. Go early or late, and protect those paws.

7. Take a dog-friendly Jeep tour in Cañon City

Bumpy backroads, red rock walls, and a co-pilot with excellent ears. Colorado Jeep Tours at 50905 W US 50 in Cañon City welcomes dogs of every size on guided runs.

Routes visit Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, Red Canyon Park and the Gold Belt Scenic Byway.

Reserve ahead and mention your pup. Small lap dogs ride free; anything over 20 pounds needs a seat fee and rides on the floor.

8. Go underground at Phoenix Gold Mine

Few dogs can say they have been inside a mountain. At the Phoenix Gold Mine, 800 Trail Creek Rd in Idaho Springs, leashed pups join guided tours deep underground.

Leashes must be six feet or shorter, carriers work too, and a pet waiver gets signed on arrival.

Tunnels hover around 45 degrees, so grab a light jacket. Gold panning usually comes with the tour, and finds are yours to keep.

9. Explore Manitou Cliff Dwellings

Ancient stone doorways, and your dog gets to walk through them. The Manitou Cliff Dwellings at 10 Cliff Dwellings Road in Manitou Springs welcome leashed pets everywhere, ruins and museums included.

Over 40 reconstructed Ancestral Puebloan rooms invite wandering, ducking and peeking.

The Anasazi Museum displays pottery, tools and artifacts. Open year-round with seasonal hours, plus picnic areas.

Steps and narrow passages mean four paws handle it better than wheels.

10. Watch a movie at Holiday Twin Drive-In

Popcorn, a blanket, and a warm dog leaning on your knee. Holiday Twin Drive-In at 2206 South Overland Trail in Fort Collins runs double features from late April into October.

Leash up outside the car and use the cleanup bags provided. Chairs and blankets belong in front of your vehicle, never beside or behind it.

Gates open near 7:15 PM. Audio comes through FM radio.

Snack bar stays pet-free.

11. Swim and roam at Chatfield State Park’s off-leash area

Sixty-nine fenced acres with two swimming ponds. Chatfield State Park, 11500 N.

Roxborough Park Rd. in Littleton, runs one of the state’s best off-leash areas.

You need a state park pass plus a DOLA pass, three dollars daily or twenty-five yearly. Voice control matters, and carry a leash and bags.

Trails wind through the space with reservoir and mountain views. Open 5 AM to 10 PM daily.

12. Drive Pikes Peak Highway

Nineteen miles of pavement climbing to 14,115 feet, and your dog rides free with your paid admission. Pikes Peak Highway starts at 5089 Pikes Peak Highway in Cascade.

Leashes are required, waste gets packed out, and only service animals enter the Summit Visitor Center or gift shops.

Altitude is real. Offer water often and keep activity light up top, where temperatures drop 30 to 40 degrees.