Colorado is a notoriously dog friendly state. So I was determined to spend the perfect weekend exploring my home with my dog, finding all the new experiences for him that I could! Time to take your furry friend for a new adventure!
Road Trip Time!
We headed south to Woodland Park, which is an easy drive from Denver, about 1.5 hours. On the way, stop in Manitou Springs or Colorado Springs. There are plenty of dog friendly breweries, or take a hike with your pup in Garden of the Gods.
Take a hike!
After the drive, you and your doggo deserve to stretch the legs. Here are a couple of my favorite trails near Woodland Park:
Elder-Fehn Trail: this is a 5.1 mile Loop trail with just over 900 feet of elevation gain. It touts beautiful views of Pikes Peak as you meander through the forest. There are several trails that connect here, and even mid-day on a Saturday this one was not busy!
Horsethief Falls Trail: This is one of the more popular trails in the area for good reason! 2.6 miles out and back with 550 feet of gain to a beautiful waterfall.
Note that dogs are NOT allowed on trails in local Mueller State Park so plan accordingly if you really want to hike there. And as always, pick up after your pet on the trails!
Where to Stay:
We love staying with Mountain Cabin Adventures! They have 3 locations around Colorado, one in Woodland Park and others located in Divide and Palmer Lake. For more information on their Woodland Park location that we stayed at, click here. It is dog friendly with a closed in wrap around porch perfect to let puppies explore safely! Relax at your cabin for the night before you head to Cañon City tomorrow!
Cañon City For Pups
Ready for an epic dog-friendly adventure? Well, Colorado Jeep Tours has you covered! Their Jeep tours are pet friendly and such a blast! Our tour took us through beautiful countryside, over The Royal Gorge (they include tickets so you can return later if you want), to an INCREDIBLE hidden view spot, and we ended with a drive over Skyline Drive.
They have combo tours to include rafting, the railroad, or a local winery as well! All ages are welcome, so book today!
Grab a sip at the Abbey Winery
This winery is on the ground of an old abbey and it is so serene! They have a tasting room with beautiful outdoor seating (dog friendly of course). You can order bottles, wines by the glass, or flights. And if you want the full experience, try out their VIP tasting! You get to try every wine on their current menu, and you have a personal guide walk you through each wine accompanied by a wonderful charcuterie board. Their blends are amazing, and I definitely recommend trying The Alchemist.
Tunnel View Drive Trail
After that wine and food if you want a nice walk, check out this trail. There is a small hill initially, but it flattens out and takes you above and alongside the river. The tunnels are fun to walk through, and this is an easy spot right in town to feel like you are a bit away from everything.
From there, head back to your cabin and prep to drive back to Denver in the morning. You will have a tired and very happy pup! Kenai had the best time, and I loved making these memories with him, so I highly recommend taking your pup on a weekend adventure soon!
As always, subscribe to the blog to stay up to date and drop any questions in the comments below! Happy adventures, fam!
*I was hosted for some of the experiences mentioned in this post
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