10 Iconic Denver-Area Hikes for You & Your Pup (Plus add-on eateries!)

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10 Iconic Denver-Area Hikes for You & Your Pup (Plus add-on eateries!)

In this guide, you'll find my 10 favorite dog-friendly hikes that take you to iconic front range locations, PLUS 6 dog-friendly eateries, perfect for post-hike bites or brews. If you're new to the area, or planning a visit here, this is for you! All of these can be accessed within an hour drive from the Denver area, and will reward you with a variety of amazing sights, sounds, smells, and guaranteed tail wags galore. Additionally, these all fall within the easy-moderate difficulty range. Included with each hike: -Access & parking considerations -Trail description & photos -Personal opinions on highlights -Considerations for success with your puppers -AllTrails links so you can find the exact trailhead coordinates and see other hikers' reviews -Other information to ensure the best possible hike This is a living guide, and will be updated as more information is learned. This is a living guide. As I discover more, I'll add more. You only have to unlock it once, and you'll get all future updates. Happy hiking!

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St. Mary's Glacier

A+ for having-it all.

St Mary's Glacier Trailhead

@pupperscouts

Description: This incredible trail takes you up a short rocky incline, to a stunning alpine lake surrounded by ancient bristlecone pine trees. The view of St. Mary's Glacier welcomes you west of the lake. Continue veering right on the trail, and right as you emerge above treeline, you will arrive at the base of this oh-so-famous snowfield. Once at the foot of the glacier, turn around, and you will be rewarded with incredible views of the Front Range. You can continue to hike all the way up to the top of the glacier, or simply play around a bit and head back down. Puppers will love the chance to wade in the lake and romp on the snow! If you're looking for a truly iconic hike that has everything, this one's for you! Difficulty Rating: Moderate This trail is short, but steep. Take your time, listen to your body, drink plenty of water, and you'll do great. Popularity Rating: High You'll encounter lots of other people and puppers on this trail. I actually like the communal vibes on this trail, because everyone is so stoked to be there. There's plenty of space on the wide trail, and around the lake and the glacier, so it never feels crowded. -Trailhead: St. Mary's Glacier -Stats: 1.6 mi roundtrip; 528 ft. elevation gain (more if you hike to the top of the glacier) -Getting there: You will drive on a dirt road to get here, but no high clearance or other off-road capabilities are needed. -Parking: This is the only bummer. You have to pay $20 to park in the privately owned trailhead lot. Bring cash, and don't try to cheat, as it's highly monitored. But the fee keeps the area maintained, and that's a plus. -Restrooms at the trailhead: Porta-potties -Puppers: On-leash on the trail, but tons of opportunities for play! Remember to pack out the poop. -Good to know: This is not actually a "real" glacier, it's a semi-permanent snowfield. But that doesn't stop backcountry skiers from carving turns all year round. 📍St. Mary's, Co, is located on the ancestral homelands of the Tséstho’e (Cheyenne), Hinono’eino’ Biito’owu’ (Arapaho), & Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) peoples

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Dinosaur Ridge

Did you know that you can see some of the most stunning REAL dinosaur tracks right in the Denver Metro Area? Photos just can't do them justice, you have to see in person!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lauren Weatherly

I’m a teacher, of littles and of teachers, who likes to get lost in the wilderness as often as possible. I’ve lived in Colorado for 25 years, and my little pupper scouts are my favorite adventure companions. Together with my partner Bryan, we love to hike and road trip all over the US. While adventuring, we always find ourselves wishing for more useful info about dog-friendly experiences. So I decided to combine my love for education with my love for adventuring, and start making some little travel guides to share our experiences with others. Some important things you'll want to know about my guides: -They're ALL dog-friendly. That doesn't mean that you have to hike with dogs to enjoy them. It just means that if you DO adventure with your dog, you don't have to spend a minute of extra time researching if/how dogs are welcome. I've got you covered! -In my own hiking adventures, I swing between visiting the most iconic and popular places, and finding off-the-beaten-path places that our pack can enjoy in solitude. You'll find a little bit of both in all my guides. -As a hiker, I’ve always leaned toward easy to moderate hikes, with stunning scenery. There's beauty abound in Colorado, and you don't have to be gaining thousands of feet of elevation to find it. If you're into extremes, you do you! But my guides focus on more accessible fun for all. -As a traveler, I tend to seek opportunities to engage in nature, eat amazing food, see some art, learn about history, and get a sense for how locals experience the place. If these also tick your travel boxes, you'll like my guides. -I'm passionate about diversity & inclusion in outdoor spaces. EVERYONE belongs outside, so bring a welcoming vibe with you on every adventure! Gatekeeping has kept many folks from marginalized communities away from natural spaces, and it's up to ALL of us to change that. -If you like these vibes, you can follow our adventures on Instagram @pupperscouts, where I'm continuously sharing new info about dog-friendly hiking and road tripping. A quick intro to my hiking guides: -In my FREE hiking guides, you get a curated list of a handful of hikes. With each, you get basic trail information and perspectives on why I love them. -In my $10 guides, you get a larger curated list of 8-12 hikes. You get basic trail information and perspectives on why I love them, plus additional info, photos, and recommendations. I also provide additional resources for successful hiking with humans and puppers. -A small number of hikes appear in multiple guides, but I prioritize making each guide a unique series of adventures with unique perspectives related to the overall theme of the guide. Road trip guides coming soon!

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What's included

Digital Map

Fully interactive, digital map for finding places nearby

19 places

19 hand-picked places with notes from the creator

10 photos

Beautiful, hi-res photos from the creator

6 links

6 links from the creator to go even deeper with more info

DESTINATION(S) COVERED

Colorado, USA

Nederland, CO, USA

Morrison, CO, USA

Golden, CO, USA

St Mary's, Colorado, USA

Sedalia, CO, USA

Boulder, CO, USA

Idaho Springs, Colorado, USA

Denver, CO, USA

FOCUSES AND THEMES

Families

Pets

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Groups

Digital Nomads

Plus Size

LGBTQ+

Solo Female

50+

Adventure

Budget

Wellness

Nature

Photography

Road Trip

Relaxation

Camping

Mountain

Sustainable/Eco

Van Life

History

Architecture

Design

Format

Guide

Guides typically include detailed information and how-to’s about a destination as well as suggested places to try.

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Thatch is an online marketplace that provides instant access to thousands of vetted local experts and premium travel guides - making it the easiest and most affordable way to take high quality trips with less stress. For travel creators (tastemakers, travel advisors, influencers and local experts) Thatch makes it easy to curate, publish, and sell digital travel guides, itineraries and personalized planning services.

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