Ski Colorado - Dogs Welcome!
There's always something to do and see in pet friendly Colorado Ski Country. Located just west of Denver in the spectacular Rocky Mountains, the area offers unparalleled opportunities and exceptional experiences. Breathtaking scenery, abundant outdoor pursuits, exciting festivals, and world-class winter sports are but a few of the activities available to you and your pet.
Travelers to Colorado Ski Country have a wide variety of pet
friendly accommodations from which to choose, including full-service
hotels, economical motels, five-star mountain resorts, historic bed
and breakfasts, modern condos, rustic lodges, and primitive
campsites. When it's time to eat, there's something for every
palate. Visitors can dine on everything from lean, succulent bison
burgers to tender Colorado lamb loin with a piquillo pepper crust.
Many cafes welcome your pet in their outdoor seating areas, but be
sure to call first to ask if the outdoor dining area is open. The
weather in Colorado Ski Country is often not favorable for outdoor
dining!
Although
this region is famous for its incredible skiing, exciting pet
friendly opportunities abound in every season. In summer, many
resorts transform their ski runs into hiking trails where your
leashed dog is welcome. Your pet can also run free on adjacent
National Forest Lands, where you might hear the haunting music of a
bugling elk or experience the grandeur of a mountain sunset. For
something different, you and your pet can ride the Silver Queen
Gondola to the top of 11,212-foot Aspen Mountain and begin your hike
there. The dramatic mountain vistas from this Rocky Mountain peak
are both humbling and awe-inspiring
Fall
brings spectacular, fiery displays of yellow and orange Aspen leaves
shimmering in the sunlight-perfect for a hike with your pet. Then
winter arrives in all its snowy glory, and Colorado Ski Country
comes alive with visitors from all over the world who wish to
experience first-class skiing and snowboarding. Other exciting
winter sports include snowmobiling, sleigh rides, dogsledding,
snowshoeing, snowtubing, and cross-country skiing. Pets aren't
allowed on any of the groomed Nordic trail systems in the winter,
but they're welcome to ski or snowshoe with you on non-maintained
trails.
If you wish to enjoy some of the exciting activities in the area that aren't pet friendly, it's no problem. Several affordable pet sitting and daycare businesses will lovingly care for your pet while you ski, golf, rock climb, mountain bike, fly fish, go horseback riding, or experience the exhilaration of whitewater rafting. Some resorts can also arrange an active pet caregiver who will take your pet hiking, snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing. Your pet will have a blast!
During
your visit, be sure to take a stroll through the charming pet friendly
towns and resorts in the area, including Aspen, Basalt, Beaver Creek,
Breckenridge, Crested Butte, Fraser, Keystone, Silver Creek, Steamboat
Springs, Telluride, Vail, and Winter Park. There you'll find everything
from historic buildings and quaint shops to sophisticated art galleries
and five-star spas. In Aspen, dogs are welcome on the outdoor pedestrian
mall, where they can quench their thirst in several fountains. Many
Aspen shop owners allow dogs inside. Pet friendly Telluride even
provides "puppy parking" posts throughout town to which you can leash
your dog while you shop around.
If you're still looking for something to do, check out one of the dozens of pet friendly festivals in the area. Whether it's Jazz or Cinema or Western Heritage, you're sure to find something that interests you. Just be sure to verify beforehand that the festival you wish to attend is pet friendly. For a change of pace, Fido might enjoy playing with new canine friends at one of the off-leash dog parks in the area. Carter Dog Park in Breckenridge is especially popular with locals and visitors alike.
So why not plan a getaway to pet friendly Colorado Ski Country today? No matter what the season, this vacation destination is certain to capture your imagination. Few places in the world can compare to the magnificent splendor of the rugged Rocky Mountains and the unequaled opportunities they provide. After your first visit, you'll want to return with your pet-again and again.