Dog-friendly Fort Collins: where we walk

Easy, paved and reliable

• Spring Creek Trail — flat, shaded in stretches, connects much of town
• Poudre River Trail — long and scenic, good for dogs with stamina
• Lee Martinez Park — central, wide paths, river access nearby
• Rolland Moore Park — big open lawns and loops, easy parking
• City Park — classic strolls, plenty of squirrels to disappoint your dog
• Fossil Creek Trail — quieter southern-Fort Collins option

When a dog wants something bigger

Horsetooth Reservoir and the foothills open space areas west of town give real elevation and real views. They also give sun exposure, cactus, goatheads, rattlesnakes in warm months, and trail traffic. Bring more water than you think you need, keep the leash on, and turn around earlier than your dog's enthusiasm suggests.

For client dogs, I stick to routes we've agreed on. Foothills hikes are something I'll do only when an owner specifically asks and the dog is genuinely conditioned for it.

Off-leash areas, and why I avoid them with client dogs

Fort Collins has designated off-leash spots, and plenty of dogs love them. But an off-leash area is a room full of strangers with teeth, and I'm not willing to gamble someone else's dog on the temperament of a dog I've never met. Unless an owner explicitly requests it, client walks stay on leash.

Summer: heat is the actual hazard

• Walk before 10am or after 7pm in July and August
• Press the back of your hand to the pavement for seven seconds — if you can't, neither can paws
• Carry water for any walk over 20 minutes
• Watch flat-faced breeds closely; they overheat far faster than they show
• Never leave a dog in a car here, even briefly, even in shade
• Check for goatheads and cheatgrass in paws after dirt trails

Winter: cold, salt and short daylight

• Rinse or wipe paws after sidewalks treated with ice melt
• Booties or paw balm for dogs who lift their feet in the cold
• Coats for thin-coated, senior and small dogs — this isn't pampering at 10 degrees
• Shorter, more frequent walks beat one long freezing one
• Reflective gear, because 4:45pm is dark in December
• Watch for ice on ramps and stairs, especially with arthritic dogs

Being a good neighbor

• Bag it and pack it out, including on trails
• Leash up around bikes, kids and other dogs by default
• Give wildlife wide distance — deer, foxes and rattlesnakes are all local
• Ask before letting your dog greet another; not every dog is friendly, and that's allowed

Frequently asked questions