The capital and most heavily-populated city in the beautiful state of Colorado, Denver is a wonderful place to live, not just for the 750,000 people that call this city home, but also for the four-legged friends that dutifully keep them company.
Denver is a “mountain-west” city located in the high plains region of the Rocky Mountains.
Nicknamed the “Mile High City,” it sits at an elevation of exactly 5,280 feet above sea level; and it boasts an incredible number of recreational opportunities.
The city’s parks, including its wonderful dog parks, are spacious, green and loaded with amenities.
Collectively, they represent just some of the reasons why Denver was recently ranked the second-best city in the United States in which to live, as reported by the publication U.S. News & World Report.
The people in the city of Denver are very active to say the least, and most enjoy taking their dogs with them as they explore everything the town has to offer.
Fortunately, of all the cities in America, Denver might just be the most dog-friendly.
To illustrate this fact, in this article we will feature several of the best dog parks in the city of Denver, and highlight some of the aspects and amenities that make each of these doggie nirvanas so special and unique.
1. Cherry Creek State Park
Located just outside of Denver in the suburb known as Aurora, Colorado, Cherry Creek State Park is a massive vista spreading hundreds of acres in each direction.
In total, the park covers a whopping 4,000 acres and offers a wealth of land and water activities for those so inclined; as well as a full-service campground that, of course, welcomes dogs.
The off-leash dog park area at Cherry Creek will make you a king (or queen) in the eyes of your pooch.
This well-kept green space consists of 100 enclosed plush acres, allowing your dog to run and play freely as you relax in awe of their incredible energy.
Because Cherry Creek is so expansive, it is the perfect place to work on a variety of obedience and other training skills; and the shallow creek that runs along the back portion of the park is ideal for cooling off on a hot summer day.
For the upkeep and all the activities that are offered at Cherry Creek State Park, guests are asked to pay a $9.00 per carload fee to enter the park; and another $2.00 entrance fee to enter the off-leash dog park area.
For the regular visitor, annual passes are also offered at a much-reduced fee.
Payments can be made by cash or credit card, but checks are usually not accepted unless you opt to go with the annual pass.
2. Chatfield Dog Park
Offering nearly 70 acres of barking and playing paradise, Chatfield Dog Park is any canine’s dream.
Located in the heart of Denver, this park is very safe and convenient.
It is completely fenced off, and is home to lots of the amenities that dog owners look for in a dog park.
Both paved and unpaved footpaths wind and crisscross throughout the lush greenery of the park, offering a safe place for walking and learning on-leash skills.
Two ponds can also be found within the off-leash area; and parking is never a problem.
Socializing between dogs at the park is not only allowed but encouraged.
However, aggressive behavior of any kind will not be tolerated.
Owners are required to pick up any waste left by their dog and dispose of it properly in the marked receptacles located throughout the park.
The park allows a maximum of three dogs per handler, all of which must be leashed upon exiting your car and until you are safely within the gated off-leash area.
In order to use the Chatfield Dog Park, owners must purchase either a valid “off-leash” license for $3.00 or an annual state park pass.
Those that choose the latter will be granted access to all 42 of Colorado’s State Parks—making it the best deal available.
3. Stapleton Dog Park
If socialization is one of the main reasons you head out to an off-leash pet area, you simply cannot go wrong with Denver’s Stapleton Dog Park.
Located by the old Denver airport in the eastern quadrant of the city, Stapleton Dog Park is much smaller than the previous two dog parks by comparison—only about three acres—but it still offers plenty of room for your pooch to run off that excess energy.
The park is very busy on weekends, making it the perfect place for your dog—and you—to make some new friends while soaking up that glorious Colorado sunshine.
One of the aspects that differentiates Stapleton Dog Park from other off-leash pet areas is the entire park is made up of sand.
Your four-legged friend will love stretching his legs on this ultra-soft medium; and the benches spaced evenly around the park will allow you to watch all the fun in relative comfort.
If you’re looking for a conveniently-located, smallish dog park with a lot of pet and people traffic and easy access, give Denver’s Stapleton Dog Park a try today.
4. Centennial Dog Park
No list of the best dog parks in Denver would be complete without mentioning Centennial Dog Park, situated in the southern part of the city near Federal and Belleview.
With 37 acres of plush grass, all surrounding a centrally located pond, Centennial Dog Park offers hours of fun for both pooch and owner.
Centennial Dog Park is an off-leash facility at most times of the year, and it also includes a number of marked trails that are perfect for both on-leash and off-leash strolls through the wilderness.
It is one of Denver’s most well-known and adored dog facilities, and even though it is located in the southern end of the city, it is regularly attended by people and pets throughout Denver and beyond.
Centennial Dog Park is open from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM from November 1st through the end of February.
However, from March through October the park has split hours of operation: 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM; and 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM.