Dog Friendly City Guide: Boulder, Colorado

Boulder sits where the plains stop and the Rocky Mountain foothills begin, and the city has organised itself around that fact. The trail network starts at the edge of town rather than an hour's drive away, which means a dog in Boulder gets mountains on a weekday evening and not just on holiday. It is a walking city with a serious appetite, and the two things fit together well.

Everything below comes from our own verified data, not the booking-site badges that pass for research elsewhere. Each place has been checked as genuinely dog friendly, and the hotels at the end are ranked against the Roch Dog Friendly Standard.

Where to Walk

The Boulder Mesa Trail is the classic, running south along the base of the foothills and connecting into most of what matters. Above it, the Green Mountain West Trail gives you the climb, and the Boulder Skyline Traverse strings the summits together for anyone whose dog has more in the tank than they do.

For water and shade, Boulder Falls Trail is the short one with the payoff, and South Boulder Creek via Walker Ranch Trail follows the water for longer. Walker Ranch Loop is the bigger day out west of town. Closer in, Bobolink Trail and the Lowline Trail do the flat, easy miles when nobody wants a mountain, and Boulder Viewpoint Trail hands you the panorama without the full commitment.

Where to Eat

Boulder's dog friendly table is independent almost across the board. Aperitivo handles the Italian end and Tangerine does the mornings. KT's BBQ is the smoke, Vic's Again the neighbourhood standby, and the Parkway Restaurant the unfussy sit-down.

For something faster with the dog at your feet, D'Angelo's Deli and Deli Zone both do the counter lunch, and Glacier Homemade Ice Cream & Gelato is the reward at the end of a hot trail day.

Where to Stay

Which leaves the bed. Boulder's certified hotels are each assessed and ranked against the Roch Dog Friendly Standard on what they actually do for a dog and its owner, not on what the booking page claims. Browse the full list of certified dog friendly hotels in Boulder to see how each one was rated, and what that rating buys you and your dog.