If you’re moving to Denver with a dog, the area has a lot of great dog parks. Perfect for letting an apartment dog run off some steam or for letting an only dog have some extra social time, these parks are also a great place to meet like-minded people. Here are the top five dog parks in Denver:
1. Railyard Dog Park
Located a short five minute walk from the popular LoDo neighborhood, the Railyard Dog Park offers fun off-leash playtime for dogs of all sizes, and it offers a separate play area for small and large dogs. If you have a large dog who loves to play but doesn’t know his own size, the separate zones allow him to play without accidentally intimidating any small dogs, and on the other hand, your small pup doesn’t have to worry about being trod upon or lost in a sea of big dogs.
The play areas at Railyard Dog Park are primarily dirt rather than grass, but this doesn’t deter the dogs’ excitement at all. After a rainy day, much of the dirt turns to mud, a trait most pups love, but it can be messy for owners.
This park offers shade for dogs, a water fountain for filling up dog bowls or human water bottles, free doggy doo bags and some seating areas for owners. Finally, as suggested by the name, it’s located by a railyard, and you can watch the trains go past against an urban tableau of high rises in the distance.
19th St And Bassett St
Denver, CO 80202
2. Lowry Dog Park
Situated in the Lowry neighborhood, the Lowry Dog Park is one of the busiest of all Denver dog parks, and it has happy pooches and their owners coming and going all day long. The park offers two distinct play areas, but rather than dividing dogs by size or weight, this park has one area for energetic dogs and one for are for more relaxed dogs. That makes it easy to find the ideal canine crowd for your pooch whether he’s a jumpy excited young thing or an older, more relaxed senior.
Rather than dirt or grass, the Lowry Dog Park features gravel. That helps to lock the dust in, and it doesn’t turn to mud as quickly as dirt does in the rain or snow. As a result, you leave the park with a cleaner pooch than you would have if you went to a dirt-based dog park.
During the summer, there are water fountains and shade available, and the park has a reputation for hosting responsible owners and well-behaved dogs.
Yosemite Way
Denver, CO 80230
3. The Stapleton Dog Park
If your dog loves sand, the Stapleton Dog Park needs to be on your destination list of Denver dog parks. Its central location north of Colfax Avenue and East of the Denver Zoo make it easy to reach for residents of Denver, Stapleton, Aurora, and Lowry, and it’s next to Fred Thomas Park so you can let the kids play while your dog meets up with his friends as well.
The sand at this dog park tends to be less messy than dirt or mud, and dogs who love to dig really enjoy the freedom to make hole after hole. Unfortunately, the Stapleton Dog Park does not offer free poop bags or host a water fountain, but the community spirit at this park overrides those limitations.
Many owners bring bags to share in case anyone forgets theirs, and they also tend to bring large gallon jugs of water so that they can fill up the communal dog bowls that have been donated to this park. Unfortunately, this park like many of the parks in Eastern Denver does not have adequate shade — the trees are still growing at many of these relatively new parks. However, that’s simple to mitigate — just bring a hat, a sun umbrella or pop a squat under a canopy set up by one of the frequenters to this park.
The Stapleton Dog Park
2002 Spruce St, Denver
CO 80238
4. Forsberg/Iron Spring Dog Park
Located in Lakewood, Forsberg/Iron Spring Dog Park is the ideal location for dog owners who live in the eastern metro area, but it’s stunning views and great vibe draw dogs and owners from around the entire metro area.
The park has two separate areas, and you can choose your area based on what your dog loves to do, rather than his size or energy levels. The first area features a slope, and after running up and down that a while, even the most hyper dog is bound to wear out. The other area hosts a dog agility course with lots of obstacles, jumping challenges and even a see-saw.
Nestled in the foothills, the Forsberg/Iron Spring Dog Park offers great views of the Red Rocks Amphitheatre as well as views of the Rocky Mountains behind it. The park features pathways, picnic areas, and a playground so you can easily turn a trip to the doggy park into a family affair.
There is ample parking available, and the park has water fountains. However, they are shut off during the fall, winter, and part of the spring so remember to bring your own during those seasons.
Forsberg/Iron Spring Dog Park
14800 W Alameda Pkwy
Denver, CO 80228
5. Fuller Dog Park
Centrally located in the heart of Denver near the intersection of I-25 and I-70, the Fuller Dog Park is ideal for people who live in the city or the Eastern inner ring suburbs. Like most of the public dog parks in Denver, Fuller features sand and two areas for dogs to play off leash.
The first area is relatively large and is perfect for big dogs or rowdy active dogs. The second area is a bit smaller but still large enough for a couple of rounds of fetch with a tennis ball, and it attracts small dogs or less active older dogs.
Owners can join in the puppy play, or they can relax nearby in the shade on one of the park’s many benches. This park is often very busy and dog owners who prefer to only meet a few other people should try it on a weekday morning when it’s relatively slow.
However, in spite of the crowds, the vibe at the Fuller Dog Park is very friendly. There are even a group of regulars who meet with their dogs every day after work to enjoy a frosty can of beer (only 3.2 beer allowed in the park) while watching their dogs play together.
2801 Williams St
Denver, CO 80205
2 Point Highlight
This park offers shade for dogs, a water fountain for filling up dog bowls or human water bottles, free doggy doo bags and some seating areas for owners.
Many owners bring bags to share in case anyone forgets theirs, and they also tend to bring large gallon jugs of water so that they can fill up the communal dog bowls that have been donated to this park.
