The Best Dog-Friendly Things to Do in Winter Park, CO

We love dogs, and luckily, so does just about everyone else in Winter Park! Living at Sojourn means your dog can be part of so much of your everyday life, from hiking and cross-country skiing to brewery patios and neighborhood walks. There are so many dog-friendly things to do around town, but here are a few of our favorites:

1. Hit the Hiking Trails

This one is pretty obvious, but Winter Park has no shortage of beautiful trails—and some are definitely better suited for dogs than others. We especially love trails with fewer mountain bikers and access to water where the dogs can cool off.

A few of our favorites, in no particular order:

• Vasquez Creek Trail & Confluence Park — conveniently located near Sojourn
• Devil’s Thumb
• Dead Horse
• Fraser River Trail — we especially like the dirt section from Winter Park to Fraser, which tends to have fewer bikers than the paved sections
• Bench Trail
• Columbine Lake
• Monarch Lake
• Jim Creek
• Creekside

2. Cross-Country Skiing with Your Pup

Our dogs LOVE this one. They love the snow, and we love that we can get out for a longer adventure together.

Just make sure to take care of those paws! Some dogs are more prone to getting snow clumps between their paw pads, and lots of time outside can leave their pads cracked or sensitive. Booties can help, or you can use a paw balm to keep their paws protected.

For cross-country skiing, we like wider trails where there is plenty of room to move and you can make the outing as long or short as your dog wants. Some favorites include:

• Blue Sky
• Fraser Ball Fields — they groom a track in the winter
• Fraser River Trail’s Lunch Loop — a winter-only trail near the Fraser ponds
• Dead Horse
• Little Vasquez Trail
• Idlewild Trail System — there is a lot of variety here if you're up for an adventure, but we usually stick to the more mellow trails. Park at the Friendship Drive trailhead.

3. Fraser Ball Fields

If your dog loves to fetch, swim, and make new friends, you have to check out Fraser Ball Fields! Located just north of Fraser, about three miles from Winter Park, the fields have a pond where dogs can swim and plenty of open space to play fetch.

The people and dogs are generally just as friendly as you'd expect around here. Just be mindful that the facility is shared by lots of people doing different activities.

It is also a great winter spot for cross-country skiing or walking along the groomed trail.

4. Walk Around Downtown Winter Park

A walk around downtown is one of our favorite things to do with the dogs—especially during those in-between seasons when the trails are muddy.

The sidewalks are great, there are plenty of doggie stations, and our pups love taking their time smelling absolutely everything. It is a simple way to give them some enrichment while getting out for a stroll.

It is also a nice option for dogs with mobility issues who may not be up for a mountain hike. Don't forget to explore some of the side streets, too, like Vasquez Road, Lions Gate and Idlewild Road, where sidewalks have been added in recent years.

5. Bring Your Dog to the Party!

When you live in Winter Park, you get to know people—and their dogs—pretty well. It is not uncommon to show up to a party and realize there are almost as many dogs as people!

Dogs are part of the social scene here. Some breweries allow dogs inside, so it is always worth calling ahead to check, and plenty of restaurants welcome dogs on their patios.

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Life Is Better with a Dog in Winter Park

Having a dog in Winter Park really is the best. You quickly get used to including your dog in just about everything—from your daily adventures and cozy nights on the couch to vacations and even carrying the rings down the aisle at your wedding.

We can't think of a better place for a dog to live.

We sometimes joke that our dogs probably know more people in town than we do. There is even a common bumper sticker around here that says, “Tell your dog I say hi.”

Honestly, that pretty much sums up the dog vibe in beautiful Winter Park—and it's just one more reason we love calling this place home.

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