Are you looking to adventure in Colorado’s Vail Valley with your pet? We have good news for you and your four-legged friend: Vail, Avon, Edwards, and Eagle are VERY pet-friendly towns and most activities are best enjoyed with a dog. Whatever the circumstance you will find numerous pet-friendly things to do in the beautiful Vail Valley. The list of pet-friendly activities in the valley are virtually endless, but below we highlight our top 10.
Hikes
The Vail Valley’s stunning views, incredible forests, and incredibly crisp fresh air is best experienced in person. Almost every one of the hundreds of trails in the valley is pet friendly, the following are a few local favorites that are hikeable year round. These trails are a nice mix of incredible natural beauty without too much uphill.
Riverwalk Hike and Bike Trail
Located right behind the Inn at Riverwalk hotel, this trail is plowed and a beautiful walk year round. This trail is paved, pet friendly, no incline, wonderful sounds of running water as the start of the trail follows the river. Connects to a huge playscape and large fields perfect for families. 1.25 miles East of the Inn this trail connects to Miller Ranch Open space which is a flat riverside well maintained dirt trail that goes for an additional 1-2 miles. Open Valley Views surround this extremely pet friendly and accessible trail.
Parking is available anywhere in Edward’s Riverwalk, but Inn at Riverwalk hotel guests will have it best as they can walk out anytime they are feeling like getting a little fresh air.
Eagle Vail Trail
An absolute locals favorite, this extremely well manicured trail starts immediately in an old growth Aspen forest. This trail is at its absolute best in the fall when you are immersed in the golden aspen leaves, however it is well hiked by locals year round so summer or winter are both accessible and beautiful. This trail is an out and back with two main branches. After about ½ of a mile you will reach a fork with one branch heading downhill, and the other uphill. The downhill option is the easiest if you are unaccustomed to the elevation, but both options are gentle and offer beautiful immersion into Eagle-Vail’s dense forest.
This trail is super pet friendly, and features several creek crossings dogs love to jump into and drink from. This trail usually has the muddiest and happiest pups seen in the valley.
Parking for this trail is located at the top of Eagle Drive.
June Creek
June Creek is a fantastic trail in Edward’s Singletree Community that is on a south facing slope. This means it holds less snow in the winter and is one of the best spring trails to hike. Summer midday will be bright and sunny, and the south facing vegetation makes for incredible views of Beaver Creek resort and several larger peaks.
The trail is wide and very social, and is an out and back that has a very gradual incline which rewards your walk home with a constant down hill. Parking is street parking and is usually nice and accessible. There is creek access for your pet to grab a dip or a drink from.
There are hundreds of other trails that are also pet friendly, but these should deliver some great options for you and your furry friend.
Parks
In following with the hiking theme, the Vail Valley is the kind of place where you want to be outside at all times and offers absolutely fantastic parks to have a more relaxed experience outdoors.
Our top recommendation is Nottingham Lake Park in Avon. Ample space, a large lake with stunning backdrops, huge broad trees to provide shade, a walking loop, a giant playscape for kids, ample picnic tables, and an off leash dog area make this park an incredible place to spend some time. Additionally the area features a Sandy beach with paddle board rentals in the summer.
Nottingham offers anything and everything you could imagine in a park and is extremely well maintained and clean.
Freedom Park is one of the most popular gathering places in Edwards, Freedom Park provides a a wide variety of year round outdoor activities. Known as an Edwards community treasure. Freedom park has a dog park, a large pond, lots of field space, walking and bike paths, a skate park, and a large playground. Park is walking distance from the Inn at Riverwalk along the hike and bike trail mentioned above and is a great place for dogs to let out a lot of energy in the dog park.
Up valley and closer to Vail is Ford Park which has some notably different activities and is a great place for a walk with your pet. The park includes the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens as well as several sculptures and a riverside trail along Gore Creek for a beautiful and stimulating walk.
Pet Friendly Food and Drink
There are lots of areas that host wonderful patios that are pet friendly. A few of our favorites include Vail Brewing Company and Rocky Mountain Taco in Eagle Vail. The area boasts delicious beers and tacos all in a wonderful pet friendly space. In the winter Beaver Creek Resorts Powder 8 has a large patio, live music and is right at the base of the mountain which offers a great view of skiers making their way down the mountain. Lastly there is the Solaris Plaza in Vail that features a wide variety of offerings including food, drinks, and an ice rink. Overall a great location to spend some time with a furry friend.
Places to Stay
If you are planning on travelling with a pet the Vail Valley of Colorado offers unlimited year round options that both the person and pup will enjoy. The Inn at Riverwalk is happy to make even further recommendations and is the best place to stay when visiting with your pet. The Inn at Riverwalk has pet friendly rooms, and is located right on an excellent walking trail. The Inn is right in the heart of Edwards with an excellent nightlife that is close enough for you to periodically check in on your pets.