If you are looking for a fun activity to do with your dog, take them to one of Colorado’s dog beaches! A dog beach is a place for owners to take their pets so they can enjoy being in water just like humans do! In Colorado there are several public dog beaches, all of which have something unique about them. We’ll explore these areas and what makes each one special.
Fort Collins Area Dog Beaches
Windsor Beach
Dogs are not allowed to swim at the Windsor Swim Beach, however there is a Windsor Lake Dog Park that can be found on the north end of Windsor Lake.
Boulder Area Dog Beaches
Twin Lakes Off-Leash Dog Swim
Located a couple of miles outside of Boulder and across the street from Avery Brewing, the West lake has a fenced-in area that is perfect for dogs. There are surrounding trees and grassy areas for your dog to explore outside of just the beach.
Union Reservoir Dog Beach
Located east of Longmont, Union Reservoir has an off-leash dog beach. It’s a great place to take your dog paddle-boarding!
Denver Area Dog Beaches
Chatfield Dog Park
This large dog park is fenced in and surrounds two small man-made lakes next to the Platte River. The lakes have small beaches that allow your dog to splash around in the water in an off-leash environment with other dogs. There is plenty of parking and restrooms are available. Because the park and beach is located in Chatfield State Park a park pass is required in order to bring your dog here by vehicle. You can however access the park via the Platte River trail system. Parking is free in a parking lot about a half mile away from the beach located north of C-470.
Dog Park Beach and Cherry Creek Access
This is a great dog beach for dogs of all sizes and ages. The beach runs along Cherry Creek on the south end of Cherry Creek State Park. It is an off-leash and fenced in area with wide sandy beaches running along the creek.
In the Mountains
Lake Dillon Reservoir
Lake Dillon has ample beach space for your dog to stretch their legs. Unfortunately there is not a designated dog beach area that is fenced in, and some areas strictly do not allow dogs off-leash. Most of the beaches are also nearby roads, so only use this beach if you have control over your dog.
Harry A. Nottingham Park
Located in Avon, this park has a large beach that allows off-leashed dogs during certain times of the day during the summer months. Refer to the Avon website for current rules on hours for off-leash dogs at the Harry A. Nottingham Park beach.