Dog-Friendly Lakewood: Trails, Patios, Parks & Services
Lakewood is where Denver's grid meets the foothills, with Green Mountain and Bear Creek on its doorstep and a leash law that follows your dog into the apartment courtyard.
The leash rule, and where it stops
Lakewood's municipal law requires any dog off its owner's property to be on a leash, chain or cord of reasonable length held by a responsible person. A dog dragging its own leash is a violation, and the ordinance covers apartment and condo common areas. All city parks are leash-restricted. The city's leash-law page names one exception, the dog park at Forsberg Iron Spring Park on West Alameda Parkway; our listings also record newer fenced areas at Mountair Park (2024) and Wright Park (2026), so check the city's current parks page before you unclip.
Green Mountain, Bear Creek and the Jeffco line
The big outing is William F. Hayden Park on Green Mountain, a city park and therefore leash-only; treat Bear Creek Lake Park the same until you confirm on the city's current page. Many nearby trails are actually Jefferson County Open Space, with its own rule: a leash of 10 feet or less, a $75 ticket off leash and $100 if the dog is also out of sight. See trails near Lakewood.
Licensing, transit and weather
Licenses are required annually through the Jefferson County program run by Foothills Animal Shelter, $20 per dog at the City Clerk's Office or online. RTD's W Line runs through the city but takes only small pets in closed carriers. Lakewood gets about 58 inches of snow a year, so rinse paws after walks on de-iced arterials. Afterwards, WestFax Brewing welcomes leashed dogs inside the taproom and Landlocked Ales allows them in the taproom and on the patio.
- CountyJefferson County
- Elevation5,656 ft
- Population156,927 (Census 2025 estimate)
- Leash lawLeash of reasonable length held by a responsible person whenever a dog is off the owner's property; all city parks leash-restricted except the Forsberg Iron Spring dog park
- Dog licenseRequired annually through the Jefferson County program run by Foothills Animal Shelter ($20 per dog at the City Clerk's Office or online)
- Off-leash optionsForsberg Iron Spring Park dog park; newer off-leash areas at Mountair Park and Wright Park per our listings (confirm with the city)
- TransitRTD (incl. W Line light rail): small pets in closed carriers only; service animals excepted
Dog-friendly hikes near Lakewood
- Green Mountain Loop – William F. Hayden ParkLakewoodLeash required · 6.6 mi
- Mount Carbon Loop – Bear Creek Lake ParkLakewoodLeash required · 6.6 mi
- Trading Post Trail – Red Rocks ParkLakewoodLeash required; no dogs on the Mount Morrison Trail · 1.7 mi
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Questions people ask
Where can my dog be off leash in Lakewood?
The city's leash-law page names a single exception to its parks rule: the dog park at Forsberg Iron Spring Park, 14800 W Alameda Pkwy. Our listings also record a fenced dog park added to Mountair Park in 2024 and a small one at Wright Park opened in 2026. Everywhere else in Lakewood, including Green Mountain and the Bear Creek Lake Park trails, a leash is required.
Does Lakewood's leash law apply inside my apartment complex?
Yes. The ordinance applies whenever a dog is off its owner's property, and the city's animal control page states that this includes apartment and condominium common areas. The leash must be of reasonable length and held by a responsible person; a dog dragging its own leash is a violation.
What is the leash rule on Jefferson County Open Space trails near Lakewood?
Jefferson County Open Space allows a leash of 10 feet or less and tickets a dog off leash at $75, or $100 if the dog is also out of its handler's sight; failing to pick up waste is another $75 and harassing wildlife is $300. Those rules apply on county parks around Lakewood, not on city parks such as Green Mountain, where Lakewood's own leash law governs.
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