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Chautauqua Trail and Royal Arch

Dog-friendly hike near Boulder · Chautauqua Trailhead, 900 Baseline Rd at Grant Pl, Boulder

Illustration of Front Range foothills trail

Illustration of the region, not this trail.

Dogs on this trail

Dogs must be on a hand-held leash at all times unless they meet the Voice and Sight control standard and display a City of Boulder Voice & Sight tag; Chautauqua Trail requires a leash east of the 6th Street Connector and allows V&S west of it.

Source: City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks · checked 2026-10-24. Rules change; confirm before you go.

  • Distance0.7 mi
  • Elevation gain450 ft
  • Leash ruleVoice & Sight tag or leash
  • Water on trailNone — carry water
  • SeasonYear-round; icy on the upper trails in winter, hot and shadeless in the meadow by midday
  • Parking48-space lot by the Ranger Cottage plus limited street parking; paid on summer weekends and full by 8 a.m.; free Park-to-Park shuttle from downtown on summer weekends
  • FeeFree trailhead; paid parking on summer weekends and holidays
  • RestroomsRestrooms at the Ranger Cottage and top of Bluebell Road
  • Managed byCity of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks

Chautauqua is Boulder's front door to the Flatirons and the busiest trailhead in the OSMP system. The 0.7-mile Chautauqua Trail climbs the open meadow to the base of the First Flatiron; from Bluebell Road the steep, rocky Royal Arch Trail (0.8 miles each way, about 850 feet) continues to a natural sandstone arch. Both allow dogs under Voice & Sight with a tag, or on leash, with leash-only segments nearest the neighborhood. From Aug. 15 to Dec. 1 the adjoining Gregory Canyon, Saddle Rock and Amphitheater trails go leash-only for bear season. Expect crowds; a tagged dog with a bombproof recall is the only one that should be loose here.

Need a sitter while you summit?

Independent Boulder boarders and daycares can send free quotes. One short form, no obligation.

Dog boarding in Boulder Daycare in Boulder

After the hike

Upslope Brewing Company – Flatiron Park

1898 S Flatiron Ct, Boulder, CO 80301

Well-behaved, supervised dogs on a leash are welcome on the Flatiron Park patios; dogs are no longer allowed inside because of health department rules.

  • patio

Boulder · verified 2026-10-24

Avery Brewing Company

4910 Nautilus Ct, Boulder, CO 80301

Avery describes its outdoor beer garden and patio as dog-friendly; dogs stay outside while you drink and dine.

  • patio

Boulder · verified 2026-10-24

More trails near Boulder

All dog-friendly hikes near Boulder → · Boulder dog guide