Dog-Friendly Hikes near Durango, CO
Durango draws a clean line: leashes on every city trail, voice control once you step onto National Forest, and a winter closure on the BLM rims in between.
City of Durango Code Sec. 4-41 requires a leash on all city parks, open space and trails, and the city's dog page names the Animas River Trail, Horse Gulch, Animas Mountain and Dalla Mountain Park. Dogs may swim in the Animas and at Lake Nighthorse (not the swim beach) but must be leashed on land. The Colorado Trail from Junction Creek is San Juan National Forest, where the city notes dogs may be under voice control; leash in the parking area. The upper Animas Mountain and the Grandview Ridge side of Horse Gulch are BLM land.
The Horse Gulch lot fills after work and on weekend mornings; the Animas Mountain and Dalla Mountain lots are full by mid-morning on weekends; Junction Creek's lot fills on weekend mornings with overflow at the campground up the road.
BLM closes Animas City Mountain and Grandview Ridge from December 1 to April 15 for wintering deer and elk; Dalla Mountain Park's lower trails and the city side of Horse Gulch stay open all winter. Oxbow Preserve at the north end of the river trail does not allow dogs. Watch the current during May and June runoff.
- Animas River TrailDurangoLeash required · 8.2 mi
- Horse Gulch – Telegraph TrailDurangoLeash required · 2.75 mi
- Animas Mountain LoopDurangoLeash required; seasonal closure Dec. 1–April 15 on BLM land · 5 mi
- Colorado Trail – Junction Creek to Gudy's RestDurangoVoice control permitted on National Forest; leash in the parking area · 7.6 mi
Leash rules come from each land manager's published regulations on the date shown on the trail page. Rules change seasonally; check before you go.
Hiking with dogs near Durango: FAQ
Are dogs allowed off leash on Durango trails?
Not on city trails. Durango's leash law covers Horse Gulch, Animas Mountain, Overend and the Animas River Trail, and the only in-city off-leash area is the dog park at Smelter Mountain. On the National Forest surrounding town, including the Colorado Trail from Junction Creek, the city says dogs may be under voice control.
When is Animas Mountain closed?
The BLM Animas City Mountain trails close December 1 through April 15 to protect wintering deer and elk, and the Grandview Ridge trails on the BLM side of Horse Gulch close for the same period. Dalla Mountain Park's lower trails and the city side of Horse Gulch stay open year-round.
Can my dog swim in the Animas River?
Yes. The city allows dogs to swim in the Animas and at Lake Nighthorse away from the swim beach, as long as they are leashed on land. The Animas River Trail gives access every few hundred yards; the current is strong during May and June runoff and the river is busy with tubers in July.