Dog-Friendly Hikes near Evergreen, CO
Evergreen's trails are Jefferson County parks at 7,000 feet and above: leash-only, early-filling lots, elk in the meadows and ice until April.
Jefferson County Open Space owns the big four, and its rule is a leash of ten feet or less under physical control, with a $75 fine. Alderfer/Three Sisters is the backyard park; Elk Meadow climbs to Bergen Peak, and its former 107-acre off-leash area has been closed since 2017; Mount Falcon has a gentle west side and a brutal east side; and Lair o' the Bear is where local dogs swim. Evergreen Lake is Denver Mountain Parks land run by the recreation district: leash on land and on vessels, no swimming for pets, no dogs on the ice. The nearest legal off-leash area is Beaver Ranch in Conifer.
Lots fill early. Alderfer's East Trailhead is full by 8 a.m. on weekends (overflow at Wilmot Elementary; the rebuilt West Trailhead has more room), Lair o' the Bear is full by 9 a.m. in summer with no roadside parking on Highway 74, and Mount Falcon's West lot fills by 9 a.m. with the Morrison lot going earlier.
Elk rut through September and October at Elk Meadow and are dangerous to dogs; give them the trail. Shaded north slopes hold ice from November to March, so bring traction.
- Alderfer/Three Sisters – Sisters and Ponderosa LoopEvergreenLeash required · 2.8 mi
- Bergen Peak via Elk Meadow ParkEvergreenLeash required · 9.4 mi
- Castle Trail to the Walker Home Ruins – Mount Falcon ParkEvergreenLeash required · 2.6 mi
- Bear Creek Trail – Lair o' the Bear ParkEvergreenLeash required · 3 mi
- Evergreen Lake TrailEvergreenLeash required · 1.5 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 Evergreen: FAQ
Is the Elk Meadow off-leash dog area still open?
No. Jefferson County Open Space closed Elk Meadow's 107-acre off-leash area indefinitely in April 2017, and the park is now leash-only from the Stagecoach and Lewis Ridge trailheads. The only off-leash dog park in unincorporated Jefferson County is Beaver Ranch Park in Conifer; a proposed replacement near Fillius Park has not been confirmed open.
Can my dog swim at Evergreen Lake?
No. The lake rules prohibit swimming for people and pets, require leashes on land and on paddleboards and other vessels, and keep dogs off the ice during skating season. Bear Creek below the dam is accessible, and the Bear Creek Trail at Lair o' the Bear has pools and gravel bars every few hundred yards.
Which Evergreen trail is easiest for an older dog?
The 1.5-mile Evergreen Lake Trail is flat, with a boardwalk and a dirt north-shore path. The Castle and Meadow trails from Mount Falcon's West Trailhead roll 2.6 miles with about 300 feet of gain, and the lower two miles of the Bear Creek Trail at Lair o' the Bear are shaded and nearly level.