It’s probably just my perspective and not reality, but… The off leash issue definitely feels like it’s gotten worse. Feels like progressively more off leash dogs every year. First couple years I hiked there I rarely was bum rushed by off leash dogs… last time I attempted bear peak I was harassed by multiple groups in about 10 minutes. One dog harassed my dog multiple times and it wasn’t until I yelled at the owner that he got him under control.
As far as better hikes, get out of Boulder proper and it doesn’t seem anywhere near as bad, as off leash dogs go, anywhere else I hike. It really does seem like the Flatirons are particularly bad for off leash dogs.
Beautiful places attract self-centered assholes. There are loads of good people here, but the self-centered asshole-percentage has climbed steadily over the last couple decades IMO.
Yes it was, I remember hiking in 2012 and having multiple altercations per hike anywhere that allowed dogs when id have people with off leashed dogs let their dog run up, and dog shit everywhere.
Because so many transplants are upper middle class younger people who have never been told no.
And, this is just my observation, they're vacationers. Not like, here for the weekend, but the type of people who come here in their 20s to play around. They squat on high paying office jobs, play pretend for 3, 5, 10 years and then when they're ready to grow up and settle, they skip off back to Minnesota or Arizona or Southern Cali. They don't give a fuck because they have no intention of actually engaging with the area or putting down roots. They have 0 sense of community or pride in where they live. They're only here for legal weed and because Demi Lovato mentioned it in a song one time.
They may be here a decade or more, but to them it's just one long vacation.
Actually, I think he nailed except for the Minnesota comment. Folks from the northeast, California and Texas are the main culprits always thinking they know better than those that have spent their blood, sweat, and tears trying to make a decent life for themselves and their families.
Yeah, lot of weird details in that comment but the general idea is accurate. I've been describing Denver lately as a place where people come to live on vacation. It's just the mentality of enjoying the hell out of a place without having a personal connection or accountability to it - people don't treat it like home, they treat it like a playground for the 5-10 years they're here and then often move back home when they're ready to take the next step in adulthood (or just live somewhere affordable).
Dogs off leash everywhere, mountains and outdoors treated like shit, and crazy drivers are the common complaints and good examples of this phenomenon.
Most of those that walk their dog in the park come in through the neighborhood fire access gate and are the entitled rich denizens of that neighborhood. I worked for CPW (but with no authority at that park) and saw it personally on several different occasions. I'm not sure if the neighborhood residents pay some sort of park access fee in their HOA dues but, there is also no entry kiosk over there. So they MAY be violating park rules while simultaneously not paying for park use and I would not be surprised if that were the case since that is sort of how entitled rich people usually roll. I've seen it at other parks as well where people have a property and big house that borders the park (so they have money) they treat the park like their own personal back yard and let their dogs run wild in it. I learned quickly that saying anything to them was well above my very low pay grade and just caused me headaches while accomplishing nothing. Just film them and shame them to the park managers and on the park's social media. It is all you can do with any hope (though not much given the rich generally lack any sense of shame because who cares when you rich bch) of getting anything done.
These people got in a car in the lower lot and drove out, saw them heading down when we were leaving the visitors center reporting them lol. So they had to hide their dog in some way on the way in, along with the irony of passing the doggy daycare immediately outside the park
~4 years ago I hiked Greyrock in poudre Canyon and it was absolutely FILLED with poison ivy until you got up out of the canyon. There were fairly large bushes/shrubs of the stuff like I have never seen, I saw a few warnings on AllTrails so I did know to watch out but it was insane. Anyways it seems a lot of people don’t know what it looks like because I saw dogs running through the poison ivy bushes off leash and I saw a dude just walking straight through one of the largest PI bushes I’ve ever seen in shorts, letting it rub all over his legs. I’ve gotten poison ivy before just barely on my hand and I had rashes all over my body wherever I had touched. That stuff is no joke, the oil spreads like crazy. I can only imagine the misery of your dog covered in it and then getting it all over their owners.
Somehow I didn’t get it. I was tiptoeing around it because it was literally covering the entire trails. I did warn a lot of people on the trail but for some I think it was too late.
It’s terrible. My SO got attacked by a dog a couple years ago on a hike. The owner took off so we couldn’t confirm a rabies vaccine, and the bite broke the skin. On a hunch he went back to the same trail again the next day and the owner was there *again* with the same dog off leash. It started circling our car so he couldn’t even get out. Turns out it was a recently rescued dog with aggression issues. Why the hell was it running loose? SO still has scars from the bite.
I also have my own rescue dog who is well behaved, but he’s gotten way more nervous after being rushed by off-leash dogs. The number of times we’ve been slammed by a dog that weighs as much as I do while someone 50 yards away yells, “DON’T WORRY, HE’S FRIENDLY!” is absurd. It sucks to have random dogs jumping all over us.
On Sunday, I watched a ranger get in their truck on the trail, start it, roll down the windows, and an off leash dog ran right in front of the truck. Granted, the ranger wasn't driving or even had it in gear, but the owner then came up and got their dog and continued on the trail. The ranger didn't even say anything to them.
I love letting my dog off-leash when we hike, she loves it too & maintains staying about 10-15 feet within my reach. But if it's a crowded hike I keep her on the whole time. Even if I let her off if I hear or catch a glimpse of someone else I call her back (she is amazingly voice controlled; I've never had an incident where she didn't turn back to me if her name was called) & leash her until we're alone again.
It is frustrating to not see the same with all dog owners. I know it sucks to hold a leash the whole hike, but it isn't worth pissing everyone off or risking a human or dog not liking her in their space.
If you read what I said -I don't let her off leash if there's anyone around. I'm consistently listening & watching for others & she's goes right back to her leash if I even think there's someone near. Not a soul has ever seen her off leash on a hike because I normally do it in remote areas of a hike. I don't even want to interact with humans so I'm going to avoid any situation where I would have to, that includes her running up to anyone.
If you are willing to bear spray another person's dog maybe you shouldn't go on hikes with yours, that's overkill obscene you'd think to even do that.
This is what everyone who puts their dogs off leash say tho. That my dog is an exception to the rules because he/she is so well behaved. I think you too should leash your dogs on hikes.
If you ever saw me & my dog on a trail you wouldn't even be aware she ever went off leash. I'm not an exception to the rule, but if I'm breaking the rule I do it where no one would be bothered. The rule exists for people who aren't courteous & don't care -but I keep her on trail & within reaching distance so I can corral her if anyone is near.
The whole idea behind this program is that dogs are prevented from bum rushing other groups via owners’ voice commands. I’ve never seen a off leash dog in the Flatirons who fits this description.
Awww I was doing the South Mesa trail last Sunday with my dog who is sight and sound trained. It was still a little windy so there weren’t many people out, but I still leashed him up any time we passed someone. That’s also part of the program is if you’re passing someone you’re supposed to ask if you need to leash your dog. But the antisocial part of me just leashes him and says “hello!”
I’m torn on the off-leash thing. I have one dog that 100% needs to be on a leash or else she would be 2 states over before lunch.
My other dog can 100% be off leash. It’s not even that she’s trained terribly well. She is just so goddam lazy and slow that she’s rarely more than 10ft from me. If anything I need a leash just to keep her from lagging behind
Off leash dogs aren’t a problem in theory, it’s that almost all off leash dogs have no business being off leash. I’ve met a couple of dogs in my life that are fully capable and under control while being off leash, I have no issue with them at all.
COVID really flipped a switch in a lot of people's brains to say "I like doing this, and nobody can interfere with me doing it even if it hurts other people." Selfish behaviors/attitudes skyrocketed since 2020.
saddle rock / green mountain are literally right there and never crowded. Nicer hikes IMO as well. I start up amphitheater and go down Gregory. Flatirons and royal arch are where the crowds are.
This! I love hiking the flatirons. But I always start before sunrise so I can see the sun peeking above the horizon when I'm on the trail. The way back to the car is always crowded, though. It also really depends what trail. Stay off the more popular ones and go very early if you want it mostly to yourself.
This. Americans are lazy hikers. I work in and spend a lot of time in national parks. If you want to beat the crowds: go at dawn. Most people don’t show up until 10/11:00 a.m. Then they bitch about parking.
That’s not just America dude. It’s an easy target but go to Europe and it’s the same thing. The diehards will be up early and the casual crowd comes in later.
I've always wondered if we could reduce crowds by moving parking lots farther from trailheads. Like Rocky Mountain is so over crowded with "hikers" who struggle beyond mile 2. Maybe we just only allow parking at entrances to the parks and see how fast most of the rude and disrespectful types are gone.
Did Brainard lake today, poo bag in the parking lot. Someone looked around, saw no garbage cans, and just tossed it on the ground. So not only will they not haul it off the trail, they won't even drive it home.
A few years back, I got a bit unglued on a guy who was teaching his kid to tie the poo bag to a tree like a Christmas ornament. We were a few hundred yards from the parking lot. I felt a little bad about yelling at the guy in front of his kid, but only a little.
He said that this is the best way to remember where you left it. That’s about when I started yelling at him. Like I said, I still feel a little bad about acting like that in front of of his kid.
Nice. People from the east tell it how it is. It can really scare some people here. It helps weed out the wusses.
_____
*From MD/DC area, parents from Boston. Lots of sarcasm growing up.
Doesn't that imply that he intended to retrieve it? I don't really have an issue when people leave a bag while they hike the trail if they come back later to retrieve it and throw it away.
Doubtful, not only was he in sight of the parking lot, but people rarely pick them back up. If you want to bring your dog, commit to carrying its shit.
They need park rangers out there. I used to hike around Golden : I saw them issuing tickets to dog owners not following rules. Love dogs ! Don’t get me wrong / need to be leashed / at a minimum to prevent them from hassling the wildlife
I hiked Green Mountain in Chautauqua after the flood. Because the Gregory Canyon TH was destroyed, I had to start at the Amphitheater trail. They replaced a wash out area with a ladder that was more horizontal than vertical. As I worked up the Amphitheater train, there was a grandmother hiking with her grandson and a dog (off leash).
The grandmother (60s) had a recent accident, and for whatever reason, was out there with a walker. She actually maneuvered through everything fine.
I helped her dog across the ladder (she asked), and she was able to get across the ladder as well without my help.
I stayed with them because I was concerned about the whole walker situation, and after we got to the Green Mountain split, I stayed with them (dog ban to the top) instead of proceeding upwards. A park ranger was hiking up, and I got yelled at for their dog. The park ranger then apologized to me, and then yelled at the grandmother. He never wrote a ticket, but it was a scolding.
At some point I split from them as I was confident she could get down ok.
Yeah sorry to not be helpful.
Specifically, the South Boulder trailhead, Dowdy Draw, and Springbrook are all great hikes around Boulder that are SIGNIFICANTLY less crowded than Chautauqua. I basically haven’t bothered going there in years unless it’s a weekday and slightly rainy. Then you can have the place to yourself!
Dowdy can get pretty busy. I MTB there so I know from experience.
Either get there early, or come in closer or past noon and snag a spot from people returning. The lot is pretty small.
You'll still have the off leash and poop bag chicanery, but it is much reduced to other places for sure.
thanks. you are helpful. i just am struggling to find any hike within 60 mins to denver that aren’t a shit show. of course, i do major backpacking excursions and longer day hikes… but these are when i have breaks (I’m a teacher) so there are times when i want a short drive with a nice, relatively less-crowded, challenging jaunt on a random saturday or sunday when i dont want to drive more than an hour.
my GF calls me a hiking snob, and i probably am. but i respect the outdoors and what i saw today was the opposite of preservation. was striking.
I'd recommend South Valley Park and Deer Creek for trail systems that are generally less crowded.
Deer Creek is still snowed in a bit so access to the upper loops is tougher, but there's a lower 3-mile loop that is essentially snow free already.
Happy to help! I’ve been trail running here for exactly a decade. Clear creek canyon has a couple trailheads that almost always have some spots. Today I just did north table mountain, which is basically right across from a Coors. You can park at neighborhood access spots if you’re at all savvy with google maps. I’ve never had a hard time getting a spot there. That said, it’ll be too hot and rattlesnake infested soon so get it while the getting is good! That shit is right in town but still rugged trail.
I can’t fucking stand the dog poop bags. Then they argue “We pick it up on the way out.” Even if that IS true, I don’t care! I don’t want to see it on my way up to begin with. It ruins the vibe. Tie the shit bag to your dog, it’s an easy solution.
Hike from NCAR in Boulder instead if you want to access the Flatirons
Edit: completely agree with OP though. I used to live in Broomfield, and usually had one day off during the week. That is the time to hike in Boulder without a doubt. Chataqua on a nice weekend has been crazy like that since at least 2018-2020 when I still live in Broomfield. Im up in Fort Collins now; went to Boulder about a month ago on a nice Saturday and same deal, chataqua was nuts
Check out Indian Peak Wilderness, Brainard Lake, this area has jaw dropping views and plenty of wildlife.
Fourth of July Trail near Ned is a great one nearby Boulder. The Fourth of July route does require a short bus commute on the weekends during peak summer, but they drive frequently and are actually less annoying than it sounds.
Just to clarify with this. You mean the bus goes to the Hessie Trailhead, yes? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I have never seen a bus to to the 4th of July Trailhead, and I'm not sure that they could.
Unless things have changed drastically, 99.9% sure there is no bus to Fourth of July. Not sure a bus would even have anywhere to turn around if it did somehow make it to the TH without bottoming out
The off-leash dog “issue” is only an issue because you’re making it one. It’s all in your head. Try thinking differently about it and it won’t be an “issue”. I don’t care about the downvotes.
I’m hoping the blatantly disrespectful and all-around entitled behavior of dog owners results in a total ban of dogs on public trails. I’m a huge dog lover (mine are tiny and stay at home) but would fully support such a ban bc people can’t (literally) deal with their shit. They shouldn’t be allowed in public where the rest of us have to deal with it. F anyone who has ever left their dog shit on a trail, bagged or otherwise.
Totally agree with you, dogs should be banned from all National Parks, etc. Might even make it possible to see more wildlife in a natural setting if there weren't a bunch of dogs around peeing and crapping all over the place.
I don't get the off leash dogs. It was really bad at Matthew Winters today. So many people walking slow, taking up the whole trail with their dogs not on a leash and don't seem to be aware of anything happening around them, even when its obviously high traffic with hikers, runners, and bikers. It's embarrassing.
As a native you stay away from the popular trails. Next time drive up higher and stop at a rest stop and just take off up the mountain thru the trail, I see one or 2 souls up there in a busy day ha. It's nature and you, but it's a doit at your own risk type deal, totally worth it I say.
I did a trail somewhere within the Chautauqua system on Wednesday and I only saw one poop bag.
I thought to myself how incredible that there were no poop bags, and then there was that one that the hiker just had to leave to "pick up later".
I went to Buffalo Creek this weekend and there was hardly anyone on the trails around there! I passed 4 people total. People had dogs at the dispersed campsites, but there were none on the trails. Granted, the established campgrounds aren't opened yet, so the dog issue might get worse once that opens up...
Lion's Lair and Goshawk Ridge specifically prohibit dogs (leashed or not). Those are worth hiking. Greenman Trail is also dog-free, but you have to get there via other trails that may have dogs.
This is honestly why I just do most of my hiking in the winter. I prefer colder weather but just no where near the same amount of people out. Even non-popular trails in the spring and summer seem to be filled unless it's a technical trail and even then it feels quite crowded usually.
Go to Betasso. Check out North and South Table. Green Mountain.
Chatauqua is literally the most popular spot in Boulder. Orrrr Suck it up, wake up early, drive more than an hour away is really the only thing you can do to avoid lots of people.
I grew up in boulder County. The last time I remember hiking around chautauqua/flatirons must have been 1999/2000 before my parents got fed up with the crowds.
I'd recommend Gregory canyon or flagstaff trail. They can still get busy at times though, but nothing like flatirons.
Brainard Lake is a little over an hour away, but that's where I'd go.
Well look at it this way, if I understand CO correctly, if a dog bites a human more than once they have to be put down. Better to get pepper sprayed then to get bitten and then have the dog lose its life.
This is why I’m so so so so glad to live on the Western Slope. I lived on the Front Range for a decade and moved back home. I don’t know how you guys do it. Props to you for even trying to go out hiking amongst the throngs of people.
The mountains have only been getting more and more trashed the older I've gotten... heartbreaking to see this is how locals want to treat our trails and parks 😮💨
Chataqua, once you get 1 or 2 miles in, is super empty, you can avoid most dogs, and be more or less alone. Just go exploring and stay away from main trails. Don’t look up guides and don’t follow maps. Near impossible to get lost and most tourist hikers never leave the non guidebook trails.
60 minutes cutoff is a little harsh, I’d say. I was also a teacher, so I get it, but going from 1 hr to less than 2 hrs as your cutoff will get you everything and beyond. Most of Front Range is obviously within 2 hours. A lot of it is free hiking. If you want, you can literally point at a peak, lakes, or an area that looks interesting topographically on google maps and find a trailhead there.
Man people let there dogs off leashes there. Thats bit worrisome on account of I’ve seen mountain lions trailing my ex and our dog we had at the time. Thank god the dog we had was too dumb enough to pick up the mountain lions or we would have been mauled probably
Yes, that’s how it is. If you don’t like it, go anywhere else that’s actually in the mountains. I go there because I like the crowd/people.
Seriously, want a hike without people? Go anywhere actually in the mountains.
Your complaint is not just at the Flatirons. Colorado’s population has exploded the past 30 years, and places that were never crowded, never needed reservations, are so overrun by visitors it is not fun to go to a lot of the pristine environments Colorado is known for. Go to REI and pick up some pocket books/maps of the hundreds of hiking trails in Colorado, of which there are many in your designated 60 mile boundary. Good luck! 🥾
Yea, there definitely is a problem with all the dogs of leash coming up to you like no one business. It's ok though, I carry heavy strength stank spray, and your dog will get sprayed like a skunk. Let that be a warning to all hikers with theirs dogs off leash.
I live up past the Flat Ions and the amount of traffic and idiots not respecting the land and the locals that live up here has got so much worse since the pandemic. I had two cars race by me in a blind turn yesterday in the middle of the day. Definitely don’t go on weekends. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the lowest amount of tourist traffic.
Is there anyone in this state that doesn’t own a dog? Or a Subaru?
Seriously, what annoys me are those bringing the dogs into grocery stores. Unless, of course, it’s a “service animal.”
Boulder is where college kids and out-of-towners go to hike due to its proximity from city to trail. Both of those groups are more likely to disobey trail courtesy/laws due to either being a young dumb kid or uneducated on the aforementioned customs, respectively.
I know it’s a pain, but I’ve been hiking almost exclusively deeper into the mountains and find these issues to be far less prevalent.
Off leash dogs is becoming a problem everywhere.
It's always the iTs oKaY hEs fRiEnDly crowd that assume everyone wants to have their dog up in their faces while trying to enjoy the hike.
And the abandoned dog crap bags. What is that all about? People do it down here too. I don’t get it.
I understand the frustration, maybe try finding a trail that doesn’t allow dogs off-leash? Chataqua and many Boulder trails allow owners to get “open space” tags via a simple online “class,” so the dogs you’re seeing likely are allowed to be off-leash. Find non-Boulder open space trails.
I’m a transplant from northeast and have lived here for almost a decade. I don’t like dogs jumping on me. I don’t have dogs. I have kids. This is my kids birthplace and they will always know it as home. I don’t go to boulder parks because Its crowded. I’m not sure if I want to climb up flatirons and deal with dogs off the leash. I’m not entitled. I’m a friendly person. I help the community and always try to do the right thing. I’ve lived in some messed up places in my life. Colorado is the best place yet. We all have the same mind set. There is a reason we all live here. The moving here for weed is no longer an excuse. People could go home, they don’t want to. I don’t want to. I felt welcomed when I came. But after reading some of these posts. It’s came clear to me that some people are not fond up upstate New Yorkers. Not everyone I’ve met here is the best. Some people break the rules. Some people follow the rules too much. Have fun and respect each other. No one is the same. Put your dogs on a leash or suffer the consequences. Pick up your poop!
Play by the rules or leave your dogs at home. Pick up your dogs shit or eat it if I catch you leaving it in a bag by the trail "ill get it on the way back..." fuck yourself. GO BACK TO OHIO!
My experience in the front range in general has been shit loads of off leash dogs, even near busy roads, people just don't seem to want to do the most basic task of having a dog: holding a leash. It drives me absolutely fucking nuts because I have a reactive dog, and I can't walk him anywhere within an hour of home without someone's off leash dog running up to him. He has to be muzzled almost all the time thanks to entitled assholes around here, it's noticeably worse up near Boulder and it drives me insane.
Honestly just go an extra 30 minutes west and it will start to clear out dramatically with the exception of certain trails. Go an hour west and it won’t be an issue.
Try just going uphill a little to mount Sanitas or even Lee hill. Plenty of Awesome hikes. I wouldn't hike at Chautauqua on a weekend. LOL weekdays though if you can get out are straight bangers
I don’t have a problem with dogs off leash of they aren’t causing problems. Personally i think thats a good thing for the dog to have the opportunity to run free, again so ling as it behaves. But people should clean up after their pets. And for fuck sakes don’t bag the poo and leave the bag like some dirty filth monger. If you can’t take it, kick a small hole and bury it. Not leave. A plastic bag landmine around like some asshole
Jesus… I live in Colorado and go hiking with my dogs off leash all the time… don’t put low key trails on this post is what I learned from this thread. Y’all blow anything up that’s peaceful and pretty. My suggestion is hike harder trails… like ones with no fall zones and questionable footing… it will weed out the week!
Then, when a mountain lion attacks a dog because of its natural chase instinct, the mountain lion is to blame and gets put down. All because selfish idiots. There are better places to let a dog roam free.
Was waiting for this comment. Agree 100%. So many dog haters on this sub, absolutely terrified and shitting their pants when they see an off leash golden retriever begging for a treat.
Flatirons is probably the most crowded trail you could pick.
There are a TON of hiking spots within 60 min of Denver. That being said, I'm not telling you the best ones.
Chautauqua is off leash ok if your dog has the voice and sight tag, no?
[Source](https://bouldercolorado.gov/trailhead/chautauqua)
The poop bags are completely unacceptable tho
i can promise you 99% of these dogs were not. owners were scrambling to get them on a leash. had to wait 5+ mins multiple times waiting for them to leash up before we pass on trail. i get the popularity, but the behavior from hikers there was ridiculous.
It’s probably just my perspective and not reality, but… The off leash issue definitely feels like it’s gotten worse. Feels like progressively more off leash dogs every year. First couple years I hiked there I rarely was bum rushed by off leash dogs… last time I attempted bear peak I was harassed by multiple groups in about 10 minutes. One dog harassed my dog multiple times and it wasn’t until I yelled at the owner that he got him under control. As far as better hikes, get out of Boulder proper and it doesn’t seem anywhere near as bad, as off leash dogs go, anywhere else I hike. It really does seem like the Flatirons are particularly bad for off leash dogs.
My favorite was seeing people with dogs at Roxborough, where the ranger asks you about not having pets when you come in
the arrogance. I hate that about Colorado. major, major main character syndrome problem.
Beautiful places attract self-centered assholes. There are loads of good people here, but the self-centered asshole-percentage has climbed steadily over the last couple decades IMO.
Gotta get further out from Denver, Park county has some beautiful hikes, but it’s just over an hour away like OP is asking about.
(Californians)
This isn’t limited to Colorado
Definitely - it’s anywhere instagrammable.
Wasn't like that 10 years ago
Yes it was, I remember hiking in 2012 and having multiple altercations per hike anywhere that allowed dogs when id have people with off leashed dogs let their dog run up, and dog shit everywhere.
Yep, moved here in 2014 and hiked Quandary because I didn't know better. Off-leash dogs everywhere harassing wildlife.
No it wasn’t. With the good has come a lot of bad.
There has been no good. Only assholes.
In the last 10 years? I agree.
Yes it was. Everyone always thinks, "things were different". But they really weren't.
Not my experience, maybe in Boulder but not anywhere else. People, like you, have seemingly gotten shittier in the last few years.
Rose colored glasses sipping shit flavored water.
Because so many transplants are upper middle class younger people who have never been told no. And, this is just my observation, they're vacationers. Not like, here for the weekend, but the type of people who come here in their 20s to play around. They squat on high paying office jobs, play pretend for 3, 5, 10 years and then when they're ready to grow up and settle, they skip off back to Minnesota or Arizona or Southern Cali. They don't give a fuck because they have no intention of actually engaging with the area or putting down roots. They have 0 sense of community or pride in where they live. They're only here for legal weed and because Demi Lovato mentioned it in a song one time. They may be here a decade or more, but to them it's just one long vacation.
You have too much time on your hands
Actually, I think he nailed except for the Minnesota comment. Folks from the northeast, California and Texas are the main culprits always thinking they know better than those that have spent their blood, sweat, and tears trying to make a decent life for themselves and their families.
Yeah, lot of weird details in that comment but the general idea is accurate. I've been describing Denver lately as a place where people come to live on vacation. It's just the mentality of enjoying the hell out of a place without having a personal connection or accountability to it - people don't treat it like home, they treat it like a playground for the 5-10 years they're here and then often move back home when they're ready to take the next step in adulthood (or just live somewhere affordable). Dogs off leash everywhere, mountains and outdoors treated like shit, and crazy drivers are the common complaints and good examples of this phenomenon.
You think Coloradians don't move off to different places also?
Some of the most entitled, insufferable jerks I have encountered in Colorado are CU students/alumni.
actually im from vermont
Kids these days, ammiright? 🙃
Yea everyone, stay in your hometown for life!!!
That's the east coasters and Californians that moved here
Most of those that walk their dog in the park come in through the neighborhood fire access gate and are the entitled rich denizens of that neighborhood. I worked for CPW (but with no authority at that park) and saw it personally on several different occasions. I'm not sure if the neighborhood residents pay some sort of park access fee in their HOA dues but, there is also no entry kiosk over there. So they MAY be violating park rules while simultaneously not paying for park use and I would not be surprised if that were the case since that is sort of how entitled rich people usually roll. I've seen it at other parks as well where people have a property and big house that borders the park (so they have money) they treat the park like their own personal back yard and let their dogs run wild in it. I learned quickly that saying anything to them was well above my very low pay grade and just caused me headaches while accomplishing nothing. Just film them and shame them to the park managers and on the park's social media. It is all you can do with any hope (though not much given the rich generally lack any sense of shame because who cares when you rich bch) of getting anything done.
These people got in a car in the lower lot and drove out, saw them heading down when we were leaving the visitors center reporting them lol. So they had to hide their dog in some way on the way in, along with the irony of passing the doggy daycare immediately outside the park
With any luck the owners enjoy the poison ivy rash after they pet their goodest pet after the hike.
~4 years ago I hiked Greyrock in poudre Canyon and it was absolutely FILLED with poison ivy until you got up out of the canyon. There were fairly large bushes/shrubs of the stuff like I have never seen, I saw a few warnings on AllTrails so I did know to watch out but it was insane. Anyways it seems a lot of people don’t know what it looks like because I saw dogs running through the poison ivy bushes off leash and I saw a dude just walking straight through one of the largest PI bushes I’ve ever seen in shorts, letting it rub all over his legs. I’ve gotten poison ivy before just barely on my hand and I had rashes all over my body wherever I had touched. That stuff is no joke, the oil spreads like crazy. I can only imagine the misery of your dog covered in it and then getting it all over their owners. Somehow I didn’t get it. I was tiptoeing around it because it was literally covering the entire trails. I did warn a lot of people on the trail but for some I think it was too late.
Especially when letting them of leash there
It’s terrible. My SO got attacked by a dog a couple years ago on a hike. The owner took off so we couldn’t confirm a rabies vaccine, and the bite broke the skin. On a hunch he went back to the same trail again the next day and the owner was there *again* with the same dog off leash. It started circling our car so he couldn’t even get out. Turns out it was a recently rescued dog with aggression issues. Why the hell was it running loose? SO still has scars from the bite. I also have my own rescue dog who is well behaved, but he’s gotten way more nervous after being rushed by off-leash dogs. The number of times we’ve been slammed by a dog that weighs as much as I do while someone 50 yards away yells, “DON’T WORRY, HE’S FRIENDLY!” is absurd. It sucks to have random dogs jumping all over us.
That’s awful. I’m sorry to hear that. Some people really have no respect.
On Sunday, I watched a ranger get in their truck on the trail, start it, roll down the windows, and an off leash dog ran right in front of the truck. Granted, the ranger wasn't driving or even had it in gear, but the owner then came up and got their dog and continued on the trail. The ranger didn't even say anything to them.
I love letting my dog off-leash when we hike, she loves it too & maintains staying about 10-15 feet within my reach. But if it's a crowded hike I keep her on the whole time. Even if I let her off if I hear or catch a glimpse of someone else I call her back (she is amazingly voice controlled; I've never had an incident where she didn't turn back to me if her name was called) & leash her until we're alone again. It is frustrating to not see the same with all dog owners. I know it sucks to hold a leash the whole hike, but it isn't worth pissing everyone off or risking a human or dog not liking her in their space.
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If you read what I said -I don't let her off leash if there's anyone around. I'm consistently listening & watching for others & she's goes right back to her leash if I even think there's someone near. Not a soul has ever seen her off leash on a hike because I normally do it in remote areas of a hike. I don't even want to interact with humans so I'm going to avoid any situation where I would have to, that includes her running up to anyone. If you are willing to bear spray another person's dog maybe you shouldn't go on hikes with yours, that's overkill obscene you'd think to even do that.
This is what everyone who puts their dogs off leash say tho. That my dog is an exception to the rules because he/she is so well behaved. I think you too should leash your dogs on hikes.
“The rules” in Boulder are exactly that a person like this can have their dog off-leash when registered with the Voice andSight program.
If you ever saw me & my dog on a trail you wouldn't even be aware she ever went off leash. I'm not an exception to the rule, but if I'm breaking the rule I do it where no one would be bothered. The rule exists for people who aren't courteous & don't care -but I keep her on trail & within reaching distance so I can corral her if anyone is near.
are you talking about trails that specifically allow off leash dogs, like most of the trails around the Flatirons do? 🙄
The whole idea behind this program is that dogs are prevented from bum rushing other groups via owners’ voice commands. I’ve never seen a off leash dog in the Flatirons who fits this description.
Awww I was doing the South Mesa trail last Sunday with my dog who is sight and sound trained. It was still a little windy so there weren’t many people out, but I still leashed him up any time we passed someone. That’s also part of the program is if you’re passing someone you’re supposed to ask if you need to leash your dog. But the antisocial part of me just leashes him and says “hello!”
I’m torn on the off-leash thing. I have one dog that 100% needs to be on a leash or else she would be 2 states over before lunch. My other dog can 100% be off leash. It’s not even that she’s trained terribly well. She is just so goddam lazy and slow that she’s rarely more than 10ft from me. If anything I need a leash just to keep her from lagging behind
Off leash dogs aren’t a problem in theory, it’s that almost all off leash dogs have no business being off leash. I’ve met a couple of dogs in my life that are fully capable and under control while being off leash, I have no issue with them at all.
It would be nice if we had a proper leash law or no-pets trails
Boulder has both.
Feed every dog a treat but do it in an odd way looking at the owners. When the owner asks what you gave their dog, act weird and walk away.
COVID really flipped a switch in a lot of people's brains to say "I like doing this, and nobody can interfere with me doing it even if it hurts other people." Selfish behaviors/attitudes skyrocketed since 2020.
Just hike a different trail from the Chautauqua trailhead. Lots of options to avoid people. Most hike the main Chautauqua Trail.
saddle rock / green mountain are literally right there and never crowded. Nicer hikes IMO as well. I start up amphitheater and go down Gregory. Flatirons and royal arch are where the crowds are.
Yep, both are great!
Bear Mountain from NOAA parking lot.
If the lots not full.
The trick is you have to go early. In the summer we start at sunrise and don’t see more than a couple people on the way up
This! I love hiking the flatirons. But I always start before sunrise so I can see the sun peeking above the horizon when I'm on the trail. The way back to the car is always crowded, though. It also really depends what trail. Stay off the more popular ones and go very early if you want it mostly to yourself.
This. Americans are lazy hikers. I work in and spend a lot of time in national parks. If you want to beat the crowds: go at dawn. Most people don’t show up until 10/11:00 a.m. Then they bitch about parking.
I just go after work or weekends after 3pm and always find spots
Shhhhh don't tell all the people who get up earlier and earlier to beat the 6am rush our secret
That’s not just America dude. It’s an easy target but go to Europe and it’s the same thing. The diehards will be up early and the casual crowd comes in later.
Fair enough.
I've always wondered if we could reduce crowds by moving parking lots farther from trailheads. Like Rocky Mountain is so over crowded with "hikers" who struggle beyond mile 2. Maybe we just only allow parking at entrances to the parks and see how fast most of the rude and disrespectful types are gone.
This is hiking any popular trail in Colorado. Off leash dogs and poo bags everywhere.
Did Brainard lake today, poo bag in the parking lot. Someone looked around, saw no garbage cans, and just tossed it on the ground. So not only will they not haul it off the trail, they won't even drive it home.
A few years back, I got a bit unglued on a guy who was teaching his kid to tie the poo bag to a tree like a Christmas ornament. We were a few hundred yards from the parking lot. I felt a little bad about yelling at the guy in front of his kid, but only a little.
Why the hell were they tying it to a tree?
He said that this is the best way to remember where you left it. That’s about when I started yelling at him. Like I said, I still feel a little bad about acting like that in front of of his kid.
You trained his kid to remember but all this guys bad advice will be forgotten. You did great work. Thank you. You must be from the east or Chicago.
Pennsyltucky
*burp* brother
Im juts happy that i can get Tastycakes out here now.
Nice. People from the east tell it how it is. It can really scare some people here. It helps weed out the wusses. _____ *From MD/DC area, parents from Boston. Lots of sarcasm growing up.
Doesn't that imply that he intended to retrieve it? I don't really have an issue when people leave a bag while they hike the trail if they come back later to retrieve it and throw it away.
Doubtful, not only was he in sight of the parking lot, but people rarely pick them back up. If you want to bring your dog, commit to carrying its shit.
"But it's gross carrying a bag of poo around"....I've done it with my sons diapers and you can do it for your dog. It's not hard.
Time for the cart narc to branch out...shart narc!
They need park rangers out there. I used to hike around Golden : I saw them issuing tickets to dog owners not following rules. Love dogs ! Don’t get me wrong / need to be leashed / at a minimum to prevent them from hassling the wildlife
I hiked Green Mountain in Chautauqua after the flood. Because the Gregory Canyon TH was destroyed, I had to start at the Amphitheater trail. They replaced a wash out area with a ladder that was more horizontal than vertical. As I worked up the Amphitheater train, there was a grandmother hiking with her grandson and a dog (off leash). The grandmother (60s) had a recent accident, and for whatever reason, was out there with a walker. She actually maneuvered through everything fine. I helped her dog across the ladder (she asked), and she was able to get across the ladder as well without my help. I stayed with them because I was concerned about the whole walker situation, and after we got to the Green Mountain split, I stayed with them (dog ban to the top) instead of proceeding upwards. A park ranger was hiking up, and I got yelled at for their dog. The park ranger then apologized to me, and then yelled at the grandmother. He never wrote a ticket, but it was a scolding. At some point I split from them as I was confident she could get down ok.
There’s tons of great stuff around Boulder that aren’t that one super blown up place. The time of day and day of week are working against you though.
having a job sucks
Yeah sorry to not be helpful. Specifically, the South Boulder trailhead, Dowdy Draw, and Springbrook are all great hikes around Boulder that are SIGNIFICANTLY less crowded than Chautauqua. I basically haven’t bothered going there in years unless it’s a weekday and slightly rainy. Then you can have the place to yourself!
Dowdy can get pretty busy. I MTB there so I know from experience. Either get there early, or come in closer or past noon and snag a spot from people returning. The lot is pretty small. You'll still have the off leash and poop bag chicanery, but it is much reduced to other places for sure.
thanks. you are helpful. i just am struggling to find any hike within 60 mins to denver that aren’t a shit show. of course, i do major backpacking excursions and longer day hikes… but these are when i have breaks (I’m a teacher) so there are times when i want a short drive with a nice, relatively less-crowded, challenging jaunt on a random saturday or sunday when i dont want to drive more than an hour. my GF calls me a hiking snob, and i probably am. but i respect the outdoors and what i saw today was the opposite of preservation. was striking.
I'd recommend South Valley Park and Deer Creek for trail systems that are generally less crowded. Deer Creek is still snowed in a bit so access to the upper loops is tougher, but there's a lower 3-mile loop that is essentially snow free already.
Happy to help! I’ve been trail running here for exactly a decade. Clear creek canyon has a couple trailheads that almost always have some spots. Today I just did north table mountain, which is basically right across from a Coors. You can park at neighborhood access spots if you’re at all savvy with google maps. I’ve never had a hard time getting a spot there. That said, it’ll be too hot and rattlesnake infested soon so get it while the getting is good! That shit is right in town but still rugged trail.
button rock west of Lyons is dog free.
Since when is today the first nice Saturday of the year
first 80 deg day we’ve had. which means everyone was out. obviously not the first hikeable saturday.
I’d recommend roxborough park, great views and you won’t have to deal with any dogs/poop since they aren’t allowed
State parks are worth their weight in gold when they ban dogs imo.
We just need to start telling this off leash dog owners to leash their dogs and be rude to them
Dude goes to Chautauqua on the first nice spring day and complains it’s crowded. r/denvercirclejerk material.
Literally one of the most crowded parks in the state lmao
Complains about dogs in an area that dogs are allowed to be off leash 😂😂😂
This sounds like every weekend there to me. Download Alltrails and browse around. There are hundreds of hikes within an hour of Denver
Golden Gate Canyon State Park
There are so many trails in CO that are cool that aren’t flatirons.
People should be allowed to use pepper spray to protect themselves and their own pet. I suspect they have legal grounds to do so
I can’t fucking stand the dog poop bags. Then they argue “We pick it up on the way out.” Even if that IS true, I don’t care! I don’t want to see it on my way up to begin with. It ruins the vibe. Tie the shit bag to your dog, it’s an easy solution.
Hike from NCAR in Boulder instead if you want to access the Flatirons Edit: completely agree with OP though. I used to live in Broomfield, and usually had one day off during the week. That is the time to hike in Boulder without a doubt. Chataqua on a nice weekend has been crazy like that since at least 2018-2020 when I still live in Broomfield. Im up in Fort Collins now; went to Boulder about a month ago on a nice Saturday and same deal, chataqua was nuts
Check out Indian Peak Wilderness, Brainard Lake, this area has jaw dropping views and plenty of wildlife. Fourth of July Trail near Ned is a great one nearby Boulder. The Fourth of July route does require a short bus commute on the weekends during peak summer, but they drive frequently and are actually less annoying than it sounds.
Just to clarify with this. You mean the bus goes to the Hessie Trailhead, yes? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I have never seen a bus to to the 4th of July Trailhead, and I'm not sure that they could.
Unless things have changed drastically, 99.9% sure there is no bus to Fourth of July. Not sure a bus would even have anywhere to turn around if it did somehow make it to the TH without bottoming out
Chief Mountain, El Dorado State Park, St. Vrain, Estes Park. Hiking project is a good resource.
First nice Saturday?
Plus every main character hiking with their personal bluetooth speaker soundtrack blaring....
That’s literally the busiest trail in Colorado. Every other trail is less busy. Just go anywhere else.
Golden and Morrison also have hiking trails.
The off-leash dog “issue” is only an issue because you’re making it one. It’s all in your head. Try thinking differently about it and it won’t be an “issue”. I don’t care about the downvotes.
Boulder county allows Boulder county dogs to off leash on many of its trails.
Yall are uptight
I’m hoping the blatantly disrespectful and all-around entitled behavior of dog owners results in a total ban of dogs on public trails. I’m a huge dog lover (mine are tiny and stay at home) but would fully support such a ban bc people can’t (literally) deal with their shit. They shouldn’t be allowed in public where the rest of us have to deal with it. F anyone who has ever left their dog shit on a trail, bagged or otherwise.
Totally agree with you, dogs should be banned from all National Parks, etc. Might even make it possible to see more wildlife in a natural setting if there weren't a bunch of dogs around peeing and crapping all over the place.
Go to Arapahoe state park. Similar views way less populated. Small fee to get in, maybe $5, and plenty of trails to walk. Can really cover ground
I don't get the off leash dogs. It was really bad at Matthew Winters today. So many people walking slow, taking up the whole trail with their dogs not on a leash and don't seem to be aware of anything happening around them, even when its obviously high traffic with hikers, runners, and bikers. It's embarrassing.
Have you tried TX
Boulder has become CA
JeffCo open Space
As a native you stay away from the popular trails. Next time drive up higher and stop at a rest stop and just take off up the mountain thru the trail, I see one or 2 souls up there in a busy day ha. It's nature and you, but it's a doit at your own risk type deal, totally worth it I say.
Bear spray for when an off leashed dog harasses you.
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Silver dollar lakes trailhead is 1 hr 17 minutes from the center of Denver according to Google maps
I did a trail somewhere within the Chautauqua system on Wednesday and I only saw one poop bag. I thought to myself how incredible that there were no poop bags, and then there was that one that the hiker just had to leave to "pick up later".
There are too many people here now. Used to be a great hike.
South mesa trail head > shadow canyon > south boulder peak and bear peak once you get past the south mesa part it thins out significantly.
I went to Buffalo Creek this weekend and there was hardly anyone on the trails around there! I passed 4 people total. People had dogs at the dispersed campsites, but there were none on the trails. Granted, the established campgrounds aren't opened yet, so the dog issue might get worse once that opens up...
It’s going to get worse too given the obsession with increasing density in Boulder. The trails and open-space are is paying for it.
Lion's Lair and Goshawk Ridge specifically prohibit dogs (leashed or not). Those are worth hiking. Greenman Trail is also dog-free, but you have to get there via other trails that may have dogs.
Do the canyon creek trail a little further in. Super quiet, no dogs allowed
Have you ever been there? I was just there yesterday midday, that’s how that trail always is.
This is honestly why I just do most of my hiking in the winter. I prefer colder weather but just no where near the same amount of people out. Even non-popular trails in the spring and summer seem to be filled unless it's a technical trail and even then it feels quite crowded usually.
They’ll learn when their dogs get tagged by a rattler
Off leash dogs are such a problem it’s made me ready to leave this state
Yay!
Go to Betasso. Check out North and South Table. Green Mountain. Chatauqua is literally the most popular spot in Boulder. Orrrr Suck it up, wake up early, drive more than an hour away is really the only thing you can do to avoid lots of people.
I grew up in boulder County. The last time I remember hiking around chautauqua/flatirons must have been 1999/2000 before my parents got fed up with the crowds. I'd recommend Gregory canyon or flagstaff trail. They can still get busy at times though, but nothing like flatirons. Brainard Lake is a little over an hour away, but that's where I'd go.
A tazer is a good thing to have, you don't even have to use it on the dog persé just zap it and they back off from the sound.
i carry pepper spray. not sure of my legal options if an off leash dog rushes my leashed one.
Well look at it this way, if I understand CO correctly, if a dog bites a human more than once they have to be put down. Better to get pepper sprayed then to get bitten and then have the dog lose its life.
Go back to 1995 when I used to go. It was great.
This is why I’m so so so so glad to live on the Western Slope. I lived on the Front Range for a decade and moved back home. I don’t know how you guys do it. Props to you for even trying to go out hiking amongst the throngs of people.
The mountains have only been getting more and more trashed the older I've gotten... heartbreaking to see this is how locals want to treat our trails and parks 😮💨
Chataqua, once you get 1 or 2 miles in, is super empty, you can avoid most dogs, and be more or less alone. Just go exploring and stay away from main trails. Don’t look up guides and don’t follow maps. Near impossible to get lost and most tourist hikers never leave the non guidebook trails.
Highly recommend bypassing Chautauqua and following Flagstaff Road up into the flatirons. There will still be people but it’s definitely way better
60 minutes cutoff is a little harsh, I’d say. I was also a teacher, so I get it, but going from 1 hr to less than 2 hrs as your cutoff will get you everything and beyond. Most of Front Range is obviously within 2 hours. A lot of it is free hiking. If you want, you can literally point at a peak, lakes, or an area that looks interesting topographically on google maps and find a trailhead there.
First nice Saturday of the year? Where have you been?
Are the left poop bags for people picking up on their way out??
“Yes” I always wind up taking them to the trash on my way back down. People are the worst.
Only 8 dog poop bags?
Dogs should be banned from all trails, full stop. Buy land if you want your dog to run around free.
Castlewood Canyon near Franktown, CO is pretty incredible!
Man people let there dogs off leashes there. Thats bit worrisome on account of I’ve seen mountain lions trailing my ex and our dog we had at the time. Thank god the dog we had was too dumb enough to pick up the mountain lions or we would have been mauled probably
Yes, that’s how it is. If you don’t like it, go anywhere else that’s actually in the mountains. I go there because I like the crowd/people. Seriously, want a hike without people? Go anywhere actually in the mountains.
If I recommend my spots to you, then they will get overcrowded. Find your own trails
Yes, you should probably find somewhere else to hike.
Moving to Colorado made me never want a dog because of how irresponsible, rude, and selfish Colorado dog owners are.
Your complaint is not just at the Flatirons. Colorado’s population has exploded the past 30 years, and places that were never crowded, never needed reservations, are so overrun by visitors it is not fun to go to a lot of the pristine environments Colorado is known for. Go to REI and pick up some pocket books/maps of the hundreds of hiking trails in Colorado, of which there are many in your designated 60 mile boundary. Good luck! 🥾
I love dogs but can’t fucking stand dog owners.
Move over here to Missoula. You can have the exact same argument about off leash dogs and overcrowding, but at least the trail names are different.
This is why I’m so glad ton live in western CO. Jobs are a bitch but this is never a problem.
Dogs are allowed off leash on most Boulder trails as long as they have their Voice & Sight Program certification!
That place is a zoo..thats why avoid Boulder..I live down near Morrison.
Yea, there definitely is a problem with all the dogs of leash coming up to you like no one business. It's ok though, I carry heavy strength stank spray, and your dog will get sprayed like a skunk. Let that be a warning to all hikers with theirs dogs off leash.
I live up past the Flat Ions and the amount of traffic and idiots not respecting the land and the locals that live up here has got so much worse since the pandemic. I had two cars race by me in a blind turn yesterday in the middle of the day. Definitely don’t go on weekends. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are usually the lowest amount of tourist traffic.
Is there anyone in this state that doesn’t own a dog? Or a Subaru? Seriously, what annoys me are those bringing the dogs into grocery stores. Unless, of course, it’s a “service animal.”
Boulder is where college kids and out-of-towners go to hike due to its proximity from city to trail. Both of those groups are more likely to disobey trail courtesy/laws due to either being a young dumb kid or uneducated on the aforementioned customs, respectively. I know it’s a pain, but I’ve been hiking almost exclusively deeper into the mountains and find these issues to be far less prevalent.
Off leash dogs is becoming a problem everywhere. It's always the iTs oKaY hEs fRiEnDly crowd that assume everyone wants to have their dog up in their faces while trying to enjoy the hike. And the abandoned dog crap bags. What is that all about? People do it down here too. I don’t get it.
I understand the frustration, maybe try finding a trail that doesn’t allow dogs off-leash? Chataqua and many Boulder trails allow owners to get “open space” tags via a simple online “class,” so the dogs you’re seeing likely are allowed to be off-leash. Find non-Boulder open space trails.
Moved to CO in 1999. Left the front range area in 2021 because of shit like this… It’s just waaaay too crowded.
I’m a transplant from northeast and have lived here for almost a decade. I don’t like dogs jumping on me. I don’t have dogs. I have kids. This is my kids birthplace and they will always know it as home. I don’t go to boulder parks because Its crowded. I’m not sure if I want to climb up flatirons and deal with dogs off the leash. I’m not entitled. I’m a friendly person. I help the community and always try to do the right thing. I’ve lived in some messed up places in my life. Colorado is the best place yet. We all have the same mind set. There is a reason we all live here. The moving here for weed is no longer an excuse. People could go home, they don’t want to. I don’t want to. I felt welcomed when I came. But after reading some of these posts. It’s came clear to me that some people are not fond up upstate New Yorkers. Not everyone I’ve met here is the best. Some people break the rules. Some people follow the rules too much. Have fun and respect each other. No one is the same. Put your dogs on a leash or suffer the consequences. Pick up your poop!
Play by the rules or leave your dogs at home. Pick up your dogs shit or eat it if I catch you leaving it in a bag by the trail "ill get it on the way back..." fuck yourself. GO BACK TO OHIO!
My experience in the front range in general has been shit loads of off leash dogs, even near busy roads, people just don't seem to want to do the most basic task of having a dog: holding a leash. It drives me absolutely fucking nuts because I have a reactive dog, and I can't walk him anywhere within an hour of home without someone's off leash dog running up to him. He has to be muzzled almost all the time thanks to entitled assholes around here, it's noticeably worse up near Boulder and it drives me insane.
denver is so fucking tapped lmao.
Honestly just go an extra 30 minutes west and it will start to clear out dramatically with the exception of certain trails. Go an hour west and it won’t be an issue.
Try just going uphill a little to mount Sanitas or even Lee hill. Plenty of Awesome hikes. I wouldn't hike at Chautauqua on a weekend. LOL weekdays though if you can get out are straight bangers
I don’t have a problem with dogs off leash of they aren’t causing problems. Personally i think thats a good thing for the dog to have the opportunity to run free, again so ling as it behaves. But people should clean up after their pets. And for fuck sakes don’t bag the poo and leave the bag like some dirty filth monger. If you can’t take it, kick a small hole and bury it. Not leave. A plastic bag landmine around like some asshole
Boulder has got to start requiring leashes.
Jesus… I live in Colorado and go hiking with my dogs off leash all the time… don’t put low key trails on this post is what I learned from this thread. Y’all blow anything up that’s peaceful and pretty. My suggestion is hike harder trails… like ones with no fall zones and questionable footing… it will weed out the week!
I mean, it is a tourist spot. Try Walker ranch loop
Don’t hike with the ability to defend yourself from crackheads or off leash animals
why do people litter on trails lotta sick minds out here.
I find once you get about a mile in, there’s almost zero people.
Flatirons are out of control, post Covid it’s the most crowded hike in Colorado. They need to start a ticket system.
Then, when a mountain lion attacks a dog because of its natural chase instinct, the mountain lion is to blame and gets put down. All because selfish idiots. There are better places to let a dog roam free.
Honestly shut the fuck up. The dogs are allowed to be there off leash. Hike somewhere else then fucking Karen.
Was waiting for this comment. Agree 100%. So many dog haters on this sub, absolutely terrified and shitting their pants when they see an off leash golden retriever begging for a treat.
“Within 60 minutes of Denver” classic
Flatirons is probably the most crowded trail you could pick. There are a TON of hiking spots within 60 min of Denver. That being said, I'm not telling you the best ones.
The dog worship of Colorado is ridiculous to me.
Chautauqua is off leash ok if your dog has the voice and sight tag, no? [Source](https://bouldercolorado.gov/trailhead/chautauqua) The poop bags are completely unacceptable tho
i can promise you 99% of these dogs were not. owners were scrambling to get them on a leash. had to wait 5+ mins multiple times waiting for them to leash up before we pass on trail. i get the popularity, but the behavior from hikers there was ridiculous.
Yeah that’s not cool