Paws in the Powder

Pet-friendly activities and tips for the winter

By Matt Maenpaa

With snow frosting the Rocky Mountains and teasing the Front Range before November even started, it’s never too early to frolic through the winter wonderland. An estimated 1 in 3 households in Boulder have at least one dog, nevermind all the cats, rabbits, lizards, fish, birds and other critters people choose for companions. 

We’re here to help you find some winter adventures close to home and provide tips from local experts to help keep your furry friends safe and happy along the way.

Getting outdoors is always a great option, with Colorado’s 300 days of sunshine keeping the snow from sticking around on trails for too long. Most parks and open spaces throughout Boulder County welcome pets, but restrictions are varied based on location. It’s always a smart plan to check local rules ahead of time, so that our furry friends don’t get into trouble.

Mira, an English cream golden retriever who’s spent her whole life in Boulder, certainly has her favorites. The trails surrounding Chautauqua and NCAR, Sanitas Valley and Coot Lake in particular, according to her owner, Aravind Venkitasubramony. Because Mira is trained and certified through Boulder’s voice and sight tag program, she can run off-leash to her heart’s content. 

When Mira and her people want to explore further from home, Venkitasubramony is partial to Indian Peaks and James Peak wildernesses, Hessie Trailhead and Fourth of July, an easy hour or less from Boulder.

“Mira’s first ever hike was to Mayflower Gulch, which remains a special place for us,” Venkitasubramony says. “It’s one of the perfect little hikes for dogs of all abilities and the views from the ruins at the end are amazing.”

When they want a break from the trails, Mira is a regular at Cristo’s Coffee and Boulder Baked and enjoys her pup cup. Mira’s birthday cake is from PC’s Pantry, another recommendation from Venkitasubramony, who pointed to Front Range companies like Kong, Outward Hound and OllyDog as further evidence of just how dog-friendly the community is.

That welcome stretches all along the Front Range. At the north end of Boulder County, the town of Lyons graciously invites all visitors, but the furry ones in particular, according to Director of Communications Kim Mitchell. 

“98% of our local businesses are independently owned, and many are dog friendly,” Mitchell says. “You’ll see water bowls outside businesses and sometimes even treat bowls.”

From the Barking Dog Cafe and Lovely by Nature Pet Grooming to the whiskey lovers of Spirit Hound Distillers, there’s plenty of places to comfortably relax where your beloved hounds can get a treat and a drink as well. Warm your bones while they chew on theirs after an adventure in the Lyons parks.

“In winter it’s a quiet and tranquil place with the sandstone cliffs overlooking LaVern Johnson Park,” Mitchell says. “If Mother Nature cooperates we also have an outdoor ice skating rink that welcomes all.”

The expectation is to open the rink by the holiday season, but everything depends on consistently cold temperatures. Dogs should probably only observe the ice skating activities of course, but the 10-acre dog park in Lyons is open all year-round. Fortunately most of the parks in Lyons are connected by paths and trails.

“Our trail system is dog friendly and they are welcome to join in runs and walks with their owners as long as they’re on leash,” Mitchell says. “The St. Vrain trail winds throughout our park system along the creek and our playgrounds are open year-round.”

Of course even the heartiest of snow pups need some extra care to protect their paws and show them how loved they are through the cold, dry months. Emmy Delis, outreach manager at the Longmont Humane Society, shared some advice on behalf of her colleagues and the volunteers at the shelter.

“Pets get dry, flakey skin in winter, so we recommend using a humidifier and vet-approved skin creams,” Delis says. “Paw pads dry out too! There are a lot of waxes and balms for paws to protect them.”

The Humane Society also recommends wiping your dog’s paws after walks, to protect them from salts and chemicals used to thaw out ice. The advice is echoed by Venkitasubramony, who keeps Mira’s paw fur trimmed to prevent ice build up and uses Musher’s wax on her coat to prevent ice and snow collecting in her fur. Mira also manages to keep her paws both warm and fashionable with hiking booties on all four feet.

“It’s important to try the boots well before a hike,” he says. “If they come off, they can easily get buried in the snow and be lost. They’re not cheap and have to be bought in pairs.”

Venkitasubramony’s lazy hike day for Mira involves a trip up to Lost Lake from the Hessie Trailhead, with a start time later in the afternoon to miss the Eldora ski traffic. A light-up harness keeps Mira visible if they stay out after dusk, but Venkitasubramony says they usually make time to stop at Blue Owl Books in Nederland to warm up with a hot chocolate and a pup cup to warm themselves.

Later in the winter, Mira and her humans will be hanging out in Golden for a more urban adventure. February 8, 2025 marks National Golden Retriever Day, and the town celebrates with an event called Goldens in Golden. Joining Mira in her golden life will be at least 1,000 other retrievers, Venkitsubramony says, if past years are any indication, and who could resist that much cuteness?

If your winter schedule makes it difficult to schedule activities with your beloved pet, there are also dog-loving opportunities for them to adventure without you. Companies like Boulder Doggie Adventures and Out-U-Go offer a variety of services ranging from a half hour walk to a four hour mountain adventure and pet sitting. Travel in comfort knowing your four-legged companion is having the time of their life.

Don’t let these few ideas limit you though, when the internet has a bounty of resources. Websites like BringFido.com and TripsWithPets.com will tell you if your destination has space for your fur babies, making planning your next winter vacation that much easier. If you’ve got a favorite winter pet adventure, feel free to share it with us on social media.