Dogs on Open Space and Mountain Parks
Open Space and Mountain Parks offers dog guardians and their dogs many opportunities to enjoy the nature that's right in our backyards.
OSMP lands have 144 miles of trails, 94 percent of which are open to dogs. It is your responsibility as a dog guardian to read and understand the regulations so that everyone can enjoy their visit to OSMP!
- Dog Poop - The Music Video featuring Jeff Kagan - Hilarious! (streaming video, 3 minutes)
- New! Dog guardians registered in the Voice and Sight Program can now purchase additional or replacement tags online.
Dog Regulations
Dog regulations vary on OSMP lands. In some areas dogs must be leashed. In other areas, dogs may be allowed off-leash if they wear a voice and sight tag and are under voice and sight control. Dogs are prohibited on a few trails.
Please check the dog regulation map page for updated information. Some trailheads require dogs to be on-leash: Trailhead Leash Program. Seasonal Leash restrictions are in place August 15 - November 1 on some trails.
Dogs must not be aggressive towards other people or dogs. It is illegal for dogs to chase or disturb wildlife or livestock. You must pick up after your dog on OSMP land. Don't leave it by the trail to be picked up later.
Remember: Even when you hike a loop, you're not allowed to park your dog's poop. Rangers will be reminding dog owners to take their dog's waste with them instead of leaving it along the trail. Don't get caught with a yellow tag on your dog's bag!
Voice and Sight Dog Tag Program
The City of Boulder is one of only a few systems on the Colorado Front Range which allow dog guardians to walk dogs off-leash. This opportunity is possible only if dogs are not required to be on-leash, are responsibly controlled under voice and sight control and display a voice and sight dog tag. It is a tough standard for both dogs and guardians.
Voice and Sight Dog Tag Registration and Information
Keep Your Dog Safe
OSMP is home to wildlife that could kill or injure your dog. Coyotes can be especially dangerous to dogs -- never let your dog run with coyotes even if they seem to be playing. The easiest way to keep your dog safe from coyotes is to keep your dog on-leash. More information on coyote-dog interaction is available on the Colorado Division of Wildlife's "Living with Wildlife in Coyote Country" page.
Other animals that could pose a threat to your dog include black bears, mountain lions, porcupines, skunks and rattlesnakes. All of these animals are more likely to attack your dog if your dog is chasing them.
Other safety tips:
- Keep your dog from running in prairie dog colonies to prevent possible exposure to plague.
- Make sure your dog gets enough water and rest stops. Hot temperatures and excercise can cause heat stroke.
- Never leave your dog alone in a car during warm weather.
- When rock climbing or bouldering, make sure you or someone in your party is with your dog.
- Check yourself and your dog for ticks in the spring.
FAQs
What is voice and sight control?
Why is dog waste such a big deal?
How can I find out which trails allow dogs?
Why aren't dogs allowed on EM Greenman Trail?
Why must dogs be leashed in Lower Skunk Creek and on Bear Canyon Road?
Where should I train my dog in voice and sight control?
What is voice and sight control?
Dogs are off-leash, but stay within your sight and under your control. This means that when you command your dog to come, it does so the first time. You must have a leash for each dog with you. Only two dogs may be off-leash at once (per person). Each dog must display a voice and sight dog tag. Everyone who walks the dog on OSMP land must be registered with the Voice and Sight Dog Tag Program. See voice and sight FAQs
Why is dog waste such a big deal? Who cleans up after coyotes?
Besides its bad smell, dog waste can pollute water sources and encourage noxious weeds to grow. Coyotes and other wildlife eat what is available to them on OSMP land. Dogs eat dog food or table scraps, so their waste is different from wildlife droppings. Dog waste can harbor microbes and drain to Boulder's resevoirs. It is also rich in nitrogen, which encourages noxious and invasive weeds to grow.
How can I find out which trails allow dogs?
Look at the dog regulation map page.
Why aren't dogs allowed on EM Greenman Trail?
The process of closing EM Greenman to dogs came from the development of the Visitor Master Plan (VMP). OSMP worked on the plan along with many community groups for several years. The primary goals of the VMP were to improve the quality of the visitor experience, reduce visitor conflict, improve the sustainability of the trails and reduce the impacts of recreational use and facilities on other resources. In evaluating our system we recognized the ecological value and wildlife habitat of EM Greenman and the directive from City Council to balance "no dog" opportunities for visitors. That is why EM Greenman was designated as Dogs Prohibited in the VMP. In April of 2005 City Council approved the VMP. OSMP implemented that part of the plan in March 2007.
Why must dogs be leashed in Lower Skunk Creek and on Bear Canyon Road?
The rational for the dog regulations in Lower Skunk Creek and Bear Canyon Road has a few different aspects. The area is federally owned, but managed by OSMP. The requirement for dogs to be leashed on properties owned by the federal government including the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) has always been in place, but the authority for enforcement of these regulations until recently was unclear. To better define who has the power of enforcement the City of Boulder entered into a memorandum of understanding with NCAR/UCAR which was approved in 2006. It gave OSMP rangers the ability to enforce existing dog regulations on these properties. Additionally, the land owned by these federal entities is annexed into the City of Boulder and the city regulation requires all dogs to be on leash within city boundaries.
Lastly, the OSMP Visitor Master Plan (VMP), approved by Council in April of 2005 called for all dogs using trails in this area to be leashed. These are the provisions that we are required to work under and we are also trying to meet the desired management goals of the property owners, the federal government.
Where should I train my dog in voice and sight control?
Public dog parks allow dogs to be off-leash even if they don't meet the voice and sight control standard.
Want to see your dog on this page?
Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 October 2009 15:22
Open Space & Mtn Parks