Durango loves dogs, on one condition: the leash. The city requires dogs on a leash throughout town, per Section 4-41 of its code of ordinances, and the lone big exception is a designated off-leash area at the base of Smelter Mountain. Past city limits the rules loosen. Most of the trails, patios and hotel rooms you'll want for your dog work best with a short lead.
What are the leash rules in Durango?
Short version: leashed in town, voice control on federal land. Here's how the City of Durango's dog guide breaks it down.
| Place | Rule |
|---|---|
| City parks, open space and trails | Leash required |
| Smelter Mountain Off-Leash Dog Area | Voice control; leash when entering and leaving |
| Oxbow Preserve and Greenmount Cemetery | No dogs allowed |
| Federal lands around Durango | Dogs allowed under voice control |
| Animas River and Lake Nighthorse | Swimming welcome, leash on land |
| Downtown streets | Don't tie up or leave your dog unattended |
Two notes. The city says water-loving dogs are welcome on the Animas River and at Lake Nighthorse, though not at the swim beach, and they must be leashed on land. And the downtown business group adds that dogs can't be left tied up or unattended downtown.
Durango Trails, the local trail nonprofit, is blunt about why. It calls off-leash dogs the number one source of trail conflict. Keep yours close, and pick up the waste. The city provides bags at parks and trailheads, but carry extras.
Where is the off-leash dog park?
The Smelter Mountain Off-Leash Dog Area, at 21850 Hwy 160 West, is the city's one designated park for off-leash dogs, according to the city's facility page. It sits at the base of Smelter Mountain, with open terrain, a natural-surface trail and river access. The rules: no aggressive dogs, constant visual supervision and voice control, a leash when you enter and leave, and a dog that's licensed, vaccinated and wearing ID tags. Pedestrian access is 0.1 miles west of the Highway 160 and 550 intersection, on the south side of 160, and the dirt lot is small. The ground has history, too, as the site of the old smelter. Our history of Durango tells that story.
Which Durango trails are good for dogs?
Plenty, as long as you leash up in town.
- Animas River Trail. The paved path is the easiest walk, with water access along the way. Leash required, and skip the Oxbow Preserve end. Water-loving dogs can swim in the river, but keep them out of fast water, since the city warns about strong currents and fast-changing conditions.
- Animas Mountain, Overend Mountain and Horse Gulch. Downtown Durango lists all three as dog-friendly hikes close to town, and the Colorado Trail starts nearby too. These are city and open-space lands, so keep dogs leashed.
- Federal land. The city says dogs are allowed under voice control on federal lands around Durango. Know what voice control means: a dog that comes back every time, even when a deer shows up.
For a broader list of trails, see Durango Trails. Summer storms and heat both matter. Start early, carry extra water for your dog, and read the weather by month guide before you head out.
Where can you eat with your dog?
Patios, mostly. Downtown Durango's dog itinerary lists places where dogs can join you outside during the summer months, including:
- Primi Pasta & Wine Bar
- Cream Bean Berry
- Carver Brewing Co
- Grassburger
- Fired Up Pizzeria
- Derailed Pour House
- 2nd Deli & Spirits
- Magpies Newsstand & Cafe
- Nini's Taqueria
- Four Leaves Winery
- The Animas River Beer Garden at the Doubletree
In the North Main District, the list adds Zia Taqueria, Homeslice, Durango Beer & Ice, Union Social House and Serious Texas BBQ. Some of these are bump-out patios, so ask before you sit. Policies change, and a patio that welcomed dogs last summer might not this one.
Where can you stay with a dog?
Several downtown options. Downtown Durango lists the Doubletree, Hampton Inn, Durango Downtown Inn, Quality Inn, Rochester Hotel, Strater Hotel and Best Western Rio Grande Inn as dog friendly, with the reminder to check each property for restrictions and fees at booking. Our Strater Hotel and Rochester Hotel pages give the basics, and where to stay in Durango covers the rest.
Ask three questions before you pay: is there a pet fee, is there a size or number limit, and can you leave the dog alone in the room? For cabins and rentals, see Durango cabins and vacation rentals.
What about shops, daycare and vets?
Downtown shops such as Maria's Bookshop, Gardenswartz and the Durango Welcome Center welcome dogs, per Downtown Durango, and several stores sell treats and gear. Maria's Bookshop is a good place for trail maps. The group also lists Healthy Hounds and Fat Cats, a daycare and boarding facility at 571 Turner Drive, and veterinary clinics on North Main, including Alpine Animal Hospital. For treats and gear, Downtown Durango points to Bark Bark Durango at 643 B Main Avenue for locally made treats, Pet Haus at 1444 Main Avenue for food and supplies, and Gardenswartz at 780 Main for dog packs, life jackets and harnesses. Book daycare ahead for busy weekends.
What should you pack for a dog?
- A sturdy leash, since the city requires one in town
- Waste bags, even though the city stocks parks and trailheads
- Current license, vaccination records and a collar with ID tags, which the off-leash area requires
- A collapsible water bowl and extra water for trails
- A towel for river stops and muddy spring paws
- Booties or paw balm for icy sidewalks in winter
What about winter?
The leash rules don't change, but the footing does. Shady stretches of the Animas River Trail can hold snow and ice, so shorten your walks, watch paws on cold pavement, and check the Durango in winter guide for what's open. Many patios close or go to heaters, so ask before you plan on dining outside.
What should you not do with a dog in Durango?
- Don't leave a dog in a parked car. A closed car heats up fast, even on a cool mountain day.
- Don't bring a dog to Oxbow Preserve or Greenmount Cemetery.
- Don't let a dog swim at the Lake Nighthorse swim beach.
- Don't count on bringing a dog on every tour or train. Ask the operator first; the train guide points you to the railroad's current rules.
- Don't skip ID tags and vaccines. The off-leash area requires them.
A dog-friendly day in Durango
Start with a walk on the Animas River Trail, then coffee at a patio on Main. Spend the afternoon at the off-leash area, then hit a brewery patio like Carver for dinner. Finish with a sunset stroll. If you want more ideas, browse things to do and the free things to do guide.
