My wife and I are considering relocating from Chicago to Denver in about a year. We love the mountains and Denver in general. Is Denver pretty dog friendly in general? Also, are dogs allowed on most trails in Colorado? I know national parks they are not, so Rocky Mountain National Park would not be an option with the dog.
Also for people that know Colorado..
We are thinking of getting a rental (apartment/townhome) to begin with to see if we like it out there. Are there any areas that you would recommend?

Thanks!
Ryan

I know that pit bulls and some other bully breeds are banned in Denver. Some of the outlying communities might have different laws. Boulder might be dog friendly, as it tends to have a very active, outdoors population, but I don't know anything specific.

That's disapointing about the bans. I have a Rottweiler so if pitbulls are banned Rottweilers are likely on the same list.

No- Pitty's are on a specific list for Denver, I don't believe Rott's are included.

I have family and friends in Denver/surrounding areas, I'd say it's very dog friendly.

Colorado (especially around boulder) is very dog friendly...Most trails have off leash rules (you need a tag) and some require the dog to be leashed...there are so many trails to go and walk with your dogs, it's insane.

From what i experienced, most dogs/owners mind their own business, so the trails dont feel like a big dog park - but of course there are exceptions.

RMNP is no-go but other parks/peaks like Mt Evans are ok with it...if you like outdoors activities with your dogs, you won't regret it!

Colorado, with the exception of the Denver BSL, is very dog friendly. Dogs are allowed in many of the parks, however, there are licenses especially for dogs entering some of the parks. I was in the Denver area in October and went hiking in Boulder with a friend of mine and our dogs and I had to borrow one of her collars that had one of her other dogs tags on it so my dog would be legal.

I live here! Colorado! And, yes, a Native. If you move to Colorado you will learn how important that is (to Coloradoans). Everyone has a dog or two. In Boulder, dogs are not pets and not owned, they are companions and not property. OK. In Denver, you can't have a dog that is a Pitbull (or apparently resembles one), but someone just appealed a seizure of a dog that turned out to be identified as a boxer by some dog experts and then they got the dog back. Who knows? My daughter is always nervous about visiting me with her bull dog (we just make sure he is secure at all times in the house or the yard).

Hiking in the mountains is great. Just be aware that there ARE leash laws in the national forest and a $150 or so fine if you get caught off leash (although, I have usually just gotten off with a warning if I immediately pull out my leash when I see a ranger and call Maggie - who comes immediately). $75 fine in wilderness areas for off leash, less patrolled because they are more remote - haven't run into a ranger yet. NO dogs in the National parks (they stay in the car).

That all said. There are lots of dog owners here who think they have the best dog ever, friendly and entitled to run free where ever. Usually obnoxious and not aggressive, but pests who do not have recall. I have seen more people call "come" to a dog who just blows them off...

PM me if you want advice about Denver neighborhoods.

Oh, Colorado-- dogs go everywhere with their owners in
the mountain towns, and you will see hundreds of dogs walked in the city parks daily. The climate is a dream compared to the Midwest. The sun is always out.It snows like crazy, melts tomorrow.
There are porqupines in the mountains and there is Giardia in the mountain streams but there are NO FLEAS-or, I guess I should say fleas are rare. Colorado is a wonderful place to live. I went to high school, college and grad school there, we loved the state.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Boulder :-)

wow thanks everyone for all of the information! It sounds like we're going to love Colorado. We look forward to our yearly visit all year long so we decided it's finally time to give relocating a try. Thanks again!