Is Steamboat still Dog Town, USA?

Key points

• Dog Fancy magazine named Steamboat "Dog Town, USA" in 2013.
• Volunteers pay for the city's dog waste bags, about $20,000 a year, and built most of the amenities at Rita Valentine Park.
• Winter leash rules took effect at Whistler Park on Nov. 1.
• Visiting with a dog? Our weekend guide covers where to stay, hike, eat and play.

A while back, I ordered an Uber, and the driver pulled up with a huge dog along for the ride. My daughter could not have been happier.

That's Steamboat Springs. Dogs are on the trails, on the patios and, now and then, in your Uber. On almost every hike, we meet a few of them along the way, and nobody seems to mind.

A town that lets dogs in

In 2013, Dog Fancy magazine named Steamboat "Dog Town, USA," and its editor called the town "a mile-high mecca for dogs and their owners," according to a local blog post at the time. Thirteen years later, the title still seems to fit.

Many local businesses welcome dogs. The Steamboat Chamber lists Mountain Tap Brewery and The Barley as downtown spots where dogs are always welcome.

The volunteers behind the dog parks

Steamboat has two official dog parks, Rita Valentine Park and Spring Creek Park at the Lower Pond. Dogs can also run off-leash on Butcherknife Trail, Sailors Way Trail and parts of Whistler Park, according to the city. Elsewhere in town, dogs must be on a 6-foot leash.

Much of what dog owners enjoy at Rita Valentine came from volunteers. Steamboat Digs Dogs formed in 2016 and operates as a fund of the Yampa Valley Community Foundation. It has added a dog water fountain, two shade pavilions, eight benches and an agility course at the park.

The city doesn't supply dog waste bags, so the group does. It spends about $20,000 a year on them, according to its fundraising page. Next on its wish list: a fenced area for small dogs and dogs that don't do well in a crowd, and a water play area at Rita Valentine.

Good to know:

• Whistler Park winter rules: Since Nov. 1, the west side has been leash-only to protect elk winter range, while the southeast side is open to off-leash dogs. The rules switch back May 1. The northeast side is off-leash year-round.
• Licenses: All animals in Routt County must be licensed every year at the Animal Shelter, with proof of a current rabies vaccination, according to the city.

Dogs with jobs

Some of Steamboat's dogs work for a living. In January 2023, Steamboat Resort's ski patrol welcomed its first avalanche rescue dogs, the Steamboat Pilot reported: Daisy, a black Labrador, and Mudd, a shepherd and Belgian Malinois mix. A golden retriever named Ty had joined them by spring 2024.

Patrollers Chad Feagler, Nate Birdseye and Eric Wood handle the dogs, which learn to find people buried in snow. Training starts with hide-and-seek in snow caves and builds to realistic avalanche scenes. The dogs also learn to ride the lifts.

As of spring 2024, all three were still training toward certification, Steamboat Magazine reported. With the resort's Fish Creek terrain adding avalanche-prone ground, they have plenty of work ahead.

A dog-friendly weekend in Steamboat

Visiting with a dog? Here's where to go and what to do, in any season.

Where to stay: The Steamboat Chamber lists Rabbit Ears Motel and Nordic Lodge downtown as pet-friendly, plus Pioneer Ridge for condo and home rentals. Its dog-friendly list also includes Steamboat Grand and Gravity Haus near the resort. Ask about pet fees when you book.

Saturday morning: a walk or a hike. Keep dogs leashed on all of these.

• Yampa River Core Trail: a paved path of about 7 miles through town, with spots where dogs can cool off in the river.
• Spring Creek Trail: a shaded creek trail that starts in town, with an off-leash area at the lower pond.
• Blackmere Trail on Emerald Mountain: a local favorite with a view over town. In winter, people snowshoe it.
• Fish Creek Falls: about 10 minutes from town in Routt National Forest. Bring water and bags.
• For fit dogs: Mad Creek Trail north of town, or Thunderhead Trail from the ski resort base, about 4 miles with 2,200 feet of climbing.

Saturday afternoon: off-leash play. Rita Valentine Park and Spring Creek Park at the Lower Pond are the city's two dog parks. Whistler Park's off-leash areas change with the season (see above).

Lunch and dinner on a patio: Colorado law keeps dogs out of indoor areas where food is served, so look for patios, the Chamber notes. Dog-friendly patios include Creekside Café & Grill, Salt & Lime, Back Door Grill, O'Neil's Tavern & Grill and Truffle Pig at the resort base, according to a 2026 travel guide. Truffle Pig has heated outdoor seating, and O'Neil's patio is sometimes heated in colder months. Mountain Tap Brewery and Storm Peak Brewery let leashed dogs into their taprooms.

Sunday: get out of town.

• In winter: Colorado Parks and Wildlife lists the groomed Ski Touring Center trails at Steamboat Lake State Park, north of town, as dog-friendly. Keep dogs leashed; a daily vehicle pass costs $12 to $17. Locals also take their dogs snowshoeing on Rabbit Ears Pass.
• In summer: paddleboard with your dog on wakeless Pearl Lake, or let it splash at Burgess Creek Beach at the base of the ski area.

Before you go:

• Dogs must be on a 6-foot leash within city limits.
• Dogs ride city buses only in airline-style carriers, according to the travel guide. Check with the city before you ride.
• The altitude can tire dogs from lower elevations. Bring plenty of water and ease into long climbs.
• For supplies, Outdoor K9 sells dog gear, and Elk River Pet & Ranch carries locally made treats. Steamboat Veterinary Hospital offers 24-hour on-call emergency care, the Chamber says.

Rules, fees, hours and pet policies can change. Check with the business, the trail manager or the city before you go.

Dog events, but no parade (yet)

Steamboat already has dog events. Each September, the Routt County Humane Society holds The Fast & The Furriest 5k9 Doggie Fun Run & Walk at Howelsen Hill. Before the race, hundreds of tennis balls tumble down a ski jump, and prizes go to the best dog-and-human costume duo. Last fall, the Foundry Halloween 5K welcomed leashed pups, too.

Steamboat has the dogs, the trails, the patios and a ski jump that has already rained tennis balls. What it doesn't seem to have is a dog parade.

One could be part of Winter Carnival in February, a summer weekend downtown or the Humane Society's September run. Groups like the Humane Society and Steamboat Digs Dogs would be natural partners.

Tell us: Would you march your dog in a Steamboat dog parade? Send a photo of your dog to pets@yvindy.com.

Looking for places to take your dog? See our Dog Guide to dog parks, off-leash hours, trails, dog-friendly patios, groomers and vets in Steamboat Springs, Hayden and Oak Creek.