If a dog is considered to be our “best friend” then why wouldn’t we take that fur ball on vacation with us? It’s true that many hotels and resorts don’t permit pets on the premises. But that’s simply not the case at Cheyenne Mountain Resort. In fact, the city of Colorado Springs welcomes your dog, too. So this month, we’ve detailed a long weekend just for you and yours, so you can experience the countless activities, restaurants, and parks this city (and our resort) has to offer together.
Proud to be the premier, pet-friendly hotel in Colorado Springs, we at Cheyenne Mountain Resort offer much more than a tiny goodie bag at the door. Some have gone so far as to call our pet amenities, “drool-worthy,” and we understand why. Just for your pet, we offer eco-friendly toys, logoed dog tags, collapsible water bowls, and washable blankets and treats. So once you and yours have settled in, head downtown to one of a handful of restaurants boasting a great outdoor patio space so your pooch can join you for dinner. Try a mouthwatering bison patty melt and refreshing amber lager in the shadow of the Rockies at Phantom Canyon Brewery. Or, if you’d rather eat indoors, order the Bow Wow BLTA from the dog-themed menu at Pub Dog– the first restaurant in the state inviting guests to eat indoors with their dogs. Pet-friendly patios are more plentiful, however, and popular If you try Pizzeria Rustica, TAPAteria, Salsa Brava, or Edelweiss, expect to wait for a table.
Start your second day in Colorado Springs with a hearty breakfast before getting outside for a full day of exercise. The region has many fantastic hikes suitable for both two- and four-legged visitors. Palmer Park has a fenced-in dog park and a 1-mile off-leash loop, and leashed pups are allowed throughout Garden of the Gods Park and can roam freely in the off-leash section near the main entrance by Rock Ledge Ranch. Fun, agility obstacles are built into the fenced-off landscape at Rampart Dog Park.
Other great parks with off-leash sections include Red Rock Canyon Open Space, with miles of trails and two off-leash loops, and Fox Run Dog Park near the Black Forest, which gets “two paws up” for its shady fenced-in area. Following the “Leave No Trace” principles, always be sure to keep your dog leashed unless you are in a designated off-leash area and clean up after your pet when they make a mess.
Dogs are welcome at some of the area’s biggest attractions like the trails at Pikes Peak and the Manitou Cliff Dwellings.
On your final day, treat your furry sidekick to a day at Bear Creek Dog Park. Named as one of USA Today’s 10 best “Amazing Dog Parks,” its highlights include 25 acres for dogs to run and play, a 3/4-mile loop trail, a small-dog section, a new agility course, and a creek with multiple swimming areas. And if that’s not enough, all of the canine amenities sprawl underneath beautiful panoramas of the foothills. The entire park is off-leash to dogs under voice control, so let yours run freely, track new scents, and make new friends. When you and your pup have soaked up enough sun and fun, take yourself out for some retail therapy at dog-friendly Springs shops. Outlets at Castle Rock, Promenade Shops at Briargate, and the shopping districts of Manitou Springs and Old Colorado City are all options.
It’s no surprise Colorado Springs makes the list again and again as one of the nation’s most livable cities; if we invite you, your dog should come, too! Bring your “best friend” to Colorado, and make your reservation at Cheyenne Mountain Resort today!
