Dogs in RMNP

[HuskyRunner]

As an aside, not all National Parks prohibit dogs from trails. Used to live in VA. and often took our pups to Shenandoah NP where dogs are allowed: https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/pets.htm

[JDgreen]

Actually they are legal on the Lilly Mountain Trail. That's it other than parking lots, roadsides etc. on leash.

[DaveLanders]

Actually they are legal on the Lilly Mountain Trail. That's it other than parking lots, roadsides etc. on leash.

The Lily Mountain trail is in Roosevelt National Forest, not the Park.

[Jeff Valliere]

Actually they are legal on the Lilly Mountain Trail. That's it other than parking lots, roadsides etc. on leash.

There seems to be a good bit of confusion with this. Back in October, we bumped into some friends at Lily Lake who were there with their dog. They chose this location, because aside from having small kids, they were told by somebody who works for the NPS (maybe at the visitors center) that dogs were allowed at Lily Lake. Once at the lake however, there was a sign stating that dogs were prohibited and were reminded of that several times by passing do-gooders. I guess since the above mentions Lily Mountain vs. Lily Lake, but I am wondering if there is a difference in jurisdiction between the Lake and the Mountain? Either way, to get to the mountain, sticking to the main trail from the parking lot, one would have to pass the "no dog" sign. Just curious if anyone has any insight here, as we were all a bit stumped by this back in October.

[rijaca]

Lily Lake is within RMNP. The Lily Mountain (and trail) is outside the Park.

https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/ ... s-2016.pdf

[Jeff Valliere]

Lily Lake is within RMNP. The Lily Mountain (and trail) is outside the Park.

https://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/ ... s-2016.pdf

Makes sense, thanks Ricky. Tricky though with a dog, since one technically has to use the NPS dog prohibited trail at Lily Lake to access the mountain. One would either have to chance it for 200 feet, or just bushwhack around I guess.

[Derek]

I'm surprised by this thread. I've spent easily 200+ days in RMNP and I do not remember ever seeing a dog where they aren't allowed. I know the rangers issue plenty of dog tickets, but it seems like mostly a minor issue.

I never really noticed it until once last winter, while back at the Longs TH after a hike of Lady Washington. A younger couple with their dog were reading the rules sign at the start of the trail, and the lady noted "uh oh, there are no dogs allowed up here! Should we go hike somewhere else?" to which her companion (a bro-dacious fellow) replied "I dont give a sh**, the rangers can kiss my ass". I chose not to say anything, as they were without snow shoes so I figured karma would work itself out about 100 yards up the trail. (Deep fresh snow.) So there are always those types of nice people out there.

Now, out of control dogs in City of Boulder Open Space... that's another matter.

I think I've told this before on this forum, but my favorite (?) dog encounter experience in BOS was hiking along the trail just after leaving the Mesa trailhead when I was slammed in the back by a dog from behind leaping up on me. After stumbling down (was a big dog) I shoved him off of on top of me, at which time the owner about 30 yards back on the trail started screaming at me for shoving her dog.

People are odd. And annoying.

-D

[madbuck]

Makes sense, thanks Ricky. Tricky though with a dog, since one technically has to use the NPS dog prohibited trail at Lily Lake to access the mountain. One would either have to chance it for 200 feet, or just bushwhack around I guess.

The separate, dog-legal, non-RMNP Lily Mountain TH is distinctly to the north of Lily Lake.

It sounds like the rangers possibly could have been more clear, though.

Once at the lake however, there was a sign stating that dogs were prohibited and were reminded of that several times by passing do-gooders.

To my dismay, this is sort of a summary of what I've been seeing more recently: more dogs coupled with a defensive entitlement, despite the rules, where anybody who points it out is dismissed as a 'do gooder', treated as a bad person and ignored for bringing it up.

Constructively, my observed encounters are at non-admission trailheads. Perhaps, next to the abundant No Dog regulations, there could be a pointer to nearby accessible trailes.

[Jeff Valliere]

Thanks for the clarification. Like I said, I was not involved and thus not very invested, just observed and was wondering.

To clarify, my "do gooder" comment was not necessarily a stance on people in general pointing out NPS regulations nor reflects my stance on dogs in National Parks or entitled dog owners, I was more just being polite in my reference to the people I witnessed that day. Our friend was wrangling 3 small kids and was just near the sign, with the dog on leash. 2 people were a bit overly bothered for just being near and one older fisherman was flat out rude and disrespectful. I am fine with a polite reminder, but these people were being jerks under the guise of saving the planet.

[madbuck]

Thanks for the clarification. Like I said, I was not involved and thus not very invested, just observed and was wondering.
...
I am fine with a polite reminder, but these people were being jerks under the guise of saving the planet.

Fair enough! I also am not overly invested in being particularly expert at all the accessible trails and regulations.
I am disappointed in people being jerks in general. As a common thread, this are obviously more likely to happen at easily-accessible trailheads. (Which I notice more now with a young kid)

[Jeff Valliere]

Yes indeed, amazing the new things we notice now with kids in tow, in populated areas and going at kid pace. Normally, we would just speed through and be off on our own in a matter of minutes, but now at this slower pace and closer proximity, I certainly see things from a different perspective, for good and bad.