Cherry Creek Dog Park
Flat creekside loops and shallow water, the closest big off-leash run to Denver
About this park
Cherry Creek Dog Park (near the state park entrance) offers broad off-leash trails with multiple shallow water access points along the creek, ideal for dogs who love to wade without being swept. Various trail loops are available, and bathroom facilities are near the main entrance. The terrain is natural and spacious enough to give dogs genuine distance to run.
Amenities
Cherry Creek Dog Park reviews
What visitors consistently sayReviewers love that it's the closest large off-leash area to Denver, with a three-mile perimeter loop, shallow creek access, and a few obstacle structures along the way. Regulars consistently note how flat and open the terrain is, and how well-stocked the trail is with poop bag stations and trash cans.
Visitors describe a friendly, low-key crowd: people chatting on the trails while dogs roam freely. The north parking lot stays quieter than the south, which is where the regulars gather.
Best for
Before you go
Great for introducing puppies to water; the creek has slow, shallow sections. Bring a towel if your dog is a swimmer. Trail stations with bag dispensers are along the path.
Frequently asked
- Is this the same place as Cherry Creek Dog Off-Leash Area?
- It is the same off-leash land reached from a different side. Cherry Creek Dog Park is the north access off 12 Mile; the separate off-leash area page covers the south entrance, which draws the heavier crowds.
- Is there an entry fee?
- Entry is paid at the gate, and an annual pass is sold for anyone coming regularly. A Colorado state parks pass bought through a vehicle registration covers the same access.
- Is the area fenced?
- No. This is open state-park ground with a perimeter loop of roughly three miles, so recall needs to be solid. Coyotes and other wildlife turn up around the edges.
- Is the water safe for a puppy?
- The creek on the north side runs shallow with a slow current, which reviewers single out as a good first introduction to water. Owners of confident swimmers should expect wading depth rather than a swimming hole.
- Where is the parking and the restroom?
- Two lots serve the area, north and south, and the south one fills first. The restroom sits at the entrance near the 12 Mile horse stables.
Nearby parks in Denver
View all
Cherry Creek Dog Off-Leash Area (DOLA)
107 acres of creek beaches, agility features, and miles of trail
Grandview Dog Park
A full agility course inside a fenced Aurora favorite
Kennedy Dog Park
Split high-energy and low-energy zones with a small-dog favorite side