Denver Parks and Recreation lists 17 dog park locations, including two pop-up sites downtown. Before you go, know that Denver's rules are among the strictest of any big US city: children 10 and under aren't allowed inside, one person can bring no more than two dogs, and dogs must have a Denver dog license and be spayed or neutered — or hold a Denver intact permit. Most dog parks are open sunrise to sundown; only the Railyard Dog Park is lit and open until 11 p.m.
In this guide
This guide lists every location, explains the rules posted at every gate, and covers what Denver's altitude and weather mean for your dog.
All Denver dog park locations
From Denver Parks and Recreation's official list. Cross streets are how the city identifies most of them.
| Dog park | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Barnum Dog Park | N. Julian St. between W. 4th & 5th Ave. | West Denver |
| Berkeley Dog Park | W. 46th Ave. & Sheridan | Northwest Denver |
| Carla Madison Dog Park | 2405 E. Colfax Ave. | East Colfax |
| Fuller Dog Park | E. 29th Ave. & Franklin | Whittier / Five Points |
| Green Valley Ranch East Dog Park | E. 45th Ave. & Jebel | Far Northeast |
| Greenway Dog Park | E. 22nd Ave. & Syracuse St. | Central Park neighborhood |
| Kennedy Dog Park | Hampden & S. Dayton | Southeast Denver |
| Little Box Car | Broadway & Lawrence St. | Downtown |
| Lowry Dog Park | E. 4th Pl. & S. Yosemite | Lowry |
| Paco Sanchez (pop-up) | 14th Ave. & Avondale Dr. | West Denver — temporary |
| Parkfield Dog Park | 53rd Ave. & Chambers | Far Northeast |
| Railyard Dog Park | 19th Ave. & Little Raven | LoDo — the only lit dog park |
| Sanderson Gulch | S. Lipan & W. Arkansas | Southwest Denver |
| Skyline Park (pop-up) | 17th St. & Arapahoe | Downtown — temporary |
| Sonny Lawson Park | 24th St. & California | Five Points |
| Willow Bark Dog Park | Spruce St. & E. 53rd Pl. | Northeast — closed for maintenance from May 13, 2026; check status |
| Zeckendorf Plaza | 7th Ave. & Lincoln | Capitol Hill area — pilot site |
Denver's rules, in plain English
Denver posts a detailed rule set, and several points are unusual enough that visitors get turned away. The ones that matter most:
Your dog
- Spayed or neutered, or holding a current Denver Intact Permit (for Denver residents).
- Current rabies vaccination and a Denver dog license. The rabies tag must be attached to the collar or harness.
- No females in estrus, and no dogs too young to be vaccinated against rabies.
- No aggressive dogs, and any dog that acts aggressively must be removed immediately.
You and your group
- Children 10 and under are not permitted inside a dog park.
- Ages 11 to 15 must be with an adult (18 or older).
- The person in charge of a dog must be at least 16.
- Maximum two dogs per person — a real constraint for dog walkers and multi-dog households.
Inside the park
- Human food isn't allowed, but dog treats are. (That's the opposite of Chicago and Los Angeles, which ban treats too.)
- Leash until you're inside, and leash again before you leave. Always carry a leash.
- Fill in any holes your dog digs and repair turf damage — this is written into the rules.
- Keep your dog in view and under control at all times.
Hours
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Unlit dog parks (all but one) | Sunrise to sundown, 7 days a week |
| Lit dog parks (Railyard) | 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., 7 days a week |
Dogs aren't permitted in a dog park when it's dark and unlit, even if a nearby ballfield or streetlight is on. In winter, when the sun sets before 5 p.m., that makes Railyard the only after-work option.
The green, yellow and red signs
Denver has a system you won't see in most cities. Every dog park has a condition sign at the entrance, rated by parks staff:
| Sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Green | The off-leash area is in good condition. |
| Yellow | Warning — the area needs attention. If users don't clean it up, it will be closed. |
| Red | Poor condition — closed until further notice. |
In other words, the dog park community's cleanup habits directly decide whether a park stays open. Dog bag dispensers are provided at every site. If you see a yellow sign, picking up an extra bag or two is the quickest way to keep your park open.
Picking a park
Downtown and LoDo
Railyard Dog Park in LoDo is the standout: it's the only lit dog park in the system and the only one open until 11 p.m. Downtown also has Little Box Car on Broadway, Sonny Lawson in Five Points, and two pop-up sites — Skyline Park and Paco Sanchez. Zeckendorf Plaza is a pilot dog park that replaced an earlier pilot at Quality Hill Park in 2023, about a 10-minute walk away.
A new linear dog run is also planned along Central Street between 15th and 19th Streets, with netting to separate it from I-25.
East and Northeast
Carla Madison on East Colfax, Greenway in the Central Park neighborhood and Lowry serve the east side. Further out, Green Valley Ranch East, Parkfield and Willow Bark cover the far northeast — check Willow Bark's status, since it was scheduled to close for maintenance in May 2026.
West, Southwest and Southeast
Berkeley in Northwest Denver, Barnum in West Denver, Sanderson Gulch in the southwest and Kennedy in the southeast round out the list.
Bigger spaces outside the city
Some of the largest off-leash areas in the metro are outside Denver's city system, notably the dog off-leash areas in Colorado's state parks south and east of the city, such as Chatfield and Cherry Creek. They're far bigger than any city dog park, but they have their own rules and require a state park entry pass. Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife before you go.
Altitude, sun and storms
Denver sits at about 5,280 feet, and the high, dry climate affects dogs as much as people:
- Bring more water than you think. Dry air and altitude dehydrate dogs faster, and not every dog park has a reliable water source.
- The sun is strong. On clear summer days, dirt and artificial surfaces heat up quickly. Mornings are best.
- Watch the afternoon sky in summer. Thunderstorms build quickly over the Front Range on summer afternoons, and a dog park is an open, exposed space. When you hear thunder, leave.
- Winter can swing fast. Snow often melts within a day or two, but shaded corners stay icy. Check paws for ice balls on long-haired dogs.
Frequently asked questions
How many dog parks are in Denver?
Denver Parks and Recreation lists 17 dog park locations, including two pop-up sites and one pilot site.
Do dogs need to be neutered to use Denver dog parks?
Yes, unless they have a current Denver Intact Permit. Dogs also need a current rabies vaccination and a Denver dog license.
Can I bring my kids to a Denver dog park?
Children 10 and under aren't allowed. Kids aged 11 to 15 must be with an adult, and anyone in charge of a dog must be at least 16.
How many dogs can I bring?
No more than two dogs per person.
Which Denver dog park is open at night?
The Railyard Dog Park in LoDo is the only lit dog park, open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. All others close at sundown.
Are treats allowed?
Yes. Denver bans human food in dog parks, but dog treats are permitted.
Sources: Denver Parks and Recreation, Dog Parks page, Dog Park Rules and Maintenance & Closures (as published May 2026). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Rules and closures change — check the sign at the gate.
