Vail is easy to visit with a dog if you plan around four rules that catch people out. Dogs must be leashed in the villages and on many trails. The free town buses do not allow pets. Dogs cannot ride the gondola uphill. And hotel pet policies range from a free dog bed to a flat ban, so the room needs to be settled before anything else.
Leash rules and off-leash parks
The Town of Vail's dog rules keep dogs within 10 feet of their owner and responsive to commands in residential neighborhoods, and require leashes in the commercial areas of Vail Village, Lionshead, Golden Peak, Cascade Village, Ford Park and the West Vail shopping district. Leashed dogs are allowed in the other town parks, with exceptions for Ford Park and for the area within 100 feet of an athletic field while an event is under way, so read the signs at each park. Dogs should not be tethered in public spaces, and dog bag stations are placed around town.
Two places let dogs run off leash: Bighorn Park in East Vail and part of Stephens Park in West Vail. Bighorn has a pond and a kids' playground, and dogs must be leashed in the playground area. Stephens Park has a field and a creek but no fence, so your dog needs reliable recall.
Trails with a dog
A physical leash is required on every trail that enters the Eagles Nest Wilderness and on the North Trail. Trails outside the wilderness often allow dogs off leash under voice control, but leashing is the safer default unless the trailhead sign says otherwise, since elk, moose, coyotes and mountain lions can treat a dog as a threat. Read where moose are seen around Vail before you go.
- Discover Vail's dog guide recommends the Booth Creek, Gore Lake, Lost Lake, Pitkin Lake and Upper Piney River trails. Gore Lake Trail starts from Bighorn Road in East Vail and is 12.2 miles to the lake, loosely following Gore Creek, so many people turn around well before the end.
- Vail Mountain allows dogs on its designated hiking trails, and the routes suit a range of abilities.
- Booth Lake Trail allows leashed dogs, but it climbs steeply for the first mile and enters the wilderness, and there is no parking at the trailhead. The free East Vail bus is the standard way in and it does not carry pets, so a dog means being dropped off by a private vehicle, which is allowed at the trailhead on a limited basis with restrictions.
Altitude affects dogs as it does people, so condition your dog before long hikes and bring a collapsible bowl and water. A collar with tags and your phone number is worth having. Pack out all dog waste: it can carry bacteria such as E. coli into Gore Creek. The creekside paths at the Vail Nature Center are closed for the summer 2026 season while the Town of Vail makes site improvements; the Vail hiking guide has other routes.
Gondola, buses and getting around
Dogs cannot ride Vail's gondola uphill. If you hike up Vail Mountain, the ride down is free for you and your dog. The summer gondola operates Friday to Sunday only, and the 2026 season ends September 27.
Town of Vail buses list "No pets allowed," so a dog means walking, driving or a hotel shuttle that accepts pets. Contact the town's transit department about service animals.
Patios and shops
Dogs are welcome on the patios of many Vail restaurants, but only service dogs conforming to ADA definitions may enter restaurant buildings. Call ahead, since policies change, and book Alpenrose's patio in summer or early fall. Patios recommended by Vail Resorts and Discover Vail:
- Bully Ranch, at the Sonnenalp in Vail Village, with expansive outdoor seating
- Bart & Yeti's in Lionshead, named for two dogs
- Vendetta's, on the deck behind the restaurant in Vail Village
- Blue Moose Pizza, on a wrap-around patio in the center of Lionshead
- Alpenrose, the German and Austrian restaurant known for its flower boxes
- Vail Brewing Company, The Little Diner, Treff Café, Westside Cafe and Garfinkel's, where dogs stay outside
Many shops in the villages welcome dogs if you ask first. Leave dogs at home for crowded events such as the Vail Farmers' Market and Art Show.
Where dogs can stay
Fees and limits below are the ones each property posts. Most properties confine dogs to certain rooms, so confirm when booking.
| Property | Dogs | Posted terms |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Hyatt Vail | Yes | $150 non-refundable fee for stays up to 6 nights, plus $50 more from 7 nights, per stay; up to two dogs, 70 pounds maximum; dog beds and bowls on request |
| The Sebastian | Yes | $75 daily pet fee; the room comes with a dog bed, toy, treats and bowls |
| Gravity Haus Vail | Yes, in dog-ready rooms | Fee paid at booking, none for members |
| Evergreen Lodge | Yes | $40 plus tax per night per room; dogs only, in ground-floor rooms; up to three |
| Highline Vail | Yes | Up to two dogs per room; $100 non-refundable one-time fee per pet |
| Tivoli Lodge | Limited rooms | $100 non-refundable per pet per stay; no more than two dogs |
| Sitzmark Vail | Yes | One dog per room; $55 plus tax per night |
| Four Seasons Vail | Under 25 pounds | Pets are not allowed in the villa and residence rentals, food service outlets, spa, fitness centre or pool areas |
| The Lodge at Vail | Limited | Listed as limited pet friendly |
| The Hythe | Yes | Listed as pet friendly |
Several properties do not take pets: Sonnenalp (service animals only), The Ritz-Carlton Club, Vail, Solaris Residences, Christiania Lodge, Austria Haus, Lodge at Lionshead and Vail Racquet Club. The Vail hotel directory shows the full range.
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