Cherry Creek Dog Off Leash Area (DOLA)

Name: Cherry Creek Dog Off Leash Area (DOLA)
Telephone: (303) 690-1166
Rating: 4.8

Dog Friendly

4.8(2248 reviews)

The take

107 acres of off-leash dog area inside Cherry Creek State Park, the largest in metro Denver. $3 day-use plus the state park entrance fee, three dogs per handler, swimming access on the creek. The biggest reason to buy the annual passes.

Why it's here

The Dog Off-Leash Area (DOLA) inside Cherry Creek State Park is its own thing, separate from the park's general trail system, and it's the largest dedicated off-leash space in the metro at 107 acres. From Highlands Ranch you're at one of the two entrances in 15 minutes; from Lone Tree, 10. Two access points: south at Parker Road and Orchard Road, north at the 12 Mile parking lot. Both have parking, both have waste stations, both connect to the same fenced-in (mostly) acreage of mixed prairie, woods, and creek frontage.

Fees stack a little awkwardly. You need (a) a Cherry Creek State Park entrance pass ($11/day or $83/year covering all CO state parks), and (b) a separate DOLA pass ($3/day or $25/year) that lives on the human, not the car. The dog pass must be visibly displayed on the handler at all times in the off-leash area; rangers do check, and the citation runs about $50. Three-dog limit per handler, voice control required, leash and waste bag must be on you.

The two reasons to come over a smaller fenced dog park: real running room (your border collie can actually open up) and creek access (most dogs will swim if you wear them out into it; mid-summer water levels are reliable). Mid-morning weekdays are empty enough that you'll see two or three other groups across the entire space. Weekend afternoons are crowded, especially the south end near Parker Road.

The main downside: the back acreage isn't perimeter-fenced, just signed. If your dog has poor recall, do not let them off the lead until you've walked them through the area on a long line for a few visits. Coyotes do exist in the park; not common, not hypothetical.

Know before you go

Go for

•Real running for a high-energy dog (border collies, vizslas, GSPs)
•Creek swimming on a hot July afternoon (north access has the better water)
•Annual passes if you go more than four times a year
•Mid-week mornings when the area is functionally empty

Timing

Open same hours as the park, 5am to 10pm. Weekday mornings 7-10am are the calm window. Saturday 10am-2pm is the busiest stretch of the week; expect 30+ dogs in the south end. Winter weekday mornings are great if it isn't icy.

Pro tip

Buy both passes at the same time online at cpw.state.co.us before driving in. The annual stack ($83 state park + $25 DOLA = $108) pays back in roughly 8-9 visits. The DOLA pass goes on the human (lanyard or clipped to a belt loop); rangers will check and want to see it visible.

Skip / heads up

The back acreage isn't fully fenced. If your dog's recall is shaky, use a long line for the first few visits or stick to the south end which has clearer boundaries. Coyote sightings happen; keep an eye on small dogs at dawn and dusk. The water has algae advisories some Augusts; check before letting the dog swim.

By Nathan Boesen