Tag: early season hikes

Kruger Rock with our Dog

I’m excited to share our latest adventure in Estes Park, Colorado. We brought our three-year-old Australian Shepard, Sky. I was nervous about how well our active pup would do on the long drive from Arkansas to Colorado, but after talking to her vet and the owner of her doggie daycare, we decided to bring Sky along with us.

Kruger rock trail

The first hike we took her on was the Kruger Rock Trail in Hermit Park, located just outside of Estes Park on Highway 36. It is a dog-friendly area with dozens of campsites, a nice pavilion, and a few other trails to explore. The open space requires entrance and camping permits and is open from March through mid December. You can read more here.

The elevation of Hermit Park is 7,880-8,964 feet which makes it a good ‘lower elevation’ and early-season hike compared to many of our favorite hikes in nearby Rocky Mountain National Park. We hiked over Memorial Day weekend.

The trail is roughly 2 miles each way, steadily gaining just under 1,000 feet of elevation. Less than a mile in, you reach a junction with the Limber Pine trail.

Continue up the trail to find a series of rock outcroppings ideal for catching your breath and taking in the wide views of the Estes Valley.

In November 2021, a wildfire burned in this area. Thankfully the fire was contained, but the damage can still be seen along the trail.

Once we got to the top, we took turns climbing Kruger Rock without Sky. This is a fun scramble with spectacular views.

360 Views from the top of Kruger Rock in Estes Park, Colorado

Dog-friendly hiking tips: bring bags to pick up waste, extra water, and a water bowl. Dogs should remain on a leash.

Dog Friendly Estes Park

We found Estes Park, Colorado to be a dog-friendly destination. The Estes Park Chamber of Commerce and the Visitor Center provide a comprehensive list of lodging, food and beverage, and retail destinations that allow dogs.

Kruger Rock—A Dog Friendly, Early Season Trail just outside Estes Park, Colorado

We love hiking with our kids, but it’s also a gift to go on a solo hike. On his birthday (May 30th), Eric took a more challenging hike without the girls – and where better to get a moment away than in a place called Hermit Park?

We are always on the look-out for new (to us) hikes in and around Rocky Mountain National Park, especially in the springtime when snow still covers many of the higher-elevation destinations. Rock Cut Brewery recently started a hiking club, and posted about their group adventure to Kruger Rock a month or so back, and it looked like just the right fit for a quick spring challenge.

The Kruger Rock Trail is located in Hermit Park, just outside of Estes Park on Highway 36. I’ve driven by Hermit Park hundreds of times, but had never stopped to check it out. Its maintained by Larimer County, and there are dozens of campsites, a nice pavilion, and a few other trails to explore. You can read more on their website, here.

Entrance for day usage (hiking) was $9, handled at an easy-to-use self-pay system just off the highway. The trailhead is a couple of miles back near the large pavilion—I found the trailhead locater in the AllTrails app to be helpful in finding it, as the official sign was down when I visited.

Kruger Rock Trail 2 miles each way

The trail is roughly 2 miles each way, steadily gaining just under 1000 feet of elevation. The first section of the trail isn’t spectacular, but is certainly pleasant, as you wind through the pine trees up towards the ridge line.

Kruger Rock Trail Colorado

Less than a mile in, you reach a junction with the Limber Pine trail.

Hiking near Estes Park dog friendly location
kruger rock trail

From here, things start to get more scenic, both looking back over the valley you are ascending, and soon, with views of the Estes Valley beginning to emerge.

views along kruger rock trail
views kruger rock trail of estes valley and rocky mountain national park

If you look closely, you may even spot our cabin 😊 (excuse the grainy iPhone-zoom photo).

solitude cabins

From this point forward, the views are truly wonderful, and the adventure culminates in a fun scramble to the summit. I’m not an expert, but I would put the brief climb at class 3, although its just a few moves and has zero exposure to be concerned about. Might be a little tricky with a dog, but even without the final scramble, the views are fantastic.

class 3 hike up to summit of kruger park trail in hermit park
great views at summit of kruger rock trail in hermit park near estes park colorado

I was back at the trailhead in a total time of just under an hour and a half, including a 5-10 minute stop at the summit. It was an awesome hike, with very few other people out that day (granted it was a Thursday, and I got a relatively early start). Nearly everyone else I encountered had their dog as a hiking partner, and as mentioned above, it seems like a great place to bring them, outside of perhaps the very end of the trail.  Given how close Kruger Rock is to Estes, and how early in the season the snow melts out, we will definitely be recommending this one to our friends, and visiting again soon!

Additional Dog Friendly Hikes Near Estes Park include Lily Mountain and the Homer Rouse Trail.