Palmer Lake, CO: 4 Dog friendly ways to enjoy your visit
July 2023: The small town of Palmer Lake (population 2,636*) is situated at 7,200 feet near the highest point between its urban neighbors, Denver and Colorado Springs. Nestled between the Pikes National Forest to the West and its namesake lake to the east, Palmer Lake has much to offer everyone – including furry family members!
Palmer Lake – A Brief history
The earliest known area inhabitants were native-American tribes. Here is some interesting Colorado history trivia – the earliest recorded activity in the area was the Army’s Major Stephen Long Expedition of 1820, which discovered the Colorado state flower (the Columbine) somewhere between Monument and Palmer Lake. Many homesteaded ranches and farms straddled the El Paso/Douglas County line as early as the 1860s.
General William J. Palmer, came west after the Civil War to found the City of Colorado Springs and start the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad in 1871. He purchased the land known as the Monument Farms & Lake Property, which was to become the Town of Palmer Lake. The town was incorporated in 1889
Legacy of Tourism
Palmer Lake was critical to the railroad because the steam trains chugged up to the Palmer-Divide summit and had to take on water to head back down. The lake was the only natural water supply available on a year-round basis. Passenger trains would stop for 10 minutes to take on water, eventually allowing passengers to get off for a day of picnicking, fishing, and boating or wildflower hikes as a roundtrip from Denver.
The early tourism industry continued to evolve when an Ohio based physician purchased land, intending it as a health resort and vacation community. He built the Queen Anne Victorian mansion Estemere which remains a beautiful town landmark today. Another early landmark is the Palmer Lake star (457 ft across), built on the mountain facing town in the mid 1930s and visible from afar. It continues to be maintained by the town Fire Department, funded by the estate of a local resident.
4 Dog friendly ways to enjoy your time in Palmer Lake
The business district of Palmer Lake is located along both sides of Hwy 105 and has a nice variety of good patio restaurants and coffee shops as well as other businesses. There are no sidewalks and limited business parking, and a nice big public parking lot on the south end of town.
We live near enough to Palmer Lake, that we have visited many times to enjoy the variety of outdoor options!
Note: the traffic on Hwy 105 can be a bit overbearing with large trucks and the occasional too-fast driver. Even with a 30 mph speed limit, without the presence of sidewalks and crosswalks, the pedestrian gets the general vibe that traffic takes priority to pedestrians when visiting local businesses.
1. Visit one of the many downtown businesses with dog-friendly patios
We can recommend any of the restaurants and Coffee Shops we have visited over the years! More often than not, we have see furry family members visiting these places with their people.
- 105 Social House – Google Maps – this restaurant has a wonderful dog friendly back patio!
- Speedtrap – Google Maps – this is a lovely coffee shop and caffee with a dog friendly patio in front
- Perfectly Elevated Cafe And Gallery – Google Maps – another lovely coffee shop with limited outdoor covered seating (i met a very nice local dog here
- O’Malley’s – Google Maps – a popular restaurant / bar with the locals with outside seating
2. Walk your dog around Palmer Lake on the Santa Fe Trial
There is a pedestrian bridge over rail road tracks to easily enable people to access Palmer Lake from the town. During our recent visit, we biked along the Santa Fe trail and around the lake, then over the bridge to have lunch in the town of Palmer Lake.
3. Take your dog on a hike
The hills behind the town of Palmer Lake have an amazing array of hiking trails! All Trails lists the 10 Best Trails in Palmer Lake. We’ve hiked many of them – and all are worth the effort for you and your dogs!
One exception: The Palmer Lake Reservoir Trailhead, which winds past the town water supply, does not allow dogs.
4. Enjoy the Dog Park at Greenland Park (6 miles north of Palmer Lake)
One of the best area dog parks is Devon’s Dog Park, next to the Greenland open Space Trailhead. I have met my friend Sandra and her German Shepard family there many times over the years and we always have fun!
- Devon’s Dog Park – Google Maps – spacious dog park with amazing mountain views!
More to Explore!
The is a Tri-lakes Chamber of Commerce community benefiting the larger area and sponsors a variety of events. See the Palmer Lake Events webpage page for more information.
Annual Events (*co-sponsored by Monument and Woodmore) include:
- 4th of July Street Fair and Beer Garden * – July
- Palmer Lake Wine Festival – September
- Bines and Brews Beer Fest *- September
