Coot Lake Open Space

Love to take my dogs here. Excellent open space for off leash!

Great place to take dogs! Nice easy walk around the lake and there are also a few connecting trails. Beautiful views! Went in winter, but would be a great place for dogs to go swimming in the summer.

We used to love Coot Lake. When people thought it was a Boulder County Park it was very popular. Then the Daily Camera ran an article announcing that Coot Lake had started being patrolled by the City of Boulder animal control on a daily basis. The animal control officers were issued bicycles for the area so they could cover all areas frequently. They issued tickets to dog owners. I’m sure the dog owners were unaware that it was controlled by the City of Boulder and were not aware that Boulder’s stringent rules applied. We immediately stopped going and noticed a significant decrease in the number of people, and especially the people with dogs going to the park (as we drive by often). It is a shame that the City of Boulder has encroached on Longmont and Boulder County and decided to have animal control officers at this park at all times. There were no problems at the park. All dogs and people were well behaved and thoughtful. But, the last thing I want in a relaxing walk with my dog is harassment from an animal control officer.

I come here everyday for lunch to sit on the bench, eat my lunch, look at the mountains, watch the geese, and watch the dogs chase the balls into the lake. It seems like a good walking/​running area and you can also bike there around the lake. There are plenty of people fishing from the pier and all around the lake, don’t know what type or how big the fish are, but it must be good since there are always people doing it. The MAJOR COMPLAINT I have is that the ciry NEVER cuts the grass, it is seriously like stomach high and has made most of the benches around the lake unusable. Really wish they would maintain it better. Definitely a must try park.

What a fabulously unique space you can enjoy with your doggies. This place is perfect for the pups that like to swim. I came on a Wednesday and saw at least 10 wet dogs. The lake is made with inclined edges so the dogs can get out of the water themselves. Lots of unleashed dogs in the area and the trail is long. The lake trail leads to another lake behind it. There are fish in the lake so fishermen were also seen here. I don’t know of another place like this that is so perfect for swimming dogs. It’s a dog recreational pool!

Coot Lake was a nice little easy stroll around the lake on a path. I don’t have a dog, but if I did, I would take my dog here. There is a nice little dock where a few people were throwing tennis balls and different things out into the lake for their dogs to fetch. The lake itself is very pretty, and fairly clear as well. There are also some wetlands around the lake and just generally lush vegetation. As I mentioned, the walk is pretty easy for Colorado standards, since the area is pretty flat, but the mountains in the background make for a wonderful backdrop for a memorable walk or romp in the park with your dog.

Coot Lake was very nice and a good place for my dog to play & swim. We also walked the trail around the lake, which is easy and relaxing. I would recommend for a dog day out.

I frequent here now and again during lunch as it’s just a 5 minute drive from the office. It’s a great place to bring your dog, as there are always lots of dogs here splashing around in the lake. There also plenty of people here who walk or jog the trails and sometimes ride their bikes. On a nice clear day the back drop of the mountains is just perfect.
It’s a good place for me to forget about the worries of work during the day and get a little exercise at the same time.

This park is a great place to head with your dog. Haven’t had a problem yet with any other dogs. Oddly, some people fish on the north side of the lake, but I’ve never seen a problem between dogs and fishers, even when we’re throwing sticks and balls in for fetching.
Our little girl loves walking down the trails and throwing a stick for our dog into the lake too.
Plenty of space, plenty of parking at and across the street. Not too crowded.
Pretty clean, although some dog walkers don’t understand their obligation to clean up after themselves.

Yep. Great place to take the dog for a swim and a short walk or run. It’s basically a dog park surrounding a lake. I’ve always been too lazy to get Voice and Sight tags for my dog but I’ve never been concerned about not having one here — it’s pretty chill.

Lordy Lordy! Coot lake has everything a pup could wish for!
Water, tall grasses, other dogs, and a plethora of sticks for fetching (we don’t do balls as my dogs are great at chasing, but retrieving isn’t their forte).
The kids (aka pups) and I come here about 3 or 4 times a week, for a a good hour+ stroll. We walk around the lake, and then over to the res, and then back to the lake for a final swim.
Normal Boulder leash laws apply, so make sure that you have a voice and sight tag if you plan on letting Fido run free. I also suggest a bowl of water as the lake water is very tempting for our furry friends but tends to give them some tummy problems.
Enjoy the lake this summer, and keep your eyes open for me and my crazy pups!

Just got back from a run here with my pooch. Truly spectacular. Thunderheads were rolling around doing their thing in the sky, and the light that was hitting the lake made it a beautiful shade of sapphire. Lots of birds chirping, and on a Monday morning I only saw one other car (maybe that was because of the weather though).
Really well-​maintained running and walking trails, dogs can be off-​leash (with tag of course), and though the Coot Lake trail is only 1.2 miles long, you can connect to the Boulder Res. trail (without having to pay the $ 6 Boulder Res. Parking fee) and make your run/​walk much longer.