There’s something magical about pulling up to Twin Peaks Lodge in Ouray, Colorado, with the San Juan Mountains rising all around you and your dog’s tail wagging frantically in the back seat. For once, you don’t have that familiar knot in your stomach about leaving your furry friend behind with a pet sitter or in boarding. Your whole family – four-legged members included – is here to breathe in that crisp mountain air together.
More travellers are refusing to holiday without their pets, and Twin Peaks Lodge has noticed this firsthand. Rather than treating pets as an afterthought, guests are choosing their entire holiday based on whether their animals will be welcome. The lodge’s decision to create dedicated pet-friendly suites came from understanding that for many people, leaving their dog behind simply isn’t an option.
Meeting a Real Need
What started as occasional requests has become a steady expectation. Travellers now plan their trips around pet accommodation availability, which means properties that welcome pets aren’t just doing guests a favour – they’re meeting a genuine need. Colorado mountain lodges across the state are recognising this, with destinations like Aspen, Telluride and Estes Park expanding their pet-friendly offerings.
At Twin Peaks Lodge, staff had been watching this develop firsthand. Guests weren’t just asking if they could bring their dogs as an afterthought – they were choosing their entire holiday based on whether their pets would be welcome.
What to Expect at Twin Peaks Lodge
The new pet-friendly suites aren’t just regular rooms with a ‘pets allowed’ sign slapped on the door. Each suite features durable flooring that can handle muddy paws after a mountain hike, with nearby green space that makes those essential morning walks effortless. The furnishings strike that perfect balance between comfortable for humans and practical for pets – think easy-to-clean surfaces that still feel welcoming rather than clinical.
Booking a pet-friendly suite doesn’t mean missing out on what makes Twin Peaks Lodge special in the first place. You’ll still have full access to the on-site hot springs soaking tubs, the seasonal pool and the nearby dining options. The lodge has maintained the same cleanliness standards and service levels across all rooms, ensuring that accommodating pets enhances rather than compromises the experience.
Ouray itself feels purpose-built for adventures with your dog. The town offers several dog-friendly hiking trails that range from gentle walks to more challenging terrain. The Blaine Basin Trail leads to stunning high alpine lakes, while the River Walk Trail follows the Uncompahgre River and offers easier terrain for older dogs or those not quite ready for mountain climbing.
The Perimeter Trail provides panoramic mountain views without requiring serious hiking experience, and the Lower Cascade Trail takes you to waterfalls that dogs seem to find as mesmerising as their humans do. Keeping your dog comfortable outdoors becomes easier when trails are designed with leashed dogs in mind – you’re not fighting against the terrain or wondering if your pet will be welcome.
Early guests at Twin Peaks Lodge have shown genuine enthusiasm in their feedback, with the lodge reporting strong interest from both newcomers and returning visitors who are thrilled to finally bring their pets along. The combination of accessible outdoor activities and comfortable accommodation creates exactly what pet owners have been seeking.
These suites aren’t afterthoughts or concessions to accommodate pets. They represent a genuine desire to make travelling with animals feel natural rather than tolerated. The location within the property provides easy access to outdoor areas without trekking through the entire lodge every time your dog needs a quick break. The flooring choice means you’re not tiptoeing around expensive carpets after a muddy morning hike.
The lodge’s approach recognises that pet owners aren’t looking for bare-bones accommodation – they want the same level of comfort and charm they’d expect from any mountain getaway, just with the peace of mind that comes from having their dog by their side.
The Complete Mountain Experience
There’s something deeply satisfying about not having to choose between a proper mountain holiday and bringing your dog. These new suites at Twin Peaks Lodge mean you can have both – the kind of mindful travel experience that includes your whole family.
Instead of spending your holiday worried about how your dog is coping without you, or missing out on mountain adventures because you can’t bear to leave them behind, you can finally have it all. You can tackle the morning hike together, return to comfortable accommodation that welcomes both of you, and end the day lounging in the hot springs while your tired dog naps contentedly nearby.
When you can share those mountain views and that sense of adventure with your four-legged family member, the whole experience feels richer and more fulfilling. These suites prove that including pets doesn’t diminish a holiday – it makes it complete.
