Fossil Creek Dog Park is the fenced off-leash area near the South Lemay Avenue entrance to Fossil Creek Park in southeast Fort Collins. The roomy wood-chip play area includes a separate section for small or shy dogs, seating and convenient access to the parking lot.
Plan your visit
- Address: 5821 S. Lemay Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80525.
- Hours: Fort Collins parks are open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Follow posted notices for maintenance or temporary closures.
- Play areas: The fenced dog park has a main enclosure and a separate area for small or shy dogs.
- Surface: Expect wood chips across much of the play area. The surface usually limits mud, but chips can be rough on sensitive paws.
- Water: Visitors report water bowls and a drinking fountain near the entrance, but service can be seasonal or interrupted. Bring drinking water and a bowl.
- Parking: Use the lot beside the dog park off South Lemay Avenue. A second park lot is on the northwest side off Fossil Creek Parkway.
- Contact: Call Fort Collins Parks at 970-221-6660.
Find the dog park entrance
Get directions to Fossil Creek Dog Park. Enter Fossil Creek Park from South Lemay Avenue and use the parking lot next to the dog park. The enclosure is near the park entrance, so you do not need to cross the larger park to reach it.
Look for the fenced wood-chip play area and double-gated entrance. Keep your dog leashed between the vehicle and the gate; the rest of Fossil Creek Park is not an off-leash area.
Choose the main or small-dog area
The main enclosure offers open running space and long sight lines for supervision. The smaller side area can help small or shy dogs avoid the busiest group, but watch the dogs already inside before choosing an enclosure.
Benches and picnic tables give handlers places to sit, while trees provide some shade around the perimeter. Shade can still be limited during the hottest part of the day, so plan shorter visits in warm weather.
Water, restrooms and the larger park
Bring backup drinking water even if the fountain is working. Shared bowls can carry germs, and water service may be shut off for weather or maintenance. The lake and splash pad elsewhere in Fossil Creek Park are separate from the dog enclosure and are not dog-swimming features.
The larger park includes seasonal restrooms, walking paths, picnic areas, playgrounds and sports facilities. Dogs must remain leashed outside the signed dog-park enclosure.
Rules before you enter
Fort Collins requires dogs to be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. Pick up all waste, keep your dog under control and prevent barking or behavior that disturbs other visitors. Remove your dog if play becomes unsafe.
Dogs may be off leash only inside a fenced, designated dog park. Alcohol, smoking and glass are prohibited in city parks. Follow the entrance signs and any temporary instructions from park staff or Animal Control.
What parkgoers say
Parkgoers often praise the open space, wood-chip surface, separate small-or-shy-dog area, water bowls, seating and friendly regulars. Many appreciate that the dog-park parking lot is close to the entrance and that the enclosure is part of a larger park with restrooms and family amenities.
Common cautions involve limited midday shade, occasional water shutoffs and handlers who do not step in during rough play. Visit at a quieter time if your dog needs more space, scan both enclosures before entering and bring water and waste bags. Read current parkgoer reviews on Google Maps.
More options and official updates
Browse dog parks in Fort Collins or compare dog parks across Colorado. Confirm each alternative’s fencing, water and access before changing destinations.
Last researched September 1, 2026; no site visit was made. Check the official Fossil Creek Park page and Fort Collins park rules before traveling. Report a correction to DogPark Near Me.
