Not everyone is ready to climb a 14er this weekend. Whether it’s because of fitness, preparation, altitude readiness, improper footwear, poor hydration, strength or stamina.
The same is true for dogs.
But as the number of people in Colorado’s wilderness grows, so does the number of pets who accompany their owners onto trails. The result is that search-and-rescue operations around the state have seen a spike in dog rescues from 14,000-foot peaks and other trails this year.
The Chalk Cliffs, on the southeastern side of Mount Princeton as seen off Highway 285 near Salida on July 24, 2022. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)
“Honestly, it’s probably a numbers game that with more dogs out on the trails, there are more likely going to be more missions,” said Nicole Lathrop, spokesperson for Chaffee County Search and Rescue North (CCSRN), whose territory includes 14,197-foot Mount Princeton.
There have been six dogs rescued from Mount Princeton this year compared to zero in 2024, one in 2023, zero in 2022, and one in 2021, Lathrop said. These rescues sometimes involve hazards for the all-volunteer teams that go out on the trail, often after dark, to bring these pooches home.
The most recent rescue took place Sept. 4, when a team was called out at 2:38 p.m., reached the big pup by 4:36, administered first aid to its paws and carried it out using an emergency dog harness made by Littleton-based Fido Pro. “Statistics are showing Mt. Princeton is not dog-friendly. The terrain is too rough for their paws,” CCRSN wrote on Facebook at the time.
Previous dog rescue operations took place on Aug. 8 when CCRSN carried two dogs down the mountain after they were unable to continue, and again a few weeks later when two separate hikers asked for assistance getting their four-legged friends to safe ground.
After applying first aid to a dog's paws, Chafee County Search and Rescue North carried the pet down Mount Princeton during the summer of 2025. (Provided by Chafee County Search and Rescue North)
Over the past few months, more dogs — and sometimes their humans, who have been exhausted or injured themselves while trying to help their pets — have also been rescued from high mountain trails by Park County Search and Rescue, El Paso County Search and Rescue, and Lake County Search and Rescue. Often these dogs are too tired to move up or down a trail, and other times they become injured by falling rocks or cuts on their paws from the rough terrain.
On June 23, Park County Search and Rescue undertook its second emergency call that week for “a dog that was too exhausted to continue on a backcountry hike,” the all-volunteer group wrote on its Facebook page. “Our team powered through over 11 miles of varying terrain and substantial elevation gain in order to reach and then safely extract our floppy-eared floofy patient. In total, the operation had our team of volunteer rescuers in the field for 10 hours.”
“Whether your dog is 10 pounds or 100 pounds, the best thing you can do to be safe is to be prepared,” said Lathrop. “If a dog and their owner are out and the dog becomes immobile, there are several factors that come into play about what’s safest.”
Safety starts with preparation and Lathrop notes that not all search and rescue teams will do dog rescues. “Sometimes the dog gets injured by accident, or has had damage to their paws and needs to be carried the full way out,” she explained.
If you aren’t sure if your dog is capable of hiking, check with your vet, said Meghan H. Rector, owner of Veterinary Specialists of the Rockies in Castle Rock.
“Your veterinarian should do an exam and make sure your dog is healthy and up-to-date on vaccines,” she said. “Many mountain trails will take you well above timberline to 11,000 to 12,000 feet … Only healthy dogs that are well-trained and acclimated for these altitudes and long distances should be taken on these hikes.”
Consider these risks for a dog before taking your pooch on a long or high-altitude hike:
- Altitude sickness
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Heatstroke
- Paw injuries from rocks or other sharp objects
- Toxic plant ingestion (not necessarily related to elevation)
- Wildlife encounters (think: porcupine to moose!)
Just as hikers would prepare themselves for a hike, they should also make sure they have the essentials that their pets could need, Rector said. This includes training, packing plenty of food and water (and a bowl), booties for their paws, a dog first aid kit, medications and a dog sling in case they have to self-carry their dog down. In addition, she said that owners need to make decisions based on their individual dog. For instance, what is its breed, age and overall health.
If your dog is injured or too weak to hike at all, turning around is the best choice, she said. Also, administer any necessary first aid and continue to monitor their vital signs such as “labored breathing, pale or blue gums, limping, or other issues.”
Both Lathrop and Rector advise checking the weather conditions and minding trail rules to keep human and furry hikers safe.
“Safety is how decisions are made, and that could change depending on terrain, weather, resources for both the subjects and the teams,” Lathrop said. Essentials include a navigation and communication device, sun protection, insulation such as extra clothes or a blanket, a first aid kit, illumination, a fire starter kit, repair kit, extra food, extra water and emergency shelter.
In the event of an emergency, hikers should have a reliable way to call 911 and get help, then follow the guidance of dispatch and the search and rescue team, she said.
Park County Search & Rescue team members in June 2025 safely evacuated a dog that they said was too exhausted to continue hiking. (Provided by Park County Search & Rescue)
“All teams in Colorado are one hundred percent volunteer, and you will never get a bill from us,” said Lathrop. However, that doesn’t always apply to ambulances and helicopters.
“We have a bunch of pet lovers on our team, but it’s not standard practice across teams to rescue dogs,” she explained. “If you think that your dog may not be able to do the hike, I’m sure he would be excited to see you after the hike!”
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