Dogs may continue to roam off-leash in Snowmass

Snowmass Mayor Bill Madsen said that Town Council will not be making any changes to the amended parts of its dog-leash law. 

In August 2023, the Town Council amended parts of town code to address the issue of where dogs have to be on-leash and can be off-leash. The city of Aspen is also exploring a similar revision to its leash law that would allow dogs to be off-leash in certain areas.

Under the Snowmass Town Council’s revised code, a dog is considered to be in compliance if it is either on a leash or under effective voice, visual, or electronic control, as long as it is not harassing others. 

---

---

The Town Council met on Tuesday to review the dog-leash amendment and evaluate its impact one year after its launch.

As part of the earlier amendment change, it introduced “mandatory leash zones” in key areas around Snowmass to enhance public safety and improve dog management. 

---

---

These zones include Snowmass Center, which encompasses Alpine Bank and BJ Adams, Base Village, Snowmass Mall including Fanny Hill, South Rim Trail, noting that the North Rim has been a mandatory leash zone since the inception of Sky Mountain, and Vista Trail.

Madsen confirmed that dogs can be off-leash in most areas outside of the mandatory leash zones. 

After Tuesday’s review, Town Council has decided to continue with the leash law as-is.

It stated in a memo that the response to these changes has been largely positive, particularly among the dog-owning community and with minimal negative feedback from the general public.

“When we first started to discuss this, we received a fair amount of public comment,” said Madsen. “Oftentimes, the fear of the unknown can create opposition to change in code, but now that this has become known over the past years, there has been positive feedback.”

He said that these changes have made things easier for dog owners and wildlife officers. He half-jokingly said that these code changes have also cut down on “People trying to be vigilantes and telling other people to put their dogs on a leash.”

Throughout the past year, Town Council has focused on educational outreach to facilitate this transition, utilizing brochures, updates in the town newsletter, website links, and clear signage in the mandatory leash zones.

Additionally, significant efforts have been made to engage with trail users, particularly on Labrador Lane. 

Town Council said that this winter-only trail has been an effective venue for disseminating information and educating the public about the new leash law. 

Madsen said he enjoys taking his dog on Labrador Lane while he cross-country skis. 

“Skiing with my dog on Labrador Lane is a great way for us both to get some exercise,” he said. 

Snowmass Police Chief Brian Olson said that compliance with the leash law has been strong, reflecting the town’s longstanding culture of responsible dog management, and aligns well with the council’s priority of protecting community character. 

According to a Town Council memo, six citations have been issued since the amendment passed last year, which is within the typical range of 3-12 annual citations observed over the past decade. 

The police department has actively patrolled key areas, dedicating 40 hours to Labrador Lane and 30 hours to South Rim Trail. 

Other trails — including Tom Blake, Highline/Lowline, Ditch and Connector, Discovery, Ridge, and Vista — were monitored, although most are not within mandatory leash zones. 

Town Council said that on the South Rim trailhead, Animal Services has provided over 200 free leashes to dog owners, with trail camera data from June indicating a nearly 70% compliance rate with the leash requirement.

To learn more about the leash law changes, please visit tosv.com.