Backpacking and Camping

Hey all, I'm injured, and hence have had to call a stop to my climbing season so as I can heal for this winter. So, in the mean time I have decided to go on some 1 or 2 night backpacking trips. Here is the catch, I want to bring my dog, and allow him to be off leash. My question is where would my fellow climbing folk recommend? Bagging a peak or two would be an added perk for sure. I was thinking o going to the Indian Peaks and going Toll to Navajo, however I would need a permit, and I would have to keep my dog leashed.
Thanks
-Z
Let the good advice and silly remarks begin-

lost creek wilderness. you can scope some future routes.

Any designated wilderness, except Indian Peaks - IP has too many rules and i think want your pup on a leash at least in certain zones.

Lost Creek would be nice as would Rawah. Rawah has some really nice lakes as well.

I believe that almost any wilderness area, forest land, BLM etc will have leash laws. However, rarely do I encounter rangers in most of these areas. This is even more the case if you travel in less visited areas. So if your dog is well behaved I wouldn’t worry too much about leash laws in the back country. If your dog is not well trained to your voice commands then you should have it on leash so it doesn’t chase wildlife or disturb others. FYI: in Colorado anyone may shoot a dog if they see it disturbing wildlife. I tend to keep my dog’s leash connected to my hip belt and clip her to it if I see a lot of other people (not everyone is a mutt fan). Anyway, here are my top dog destinations:

1.Uncompadare (sp?) wilderness area in the San Juans. If you get away from Uncompadrare peak (a 14er) you are likely to not see anyone else; let alone a ranger.

2.Never Summer Wilderness area (west of RMNP)

3.Zirkals (sp?) Wilderness Area (north of Steamboat)

I’ve taken my dog of leash in Mt Evans and Indian Peaks wilderness areas, but the risk of running into the authorities greatly increases if you are along the front range. It ultimately comes down to how much of a risk are you willing to take.

It not that he's off leash, but that he's scouting the route ahead of me.

He is a non-motorized personal locator & navigational unit after all.

3rd vote for the Lost Creek Wilderness.

Thanks for the great info, I'll have to check those areas out!
So I ended up taking the pooch out to the Indian Peaks Wilderness, and I agree, there are too many regulations there. I had planned on hiking to Blue lake, up Mt. Toll, across to Pawnee Mt., and camping at Long Lake. However, I was informed that we had to camp on the West side of the divide, and was not allowed to bivy on the East side. Bummer right? Well, we hiked up from Blue Lake to the summit of Toll (phenomenal views), and then along the Continental Divide Trail, to the summit of Pawnee Mt., and down to the Pawnee Pass Trail. All of this time trying to keep up with my dog (carrying two full nalgene bottles in his pack) I kept him off leash from about Blue Lake on.
Now, when we had left the trail head it was about 2:30pm, and it was now about 7:30 or so, and starting to get dark. I made the decision that hiking up the divide once was enough for me, "I'm not doing that crap again in like 9 hours, oh hells no!" So we hiked back out on the Long Lake Trail,seeing a little bit of lightning to the South, but nothing much to worry about. We arrived at the Long Lake Trail head around 10:00 or so. Now by this time we were hungry, sore, and tired, I was even beginning to think that I was hallucinating, kept hearing a woman's voice every so often. Anyhow, we stop to eat a snack before the home stretch, at which time we observe a couple exiting the trail! I wasn't going crazy!! These nice folks (?Ian? and Celeste) were kind enough to give us a ride back to the truck. We said our goodbyes, Shadow and I sat for a short while and ate cold bacon cheeseburgers, and we headed out.
At this point I was starting to kick myself for not using the bivy sack that we had burrowed, along with our nice blanket and pad. No sooner had I begun to think this, the sky opened up, and started pounding, throwing bolts of lightning and crashes of thunder. As I was watching the light show in my rear view mirrors, one saying stuck out to me, "follow your gut!" Glad I did! I would not have wanted to get caught just under tree line with a dog in a bivy sack, with a pad and blanket to comfort us.
Regardless, a great hike with great views. I think I might go to Lost Creek next! Keep the great suggestions coming!