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Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Douglas, AK

48 Reviews

Mendenhall Lake Campground accommodates pets at all of its lakeside sites with bear boxes available at each campsite to safely store pet food. The campground requires pets to remain leashed while on the premises. Located minutes from Juneau Airport, this campground offers tent sites, RV spots, and cabins where pets are welcome. Picnic tables and fire rings come standard at all sites. The forest service officers tend to enforce rules strictly, so campers should follow all pet regulations carefully. Admiralty Cove Cabin, Young Lake North Cabin, and Young Lake South Cabin also permit pets in their rustic accommodations. Bears frequent the Mendenhall area, making proper pet management essential for safety. Dogs should never be left unattended at campsites due to wildlife concerns.

Eagle Beach State Recreation Area provides pet-friendly camping with picnic tables and fire rings at designated sites. Campers with dogs should be aware that wildlife encounters are common throughout Douglas-area campgrounds, particularly with bears. Trails near Mendenhall Lake offer pet exercise opportunities, though dogs must remain leashed to prevent wildlife confrontations. During salmon runs, bears are frequently seen catching fish near creeks, requiring extra vigilance with pets. The campground area experiences significant temperature drops from winds off the glacier, which can affect pets sensitive to cold. Camping with pets requires advance reservations through recreation.gov, as sites tend to fill quickly during the peak months of July and August. Proper waste disposal is mandatory, with trash dumpsters available on-site at most established campgrounds.

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Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Douglas, Alaska (29)

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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Douglas, AK

3 Photos of 29 Douglas Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Douglas, AK

48 Reviews of 29 Douglas Campgrounds

  • Aubrey G.
    Jun. 19, 2021

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    In the woods camping, in the "city"

    So lucky to have found this campground. The price cannot be beat starting at $10. Although you are aware of others around you, there is enough forest between most campsites so you get the real roughing it kind of feel without actually hiking out. We got a great site, walk down to the water's edge and see the glacier smack right in your face. Amazing! There is a river further in, so choose your site wisely if camping with kids, pets or partiers! We didn't see a bear, but we did see the beaver! They have a bear cache at every site, so amazing for the price. Highly recommended. It's a 1 way loop so don't make the same mistake I did and go the wrong way! The hosts are very nice and chatty. The troopers do drive through from time to time but never bothered us.

  • Jacquline M.
    Dec. 5, 2020

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    I love this place just not the forest service officers so much...

    I stay here every summer with my s.o. and our pets and absolutely LOVE it here. The f.s officers could use some grooming but mostly they are okay as long as you are polite and follow the rules they usually leave you alone. They are helpful but tend to not want to listen when you try and explain a situation, any how other then that the camp grounds are usually always clean and I've never had a problem finding my site.  And if I've ever needed a food bear box or anything I've always gotten it asap. Overall pretty awesome place to just kick back enjoy the view and relax the day away.

  • Dana G.
    May. 23, 2019

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Views of the Glacier are beautiful!

    This is a very nice campground set back from Mendenhall lake and the famous Mendenhall Glacier.  Bears frequent this area and sometimes wolves too.  If you are looking for that wild Alaska experience you can have it here.  Lots of hiking around there.  Once that salmon start running you can walk on the man made walkway next to the creek and watch bears catch salmon to feed their cubs!  Truly an amazing experience!  If you make it there during the winter bring your cross country skis and ski through the campground, or across the lake to the glacier.

  • Shari G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 6, 2022

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Big Surprise!

    We’ve been full-time camping in our vintage camper for over10 years, and in that time we’ve taken some “camping trips” without our rig, Hamlet. This time we hopped on the ferry from Haines down to Juneau and pulled out the tent for a few days in this amazing campground. We were just looking for the least expensive place that was close to the ferry terminal in Auke Bay, but struck gold in the hills just above. This might be one of the best traditional campgrounds we've ever stayed in with some of the most stunning views in our "backyard."

    The campground is laid out along the southern bank of Mendenhall Lake, and offers drinking water, flush, and vault toilets and hot showers -- at no extra charge. Did I mention that camping here will only set you back $10 per night? We cannot remember such an inexpensive camping experience that offered showers. These $10 sites don’t offer electrical hookups, so bring your solar panels and solar generator or power bank and you’ll be all set. 

    The western trailhead is a short walk from the campground, but the Mendenhall Visitor's Center on the east side of the lake is just a few miles away. There are many trails, photographic viewpoints and opportunities to paddle on this side of the lake, but parking is competitive because it is such a popular area- including with the busses from the cruise ships docked in town. So, get there early. We enjoyed paddling on the lake where we got great views of the glacier and Nugget Falls, but keep your distance from icebergs. We watched one crack and roll not too far from where we were paddling, had we been closer I might not be writing this review. 

    The Mendenhall Valley has all the amenities you could expect from the Juneau suburbs, grocery stores, malls and restaurants. Downtown has a few more options as well as Douglas Island, just across the bridge.

  • Lindsay B.
    Jun. 30, 2016

    Auk Village

    Near the slow ferry

    I always visited Juneau by ferry. This campground is accessible from the slow ferry, but it is a distance from the cruise ships or airports (as you know Juneau is very spread out for its small population). There is nothing Alaska spectacular about this campground, but it is quaint and nice. It is very RV-oriented.

  • Katie K.
    Sep. 28, 2016

    John Muir Cabin

    This cabin is worth the hike (...I mean the hike is worth the hike...)

    My boyfriend and I were recommended to do the John Muir Cabin and the hike in Juneau, and we were beside ourselves. The cabin at the end is cozy and the views of the mountains are spectacular. You do not want to miss this. The boardwalks over the muskegs and the flora and fauna are unreal and so, so Alaska. Highly recommend!

  • Kaylee M.
    Jun. 12, 2018

    Auk Village

    Nature is Beautiful

    Absolutely loved this campground, It was very quite and the scenery was beautiful. This is a very quite spot tucked away from the city. We loved camping here and will be back!

  • J
    Jul. 28, 2017

    Mendenhall Lake Campground

    Staring Into The Past

    After a month of kayaking in Glacier Bay, stumbling off the ferry and taking the bus to the campground Mendenhall campground felt like luxury. Without a doubt the best hot showers I've ever had camping. The proximity to the glacier and the views from around the lake are astounding. Mt McGinnis on the west and Mt Bullard and Thunder Mountain to the East. The shark fin and the towers piercing out of the ice field. It's all jaw dropping regardless of what direction you turn your head.

    The campground is walking distance to multiple trails including the west glacier trail that approaches the glacier or splits off and climbs to summit Mt McGinnis as well as the visitor center. Also big heads up there were the famed ice caves but those have long collapsed and as of my visit no new caves have formed.

    Bear boxes are at each campsite as well as fire pits. By far my favorite established campground in Juneau. Only downer in my opinion is having to reserve online first.

  • Angie G.
    May. 26, 2024

    Auk Village

    Wilderness Bliss

    This campground has 11 sites and we were lucky to get #5, right across from the pit toilets so we didn’t have to walk far. We had a great site, bear box, campfire pit, and a fabulous view when you walk to the edge right behind your site! We didn’t put any hammocks in the trees or do any cooking on site, as it is black bear country and you don’t want any uninvited guests. We went to the picnic shelter at Lena Cove for our morning breakfast and hung our hammocks in the shelter for the morning. We had great views of Auke Bay and Lena Cove.

    I could not find any reviews to pick a site but I reserved this one and it was gold! We had a water spigot close to us in the campground, but there are no electric or water supplies at the sites. You need to bring your own firewood because some sites say it was supplied, however, due to low crew numbers they can’t keep up with demand.

Guide to Douglas

Mendenhall Lake Campground sits at 45 feet above sea level near Douglas, Alaska, surrounded by temperate rainforest receiving over 62 inches of annual rainfall. The campground operates seasonally from May 15 to September 13 with significant temperature variations due to glacial proximity. Winter temperatures reach below freezing, making cabin accommodations practical alternatives during shoulder seasons.

What to do

Kayak exploration: Access Mendenhall Lake directly from Mendenhall Lake Campground for paddling adventures. "Explore the lake via kayak, hike the short park trails, explore the far side of the lake - this is a great spot just minutes from the Juneau Airport," notes Josiah P.

Whale watching: Head to Auk Village for marine wildlife viewing opportunities. "Great place to go whale watching. Seriously! I went for two hours and saw 30 ish breaches. It was incredible," reports Carly S.

Fishing opportunities: Try fishing at Auk Village with proper licensing. "If you have a fishing license you can fish off the beach, great for swimming as well because it is a protected cove," advises Eric M., who also mentions deer frequently walk through the campsite.

What campers like

Glacier proximity: The immediate access to glacier viewing sets Eagle Beach State Recreation Area apart from other dog friendly campgrounds near Douglas. "There is a large amount of bear activity in area. We had a black bear next to our campground eating grass one evening," notes James B.

Private campsites: Campers appreciate site layout at Mendenhall Lake Campground. "The campground is nice, with great tent sites! The tent sites were nicely separated, giving you that feeling that you're further away than you really are," writes Krista R.

Waterfront access: Many sites feature direct lake or beach access. "Each site is very private, ours was built up on a little ring of rocks with stairs leading down from the car," describes Harry H. about Auk Village, noting its proximity to marine activities.

What you should know

Bear safety requirements: Food storage protocols are strictly enforced at pet friendly campgrounds in the Douglas area. "Great place for the family, bears do frequent the area so keep site clean," advises James L. about Mendenhall Lake Campground.

Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds require advance booking. "Before you go: you must reserve a spot online in advance & spots tend to fill up quickly in July & August," warns Josiah P.

Limited services: Many campgrounds have minimal facilities. "There is no trash service. No dump site," reports James B. about Eagle Beach State Recreation Area, which charges $20 per night and offers pit toilets only.

Tips for camping with families

Swimming options: Auk Village offers protected cove swimming. "This is a favorite spot where our family has camped for years. Most recently we took 2 of the grandkids. No cabins, but beautiful beach to walk. Quiet paradise," shares Nikki S.

Wildlife viewing with children: Maintain safe distances when wildlife spotting. "We did see bald eagles right on site," notes Justin S. about Auk Village, mentioning otters, seals, whales, and starfish visible from shore.

Historical learning: Incorporate educational opportunities at Auk Village. "Great historical site, an ancient village with historical marker as well as a beautiful totem nearby that tells an interesting story," explains Eric M.

Tips from RVers

Solar access considerations: Some RV sites at Eagle Beach State Recreation Area receive better sun exposure. "There are some sites not completely in the trees. We were able to get good solar and Starlink service," explains James B.

Connectivity limitations: Cell coverage varies significantly between dog-friendly campgrounds near Douglas. "Absolutely no cell service," reports James B. about Eagle Beach State Recreation Area.

Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds can be challenging for larger rigs. "I don't think there were any RVs, not sure if it was an off week or the road here is too much," observes Justin S. about Mendenhall Lake Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Douglas, AK?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Douglas, AK is Mendenhall Lake Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 24 reviews.

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