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Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Salcha, AK

112 Reviews

Salcha River State Recreation Site allows pets throughout its riverside campground area with spacious sites along the water. Pets must be leashed at all times while visitors enjoy the boat launch, water access, and picnic areas. The campground provides dedicated trash receptacles for pet waste and maintains clean facilities for all visitors. Lazy Moose RV Park offers 28 pet-friendly sites with full hookups including electric, water, and sewer connections for RV campers traveling with animals. Harding Lake State Recreation Area features shaded campsites among birch trees where leashed pets are welcome, though visitors note mosquitoes can be problematic in warmer months. Camping spots are well-placed along the loop to allow for varying degrees of privacy between sites, with some campers reporting the baseball field area has fewer insects than waterfront locations.

Multiple hiking trails accessible from Chena Lake Recreation Area provide excellent opportunities for dog walking, with the campground's large pull-through sites offering ample space for pets to relax while leashed. The lake provides water access where dogs can cool off during summer months when temperatures rise. Rosehip Campground in Chena River State Recreation Area features wooded sites with substantial separation between campsites, making it ideal for travelers with pets who need space from neighboring campers. Visitors should be aware of wildlife encounters, as wolves have been spotted in the river areas. Campgrounds typically enforce quiet hours to minimize barking disturbances, and the $15 per night fee at Rosehip makes it an affordable option for pet owners seeking budget-friendly accommodations in the Salcha region.

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

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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Salcha, AK

5 Photos of 29 Salcha Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Salcha, AK

112 Reviews of 29 Salcha Campgrounds

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 7, 2025

    Fairbanks / Chena River KOA

    One of the Best KOAs We've Stayed

    For once in a long time on our journey through Alaska, the campground (CG) was not right off the highway. We followed our RV GPS to the Badger Road exit and found the CG tucked back from the main road. Check-in was busy but quick. We were assigned pull-through site 133D with full hookups and 50 AMP. This site has special routing instructions—staff had us drive a few hundred yards down Old Badger Road, which runs adjacent to the CG, to enter through the back KOA gate. From there, it was an easy approach into our site. Site 133D is a KOA Patio site with a deluxe Trex deck, outdoor furniture, propane fire pit, and a Weber propane grill with tools. The gravel pad was long enough for our 40’ toy hauler and F450, with room to put down our rear patio. On arrival, the CG WiFi was unusable, but we got an email update that they were working on it. A later speed test showed 4.97 Mbps download—good enough for email and light browsing. Starlink worked but was slower than usual in this area despite a clear sky view. We got one bar on both Verizon and T-Mobile. This is a well-run KOA, with staff constantly mowing, cleaning, and maintaining the grounds. During our stay, several RV caravans came through—they had their own designated area and even buses for tours. The CG has spaces for all types of campers, from tents to big rigs. There’s a laundry facility, two fenced dog parks, swing benches by the river, and plenty of space to walk your dog. All in all, this is one of the best private CGs we’ve stayed at. If you need a great vet while in the area, we highly recommend Dr. Dawn Brown at North Pole Veterinary Hospital. They are an AAHA accredited clinic and we’ sure all the vets are great, but we definitely had a wonderful experience with Dr. Brown during our appointment with our two Braque's. The CG made an excellent base for exploring the Fairbanks area.

  • M
    Jul. 26, 2021

    Pioneer Park

    Awesome park

    The camping is just a parking lot. It’s 12 bucks a night, which in Alaska in the summer in a city is cheap. The park is like an old time amusement park without rides. It is really cool though. There is a Salmon Bake restaurant that seems very popular. We stopped in for an adult refreshment and they are very dog friendly.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 5, 2025

    Big Delta State Historical Park

    Historic Setting with Simple, Overnight RV Convenience

    Junction on the Richardson Highway heading toward Fairbanks. The turnoff is well signed, and the campground operates on a self-pay system with a kiosk located in the outer parking area. Our travel partners arrived about an hour before us and talked to the historical park's caretakers/camp host to get the scoop on how the campground works. They gave us a call with the details and when we arrived we pulled in next to them in the area marked"Pull Through Sites" by a sign. The camping area is essentially a large gravel parking lot with minimal site definition. Other than the Pull Through Site sign there's no map or marked boundaries. The official website says 23 any size rig can fit and you can pull through or back-in where convenient. For review purposes, we're calling our travel companion's site#1 and ours#2. We were the only rigs in the campground area overnight. A Class C parked in the outer lot near a picnic table that was clearly marked"No Overnight RV Parking, " but a park ranger drove through and didn't ask them to move so enforcement seems relaxed. There's a second parking lot down by the river that is technically private property (as reported by the camp hosts) that is owned by a local commune living on an island in the river. There were no"No Parking" signs, and it was actively used by both park visitors and the commune residents, who used it to catch their small boats to and from the island. The historical site is open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Around 56 PM, traffic picked up along with dust as the island residents came back from work and passed through the camping area on their way to the river. It quieted down by evening. We didn't get much of a phone signal, but Starlink worked great as there are no trees in the camping area. There's a dump station available down the road leading to the back of the park, along with a potable water spigot. The adjacent historic park and Rika’s Roadhouse exhibits are worth exploring and close by on foot. In addition, a portion of the Alaska pipeline runs behind the campground area. You can get a great photo of the pipeline going across the Tanana River by going down to the boat ramp.This camping area was good for an overnighter.

  • Kela W.
    Apr. 19, 2021

    Chena Lake Recreation Area

    Beautiful campground

    This is the 1st campground my family and I stayed at Alaska. The Chena Lake is great! The beach area is great fun for all with grassy and sandy areas. There is a bunch of trails to hike around, paved biking trails, a basketball court, volleyball courts and of course a playground. There are some really cool camping spots along the river as well. Highly recommend to families!

  • Shadara W.
    Aug. 20, 2019

    Quartz Lake State Rec Area

    Perfect Spot

    Wonderful surprise right on the lake. Camp host, 16 great sites situated next to Quartz Lake, with a walking trail down to Little Lost lake which has it's own campground. Lots of dual sites great for those who camp with friends. Only downside was the overnight lot was extremely uneven. $15 a night. Scenic overlook hike 1.7 miles one way for those who want to stretch their legs.

  • M
    Sep. 18, 2018

    Upper Chatanika River State Rec Area

    State-managed campground on the Chatanika River

    This is a fairly standard state-run campground on the upper Chatanika River. It's somewhat popular with Fairbanks locals but because of its proximity to town is not a place you're likely to stay if you're heading up the Steese.

    The camping spots are small and there's relatively little privacy, and the facilities are, in general, not as well-maintained and clean as we've gotten used to with BLM campgrounds in Alaska. Several camping spots are right on the river. Fishing on the Chatanika is inconsistent but can be very good at mid-summer. If you continue west of the campground there is primitive camping on gravel bars on the river, but you'll probably want 4WD to get there. Also, note that there can be very good berry picking on hillsides near the campground in August and early September.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 12, 2025

    Delta Junction Floodplain

    Boondocking with an amazing view of the Alaska range

    This location is across the street from the Delta State Rec Site. You'll drive through the town brush dump site and then down to the river bed. There is a steep hill to access the location so I wouldn't recommend large RV's. We drove in with a truck camper with no issues. It's a large open area with an amazing view of the Alaska Range.

  • Samantha M.
    May. 30, 2020

    Lower Chatanika State Recreation Area

    Well maintained, great ATV trails

    My first thought when we drove into the campground was wow, this is nicely maintained. We had just stayed at Whitefish Campground about 2 miles away and driving into Olnes Pond Campground was beautiful. The electronic option to pay here is the first time I’ve seen that in Alaska. The pond is stocked with rainbow trout but we were a little too early in the season on this visit May 29, 2020. There a nicely sized pond in the middle of the campground and the camping sites are situated around the entire pond. There were day visitors who brought paddle boards and kayaks to enjoy the weather on the pond. People say you can swim in this pond put be weary of duck/swimmers itch. There are picnic tables, bathrooms, trash cans, and lots of grassy area to just enjoy a day visit. This seemed more as a party spot sort of camping oppose to enjoy the view and relax so be ready to hear ATVs and friendly conversations late at night. I would definitely come back with a kayak and fishing pole once the pond is stocked for the children to enjoy a relaxing day on the pond.

  • E
    May. 29, 2024

    Tanana Valley Campground

    Camp in Fairbanks

    This is a great location, right in Fairbanks by the fairgrounds. Don’t book site 28 or 27 as you will end up camping in a parking lot. Also, the bathrooms are closed for the season so to take a shower, we had to walk through a dog show in the fairgrounds to get ourselves clean. Laundry is good!

Guide to Salcha

Salcha River State Recreation Site spans a modest 38.8 acres near the Richardson Highway, approximately 37 miles south of Fairbanks at an elevation of 600 feet. The campground offers direct river access in an area known for its seasonal temperature extremes, ranging from -50°F in winter to 90°F during summer months. Both primitive and developed camping options exist within the recreation area, with sites typically open from May through September when conditions allow vehicle access.

What to do

Fishing opportunities: The Salcha River State Recreation Site provides excellent fishing access with a boat launch into the river. "Caught my first fish ever here! It was a catfish I think," reports one camper who tried their luck from the riverbank.

Water activities: At Chena Lake Recreation Area, visitors can enjoy swimming and paddling during warmer months. "The beach area is great fun for all with grassy and sandy areas. There is a bunch of trails to hike around, paved biking trails, a basketball court, volleyball courts and of course a playground," writes a reviewer who spent time at the lake.

Wildlife viewing: The riverfront areas provide opportunities to observe native wildlife. At Rosehip Campground, one visitor noted, "We have seen wolves in this river spot which was quite scary but an experience all the same." Animal sightings are more common during morning and evening hours.

What campers like

Spacious sites: Campers appreciate the well-designed layout at many campgrounds. At Rosehip Campground, visitors note "There's great separation between campsites. Only $15 per night!" making it an affordable option for those seeking privacy while camping near Salcha.

River views: The waterfront locations offer scenic camping. At Fairbanks / Chena River KOA, campers enjoy "Really nice view of the Chena River" with some sites positioned directly overlooking the water.

Natural surroundings: The wooded settings provide shade and natural beauty. At Harding Lake State Recreation Area, one visitor described it as "Beautiful campground with much to do all around," noting its proximity to Kenai Fjords National Park as a bonus for those planning extended trips.

What you should know

Weather considerations: Temperature fluctuations can be extreme, even in summer. "The sunrise was also beautiful over the water," reported a Salcha River camper who experienced an unexpected event: "We were sitting in our van and all of the sudden there was an earthquake! Just a small one but it was kind of exciting."

Insects: Bug protection is essential during warmer months. A visitor to Rosehip Campground advised, "The spots are fairly wooded. There are lots of mosquitoes in the area also." Many experienced campers bring head nets and strong repellent.

Facilities vary: Not all campgrounds offer the same amenities. Chena Lake Recreation Area provides "Clean campground with pull through sites" and has "bathrooms near the dam but not on the grounds," according to visitor reports.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Salcha, AK is Harding Lake State Recreation Area with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Salcha, AK?

TheDyrt.com has all 29 dog-friendly camping locations near Salcha, AK, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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