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McDowell Mountain Regional Park permits dogs throughout its extensive 23,000-acre desert preserve with private, spacious campsites and numerous pet-friendly hiking trails. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring, with water and electric hookups available. Leashed pets are welcome on all trails and in the campground areas, making it ideal for hiking with dogs among the stunning desert landscape. Eagle View RV Resort at Fort McDowell also accommodates pets with clean facilities and desert views, offering full hookups for RV campers. The park features walking paths throughout the grounds where pets can exercise on leash. Both locations enforce standard leash policies to protect wildlife and other campers. Bulldog Canyon offers dispersed camping options for those seeking a more primitive experience with their pets. The Dyrt includes reviews of campgrounds near Fountain Hills, Arizona.
Several mountain biking and hiking trails accessible from McDowell Mountain Regional Park provide excellent outdoor recreation opportunities with dogs. The park's immaculate bathrooms and well-maintained campsites receive consistent praise from campers traveling with pets. At night, coyotes can be heard singing, requiring pet owners to keep small animals secure. Eagle View RV Resort offers convenient access to Scottsdale and Fountain Hills for shopping needs while providing a quieter desert camping experience. The resort's central courtyard includes amenities like gas grills and a pool, though pet owners should watch for goathead stickers that can be painful for pets' paws. Campers report seeing wild horses in the vicinity of Eagle View, adding to the natural desert experience. Fountain Hills' public areas are approximately 15 minutes from the McDowell Mountain campground, providing access to additional services when needed.
"Outstanding layout, great hosts, spectacular location. "
"Campsite 6 is the first one on the right, across from the Camp Host site, and as close to the entrance has you’re gonna get."
"Lots of hiking and bike riding trails with a bike course! Playground. Pet friendly. Very clean and friendly hosts. Close to fountain hills if you need anything in town."
"Plenty of trials for mountain biking, and rentals and restaurants in Fountain Hills, about 15 minutes from the campground."
from $32 / night
Check Availability"This is a nice, clean spot close to town and lots of outdoor activities! We saw some of the most beautiful sunsets and cacti here. The road is a little sketchy but was passable in our 19’ trailer."
"I use the north entrance off Bush highway. I've camped here 5 or 6 times. No water or bathrooms. Leave no trace. You need a permit and gate code. Most ATVers but not loud during the week."
from $10 - $80 / night
Check Availability"Walking paths and trails are throughout the park. A dog park is available. Town is about 10 minutes away on a winding back road."
"We have met great people here and enjoy that you can walk or bikeride directly from the RV Park. The park is always clean and well cared for, and we like that its not in the city center."
from $41 - $84 / night
Check Availability"It's very nice up on Box bar rd as well 5 minute walk to the river. I've seen a skunk a couple of wild horses and several shooting stars. It's definitely a must see area. Enjoy Arizona"
"Was a dog barking late at night and some “travelers” milling around at night. No instances. 50 at night warm at sunrise."
from $8 - $80 / night
Check Availability"It has a small dog park but it gets the job done. The people in the park are very nice and the staff are extremely kind and helpful. We thoroughly enjoyed our time here."
"Standard KOA amenities of pool, hot tub, playground, and dog park. We’d stay again."
"My blue eyed cat went missing here at 9pm on 4/7. Please email me if you see him. Caroline.cingari@gmail.com"
"You can camp next to your car , wich there might be campers running generators, or you can hike towards the river and set up camp to get away from that."
"We stayed in site 27 which was close to the kids playground. We only stayed for 1 night . Lots of bikers at this location. "
"Lots of hiking to do around if you're looking for something flat (but close access to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve if you're looking for something more strenuous)."
"Enjoyed our December visit to Lake Marina campsite 201. Will say campsites are close together. Awesome families close to us made it fun."
"So if you had sleepless because of noise and did not call for assistants shame.on you not canyon lake. The gentleman i checked in with would corrected the situation."
"Great location! Nice views of the compound which normally hosts car and horse shows. Electric and water available as hookup. Common dump site available upon entry as well as during your stay."
"There's a recreational trail crossing E McDowell Mountain Ranch Rd. When I called to reserve (the online res system wasn't user friendly) the office staff were very patient and helpful."
from $57 / night
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GuideVery quiet! Lots of hiking and bike riding trails with a bike course! Playground. Pet friendly. Very clean and friendly hosts. Close to fountain hills if you need anything in town. Close to town but very much felt like you where away on vacation no hustle bustle in the desert! The views where fantastic. Sites where clean and spacious a lot of space between each site for privacy! Will definitely be back!
TravelerWe got the last spot in the park to stop over for 3 nights. Lots are spacious. We have a view of the tribal land. Other sites have valley views and are more preferable. The amenities are very nice. Large laundry $3/load. Central courtyard with gas grills, a pool and hot tub. DVDs to borrow are available in the office as well as jigsaw puzzles, and books. Walking paths and trails are throughout the park. A dog park is available. Town is about 10 minutes away on a winding back road. The road behind the park is not used much so no traffic noise to speak of. Coffee and donuts in the clubhouse in AM. The only negative would be the goat head stickers! They track in and are painful for the pets as well. We saw wild horses, woodpeckers, and heard the distant coyotes carrying on.
RangerMesquite Wash is located approximately 20 miles northeast of Fountain Hills, Arizona. Follow the Bee Line Highway, SR 87, a few miles past the Four Peaks turn off. Watch for the Mesquite Wash sign. The main area is on the west side of the highway and is used primarily by off road vehicles. The east side of the highway is quieter and has several pull offs available for dispersed camping.
There are no facilities; no restrooms, hookups, or trash. Pack it in, pack it out. The best time to go is in the winter months but with the weather being pretty fair it’s not too bad. You can have a fire but it depends on fire danger for the day. Pretty much if it’s hot and or dry, you won’t be able to have a fire.
It is free and first come first serve, although there are plenty of spots to go around!
All that being said, this is one of the most beautiful spots in the Sonoran desert! There are so many amazing views! Great for hiking or off roading.
Side note: Please clean up after yourself! Forest Service has put so many restrictions on this area because people leave their trash out there.
LegendWe have stayed at this park a few times and never disappointed. We have met great people here and enjoy that you can walk or bikeride directly from the RV Park. The park is always clean and well cared for, and we like that its not in the city center. They have a great laundryroom, and even a pickleball court. Its close to Scottsdale and Fountain Hills for shopping.
ScoutThe river was beautiful! The camp spots were close to the river with nice big fire rings. Just like a lot of low desert camping in Arizona it’s dusty and dry with lots of prickly plans. But the trail and the trees near the river were lush. My biggest complaint about the spot was all the garbage everywhere. Come on people, burn your trash or take it home! There’s no need to trip over piles of water bottles & beer cans, cigarette butts, McDonald’s wrappers and plastic bags.
LegendThis camping area is on Saguaro Lake and only offers boat-in camping. You'll need a Tonto National forest permit with watercraft sticker. It's beautiful here. The lake itself can be crowded but I think it's worth a chance, especially considering most are coming for day use. Nearby you can do Salt Water River Tubing or visit the (now second) tallest fountain in the world at Fountain Hills. Once you get off the highway, the drive down is beautiful. The water always looks so blue and seeing wild horses is almost a guarantee!
TravelerA little too far out of town if you’re working in the city, otherwise it was quiet with beautiful views. Plenty of trials for mountain biking, and rentals and restaurants in Fountain Hills, about 15 minutes from the campground.
GuideWe loved our stay at Tonto Creek Trail RV& MHC! From the start, the staff was warm and welcoming, making us feel right at home. The park is peaceful, clean, and well-maintained—exactly what we were looking for in a relaxing getaway. The location couldn’t be better. Nestled in Tonto Basin, the park is just minutes from Roosevelt Lake, which was perfect for fishing, boating, and soaking in the views. We also enjoyed exploring the nearby Tonto National Forest trails—ideal for hiking and ATV adventures. As pet owners, we were thrilled that pets stay free! The community is very pet-friendly, which made traveling with our furry family stress-free. The grounds are safe and quiet, with beautiful mountain views all around, giving us plenty of space to relax after a day of exploring. Between the friendly community vibe, the great amenities, and the unbeatable location, this is a hidden gem in Arizona. We’re already planning our next trip back to Tonto Creek Trail RV—highly recommend it!
TravelerIf you’re a social butterfly and don’t have dogs, this place could work. The sites are really crammed in and on top of that, your door is face to face with your neighbor which makes it so awkward to do anything outside when you don’t want to talk to an overly chatty neighbor. Or if you or your neighbors have unfriendly dogs they can’t be out at the same time. Facilities are decent, same with pool. Adequate dog parks but nowhere for dogs to pee near sites other than gravel.
Dispersed camping options near Fountain Hills provide accessible desert experiences without requiring hookups or reservations. Bulldog Canyon Dispersed Camping requires a permit obtained by emailing the ranger station with identification information. The area sits at approximately 2,000 feet elevation, experiencing temperature swings of 30+ degrees between day and night during winter months. Many sites can be accessed with standard vehicles, though rough terrain may necessitate higher clearance in some locations.
Hiking competitive trails: McDowell Mountain Regional Park offers extensive mountain biking opportunities with varied difficulty levels. "Mikes of mountain biking trails which were spectacular. We've ridden lots of places and this is definitely one of my favorite. Trails are not technically difficult but a great workout and so pretty," notes Mike M. about McDowell Mountain Regional Park.
River exploration: Box Bar provides direct access to the Verde River for fishing, kayaking and paddleboarding. "Where else in phoenix can you pitch a tent 50 feet from a river?" explains Emily B. The site allows "camping about 100 feet from river allowed. Fishing ok. Supposedly smallmouth bass in river," according to Don L., making Box Bar ideal for water activities.
Wildlife observation: Early mornings and evenings offer opportunities to spot desert wildlife including coyotes and wild horses. "I've seen a skunk a couple of wild horses and several shooting stars. It's definitely a must see area," shares Michael M. about the Box Bar area. Canyon Lake Marina campers can fish directly from lakefront sites.
Spacious desert sites: Usery Mountain Regional Park provides well-maintained campsites with appropriate spacing. "Our site #48 Buckhorn was really spacious and private. Great views all around. Table and fire pit. The park has tons of trails for hiking and MTN biking," reports Julie F. at Usery Mountain Regional Park.
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain high standards for bathrooms and showers. "Restroom are big and well cleaned. Love this park!" notes Larry G. about McDowell Mountain Regional Park. Another camper describes Usery Mountain's bathrooms as "clean single shower/bathroom stalls that are spacious, but some do not have hooks to hang stuff."
Convenient location: Camping options balance natural settings with accessibility to town amenities. "Close to everything, including some awesome Mountain Biking from green to double black diamond trails. Large spaces with water, power and super clean," explains Marty P. The Mesa-Apache Junction KOA offers "a pleasant, well-run RV/Cabin/Tent campsite" with "the sites are spacious, hosts friendly and informative," according to Grace D.
Permits required: Some dispersed camping areas have specific permit requirements. Whitney W. explains the Bulldog Canyon process: "Easy to get a permit from the ranger station. Just email your name, address, phone number and driver's license number to sm.fs.mesa_ohs@usda.gov and you'll get your permit within 2 days for free."
Road conditions: Access to dispersed camping often involves unpaved roads. Hackamore Road dispersed camping has "beautiful views" but "the road is a bit tricky. I got here pretty smooth on my RWD Xterra, so while 4WD isn't necessary, I wouldn't come out here without high clearance and decent suspension," advises Francis D.
Temperature variations: Desert camping means preparing for significant temperature changes. "It can get very cold very quickly," warns one camper. Nighttime lows can drop below 40°F in winter months, requiring appropriate sleeping gear even when daytime temperatures reach the 70s.
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. Mesa-Apache Junction KOA features "a small fenced playground with a tetherball, swing set, merry go round, and a table with an umbrella," providing entertainment for younger campers.
Educational opportunities: Ranger programs enhance the camping experience with guided activities. "They offer tons of programs for everyone like night hikes and scorpion hunts," shares Jose G. about Usery Mountain Regional Park, making it educational for kids.
Pet preparation: When bringing pets to pet friendly camping near Fountain Hills, Arizona, watch for desert hazards. Eagle View RV Resort campers should "watch for goathead stickers! They track in and are painful for the pets," warns Carol E. The resort provides "walking paths throughout the grounds where pets can exercise on leash."
Site selection considerations: Choose sites based on specific needs rather than just availability. "We stayed in site 27 which was close to the kids playground... I think some of the best sites here are on the Pemberton loop 64,65,66, 68, 70. Unobstructive views but all sites pretty well spaced out," advises Mark L. about McDowell Regional Park-Ironwood.
Hookup availability: Many area campgrounds offer partial hookups. "No sewer, however electric and water are available and conveniently located," notes Larry G. about McDowell Mountain Regional Park, highlighting the importance of planning dump station visits.
Seasonal considerations: Winter brings ideal temperatures but increased competition for sites. "Sites fill up because it's so great so you have to book ahead. We had to camp in overflow area one night which was still fine then was able to grab a canceled spot," shares Mike M. about McDowell Mountain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Fountain Hills, AZ?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Fountain Hills, AZ is Usery Mountain Regional Park with a 4.8-star rating from 37 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Fountain Hills, AZ?
TheDyrt.com has all 204 dog-friendly camping locations near Fountain Hills, AZ, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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