Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Gillham, AR
Cossatot River State Park's campsites welcome pets on trails and in all accommodations, with both rustic tent sites at Cossatot Falls and Sandbar Area accessible via forest roads. Most campers report well-maintained grounds with fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets, though no running water is available at primitive sites. Little Coon Creek Park offers more amenities for camping with dogs, featuring reservable group sites that are ADA accessible with water and electric hookups. Oak Grove and Shady Lake campgrounds also maintain pet-friendly policies, with Oak Grove providing full hookups for RVs at just $8 per night with an access pass. Campers bringing dogs to the falls area should note the campground's limited capacity of only six sites, which are first-come, first-served with cash payment.
Dogs enjoy swimming access throughout the region, particularly at Cossatot River where crystal-clear water and rock formations create natural swimming areas where pets can cool off. The forest service roads leading to some campgrounds require cautious driving, with several miles of gravel roads reaching remote camping areas. Jefferson Ridge at Dierks Lake offers additional pet-friendly accommodations with both boat-in and drive-in access. Visitors camping with pets should bring sufficient water supplies when staying at primitive sites, and be prepared for spotty cell service throughout the area. Some campgrounds report wildlife activity including owls and coyotes at night, requiring pets to be properly secured at all times. Tent pads at Cossatot Falls are notably large but extremely hard-packed, making it difficult to secure tent stakes.
