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Angeles National Forest Chilao Campground offers several pet-friendly campsites along with Buckhorn Campground, both operational from April to November. Dogs must be kept on leashes no longer than 6 feet at all times while in the camping areas. Both locations provide picnic tables and fire rings at their pet-friendly sites, though neither offers dedicated dog parks or washing stations. Mount Lowe Trail Campground represents a hike-in option that welcomes pets, featuring newly built outhouse facilities but no running water. Crystal Lake Recreation Area accepts dogs at both tent and RV sites, as well as in select cabins with an additional pet fee. The campgrounds maintain quiet hours when excessive barking is discouraged. Sites at Valley Forge Trail Camp offer excellent overlooks of the city skyline at night.
Hiking trails near these pet-friendly campgrounds provide extensive recreational options for dogs and their owners. The Gabrielino Trail connects multiple campgrounds including Gould Mesa, which sits approximately 2 miles from Altadena on a level surface with several stream crossings. Bear Canyon offers a more secluded option with year-round water access for dogs to cool off during hikes. Pet owners must pack out all waste as most trail camps have limited or no waste disposal facilities. Wildlife encounters are common in the area, requiring dogs to remain leashed to prevent confrontations with local animals. The new toilet facilities at Mount Lowe constructed within the last year improve comfort for overnight stays, though water must be carried in or filtered from seasonal sources. Temperatures in summer months can be excessive for pets on exposed trails with limited shade.
"Campground We had been driving around the campground loops for more than an hour, and had just about given up, when we say the sign for overflow camping near the exit of the Chilao campground loop"
"I’m no stranger to bugs being around I’m an avid camper but they seem Immune to repellants. Giant horse flys we’re in the area along with a lot of bees and gnats."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Very clean, pet friendly.....great place for exercise, walking, biking, etc.. safe environment. Beautiful RV park."
"Dogs are not allowed out on the water, even if contained to your boat/kayak/canoe/etc, even if you strap your dog to you (she has a K9 sport sack just for this)."
from $76 - $88 / night
Check Availability"Nice spot if you don’t want to drive far. Fantastic views. Get there early to get a spot with shade...we arrived in the late afternoon and the only spots had zero shade. It was so hot!!"
"OKAY... seriously this one of the best campgrounds near Los Angeles. My ultimate go to spot for an overnight camping trip."
"Or one right next to you if you don't have one. The water does not taste too good, but it serves for washing. A bear was on our stuff the first night. I whistled and it ran away."
"It’s Close to Hidden Springs and Switzer falls, surrounding area is very beautiful. I’ll be back!"
from $12 / night
Check Availability"Great view but on the weekend we had multiple cars doing donuts really close to our van. I felt uncomfortable with that."
"This is just a few parking lots that overlook the valley and gives a view of the city skyline in the distance."
"This trip we stayed down near the welcome center instead of Lot N and the experience didn’t even seem like the same RV Park. No loud music, no barking dog, less dust, and dirt."
"My only gripe about this section is I think there is either a dog breeder or humane society to the east. Sometimes all of the dogs just go crazy!"
"Beautiful trails near by, next to a stream, gorgeous views, and of course that mountain air! Trees are perfect for hammocks."
"It is set back from the road a little giving you a quieter experience away from the 2. This would be a good first car camping spot for families with young children."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"If you are in LA and looking for the back-country feel without a long drive, this is just a 3 mile hike or ride up the canyon from Altadena."
"You can hear cars driving off in the distance but still overall quiet.
- Close to LA. This is about a 15 minute drive then 30 minute hike from my house.
* The stream is great."
"We’ve done Crystal Lake probably 6 dozen times or more in our time in California and it never disappoints on the spectacular views."
"This is probably our favorite place to go considering we end up hear almost every other weekend year around. Camp cost and parking cost isn’t cheap but the views are great."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"We went in May this year so not much people around. Brand new toilet is nice as well. There was some flowing water still."
"There's a stream nearby the Mount Lowe Summit Trail, also. Plenty of great sites to choose from."
ScoutThis campground has pit toilets and no running water. If you are in LA and looking for the back-country feel without a long drive, this is just a 3 mile hike or ride up the canyon from Altadena.
LegendLocated in Huntington Beach California. This site is right across the street from the beach. Be careful and aware when staying here. My husband and I had our mountain bikes stolen when sleeping. When we asked for camera footage the owners of the campground claimed the cameras were broken and they couldn’t share the footage. There are many homeless folks living in the area. The showers don’t get hot, but the area is clean. There is a pool and a hot tub and a small dog park. It’s expensive to stay here, but a beautiful spot.
ScoutClose to town but no cell signal, this place is amazing! Large camping area and I’ve never felt crowded ! Quarter showers and laundry, and a dog park! Lots of deer in the area and Great Lake to fish at! They also offer some hook ups for the rv campers
GuideFirst of all, staff was amazing. We were originally supposed to arrive on a Tuesday and we’re not able to make it. Staff shifted our reservation instead of us eating the missed night cost. Also super accommodating allowing us to extend a day longer last minute. Park is tight quarters with 200 spots. Two laundry rooms/bathrooms with showers on site, plus a cute little dog park! We stayed for three nights. Every “road” in the park is themed with California or Hollywood themed decorations and murals. We were parked right next to a Mister Roger’s mural across from the laundry/bathrooms. My only complaint in the noise level at times which is not from the park itself. Helicopters would fly over randomly, sometimes at night and it could be annoying when trying to sleep. Otherwise, absolute GEM of a place!
GuideSuper friendly staff, super clean, 2 dog parks, offers really good wifi & cable. Can pick the oranges out of the tree
GuideRV Park full of residence and full timers. Will accommodate one or more nights. Good place to recharge and do laundry. Everything looks mostly clean and the pool was nice too. Small dog park with real grass.
TravelerI’ve been here for a couple days and nobody’s mess with us. There’s other people that are staying in another parking lot attached that are homeless in their vehicles mostly cars and vans. I’m in a 25 foot Fleetwood RV. There’s a dog park kind of area with a big field they can run around and just clean up after them.There’s no public bathrooms, but there are trash cans so clean up after yourself please. It’s not tent friendly. I don’t believe.
ScoutAnaheim RV Resort is close to Disney and is on the Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) bus route. They have full hook up sites and room for large rigs - back-in and pull through. They are very pet friendly and even have a dog walking/feeding service (for an extra fee). There is a small pool and hot tub. The restrooms/showers and newly remodeled and very nice! Sites are all level and fairly large. We've stayed here 4 times and will be back again!
LegendA little gem hiding out in Lytle Creek! Easy access to a pretty trail right behind the campground. Very quiet and interspersed with long time stayers and temporary campers. I stayed in my van and had my cat and dog with me. Campfire wood was easily available and had its own picnic table. Beautiful scenery and we even got a dusting of snow! I stayed two nights while in town for work and it was perfect.
Camping options near Altadena provide year-round access to the San Gabriel Mountains with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 6,000 feet. The Angeles National Forest encompasses over 650,000 acres with dramatic temperature variations between seasons, often 15-20 degrees cooler than the Los Angeles basin. Winter camping requires preparation for nighttime temperatures that can drop below freezing at higher elevations.
Hiking with dogs on seasonal trails: At Monte Cristo Campground, campers appreciate the nearby hiking options. "Close to Hidden Springs and Switzer falls, surrounding area is very beautiful," notes Cierra M., who adds that the campground offers "about 20 decent sized spots with firepits, picnic tables & water."
Mountain biking on established routes: The trails around Chilao Campground offer excellent terrain for cycling enthusiasts. "There are easy hiking trails all over & good trees for hanging my hammock," says Melinda M., who visited multiple times for weekend getaways from Pasadena.
Night sky viewing at higher elevations: The higher elevation campgrounds provide excellent stargazing opportunities away from city lights. Jordan R. recommends Chilao Campground for evening views: "If you are there in the evening check out the sunsets through the canyons but make sure you are well insulated as the wind blew hard Saturday night."
Cooler temperatures in summer: The Buckhorn Campground elevation provides relief from city heat. "It's the perfect getaway, birds singing, and the scenery makes you feel like you're in Tahoe. Amazingly quiet space, so tranquil and an absolute perfect temperature in August during the day and night," says C N.
Seasonal water features: Several campgrounds feature streams that fluctuate with rainfall. At Valley Forge Trail Camp, Kelly B. found "the creek was full, with several creek crossings on the hike and crisp, fresh water along the campsite that contribute to a beautifully green owasis of a meadow" during April, but noted "it would be a sad/nonexistent creek flow in the summer."
Accessible wilderness: The proximity to urban areas while feeling remote appeals to many campers. "Great spot to get away from the big city being only a 45min drive from the Downtown, couldn't ask for more," remarks Luke V. about Chilao Campground.
Fire restrictions vary by season: Always check current fire regulations before your trip. Billy F. notes at Chilao Campground, "park ranger said it was okay to have fire within the pit" during his visit, but restrictions can change rapidly with fire danger levels.
Wildlife encounters: Crystal Lake Recreation Area has diverse wildlife. Forest G. reports seeing "Black bear, deer (wandered through our site), red foxes, Stellar's Jays, woodpeckers, other birds" during their stay.
Weekend crowding: Many campgrounds fill quickly on weekends. Jessica P. observed at Chilao: "I mean what do you expect everyone wants to go out and enjoy the outdoors and awesome views. This place is nice better close to winter, not too hot but it does get cold at night."
Limited cell service: Connectivity varies dramatically by location. Cierra M. reports about Monte Cristo: "One downside there is NO service here or really anywhere on the 2. But if no service is no problem then definitely recommend!"
Best sites for groups: Buckhorn Campground offers connected sites. Edgar V. recommends: "If you want to do group camping there's plenty of it there. 9-10-11 are the best ones with shade together, they have a campfire circle big enough for 10+."
Beginner-friendly options: Several campgrounds are suitable for first-time campers. Meghan W. suggests Buckhorn as "a good first car camping spot for families with young children" since it's "set back from the road a little giving you a quieter experience away from the 2."
Pet considerations: Most campgrounds welcome pets with standard restrictions. At Crystal Lake, Forest G. advises caution due to "lots of broken glass littered all over the site (we were a little worried for our dog's paws)."
Bug protection: Forest G. recommends bringing "bug spray" to Crystal Lake Recreation Area, while Stacy C. cautions about venomous spiders at Monte Cristo: "be careful because there are black widows everywhere! Especially under the tables of the campsites."
Size restrictions on mountain roads: Most Angeles Forest campgrounds have limited access for larger vehicles. Lauralyn J. notes Buckhorn is "good for small RVs. Over 24 foot not recommended."
Seasonal road closures: Winter conditions can limit access to higher elevation campgrounds. Bryce C. warns about Valley Forge: "drove all the way to the turn in to find the road was closed."
Parking considerations: At Mount Lowe Trail Campground, Andrei K. encountered unexpected access issues: "The road has a gate on it, which is locked 8pm-6am... Once past that gate, you'll soon hit another, this one closed to all motorized vehicles."
Self-payment systems: Many campgrounds use honor systems for payment. Les R. explains the process at Chilao: "The fee is still $12, which you can pay in the morning when the rangers do their rounds. We had grabbed one of the few envelopes from a different loop and left it with money under the windshield wiper of our car."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Altadena, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Altadena, CA is Chilao Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 17 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Altadena, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 120 dog-friendly camping locations near Altadena, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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