157 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Junction City Campground permits pets with ten primitive tent and RV sites along the Trinity River. Douglas City Campground, Big Flat Campground, and Ripstein Campground also welcome dogs while offering riverside camping experiences. Most sites include picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets, though hookups are limited. Old Lewiston Bridge RV Resort stands out with full hookups, showers, and cabin accommodations for pet owners seeking more amenities. Dogs must remain leashed throughout these campgrounds, with owners responsible for proper waste disposal. The Trinity River location provides excellent swimming opportunities for pets on hot summer days. Several sites near Helena, California are featured on The Dyrt.
The surrounding Shasta-Trinity National Forest offers numerous dog-friendly hiking trails accessible from these campgrounds. The Canyon Creek trail near Ripstein Campground provides a beautiful gray/blue creek where dogs can cool off in crystal clear water during summer months when temperatures reach the high 90s. Campers should be aware of wildlife, including possible bear activity, as many campgrounds provide bear-proof storage boxes. Poison oak grows throughout the region, so keeping pets on established paths helps prevent exposure. Most campgrounds operate seasonally from May through October, though Old Lewiston Bridge RV Resort remains open year-round. Weaverville, approximately 10 miles from several campgrounds, offers veterinary services and pet supplies for emergency needs during your stay.
"Beautiful location"
"Not too far from a glacier lake, so good for hiking. Bears not too far away."
"While I generally like campsites close to the river, those set against the hill seem to provide a little more shade and privacy."
"This campground is tucked down from the road and into a fairly narrow canyon. The trees are mostly oak, madrona, fir and pine, with the occasional mountain ash."
from $60 - $70 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $75 / night
Check Availability"The drive up was a whole experience in itself, reminded me of Last of The Mohicans, don’t slip!"
"2 nights & not a soul around!!! Directions are accurate, road is fair/poor. About 45-60 minutes once off Hwy 299."
"We were looking for.a place to camp near Redding, our home town. This campground is about 30 mins from Redding. It was an easy tow on rural but well maintained roads all the way to the campground."
"There are tent sites away from the rv part, but we never checked that area out. The rv spots are very clean, and even though they’re close together with no privacy it was an amazingly quiet park."
"We had the camp ground to ourselves which was great for the kids to run around. We walked across the road to the river to view the crystal clear water."
"There are 8 spots, 4 fairly close to a parking 'slot', 4 that you can park in an open area and walk to (at most 10-15 yards away). There is one pit building with 4 toilets, 2 men/women. "
"Beautiful creek running through so many different trails to choose from. Nice and shady"
from $120 / night
Check Availability
GuideThis was a very nice park. Had a clean dog park that we enjoyed. Everything in the park seem like it was well kept. All of the other campers we interacted with seem very nice and courteous to each other. However outside of the park is a shady neighborhood. We went to do laundry and saw what appeared to be people doing drugs outside a hotel near by, and there were numerous homeless people wandering around.
ScoutThis was a nice short distance away from the i5. Great view of greenery and lake and the night stars. If you happen to have pets be cautious there is a lot of broken glass everywhere, my dog had several cuts on her pads.
GuideFull hookups in back in spot for $55. Mostly pull throughs in Park, which cost more. Shower, restrooms, dog park. Propane for sale here.
TravelerThe campground was beautiful with easy access to the lake and spacious sites that easily fit our large family. This campground was also pet friendly and welcoming to our dogs as well.Our only complaints were that there was no lightning in the bathroom and the quiet hours were not enforced as we were woken up by loud partying well after 2 am.
RangerThis has been one of the loveliest RV parks we’ve stayed at. We stayed here for almost 3 months, as many others do. Most of the residents are contract workers staying short- to long-term, but the park is also friendly for weekend and overnight stays with select spots available.
I give this place 5 stars because of the respectfulness of both the residents and the staff, along with how well maintained everything is. It’s more campground-sized, but the amenities are kept up very well. The bathrooms were cleaned regularly, the laundry room was nice, and they also have private shower rooms.
The pool was not operating while we were here, but they were actively working on getting it ready for the summer. Since we have a child, we appreciated the playground area and how family-friendly the park felt. The other kids staying here could safely play together and enjoy the space.
There’s also a central activities room with a small gym area, kitchen, and common hangout space, which was nice to have. The fenced dog park was another huge plus and gave our dog room to run around.
The setting by the river is beautiful, there’s good shade throughout the park, and the lots are laid out nicely for pulling in and parking. You can tell by the type of crowd here that it’s a very safe and respectful place with very little trouble.
The location is also convenient — just one exit off Interstate 5 near Costco.
We previously stayed at another RV park in central Redding near the river that cost nearly the same monthly rate, but we genuinely enjoyed spending time at this park, even during the day.
One significant downside is the noise. Interstate 5 to the east is loud, and the wood mill to the west creates constant background noise as well. The silver lining is that you rarely hear your neighbors because of it.
Lastly, if you’re looking for a longer-term stay, we found the application process here much easier than at most other parks. For healthcare contract workers especially, they seem to expedite the process and limit some of the background check and credit score requirements that many parks require.
ScoutThis campground was so nice! So peaceful! It was clean, pet/family friendly, the water was amazing.
ScoutWe loved our stay. We felt safe and it’s probably one of the most cleanest campground and facilities I’ve ever been to. Clean bathrooms, showers, zero trash around. All around a great visit. Perfect spot if you are traveling with a pet. Highly recommend.
GuideIncredible views, quiet, easy river access, pet and kid friendly, showers, on site friendly hosts, and the best trails through old growth that you rarely get in a campground. It’s a magical place, and affordable. Worth sacrificing the cell signal, there’s a pay phone in the entry lot. I’ve been twice now, and can’t wait to go back.
GuideWe were traveling on a long journey and were not going to make our intended destination. Shasta Lake was nearby. I was very worried it would be full, but when we got to the dam, the guard said the campground had openings. You cannot book the day of, so we went and selected a site (First come, First served). Do have cash or check on you.
The site has vault toilets that were pretty clean. Husband had not ever been to the desert southwest or California, so the number of fox-tails was shocking to him, but it was not to me. Our dog brush, a quick rub hands-on rub down and sticker removal, and the broom kept the van floor from becoming our enemy in the middle of the night. Because we were not doing long-term camping, we did not bring our sand mat. If we had it to do again, we would as it would make the transition into the van or tent much easier. Call that advice you don't have to take. We observed non-potable water on site. Otherwise, this is a boon dock type site, but you have a space, a fire pit, a picnic table and - again - vault toilets.
We saw some butterflies that appeared to be coming out of their cocoons. We kept the pets at bay and enjoyed seeing them for such a long time.
The site does have a lot of motorsports activity (ATV, Motorcycles) but we also motorcycle so we were at home. There were hikers and plenty of other campers there as well.
I had not ever been to this part of the state before and was worried about the campsite being full, but we were very fortunate and would definitely come by here again. The view are utterly breathtaking.
Camping areas near Helena, California provide reliable access to the Trinity River in a region dominated by dense pine forests at elevations between 1,500-2,000 feet. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F while winter brings occasional snow at higher elevations. Most campgrounds operate seasonally with primitive facilities, though several offer convenient river access for swimming and fishing.
Hiking near Canyon Creek: Ripstein Campground serves as an excellent basecamp for Trinity Alps adventures. "The jewel of this camp was Canyon Creek. The color of this creek was the most beautiful gray/blue I had seen. Crystal clear water at a refreshing mid-60s temperature," notes Greg B., who visited during summer when temperatures reached the high 90s.
River swimming: Trinity River access points near Old Lewiston Bridge RV Resort allow for cooling off during hot months. "Just around the corner from the campground (walking distance) is access to the river. The whole family enjoyed dipping in when it's warm outside," shares Jason D.
Target practice: Some camping areas offer designated archery zones. "There are targets set up for bow hunters in the pines below the park," mentions Tara D. about the area below Old Lewiston Bridge RV Resort, making it suitable for those wanting to practice before hunting season.
Quiet camping environments: Many campers appreciate the peaceful settings. At Douglas City Campground, "The river is accessible from any site, some small rapids in spots, slow water in others, with occasionally deeper pools here and there. Beautiful site to see, beautiful sound to hear camping, especially when dozing off to sleep," reports Greg K.
Reasonable pricing: Budget-friendly options exist throughout the region. "It was a honor pay station by the USDA Forest service. $6 was an easy payment for a nice area to set up," writes Shawn H. about Big Flat Campground, which offers 10 sites with basic amenities.
Solitude options: For those seeking isolation, Hobo Gulch provides exceptional privacy. "2 nights & not a soul around! Directions are accurate, road is fair/poor. About 45-60 minutes once off Hwy 299," shares Greg B., noting the campground features 10 spots and vault toilets, though requires packing out all trash.
Road conditions: Some campgrounds require challenging drives. For Hobo Gulch Campground, Samuel H. reports: "The road although incredibly long and winding was well maintained and I'm pretty sure even a car could make it without issue. The drive up was a whole experience in itself."
Seasonal amenities: Water systems may not operate early in the season. At Big Flat Campground, "There was no running water, the water bibs were there but no water was turned on yet. I figured everything was still turned off from the winter," notes Shawn H. during an early season visit.
Wildlife awareness: Bears inhabit the area, requiring proper food storage. "They have bear safes (metal boxes with doors having bear-proof levers/latches) to store food. Haven't seen any nor have I seen signs of bear," mentions Greg K., though precautions remain necessary at Douglas City Campground and throughout the region.
Creek access for kids: Creeks offer safer swimming than the main river. At East Weaver Group Campground, Jennifer S. notes the "Beautiful creek running through so many different trails to choose from. Nice and shady," making it ideal for families with children.
Pet-friendly options: Most campgrounds welcome leashed pets. For pet-friendly camping near Helena, California, Junction City Campground offers riverside sites where dogs can cool off. "Camp right above the river. Most likely, you will have a campground to yourself," mentions Rhonda W.
Campfire preparation: Fire restrictions vary by season, but when allowed, firewood might be available. "They cut them up and stacked the fire wood close to the fire pits. (You will need a axe to split)," advises Shawn H. about Big Flat Campground's maintenance crew efforts.
Site selection: RVers should carefully choose sites based on shade needs. Chris F. advises about Douglas City Campground: "Given how hot it gets up there I'd have liked there to be a little more shade. The sites on the perimeter of the campground are better than those in the center."
Size limitations: Larger rigs face restrictions at some parks. At Strawhouse Resorts and Cafe, RV sites accommodate larger vehicles with full hookups, making it an exception in an area where most campgrounds limit RV length.
Towing considerations: Some campgrounds have steep access roads. Kathryn T. warns about Douglas City: "The incline down to the campground at Douglas City is very steep - maybe a 12% grade, and we didn't have a clue what sort of place we would end up at." Despite this challenge, she found the campground well-suited for her 25' trailer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Helena, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Helena, CA is Junction City Campground with a 4-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Helena, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 157 dog-friendly camping locations near Helena, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
