6 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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. 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. Dog-friendly campgrounds near Helena, California span a wide range, from free primitive sites to year-round resorts, and 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.
"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."
"Beautiful location"
"Not too far from a glacier lake, so good for hiking. Bears not too far away."
Available this weekend
from $60 - $70 / night
"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. "
"Lots of people in and out fishing Short trail at the end of the campground that follows the river."
Available this weekend
from $75 / night
"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."
"Beautiful creek running through so many different trails to choose from. Nice and shady"
Campground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $120 / night
GuideCute RV park, clean showers, restrooms, and laundry area. The pool looks nice, but it is closed for the season right now. There’s a recreation area with a workout room. There’s some traffic noise from the highway, but it’s not too bad. Staff are very friendly. The campground is clean and well maintained. I would definitely stay here again.
ScoutHelpful staff and nice sites
RangerHere are the correct coordinates: 40°46'48.5"N 123°07'43.7"W It sits 1 hr and 15 mins from Redding
TravelerMake sure you get a players card in the casino before you register your RV at the hotel reception. You get a $15 voucher for every adult that is registered there which you can use for the $50 you have to pay for overnight parking on this full hook up place. But be aware that five times a night a really noisy train feels like it’s driving right through the parking lot. Otherwise it’s a very clean and quiet spot. It has some picnic tables on the side and barbecue grills available. The sides are very close but for one night it is perfect. Area is very secure. They also offer free Wi-Fi.
ScoutThis is a nice campground IF you are not traveling solo or the only camper spending the night. The campsites are nicely spaced and some have privacy walls to separate them. The bathrooms are spacious. However, I would not stay here alone as we did, because as the host (who was very kind while we paid for our campsite) mentioned, local "tweakers" like to frequent the river below and sometimes find the path up to the campground. I believe we were in spot 5, and around dusk, a strange woman emerged from the trees at our site and we were uncomfortable continuing to stay, since we were not sure of her state and whether she or others would continue to disturb us or want to investigate our site as she was looking at others.
TravelerWe did work for the new owners they were just awesome to say the least. Looking forward to staying with them as guest next time around.
TravelerSuper quite place with large sites. We stayed along the river so we could hear the river running at night.
TravelerWe camped in the rv campground and it was basically just a parking lot. The price was decent ($30 a night) but we had to pay for a park pass on top of that ($25 for a week). They had showers, but they cost a quarter per minute. The lake was nice, but it was a bit of a walk from the rv parking.
TravelerPeaceful and quiet even with full occupancy. Beautiful sites with the sound of the river. Just enough cell phone reception to text and call but not enough to doom scroll. Host very helpful.
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 Douglas City Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 7 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Helena, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 158 dog-friendly camping locations near Helena, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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