Deer Creek Campground and Sierra National Forest sites around Huntington Lake accommodate pets with dedicated amenities throughout the Sierra National Forest. Dogs must be leashed at all times in camping areas. Rancheria, College, and Sample Meadow campgrounds feature bear boxes at each site that can hold pet supplies alongside food storage. Most sites include picnic tables and fire rings where pets can rest nearby while owners cook meals. Campsites are well maintained and clean with ample space for tent camping with dogs. Huntington Lake provides water access where many campers allow their dogs to swim during warmer months. The campgrounds are typically quieter compared to nearby Shaver Lake, providing a more peaceful environment for pets sensitive to noise.
Trails connecting campgrounds to Huntington Lake offer excellent walking opportunities for dogs. The short walk from College Campground to the lakeshore takes only minutes, providing easy access for quick pet breaks. Paths along Deer Creek offer serene spots for pets to cool off during hot summer days. Wildlife is present in the area, requiring pets to remain leashed to prevent encounters with local animals. During peak summer months, visitors should note that morning temperatures can be chilly for pets at these higher elevation sites, though daytime temperatures typically warm to the 70s. Lakeshore has a small store for emergency pet supplies, though bringing all necessary pet items is recommended. The nearby Lakeshore Store and Pub welcomes well-behaved dogs with their owners at outdoor seating areas.
$40 - $105 / night
"Shaver Lake is so beautiful! We try to get a campsite next to the water. We also reserve a boat so we can explore the lake."
"Great campsite if you want to camp around Shaver Lake in the Sierras of California. Beautify lake, plenty of water sports. The small town has great rustic mountain vibe."
$48 - $99 / night
"They all kept saying it was the best camping trip they ever had.. our hosts Frank and Jamie were super sweet and welcoming.. the campgrounds are immaculate and near the water."
"The access to the lake is a little walk but not too far and the cove is perfect for relaxing with kids. Highly recommend!"
$37 - $78 / night
"The drive is pretty interesting once you get to the single lane road. We didn’t stay in the campgrounds but we did get to experience the dispersed camping."
"Our campground was right next to the river, and hiking trails to lakes, meadows and hot springs run directly off of the campground. The host was wonderful, it was all around perfect."
$47 - $275 / night
"It's location had perfect weather, warm during the day and cool, but not cold, at night. You surrounded by gorgeous tall trees and have access to swimming holes about a mile away."
"I grew up going to Dinkey Creek and to the Girl Scout Camp nearby. This campground is remote and secluded there are good swimming holes, fly fishing and really beautiful area."
$47 - $96 / night
"Campground is right on the lake with walking trails. Added bonus is the campground is next to the boat launch."
"Deer creek campground sits on the edge of Huntington Lake. Many of the sites have views of the lake or are right on the lake."
$47 - $121 / night
"It is a great place to stay for a week or longer and go explore all the surrounding area has to offer!"
"A well maintained campground & walking distance from the lake. Standard but roomy sites with the usual fire ring/grill & picnic table, bathrooms are clean too."
$41 - $43 / night
"The site is pet friendly and has horse stables. Our neighbors were friendly and quiet. The site had a picnic table, fire pit, water spout and full electricity hook ups."
"Driving from the West toward Yosemite this location is one which will allow you to find a camping option before getting into the big crowds. "
$47 - $96 / night
"College Campground is one of a handful of palaces to camp along Huntington Lake. It’s within walking distance to the store & restaurant."
"* Right on Huntington Lake, and only about 10 or so sites so there was not too much noise.
- Able to walk right down to the lakefront.
- Marina nearby to rent fishing boats/poles. "
"It is a beautiful campground located off Kaiser Pass Road. Even in June there was so many wildflowers and vibrate green. There was bathrooms and each site had a picnic table, fire pit, and bear box."
"When I visited some people had buried human waste next to the campsite and I cleaned it up. Most easily accessed via Kaiser Pass. Be aware that the road is steep, narrow, and has blind corners."
$34 - $72 / night
"Besides the lake being a one minute walk from your site they also had super clean restrooms with running water. The view of the lake is amazing! The drive up was nice too. The fishing was amazing!!"
GuideThis would be a great place if it was clean. Lots of junky trailers with junk & garbage. No dog park area, no doggie bags. On positive side, staff is friendly & sites are roomy.
ScoutQuiet; dog park; pool; playground; fire pit ; only thing is sites and small.
GuideFHU with large pull through spots. Quiet place that was nice to spend a few days at while exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Place has grass, dog park, lots of kids play areas, adults game areas, fishing pond, creek and river next to property is very pretty. We really enjoyed it.
RangerThis campground is situated by a lake. Love this spot! You’ll hear all the frogs by night and birds in the morning, great place for fly fishing or cat fishing and nice folks staying here! We had a bit of fun filling the truck up to make a portable pool, it’s quite warm in the summer months but perfect if you’re visiting the Clovis Rodeo!!! A local town isn’t far away. Great place for the family and pet friendly! It is pitch black at night, so bring flashlights. Restrooms are available, some sites have water, and trash dump is available. There’s no place on premise to purchase wood but park rangers operate entry at a booth during business hours for more information during your stay, if needed.
GuideStayed in this Campground for 2 days. They don't have a dog park and there's really nowhere for dogs to go the bathroom. Every time I went to go to the office there was a sign they'd be back in 15 minutes... The dump site I believe was an old camping spot with hose access. It's about 30 minutes from town if you need groceries and 30 minutes from the park depending on traffic. I personally would not stay in this park again.
LegendMy group had a blast at this campground! We were really tucked away from neighbors and were very close to the lake and bathrooms. We went in August and it was perfect weather, warm days and cool nights. I am interested in what other campgrounds have to offer, but would definitely come back here and recommend! We also loved that it was pet friendly and an easy drive to everything wanted to see between Mammoth & Yosemite.
GuideBeautiful overall, great access to many back country inlets and lakes. A wonderful place to witness one of the many Yosemite thunder and lighting storms. If you can leave your pet at home you will have a better time, the majority of lakes and trails in the Yosemite area do not allow dogs, some are leash restriction such as campsites. If you're heading up to lake Tenaya the pups can't go.
LegendThis camp ground is smaller relative to some of the other camping options in the area, but still well maintained. It is close to the road but still quiet. Each site has a table, fire ring, and a food storage locker. There are two vault toilets. Bring your own water. You cannot reserve sites ahead of time.
If you want to experience the Yosemite area with your dog, camping in the Inyo National Forest is a great option, because dogs are allowed to join you anywhere you go in the area, as long as they are leashed or well trained to verbal commands. Since the Yosemite NPS does not allow dogs on trails, these national forest campgrounds are a better pet-friendly alternative.
If you like fishing, there are great fishing spots at the nearby stream and lake.
Because this campground is actually a part of the national forest, you can stay here for up to two weeks, in addition to the two week maximum enforced for camping within the NPS limits. So in total you could can stay in "Yosemite" for a month by combining camping at this site (or other nearby national forest sites) with camping inside the park, which is why we stayed here for a long rock climbing trip.
TravelerThere is a lot of room for a campsite if you are camping with a tent or car camping. The price is reasonable. The restrooms are well maintained with super flush. Waking up next to an amazing views of the formation of rocks are a plus! Went around June, so bring lots of water, pet friendly. Potable waters are provided.
Camping near Lakeshore, California offers a quieter mountain experience at 7,000 feet elevation. Sierra National Forest campgrounds around Huntington Lake feature cooler temperatures, typically 8-10 degrees lower than nearby Shaver Lake during summer months. Campsites in this area provide direct access to alpine lakes, creeks, and hiking trails with temperature ranges that can swing from chilly mornings to comfortable 70s by midday.
Swimming at the lake: College Campground provides direct lake access with a private beach area. "Marina nearby to rent fishing boats/poles. We rented an aluminum boat for 4 hours one day for $60 and went out fishing on the lake. We boated to the island in the middle to picnic and have some lunch," notes Austin C. about College Campground.
Thermal springs: Visit Mono Hot Springs for natural thermal pools. "There are several different pools located across the river from the campgrounds. They are all over the hillside and range in temperature from lukewarm to bath water to Hot. They also pump the natural mineral water to the bathhouse for the showers," explains Mollie M. about Mono Hot Springs.
Nearby hikes: Multiple trails connect from campgrounds to viewpoints and alpine lakes. "While in the area I recommend visiting the Mt Tom fire lookout if your vehicle is capable. Florence Lake is also recommended. If you have a mountain bike I recommend the road that continues through the campground over a bridge," suggests Collin about Sample Meadow Campground.
Spacious campsites: Many campgrounds in the area offer well-separated sites with room for multiple tents and vehicles. "Each site has plenty of room and includes a picnic table and fire pit. It's a short walk to Shaver Lake from virtually any of the sites, and several have a nice view of the lake," shares Angela D. about Camp Edison.
Quiet atmosphere: Huntington Lake campgrounds provide a more peaceful environment compared to busier lakes in the region. "We stayed in site 15 and it was very nice. Large site with plenty of room for trailer and two big tents. Very short walk down to Huntington Lake and was ideal for swimming with the kids," reports Steven S. about Deer Creek Campground.
Clean facilities: Despite being remote, campgrounds maintain clean restrooms and common areas. "The bathrooms are the cleanest I've ever seen at a campground and down by the lake is beautiful," notes Janell M. about Dorabelle Campground.
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds require navigating narrow mountain roads. "The last 18 miles over Kaiser Pass took 1.5 hours. A sub-par road surface little bigger than one lane in many places made transit interesting," warns Chris M. about accessing Mono Hot Springs.
Bear safety requirements: All food and scented items must be stored properly in bear boxes. "This is a remote campsite, you are living in bear country; be prepared and secure your food/garbage. We had no problems with any wildlife and found it peaceful," advises Bernadette A. about Sweetwater Campground.
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds close during winter months due to snow. "The road is pretty haggard to get to the campground. It also gets extremely cold at night so make sure to bring warm clothes and have a good tent and sleeping bag," cautions Darlene M. about Sample Meadow Campground.
Select lake-adjacent sites: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Lakeshore offer direct water access ideal for children. "The cove is wonderful for swimming and mostly kayaks/SUP with plenty of beach space, water temp was perfect," shares Margo A. about Dorabelle Campground.
Morning activities: Plan water activities earlier in the day before winds pick up. "Kayaking is a must each morning before the winds kick in around 10am. The water is glass before that," recommends Marianne H. about Deer Creek Campground.
Pack for temperature swings: Prepare for significant temperature differences between day and night. "Even in June there was so many wildflowers and vibrate green. The creek was really cold so if you need drinking water you should bring some or bring a filter," suggests Darlene M. about Sample Meadow Campground.
Limited hookups available: Most pet friendly campgrounds around Lakeshore have minimal or no hookups. "Single sites are $24 with additional vehicles $8 per. This is a bit higher than other forest camps I had stayed at, however in this area in comparison to some of the Yosemite pricing this is a fair pricing," notes Crystal C. about Sweetwater Campground.
Site leveling challenges: Some campsites require extensive leveling for RVs. "The site wasn't level but was manageable. Bathrooms are outdated but clean, and they charge you an extra $5 to use the showers," mentions SpentBrassOffroad B. about Camp Edison.
Alternative camping options: When established campgrounds are full, nearby areas offer overflow camping. "If you can't get a camping spot at Huntington you can also camp at China Peak ski resort. It's not fancy camping but it's cheap and it will do if it's the only way for you to enjoy this beautiful place," suggests June D. about campgrounds near Deer Creek.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Lakeshore, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Lakeshore, CA is Camp Edison with a 4.7-star rating from 25 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Lakeshore, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 291 dog-friendly camping locations near Lakeshore, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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