Lacks Creek BLM dispersed camping area permits pets throughout its free campsites located approximately 30 minutes from Orleans. The primitive sites include fire rings, picnic tables, and vault toilets while maintaining a quiet, secluded atmosphere ideal for camping with dogs. Klamath Riverside RV Park offers full hookup sites with pet-friendly accommodations, described by visitors as a riverside paradise with wooded trails and large grounds for dogs to run and play. Fish Lake Campground provides pet-allowed camping with picnic tables and fire rings during its operating season from June to September, though mosquitoes can be thick during certain times of the year.
The dirt road access to Lacks Creek requires careful navigation but remains passable for most vehicles including sedans and small trailers. Multiple campers report the journey worthwhile for pet owners seeking seclusion, with three main camping spots available at the top featuring fire pits and pristine surroundings. Matthews Creek Campground offers another excellent pet-friendly option with access to crystal clear water where dogs can cool off. Visitors should pack out all pet waste as there are no designated pet waste stations, and bring sufficient water supplies as potable water is limited at most dispersed sites. Cell service varies throughout the area with AT&T users reporting decent connectivity at Lacks Creek despite its remote location.
$10 / night
"Nice site that are a little too close together, but that seems the norm in California. The camp hosts were so amazingly nice. Even gave me wood for a fire to keep the mosquitos at bay."
"The creek runs next to the campground which provides wonderful water sounds all night. Swimming in the nearby Salmon River is a great way to spend a hot July day."
$10 / night
"The lakeside sites are off the road and a short walk from the parking area. Be sure to get a cart from the camp host or you'll have to hand carry everything in. Cell coverage was excellent here."
"Whiskytown Lake is a great recreation lake, from boating, swimming to fishing. Oak Bottom is shores are surrounded by pines and manzanita. It has a pretty large campground with tent and dry RV sites."
"One of the best campsites in California. You should start at the Prairie Creek Visitor Center and hike out to this campground."
"Easy walk to the beach for sunsets. LOTS of animals here. Never ever leave anything out, as the crows/ravens will swoop quickly. Our dogs were also skunked here, so keep an eye out!"
"The park had a little bit of everything… river views, wooded trails, huge fire pits, full hookups, etc."
"Camped here for one night mid September, slept in a car, great view and found the 3 spacious camping spots with a picnic table, fire pit (with a grill rack), and an unsmelly bathroom a short walk away."
"When you get to the area where apple maps says park and walk, just take the pine ridge or whatever trail a couple more miles up."
$10 / night
"Great trail around the lake. Then drove to nearby Blue Lake, and walked around it. (No camping @ Blue Lake). Pit toilets were clean!! Mosquitoes can be a bit thick...don’t forget the OFF!"
$40 - $70 / night
"Some great little dog walks from and near the location. Was a great break from the summer heat. We'll definitely be back."
"Once set up, the camp side was very close to our neighbors. Expect no privacy. Perhaps they should put up a patrician of lattice or something between the sites. The utilities are somewhat confusing."
$35 - $50 / night
"This campground is conveniently located right on the 101 Hwy, close by to the ocean and right down the road from tons of Redwood Nat’l Park trails."
"We used this as a checkpoint in 2021 when traveling from Oregon to Southern California via HWY-101. The park is clean, and we had a great time walking around and resting between the legs of our trip."
$50 / night
$35 - $65 / night
"We rolled in late to this campground it was around 10pm just before they close for the night. We was greeted by a very friendly Camphost who check us in and took us to our sites."
"It’s a great location and close to parks/trails. Full hookup, riverfront sites available, clean bathrooms/showers, camp store, camp cafe open on weekends for breakfast, group fire pits."
GuideClean campground, our spot was near the play area, dog park and office. They have some area tucked into the redwoods. They have some farm animals! We really appreciated that they let us check in a little early!
RangerIt is right off 101. We had easy pull through. Seems real quiet. Laundry being renovated. Bathhouse seems fine. Nice big grassy area towards the dog park. Nice for our dogs. So far so good.
GuideThis is a very lovely campground clean of trash with quaint with cabins and campsites tucked between redwoods and Douglas fir trees. Campground looks lush and loved.
They offer cabins, RV and tent sites.
Additionally there is a Video Arcade, Horseshoe pit, dog park, celebration hall with board games/puzzles, a mini mart, playground, gazebo, and multiple bath/shower houses and laundry facilities.
They periodically have special events during the weekends. We lucked out with live music and wine tastings.
Incredibly close to town but still immersed in the woods.
Only negative is that it’s close to 101 and car traffic can be heard at times. However, there are many song birds around camp to make your stay pleasant.
Highly recommend!
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 campground has lush green trees, a flowing rice and the good smells of a campground. It is pet friendly and has a good system of paths through the campsites but still affords privacy.
TravelerFerngully. Prehistoric. Quiet and pet friendly! Decent showers, and great involvement from the staff! No annoying camp hosts!
LegendRipple Creek Cabins are located about an hour north of Weaverville, along the upper Trinity River. Each cabin is self contained and comes with cooking utensils, linens, towels, and full kitchens. There is also a picnic table and BBQ provided for each cabin. The property sits on the bank on the Trinity River, with easy river access for swimming and fishing. There is also a large grassy area for all to use that has bocce ball and horseshoes. There is easy access to the Trinity Alps Wilderness for hikers of all levels, as well as access to Trinity Lake about 20 minutes south for all that the lake has to offer. The cabins are pet friendly and wifi is available. There is no phone service or television. Each cabin has a wood burning stove, shower and toilet, but otherwise are a bit spartan compared to some cabins. But with all the easy access to outdoor activities, all you need is a place to cook, clean up, and sleep. Great to rent for couples, families, or large groups. It is a bit of a drive to Weaverville, so be sure you have all your supplies you need. The small towns of Coffee Creek and Trinity Center are closer, but may not have everything you need. Each town does have a couple of great places to eat during the Summer, specifically Trailhead Pizza in Trinity Center.
LegendMaybe more like 4.5 stars. Our site was just so weirdly adjoined to another site and by the second night a whole bunch of families moved on in to that site and a couple others and loudly partied until late and then early in the morning, more loudness. Complete with penned up dogs that yelped and whined and barked the entire time. Right. Next. To us. Some other sites that aren't adjoined like this would be amazing I think.
However, the bathrooms were decent. No paper towels or dryers in California so bring a towel to dry your hands, because it was cold in July. Flush toilets, running water, coin showers. I didn't use one, but my teenager did, which is beneficial to everyone.
There was a spigot and drain right at our site, and that was very useful. No hanging lines from the trees, so I had to get creative and hang some stuff over a branch. Not that that did anything, lol. Stuff does not dry outside there.
You have to drive down a very long road to get into the campground, which is totally worth it when you're dispersed camping or it's otherwise isolated, but it didn't seem AS worth it being crowded in next to others. No redwoods in the campground area, but plenty nearby. Same with trails. A couple small ones within walking distance, but not really worth it if you want to see the big mamas!
Nearby Crescent City was a really charming town with a great park, natural foods coop, and (cold) beach. We also saw lots of elk in the field across from the beach.
No service in the campground, but if you drive up to the ranger station, you can hook up to their wifi.
Overall, a beautiful campground with a mostly good experience.
LegendAlpine View Campground on Trinity Lake, CA is centrally located to the small towns nearby (Coffee Creek, Trinity Center, Weaverville) as well as located a short drive to Bowerman Boat Ramp for boat launching. Though the website says year round availability, it was closed during our planned trip. Recreation.gov and the Trinity Alps Wilderness Forest Service website both contain information, however it is best to call the ranger station in Weaverville for the most up to date information.
Campground Review:
Given that Alpine View was closed when we arrived, to our dismay, I still spent time wandering around the campground, adjacent boat launch area, and the lake access area from the campground itself. There are three loops, each with access to potable water and flush toilets, as well as lake access. Some sites are located very close to the water, most have water views through the trees, and some are more private than others. The maps available when reserving your site give a good idea of privacy and lake access. All sites have picnic tables and fire rings/grills. Although it says that bear lockers are provided at all sites, that wasn't the case when I visited. This could have been due to the campground being closed however. There are also ADA sites. The campground is set among a pine forest along the banks of the lake, and no two sites are alike. Lots of character in the individual campsites that may not show up when reserving. Cost is $20-$35 depending on the time of year, with the high season between May-Sept. I can't wait to get back and spend some time here, it seems to have something for everyone. Easy access to the lake, easy boat ramp access, convenient to the multitude of hikes in the Trinity Alps, swimming, fishing, etc. Pets welcome.
Product Review:
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products. At Alpine View Campground, and a nearby hike to Mt. Eddy and the Deadfall Lakes, I tested the Boost Oxygen 22 oz Supplemental Oxygen - Original product - https://www.boostoxygen.com/product/natural/. Both the campground and the supplemental oxygen get 4 stars.
The elevation at the campground was ~2500 feet, and after exploring the campground and surrounding area, chasing after two crazy labradors, I didn't notice much of a difference when using it. The canister is extremely light, I would have no problem adding it in to my pack for a backpacking trip, and simple to use. Put the mouthpiece over your nose and mouth, squeeze the trigger and inhale 95% pure oxygen. At this elevation, in clean, crisp mountain air, there wasn't much to be noticed. In hot air, humidity, or smog I could see it being useful. Where the product really shined, however, was on our hike up to the Deadfall Lakes. The trailhead began at 6200 feet or so, our destination of Middle Deadfall Lake was at about 7200-7300 feet of elevation, depending on which map you are looking at. After gaining ~1000 feet in elevation in a little over a mile, while hiking through meadows, stream crossings, and ultimately snow, in 35* weather, a couple pulls off of the oxygen canister was welcome relief. There is no lightheaded feeling, you just notice you are no longer panting or breathing all that heavy. The size, weight, and usefulness of this product make it a no brainer for hiking, skiing, climbing, etc at altitude. My only negative is that it wasn't useful at lower elevations for me. Perhaps it would be useful after long runs, or strenuous weight lifting at lower elevations. But it did work more than as advertised after hiking at higher elevations. I would recommend it, and will be using it again in the future for any outdoor activity at higher elevations, especially because of it's small size and the fact it weighs next to nothing. You won't even notice it is in your pack.
Please don't mind the two crazy labs that kept photobombing.
Dispersed camping options around Orleans, California range across elevations from 500 to 5,000 feet within the Klamath National Forest and Six Rivers National Forest. Summer temperatures typically reach 85-95°F during day and drop to 50-60°F at night. Most pet-friendly campgrounds in this region require leashes under 6 feet and prohibit leaving dogs unattended.
Beachcombing at Agate Beach: Walk the shoreline at Agate Campground where campers report finding treasures along the coast. "Great trails right along the coast. Bathrooms well maintained. This is a perfect little campground, strong reco," notes Fred H. The beach also offers wild strawberry picking during May.
Wildlife viewing at riverside spots: The Klamath River RV Park provides excellent wildlife observation opportunities from riverfront sites. "We even saw a bear across the Klamath river!" reports Hattie R. The park features communal Adirondack chairs positioned specifically for river viewing.
Hiking to mountain vistas: Several trails near Matthews Creek Campground offer panoramic views of the surrounding wilderness. "The stars at night are so bright. My favorite camping place ever!" writes JoJo H. The single-lane access road limits larger vehicles but rewards visitors with exceptional solitude.
Cold water swimming spots: The crystal-clear waters at Matthews Creek Campground provide natural swimming areas during summer months. "The water is crystal clear (and cold) with a nice pebble beach. Access to the beach is a short walk down fairly steep hill," explains Thomas Y.
Oceanside camping with amenities: Campers appreciate Gold Bluffs Beach Campground for its proximity to the Pacific. "Right on the Pacific. Lots of wildlife, especially elk. Restrooms are very clean and hot water showers are available," according to a recent review. The campground now offers reservable sites May through September.
Reliable cell coverage: Despite its remote setting, some areas maintain usable connectivity. "There's limited cell service in the camp ground. The spots are pretty close together. Paid WiFi connectivity," reports Stefanie W. about the connectivity situation at Elk Country RV Resort.
Seasonal considerations: Fish Lake Campground operates only from June to September with variable mosquito activity. Gold Bluffs Beach presents specific challenges in winter months: "In January, the sun doesn't reach the campground until 10:30am."
Road access challenges: The drive to many campsites requires careful navigation. "It is a pretty long drive down basically single lane roads to get to the campground, and you should make sure you have all supplies and no stores/supplies close by," cautions Thomas Y. about Matthews Creek.
Water availability issues: Potable water varies by location. At Elk Country RV Resort & Campground, showers operate on a pay system: "You do have to pay to shower, and we rarely had warm water. Not sure if there was something going on with the showers or if that's just how they are, but I took some of the fastest showers in my life."
Pet-friendly beach activities: For those seeking dog friendly campgrounds near Orleans, Klamath River RV Park accommodates pets with grassy sites and river access. "We've been RVing for about a year and have been in quite a few campgrounds so far. This one was our favorite! The park itself is in good shape with grass sites and full hookups," shares Marnie G.
Playground facilities: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. "They have a small play structure with swings for the kiddos. Which my daughter enjoyed," notes Jennifer T. about Klamath River RV Park, making it suitable for family camping trips with pets.
Educational wildlife viewing: Children can observe Roosevelt Elk at close range at several pet-welcoming campgrounds near Orleans. "Elk country rv resort was AMAZING! Nothing beats sleeping under the canopy of redwood trees and waking in the brisk morning to find elk grazing in the adjacent pasture," explains Renee R.
Size limitations and pull-through access: Several campgrounds have specific constraints. "Tried to camp here with a 20ft travel trailer and I turned around before I even made it to the gravel road. Road is narrow and steep with low hanging trees," warns Jules S. about Lacks Creek BLM.
Optimal site selection: RVers recommend specific locations within campgrounds. "Spring for a river view site and you'll have the most gorgeous view of the river and mountains," suggests Marnie G. These premium sites typically cost $3-5 more per night but offer superior views.
Hookup availability: Full hookups vary across pet-friendly accommodations. "Right on the Klamath River. Great view! Owner is a great guy. Doing a good job keeping the place nice and neat," reports Robert G. about the maintenance of utilities at Klamath River RV Park, which offers water, electric, and sewer connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Orleans, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Orleans, CA is Pearch Creek Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Orleans, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 143 dog-friendly camping locations near Orleans, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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