Matthews Creek Campground accommodates pets in a secluded natural setting along crystal clear waters. This National Forest campground provides tent and RV camping options with pet-friendly policies throughout its sites. Campsites include fire pits, picnic tables, and access to a pebble beach area where dogs can cool off in the creek waters. East Fork Campground similarly welcomes pets with both drive-in and walk-in sites available for pet owners. The campground is well-maintained with clean facilities including bear-proof storage lockers necessary for camping with dogs in this wildlife-rich region. During peak season from May to October, pets must be leashed at all times within both campgrounds to protect wildlife and other campers. The sites are clean with double-walled fire rings and level tent pads suitable for camping with dogs of all sizes.
Trails surrounding the Sawyers Bar area provide excellent opportunities for hiking with dogs, particularly those leading into the Trinity Alps. Several campgrounds in the region serve as ideal base camps for day hikes with pets, including access points to the China Gulch Trailhead that leads to Grizzly Lake. The Salmon River offers additional recreation for pets who enjoy water, though the currents can be swift and cold depending on the season. Campers should note the remote location requires preparation—no nearby stores exist for pet supplies, and cell service is extremely limited throughout the region. Fire permits are mandatory at all pet-friendly sites, and visitors should pack out all pet waste as most campgrounds have limited trash services. The roads leading to these pet-friendly campgrounds are often narrow single-lane routes, making access challenging for larger vehicles or those towing longer trailers.
"Access to the beach is a short walk down fairly steep hill. The outhouse was clean as were all of the sites, with a good firepit and table."
"It may be way out in the middle of nowhere but it is worth the drive. Amazing place to swim. The stars at night are so bright. My favorite camping place ever!"
"Nice little campground right next to a pretty river. When I stayed I was the only one at the campground. "
"Its a short drive to some great hikes, but the campground itself was too busy and too close to the highway to use as a good starting point."
"Trail Creek runs through the back of the campground and is beautiful!"
$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."
$50 / night
$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."
"Shower tokens can be purchased at Ray's Market, located a few blocks away. Restrooms are open to the public. There is a charging station and hiker's box that was full of good stuff."
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.
ScoutWe stayed overnight on the way to New Mexico. It was clean, quiet, close enough to the freeway to be convenient without being loud. Dog park and playground were small, campsite were packed close together. It was generally nice but unremarkable.
GuideCute town and peaceful campground. Clean bathrooms and showers. Pool, game room, shuffle board, basketball court and off leash dog park. Lots of trees in the sites great for hammocking (in the tent sites). I would definitely stay here again.
GuideWe highly recommend this campground as they have all the amenities…a general store, boat rental, cabin rental, activities for the kiddos, a dog park and pub. Water, toilets and showers are readily available, though a bit in need of a good coat of paint and showers need cleaning/updating .
GuideI stayed at this park with my daughter and dog for one night while passing through.
The facilities are very clean, showers have nice hot water for a minimal fee.
The dog park is small, but well maintained with poop bags on site for your use.
The RV Park workers were fantastic, checked on us during set up to make sure we had what we needed.
There are obviously quite a few long term renters at the park, but they showed pride in there homes and area. Everyone’s areas were clean and orderly, and the park was incredibly quiet.
Only down side is the sites are tightly packed together. My door was only a couple off feet off of my neighbors hook ups. When the camper next to us packed up in the morning, we were outside by our door. The smell of sewage was pretty strong, we just went in our camper and waited for him to finish up.
Worth a stop for the money if your going to be in the area.
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.
LegendThis place is beautiful in the fall! Great location and spacious. Gorgeous Views Of Mount Shasta. Within Walking Distance To Restaurants And Convenience Store. Clean And Remodeled Restrooms/Showers. New Pet Areas
ScoutWonderful place to stay! Very nice little campground in Weed, CA. We originally were just stopping for the night so I had reserved a 50 amp pull thru, but we had some problems with our fifth wheel and my husband wanted some shade to work on it. Karen was nice enough to juggle reservations and get us in a 30 amp back in that had shade. Plus, we ended up staying for two nights. Karen was very accommodating and helpful and we really appreciated it! The campground is fun, has some outdoor games, a small dog park, and a community fire pit. And visiting the goats and chickens was definitely a bonus! I highly recommend Trailer Lane Campground and would definitely stay there again! We didn't use the bathrooms or laundry.
TravelerI absolutely loved camping here with friends. And we already can’t wait to book another trip! Breath-taking view of Mt. Shasta was just around the corner from our site. Very clean, family/pet friendly, hiking, fishing, and swimming! Overall a wonderful stay!
Trail Creek Campground offers primitive tent and RV camping near Sawyers Bar in the Klamath National Forest. Located at an elevation of approximately 2,100 feet along the South Fork Salmon River, the campground provides access to several hiking trails in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. Most campgrounds in this region operate seasonally from May through October, with limited or no services available during the off-season.
River recreation: Access points near Matthews Creek Campground allow for swimming in clear waters. "The water is crystal clear (and cold) with a nice pebble beach. Access to the beach is a short walk down fairly steep hill," notes Thomas Y.
Hiking the Trinity Alps: Several trailheads serve as gateways to wilderness areas. "This campground is a great place to stay before heading into the Trinity Alps. A 20 minute drive on a dirt road leads to the China Gultch Trailhead, a popular trail leading to Grizzly Lake," reports Jack L. from East Fork Campground.
Stargazing: Limited light pollution creates exceptional night sky viewing. One camper at Matthews Creek mentioned, "The stars at night are so bright. My favorite camping place ever!"
Solitude and remoteness: Many campgrounds offer quiet, secluded sites. "When I stayed I was the only one at the campground. The sites are near the road but it seemed to have light usage and I never heard cars in the night," writes a visitor to East Fork Campground.
Clean facilities: Despite the remote location, many campgrounds maintain good standards. Connie H. notes that Trail Creek Campground has "vault toilets (which were pretty darn clean), and a bear proof trash can. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring."
Natural swimming spots: Creek access provides natural cooling options. "Trail Creek runs through the back of the campground and is beautiful!" reports one camper, while another mentions that "Amazing place to swim" at Matthews Creek.
Limited services: Come prepared with all supplies. "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," warns a Matthews Creek visitor.
Bear safety requirements: Bear-proof storage is mandatory at most sites. "Be prepared to utilize bear box," advises Elisabeth Q. from Nordheimer Group Sites.
Fire restrictions: Permits are required for campfires in established fire rings. "Generator use is allowed from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM," notes a Trail Creek visitor, but restrictions may change seasonally.
Communications: Cell coverage is virtually nonexistent. "There is ZERO cell service with T-Mobile, AT&T or Verizon. We did have Starlink with us and we were able to get signal, but it was spotty due to all the tree coverage," reports a Trail Creek camper.
Dog-friendly options: Most campgrounds near Sawyers Bar welcome pets with specific guidelines. "The tent pad was level," notes Rosie H. at East Fork Campground, making for comfortable setups for families with pets.
River safety: Water conditions vary seasonally. "During our visit in May, the river flowed swiftly and cold, making it unsuitable for swimming or fishing," warns a Matthews Creek visitor.
Town resources: Etna City Park offers additional amenities for families. "There's a playground and restrooms... There is a community pool for free public use. Town is very friendly," notes a visitor.
Shade availability: Many campgrounds offer natural cover. "We're... grassy, partially shaded, quiet sites with a little store," mentions a visitor to Etna RV Park, which provides comfort during hot summer days.
Size limitations: Access roads restrict larger vehicles. "This is a great Nat Forest campground with a beautiful view of the great creek below... It is a pretty long drive down basically single lane roads," notes Thomas Y.
Hookup availability: Most forest service campgrounds lack services. "There are no hookups, but there is drinking water provided as well as vault toilets," explains a Trail Creek visitor.
Alternative options: For full hookups, consider developed campgrounds in nearby towns. "We're section hiking the PCT so bump along in our 'base camp' RV... grassy, partially shaded, quiet sites with a little store, huge clean laundry," reports an Etna RV Park visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Sawyers Bar, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Sawyers Bar, CA is Matthews Creek Campground with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Sawyers Bar, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 145 dog-friendly camping locations near Sawyers Bar, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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