Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Big Bear Lake, CA
Serrano Campground's pet-friendly sites accommodate both tent and RV campers with full hookup options, including electric, water, and sewer connections. Dogs must be leashed at all times throughout the campground, with several designated pet waste stations located near restroom facilities. Heart Bar Campground allows pets at all sites and features spacious camping areas that border a small meadow ideal for wildlife viewing with leashed dogs. The campground sits higher above the highway and displaces sound nicely, creating a quieter environment for pets sensitive to noise. Hanna Flat Campground, located down a dirt road near Big Bear Lake, provides bear-proof food storage lockers at each site to protect both human and pet food from wildlife. Dogwood Campground maintains clean sites with daily raking between campers and offers an electric hookup loop popular with RV campers traveling with pets.
Several dog-friendly hiking trails connect directly to campgrounds in the Big Bear area, including easy access to Cougar Crest Trail via an underground tunnel from Serrano Campground. The Thomas Hunting Grounds Yellow Post Sites allow pets and provide free dispersed camping options with fire rings but no water or toilets. These primitive sites require campers to pack in water for themselves and their pets. During summer months, the pine trees throughout most campgrounds provide ample shade to keep pets cool during hot days. Big Bear Lake's mild temperatures and typically calm winds create comfortable conditions for outdoor activities with dogs year-round. Campers should note that bears and coyotes inhabit the area, making it inadvisable to let small dogs or cats roam unattended, especially at dawn and dusk. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours to minimize barking disturbances, with camp hosts regularly patrolling to ensure compliance.
