Dog-Friendly Camping near South Pasadena, CA

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    Angeles Crest Overlook to LA provides dispersed camping options for pet owners with vehicles, offering panoramic city views from several parking areas along Angeles Crest Highway. Pets are permitted at all sites, though there are no specific amenities like water, toilets, or designated pet areas. Mount Lowe Trail Campground and Gould Mesa Trail Campground both welcome pets for tent camping, requiring hikes of approximately 3 miles to access. These established campgrounds feature picnic tables and fire rings, though campers report the water fountain at Mount Lowe is now capped. The pet-friendly Bonelli Bluffs in San Dimas offers more amenities for RVs including electric hookups, showers, and a sanitary dump, with pets allowed at all sites. The diverse campground options range from primitive backcountry sites near the city to more developed facilities with comfortable amenities.

    Pet owners hiking to Idlehour Trail Campground should prepare for an 8-mile round trip journey through varied terrain with dogs. The trail passes through Henninger Flats and follows a small footbridge to reach secluded campsites with flowing creek access and a 10-foot waterfall just 50 yards away from camp. Multiple reviewers note that many trails connecting these campgrounds are frequented by hikers and mountain bikers during daylight hours, so dogs should be leashed for safety. Gould Mesa's streamside location eliminates the need to carry large water supplies when camping with pets, as filtered stream water is readily available. Temperature considerations are important when planning pet camping trips in this region, as many trails lack adequate shade during summer months, making spring and fall preferable for dog-friendly hiking. Several campgrounds report increased weekend visitors, so weekday camping offers more solitude for those with pets who need quieter surroundings.

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    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near South Pasadena (116)

      1. Bonelli Bluffs

      4.4(42)21mi from South PasadenaRVs, Tents

      "Very clean, pet friendly.....great place for exercise, walking, biking, etc.. safe environment. Beautiful RV park."

      "Dogs are not allowed out on the water, even if contained to your boat/kayak/canoe/etc, even if you strap your dog to you (she has a K9 sport sack just for this)."

      from $76 - $88 / night

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      2. Chilao Campground

      4.4(17)17mi from South PasadenaRVs, Tents

      "Campground We had been driving around the campground loops for more than an hour, and had just about given up, when we say the sign for overflow camping near the exit of the Chilao campground loop"

      "I’m no stranger to bugs being around I’m an avid camper but they seem Immune to repellants. Giant horse flys we’re in the area along with a lot of bees and gnats."

      from $20 / night

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      3. Angeles Crest Overlook to LA

      3.3(8)8mi from South Pasadena

      "Great view but on the weekend we had multiple cars doing donuts really close to our van. I felt uncomfortable with that."

      "This is just a few parking lots that overlook the valley and gives a view of the city skyline in the distance."

      4. Gould Mesa Trail Campground

      4.3(6)8mi from South PasadenaTents

      "You can hear cars driving off in the distance but still overall quiet.

      • Close to LA. This is about a 15 minute drive then 30 minute hike from my house.

      * The stream is great."

      "Very beautiful now that the canyon vegetation has grown back in and there are plenty of trails in the area for miles of hiking. Lots of wildlife. Fire rings in camp sites but check for fire permits."

      5. Mount Lowe Trail Campground

      4.0(6)8mi from South PasadenaTents

      "We went in May this year so not much people around. Brand new toilet is nice as well. There was some flowing water still."

      "There's a stream nearby the Mount Lowe Summit Trail, also. Plenty of great sites to choose from."

      6. Valley Forge Trail Camp hike in. no drive

      4.2(6)10mi from South PasadenaTents

      "Trail camp is in the canyon so it’s an easy 3.5 mile hike in, but a tough hike out of the canyon."

      "Forage your way through the Valley Forge Trail, for an intimate night in the wilderness at one of its remote camps."

      from $5 / night

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      7. Dockweiler Beach RV Park

      4.0(23)20mi from South PasadenaRVs

      "Really incredible location, was snow to book last minute by calling and checking for availability. Can't reserve by phone but was able to confirm availability."

      "The most fantastic thing about this RV spot is the location - directly facing a large, beautiful, clean beach with built in fire rings, a very long bike bath and bike rental kiosk."

      from $65 - $80 / night

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      8. Spruce Grove Trail Campground - TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO FIRE

      4.3(6)10mi from South PasadenaTents

      "Check for fire restrictions and dig your cat holes at least 200 feet from the water. Or bring WAG bags and pack it back out. Very much like Hoegees campground. Good for families abs Scouts."

      "Close to the camp that's up there"

      9. Hoegees Trail Camp Campground

      4.6(5)10mi from South PasadenaTents

      "Hoegee’s is 2 miles hike from Chantry Flats by way of the Lower Winter Creek Trail. The site is named for Hoegee’s resort which stood just upstream."

      "If you take the Upper Winter Creek Trail it's an easier hike but not as pretty as the Lower one. Campsite is very nice with enough sites for about 20 campers with a privy but no running water."

      10. Angeles National Forest Chilao Campground

      4.5(12)17mi from South PasadenaRVs, Tents

      "Nice spot if you don’t want to drive far. Fantastic views. Get there early to get a spot with shade...we arrived in the late afternoon and the only spots had zero shade. It was so hot!!"

      "OKAY... seriously this one of the best campgrounds near Los Angeles. My ultimate go to spot for an overnight camping trip."

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near South Pasadena, CA

    1087 Reviews of 116 South Pasadena Campgrounds


    • Carlyne F.
      Feb. 21, 2021

      Waterfront RV Park

      Waterfront RV Park, CA

      Located in Huntington Beach California. This site is right across the street from the beach. Be careful and aware when staying here. My husband and I had our mountain bikes stolen when sleeping. When we asked for camera footage the owners of the campground claimed the cameras were broken and they couldn’t share the footage. There are many homeless folks living in the area. The showers don’t get hot, but the area is clean. There is a pool and a hot tub and a small dog park. It’s expensive to stay here, but a beautiful spot.

    • J
      May. 4, 2018

      Lake Piru Recreation Area

      Lovely get away

      Close to town but no cell signal, this place is amazing! Large camping area and I’ve never felt crowded ! Quarter showers and laundry, and a dog park! Lots of deer in the area and Great Lake to fish at! They also offer some hook ups for the rv campers

    • Gillian L.The Dyrt PRO User
      Oct. 20, 2025

      Hollywood RV Park

      Themed Park!

      First of all, staff was amazing. We were originally supposed to arrive on a Tuesday and we’re not able to make it. Staff shifted our reservation instead of us eating the missed night cost. Also super accommodating allowing us to extend a day longer last minute. Park is tight quarters with 200 spots. Two laundry rooms/bathrooms with showers on site, plus a cute little dog park! We stayed for three nights. Every “road” in the park is themed with California or Hollywood themed decorations and murals. We were parked right next to a Mister Roger’s mural across from the laundry/bathrooms. My only complaint in the noise level at times which is not from the park itself. Helicopters would fly over randomly, sometimes at night and it could be annoying when trying to sleep. Otherwise, absolute GEM of a place!

    • Alivia R.
      Mar. 11, 2023

      Orangeland RV Park

      Enjoyable, Clean, & Friendly

      Super friendly staff, super clean, 2 dog parks, offers really good wifi & cable. Can pick the oranges out of the tree

    • ROCKSTAR C.The Dyrt PRO User
      Aug. 7, 2025

      Hare School Park

      It’s the sports fields parking lot

      I’ve been here for a couple days and nobody’s mess with us. There’s other people that are staying in another parking lot attached that are homeless in their vehicles mostly cars and vans. I’m in a 25 foot Fleetwood RV. There’s a dog park kind of area with a big field they can run around and just clean up after them.There’s no public bathrooms, but there are trash cans so clean up after yourself please. It’s not tent friendly. I don’t believe.

    • Deidre G.
      Jul. 6, 2018

      Anaheim RV Park - PERMANENTLY CLOSED

      Disney Camping - Clean, Pool, Very Nice Restrooms/Showers

      Anaheim RV Resort is close to Disney and is on the Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) bus route. They have full hook up sites and room for large rigs - back-in and pull through. They are very pet friendly and even have a dog walking/feeding service (for an extra fee). There is a small pool and hot tub. The restrooms/showers and newly remodeled and very nice! Sites are all level and fairly large. We've stayed here 4 times and will be back again!

    • Alisa B.The Dyrt PRO User
      Aug. 30, 2021

      Rolling M. Ranch Campground — Chino Hills State Park

      Beautifully scenic area

      Sprawling lush green hills? Can’t beat Chino Hills State Park.
      The campground itself feels very close together and wide open compared to the space of the park. Gets loud at night if there are too many groups camping. No cell service. Super clean bathrooms and showers.

      PET OWNERS BEWARE: Our dog munched on a frog at this campsite and started foaming at the mouth. We rinsed her mouth out with water and she turned out fine, but a smaller dog or a swallowed frog and she could have died from toxicity.

    • Heather L.The Dyrt PRO User
      Jan. 18, 2022

      Bonita Ranch Campground

      Loved this spot!!

      A little gem hiding out in Lytle Creek! Easy access to a pretty trail right behind the campground. Very quiet and interspersed with long time stayers and temporary campers. I stayed in my van and had my cat and dog with me. Campfire wood was easily available and had its own picnic table. Beautiful scenery and we even got a dusting of snow! I stayed two nights while in town for work and it was perfect.

    • Jeremiah F.
      Jul. 21, 2020

      Lake Campground

      Acceptable last minute camping, not great, not terrible.

      Pros: Large campsites

                Clean-ish toilets

                Lake within walking distance

      Cons: Right near highway, noisy

                 Lots of flies during the day

                 tent sites are very flat          

      Last minute trip and decided to check out Lake Campground. There are 8 sites placed on this hilly area, with a vault toilet in the center of the campground. It is located right next to the highway, so it can be pretty noisy during the day as its a popular route for motorcyclists. The campground itself was fairly clean, and all the sites were very large and spaced well away from each other. The sites weren't very flat, so options to set your tent up were very limited. Some sites had some shade, others almost none. There were tons of flies, very active during the daytime, but went away during the evening. The vault toilets were the cleanest I'd seen (For vault toilets) and the staff came through the campgrounds several times a day.

      Jackson Lake is a short walk from the campgrounds. It has a nice day use picnic area with coal grills, picnic benches, and four vault toilets (in pretty poor condition). The lake was pretty small and had a stagnant smell to it. Lots of people were fishing, and a few people waded into the waters. I saw people in rafts / kayaks later in the day. The area was covered in fleas so careful with pets.


    Guide to South Pasadena

    Angeles Crest Overlook to LA's dispersed camping area allows pets with clear views of the city skyline in the distance. Most pet-friendly campgrounds near South Pasadena require dogs to be leashed at all times, including Gould Mesa Trail Campground, Mount Lowe Trail Campground, and Hoegees Trail Camp. Bonelli Bluffs offers full hookups for RVs with pets, while tent campers find free primitive sites at Valley Forge Trail Camp that accommodate dogs. Chilao Campground provides picnic tables and trash facilities for campers with pets during its April to November season. The Angeles National Forest contains multiple hike-in campgrounds accessible to pet owners, though visitors note facilities are minimal with pit toilets and no running water at most locations.

    The trail system connecting pet-friendly campgrounds provides multiple options for exercising dogs, with a flowing creek at Gould Mesa offering natural water access for pets during hikes. Campers hiking with dogs to Idlehour Trail Campground enjoy a 10-foot waterfall near the camp, though the 8-mile round trip requires carrying sufficient water for pets on hot days. Evening temperatures at higher elevation camps can drop significantly, requiring preparation for pets' comfort overnight. Fire restrictions vary seasonally throughout Angeles National Forest campgrounds, with visitors noting the importance of checking current regulations before bringing pets. Weekday camping typically provides a quieter experience for pet owners, as weekend visitors regularly pass through the trail system during daylight hours. The Mount Lowe area attracts significant day-use hikers during summer months, creating potential for multiple dog encounters.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near South Pasadena, CA?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near South Pasadena, CA is Bonelli Bluffs with a 4.4-star rating from 42 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near South Pasadena, CA?

    TheDyrt.com has all 116 dog-friendly camping locations near South Pasadena, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.