Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Tulelake, CA

We didn’t spend the night, only stopped for a few hours to make dinner and stretch out legs. They have designated pet relief areas, lots of signs that say “no pets” on all other areas of grass. Super clean, lots of space, you have road noise but that’s a given.

Multiple bathrooms, clean spaces with plenty of space, a shower, beautiful lake, and cell phone service! Went over the weekend and they have free live music at the lodge! Family and pet friendly really doesn’t get any better than this for $25 a night.

There is no camping here, its strictly a parking lot used for bathroom use, rest area, or use of seasonal trails. If you use the trails and leave your vehicle for a long period, you must have a permit otherwise an officer will give you a ticket. There is an area to let pets out off leash and occasional pond between seasons.

Caution. It is very hot and dry here in the summer!!!

We go here in the spring and fall to avoid the heat. Open sparse cover campground but the regular amentiites are there - table, locker, fire ring.  Flush bathrooms but no showers.  First come first serve sites but I have never seen it full.  Some RVs will not fit so check if you are using one.

You can also do back country camping but I have never done that here.

The best reasoen to go are the caves.  There are caves of every type and every kind.  Some you walk thru and others you crawl through - caves for all ages and all abilities.  Try to get a reservation for the Ice Cave before you go (if you can).

We also always look at the petroglyphs and watch the raptors there.

Captain Jack's Stronghold and the Modoc history sites are fun and facinating as well.

You are a short ride from the flyway and a reserve where you can always see eagles.

You are also near the Tule Lake Japaneses Internment Camp,as well as a German POW camp. Small museuem at the fairgrounds at Tule Lake.

Lots of birding in the area and you are close to some fun sites in Oregon as well.

This is undoubtedly the quietest campground we have ever visited.  Not just because there were few campers, but its location so far from any highway or city.  I would also like to give kudos to the the fire crews who saved this area from the fire last year.  The visitor center and campground are an island of green in the middle of a charcoal land. 

I would categorize it as a tent and teardrop campground.  There are some sites where larger RVs can park, maybe around 25', but most campground spaces will only hold the car.  They have a lot parallel RV parking and that requires you sign up for two spaces, one for your trailer, the other for your car.  The lower campground, A, is more open, great if you have solar.  The upper campground, B, has more spaces and some for larger RVs.  

The drinking water faucets are irregularly dispersed and few.  You cannot hook up to them to fill your RV, so be sure to bring some 5 gallon containers to haul water to your RV.  There are flush toilets and sinks with cold water, no showers.  Bring all your supplies, as the nearest town is about a 40 minute drive.  There are very solid metal fire rings and picnic tables.  The closest dump station is in Tule Lake, but is excellent, with water and good drain positioning - and its free.

We had excellent Verizon service and were able to surf the internet, load and download pictures without using any booster.  I was also pleased to get a staff member directly when I called for information.  There is a lot to see at this park and I highly recommend it.

PS The helmet they sell ($8) saved my head many a time during cave exploring.

We stayed for one week in site#23 with 50-amp electric service and water. Only the middle row of the park has full hookups, although the park has been making improvements since the current owners took over a couple of years ago. The manager and camp hosts are terrific! Very welcoming and very friendly. Most of the sites are small. There are a couple of sites that are a little bit bigger, especially those sites facing East. Site#11 is the best, in my opinion, as your patio would be right on the river! Aside from the size of the small site, the only downer for us is there weren't a lot of places to walk our dog without driving somewhere and no enclosed dog area. Otherwise, the park is dog-friendly. Plus, you and your dog can swim in the Williamson River that is there onsite. Cell signals from AT&T and Verizon provided enough connectivity for us to work during the week. AT&T, in particular, had a very good and strong signal.  As the park is only about 40 minutes from Crater Lake National Park's South Entrance.

Great location and campground with a lot of amenities like a playground, pool, dog run, store etc...

The camp hosts were very accommodating. The site has. Nice area for dogs to run off leash. The kids loved playing in the water and the playground. The bathrooms were extremely clean.

Camp site coordinates are incorrect. Search for Camp Creek Campground, there are also Juniper Point/Mirror Cove that have free sites. Coordinates took us into a “neighborhood”, onto a private road, and all over the place while we arrived past 10pm.

Using Google Maps we were able to find out that there were nearby campgrounds and the county website says they were free FCFS.

We stayed at Camp Creek Campground right next to the dock/launch. Camp site has a nice stone table, within minutes we were swarmed by mosquitoes and our dogs had multiple thorns in each of their paws. The table became their safe place. Waking up we discovered the water was full of blue green algae with no notices around. There’s also big piles of horse poop as the horses are allowed to roam the recreation area.

Site is okay if no dogs, port-a-potty was clean. You’re better off staying at Fish Hook/Blue Heron RV Park or closer to I-5 at another RV camp site than camping here where the water should not be accessed.

I rarely stay at an RV Park. This one fit the bill for the one night stay. Right on the Williamson. The best site for space is 11, with power and water. No septic. I had that reserved but elected for the second best site 6. It was a pull through and it was just me and the dog. Staff was helpful, park was clean.

Great place to layover. Staff is super. Facilities clean. Has small island where dogs can be off leash and play in the water. Beautiful river. Few folks fly fishing. One star off only for the highway noise - but if you live on or near a busy road or highway you may not even notice it. If the campground was further off the highway, it would be a five. ATT was usable. Didn’t try WiFi.

We pulled in VERY late due to a mechanical breakdown and the camp host still came out to meet us.

The spot was easy to pull into and had hook ups minus dump (which can be found at the entrance).

The camp store is well-stocked and the host was awesome and very helpful.

It’s a dog friendly camp with direct access to the river and plenty of beautiful scenery.

There were also some people fly fishing.

We loved this spot! We were in Space 2. Right next to the river . No one blocking our view. Very hot. No shade. However,we were right near the bridge to dog island. Once cross the bridge our lab could get off the leash and lose his mind jumping in and out of the river. That was great.
We didn’t have sewer hook ups but that was more than made up for by the pristine bathrooms, showers, and laundry. My wife said that alone makes this a 10.
And you must go to the little dive cafe in Chiloquin for breakfast. I th8nk it was called “Pops”. Right next to the post office. The corned beef was the best I have ever had. And don’t forget the gravy. Give BIG tip. This is a native American town and your tourist dollar goes a long way. I am serious.
Afterwards,go check out the free miniature train ride at Train Mountain. If you have kids it is a must. Really fun And of course, Crater Lake is a must see

Easy check in in this quaint little RV park right off OR 97 on the Williamson River. We were directed to our pull through site 26 with water and electric but only 30 AMP. We had to disconnect and park in the little field across from or trailer, which was not a big deal. Our site had 30 AMP but there were 50 AMP spots in the middle and on the river rows. All three rows with RV hook ups had sites close together as we had to adjust our rig to clear trees so we could get our slides out. There were plenty of areas to include a small playground and large grass area to walk the dogs. Verizon cell, cable, and the WIFI all worked well. Water Wheel was a well kept campground with 32 RV sites plus a private island connected by a small walking bridge across the river for tent campers. If we were tent campers this would definitely be a great place to camp. We enjoyed exploring the area.  We would stay here again, but would definitely book in advance to get a river row site with 50 AMPs.

Its ideal if you’re coming from California and headed to Oregon. A couple hours away from Crater Lake.

Howards Gulch Campground • Modoc National Forest • $12

Northern California • Basin & Range Birding Trail 15 Northeastern location

Just past a hundred miles of farmfield coming from the North we enter the Modoc National Forest, and turn left against our GPS’ wishes into Howard’s Gulch Campground (Forest Service). Pay attention to the signs. It's analog but it's right. It’s a small, primitive camp in Northern California with 12 sites. Two which are walk in only and none which are for large RV’s. The fee is $12 which is significantly more than the next campground down the road which is free, but the consistency of the Forest Service sites makes it worth it. 

The trees are tall and red, and according to a conveniently placed sign, coniferous. There are also signs indicating common birds of the area and their habitats, along with a 1.5 mile trail built by the U.S. Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and the California Department of Corrections. The trail has been dedicated “for your hiking pleasure…” This campground is also part of the Basin & Range Birding Trail system of Northern California and Southern Oregon.

Like all forest service campgrounds there is a fire pit and a picnic table in each site. Most of the sites are spaced relatively privately, but since you’re in the middle of nowhere you’ll probably be sharing the camp with one, maybe two other campers. In addition, some sites have a stand alone charcoal grilling set-ups.

Trails like this one lead right from camp. Bring your binoculars.

There are plenty of water taps. At least five, but since it isn’t potable there isn’t really much benefit. Since the water is being “treated with chemicals” I wouldn’t even recommend boiling it for use leaving it for the dousing of fires, but the camp is under no-burn restrictions. Rightfully so, considering the summer California has had so far.

Toilets are standard vaults, but there are three of them for 12 sites. Two of which are recent new builds. Being low in the gulch you’re surrounded by walls on three sides to the outer side of the camp loop. The inner loop still backs up to a cliff wall for an unusually located tall mound...and OHMYGOD MY WIFE JUST CHOPPED HER THUMB! SHIT! SHIT!SHIT!SHIT!SHIT!SHIT!SHIT!

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The reason to camp here is…you’re on your way somewhere else most likely. Coming from Oregon to Yosemite or Tahoe or vice versa. But if you do you won’t be disappointed and if you like birds you’ll be pleasantly surprised. The nearest town is at least 20+ miles if you need anything so come prepared. My Wife's thumb is fine by the way. Despite a serious scare at the time. She field dressed it like a boss using our first aid kit (which we've since upgraded). She'll have a reminder scar, but her badass level went up like a million points. I give Howard’s Gulch 3 Tent Stakes of Awesomeness for being a solid campground with nice sites and trails leaving right from camp but not much else going on. Also, there is no indication of who Howard is. I certainly didn't meet him.

Pro-Tip #1: Prepare for summer heat. You aren’t at elevation here.

Pro-Tip #2: Bring binoculars.

Pro-Tip #3: Bring water and anything else you might need. No place near by to get anything.

Only $10 a day with spacious camps sites, water, bathrooms, and peace.

Indian Well Campground is the only campground inside the Lava Beds National Monument Park. It is a first come, first serve camp at an affordable $10 a night.  Go during the week to avoid not getting a spot. Has everything you need except showers. The campgrounds are maintained and have beautiful views of the surrounding area.

This well-maintained campground is within the national monument and steps from the visitors center. We were there offseason (October), so there were only 3 other campsites taken. SItes A6 and A7 definitely have the best views. There are no hookups for RVs, but there is a water spigot at most sites, along with picnic tables and fire pits. The bathroom was super clean. The $10 camping fee is half priced if you have an annual national park pass. Staying at this campground makes it easy and possible to stay late exploring the lava tubes and getting right back to it in the morning. There’s also a hiking path that leaves right from the campground that takes you to more caves to explore (Three Sisters).

These are the ancestral lands of the Modoc people who were forcibly removed by settlers. The museum and park has excellent education and information about the horrific battle between the Modoc people and the white settlers.

The campground is standard fair, firepit/grill, lots of room. I've been up a few times and never had anyone next to our site given how remote it is. Great Nat'l Monument to visit during the winter because the caves stay the virtually the same temperature year round.

Explore the largest concentration of lava tubes in the whole world? Yes please!

Headlamp and helmet are musts. Gloves and kneepads recommended if you're planning on crawling around.

Nice hikes and petroglyphs to check out if you want some sunlight.

A very unique spot to camp! If you want to get the full experience of the lava beds I would suggest staying a night or 2 here. You’re in walking distance of caves while camping! There isn’t any shade. There are bathrooms. There is a “plague” warning due to ground rodents having the plague… so be warned!