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Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Norden, CA

1,332 Reviews
CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

Tahoe Donner Campground permits pets throughout its wooded sites near Alder Creek, offering tent and RV camping with full electric hookups for pets and their owners. Most sites include bear boxes for secure food storage, essential when camping with animals in this mountain region. The campground remains well-maintained with clean restrooms and provides free ice, which campers with pets particularly appreciate during summer months. Campsites are positioned relatively close together, with some reviews noting the proximity can be challenging for dog owners seeking privacy. Dogs must be leashed at all times within the campground boundaries, and owners are responsible for immediate waste cleanup.

Nearby hiking trails accessible directly from Tahoe Donner Campground provide excellent dog walking opportunities with miles of path systems suitable for all skill levels. Dogs enjoy cooling off in Alder Creek during warmer months, though owners should watch for wildlife encounters common in the Sierra Nevada region. The campground is situated just 10 minutes from Truckee, providing convenient access to veterinary services and pet supply stores. Granite Flat Campground also welcomes pets and sits directly on the Truckee River, though some campers note the highway noise can disturb sensitive dogs. The surrounding Tahoe National Forest contains numerous pet-friendly dispersed camping options where leashed dogs can explore, including the trail system to Loch Leven Lakes, which features beautiful alpine water access for dogs who enjoy swimming.

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Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Norden, California (297)

    1. Granite Flat

    19 Reviews
    Truckee, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 587-3558

    $22 - $44 / night

    "It is RV/Camper, tent & dog friendly. Though there are very few "tent only" sites. They have non-flushing restrooms with TP!"

    "The campground is in a beautiful setting, easy to get to, and right off the Highway."

    2. Village Camp Truckee

    13 Reviews
    Truckee, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 290-6210

    "Great dog park"

    "The dog park is AMAZING HUGE AND FENCED."

    3. Tahoe Donner Campground

    8 Reviews
    Truckee, CA
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 587-9462

    $45 - $200 / night

    "Miles of trail systems for all skill levels that start from the campground. The town of Truckee is a 10 minute drive away for all supplies, dining, and tourist attractions/activities."

    "We were here for 3 nights, a beautiful area with lots of trails around, a nice and very well maintained campground and very friendly host. Close to Truckee which is a cute town. We'll be back!"

    CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

    4. Prosser Family

    8 Reviews
    Truckee, CA
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 587-3558

    $20 / night

    "Be aware that there might be bear that get close to your sleeping quarters as the area is full of them. I was never scared, but my son swore that he saw one while he was going to bed."

    "We selected this CG for its boondocking and proximity to Lake Tahoe. There was no water available so we filled our trailer tank and two 5gal containers."

    5. Logger Campground

    13 Reviews
    Floriston, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 587-3558

    $23 - $75 / night

    "It was late and we couldn't find the owner so we ended up staying outside the park on the road. The manager got things worked out in the morning and refunded our money for the night before."

    "Right next to the water, and close to town. Cell phone reception. is spotty ."

    6. Silver Creek Campground

    7 Reviews
    Olympic Valley, CA
    10 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 587-3558

    $20 / night

    "Some friends and I stayed at this campground because of its proximity to Lake Tahoe, where we had planned to take a day trip to kayak.  I thought the campground was very peaceful."

    "Trukee river runs right by the campground, however if you want to stay in the sites next to it you will have to hike your stuff to your site. I believe they were sites 23 to 27."

    7. Boca Rest Campground

    12 Reviews
    Floriston, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 587-3558

    $20 / night

    "Lake is calm, but it was too windy to set up the tent. Overnight temps in the 30's for Memorial weekend. Few trees, little shade. Lots of off road vehicles and RVs, but not a lot of noise from them."

    "the lake is a great swimming temp in june, the views are gorgeous, and there’s plenty of trees and shade. i was lucky to have the spot i was in because there was plenty of foliage to keep my site fairly"

    CAMPER SUMMARY PRESENTED BYFord

    8. Loch Leven Lakes

    4 Reviews
    Norden, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 265-4531

    "We backpacked up to the high loch levens lake where we found many available campsites."

    "We took Salmon lake trailhead which is shorter trail."

    9. William Kent Campground

    13 Reviews
    Tahoe City, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 583-3642

    $42 - $118 / night

    "Yes, we were on the back end, so as far from the lake as you could be, and yes there are cabins that butt up to some of the sites."

    "The sites were large considering the prime Tahoe location - we had plenty of space for our 9x8ft tent. "

    10. French Meadows

    9 Reviews
    Alpine Meadows, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (530) 367-2224

    $24 / night

    "We rolled in around midnight on a Thursday in September and there were still plenty of walk-in sites available. The camp sites were a little close together, but it wasn't too bad."

    "Slightly long to get to on the windy roads at night time, but during the day the drive back wasn't bad. Loved the water access, and water was perfect temperature for swimming for our toddlers even."

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Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Norden, CA

146 Photos of 297 Norden Campgrounds

Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Norden, CA

1332 Reviews of 297 Norden Campgrounds

  • Les W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 4, 2021

    Sparks Marina RV Park

    Great spot

    This campground is in town but still is a great place to stop. Has nice dog park, great hookups. Close to the Sparks marina if you want to walk, but we were here for the Nugget rib cook-off. Just not sure on the all the rules as it seems some are followed some you can ignore.

  • Jaci B.
    Nov. 17, 2020

    Village Camp Truckee

    Loved the scenery

    Gorgeous spot. Park undergoing renovations and roads a little tight but all in all a beautiful park. Great dog park

  • David B.
    May. 29, 2021

    Tahoe Valley Campground

    Nice but crowded

    The area is nice, it is not near the lake but the lake is only a small drive away. The place is crowded and they pack you in here, but our site (113) was a nice place in the corner. There are much better sites with more room near the dog park if you are looking for more space.

  • Lesley R.
    Sep. 6, 2021

    Village Camp Truckee

    Fun park

    This was where we went for our first outing with the travel trailer. The staff was very helpful. The dog park is AMAZING HUGE AND FENCED.

  • Sarah R.
    Sep. 4, 2020

    Tahoe Valley Campground

    Easy and Central

    We came into south lake to visit family. This campground is right in town but there’s enough space and trees to give it a natural setting. Bathrooms are great and it’s pretty quiet considering it’s popular. Looks great for families and there’s a dog park, pool and trails.

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 27, 2022

    Sparks Marina RV Park

    Helpful and nice

    We broke a jack and the maintenance workers were incredibly helpful in getting a tool we needed to fix it. The park is clean and has multiple very clean dog parks. We will stop again.

  • Kathryn R.
    May. 13, 2023

    Tahoe Valley Campground

    Tahoe Valley

    It’s a nice park with a store and lots of things to do (pool, tennis court, etc) but we preferred a campground down the road for cheaper for the views of the lake. It’s dirt here so be prepared for everything to get dirty or muddy! We paid for the 5.2gb wifi since ours is having trouble connecting. I’d stay here again but wasn’t my favorite, I liked the general store a lot, cute gifts and things! They do have a really big dog park which we loved too, the dogs also seemed to love it!

  • j
    Jun. 5, 2021

    Silver City RV Resort

    Convenient location with great amenities

    Great location if you want to be near Costco and the capital city.  Great views of the Sierras and the Carson valley.  Sites are narrow, about twice the width of your RV, and separated by chain link fencing.  But all sites are perfectly flat, paved pull-throughs; easy in, easy out parking.  Also electric, water, sewer hookup, cable and strong wifi and cell service.  Sites are gravel, but the campground has nice grassy dog parks, clean bathrooms and laundry, and well-stocked store with propane refill.  Pool and fishing pond were closed but looked great.  We were there in early April 2021; with our binoculars we could see skiers at the top of Heavenly Mountain ski area!

  • David & Sue C.
    Feb. 13, 2021

    Tahoe Valley Campground

    Winter Wonderland !!

    We had a great time at this winter paradise!! South Lake Tahoe had gotten 20 inches of snow in the 14 days prior to our arrival, then got four more inches while we were there. Practice your backing up, the plowed snow made some of the pull through sites back in only!! The huge, beautiful trees made for some additional obstacles. The best part of our stay was the assistance we received from TERRY in changing sites and getting set up. The campground is close enough to all the activities in South Lake Tahoe. The plowed snow and ice made walking through the campground very difficult, but there wasn’t anyplace else you could put it. The dog park was great!! When you’re traveling with a Great Dane and Australian Shepard, that’s a big deal!! We’ll stay here again...maybe in the summer!!

Guide to Norden

Camping options near Norden, California range from lakeside sites to forested retreats in the Tahoe National Forest. The region sits at elevations between 5,500-7,000 feet, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 45-85°F. Most campgrounds close from late October through mid-May due to heavy Sierra Nevada snowfall, with access roads often requiring snow chains during early and late season camping.

What to do

Fishing at Boca Rest Campground: Trout fishing is available directly from the shoreline at the reservoir. "Dry camping. Little known lake that doesn't get too busy. It is basic dry camping. The lake has been low last few times I've been but the fishing is normally great," notes Alyssa S. at Boca Rest Campground.

Backpacking to alpine lakes: The trail to Loch Leven Lakes offers dispersed camping opportunities at multiple pristine alpine lakes. "We backpacked up to the high loch levens lake where we found many available campsites. But also a lot of the nice view spots were occupied since we didn't start our hike up early, we started at 5:30pm," reports Azizah T. at Loch Leven Lakes.

Water recreation at Stampede Reservoir: The lake provides kayaking, swimming, and boating options with easy shore access. "Right on the lake and in the shade of the trees most of the day so it doesn't get too hot. Sights are right on the lake," says Beverly C. about Logger Campground.

What campers like

Large, private campsites: Many campgrounds offer good separation between sites. "Very clean campground with very nice facilities. We visited in November and we were the only ones there," mentions Layla D. about William Kent Campground.

Easy river access: Several campgrounds are positioned alongside creeks or the Truckee River. "To be honest our first impression of this place was not the greatest. The sites are fairly close together and there wasn't a lot of tree coverage in most sites... Trukee river runs right by the campground, however if you want to stay in the sites next to it you will have to hike your stuff to your site," explains Troy L. about Silver Creek Campground.

Free amenities at select sites: Some campgrounds provide unexpected conveniences. "The campsite is very well kept, the rules are enforced but they're also extremely relaxed. Our fire was steaming a bit when we were walking down the water and when we came back the gentleman was willing to give us a warning instead of a ticket," notes Amanda B. about French Meadows.

What you should know

Road noise impacts: Several campgrounds are situated near highways. "Road noise is real. It lessens late, like after midnight, but it never really impacted my sleep, and I'm a light sleeper. Sites are well spaced and a good size. Convenient to Tahoe City (<10 minutes) and hiking," explains Bryan E.

Bear activity precautions: Bear boxes are essential at all campgrounds in the area. "Bear country be advised. Extreme fire danger the summer months and closed due to snow in winter," warns Toby R. about French Meadows.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Norden, CA is Granite Flat with a 3.5-star rating from 19 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 297 dog-friendly camping locations near Norden, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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