Gore Creek Campground near Vail permits pets throughout its drive-in and walk-in campsites accommodating both tent and RV camping. This established White River National Forest campground maintains standard pet policies requiring leashes no longer than six feet, proper waste cleanup, and attendance with pets at all times. Campsites feature picnic tables, fire rings where fires are permitted, and access to toilet facilities, though no showers are available. Red Sandstone's primitive dispersed camping areas northwest of Vail similarly welcome pets with more relaxed rules but fewer amenities than established campgrounds. The road to Red Sandstone sites requires high-clearance vehicles as it features numerous ruts and rough terrain, with several reviewers noting the challenging access. Despite accessibility challenges, these sites offer pet owners scenic camping with established fire rings and natural surroundings. The Dyrt includes reviews of campgrounds near Avon, Colorado.
Camping with pets in the Vail-Eagle area requires preparation for variable mountain weather and wildlife encounters. Temperatures drop significantly at night even in summer months, necessitating warm bedding for pets staying outdoors. Mosquitoes can be problematic at many sites, particularly at Red Sandstone where reviews consistently mention high insect activity. Several primitive camping areas near Piney Lake provide additional pet-friendly options with creek access where dogs can cool off, though these locations see heavy weekend traffic during summer months. Piney River trails offer excellent pet exercise opportunities, with the 6-mile waterfall trail providing a popular hiking route for campers with dogs. Bear activity throughout the region requires proper food storage and waste management when camping with pets, as reviewers have reported wildlife sightings near several campsites.
$29 / night
"If you are looking for a great boondocking location that is close to great trails and breathtaking views, this just might be the place for you."
"We stayed at the Gore Creek Campground last summer 2017 on a drive from Southern California to Denver, CO. We took highway 15 through Nevada and Utah, and connected to Highway 70 in Utah to Colorado."
"The campsites are decently spaced out but not the place to go if you don’t want neighbors, I chose the only single site I could find but could still hear dogs barking and music in the distance(to be fair"
"Closed off road access unfortunately till June 20. Beautiful and the road can get a little wonky but you’re gonna have to hike it up for a bit!"
"They take you off of Highway 9 and about 5 minutes you take a left and pass trail head (cant rmemeber the name) and parking lot and you continue on a pretty bumpy ride for about 10 minutes (you start hitting"
"There is a good amount of traffic heading towards the trail head but it was still quiet. Even had a moose run through our camp!"
$27 / night
"Located on Dillon Reservoir, Prospector Campground offers a nice balance of feeling remote while being conveniently near some really neat towns."
"Great views of lake dillon and each spot is tucked into trees so you don’t see neighbors even if you can hear them. Short Hiking trail connected to the campground plus so many trail options close by"
"I drove up Notch Mountain Rd from Hwy 24 to reach the campground and Holy Cross Trail Head."
"Halfmoon Campground is located at the end of Notch Mountain Rd (forest Rd 707) near Minturn, CO in White River National Forest."
"Be sure to go equipped for hard trails, if you are doing any four wheeling. Also expect a little rain, after all it is Colorado."
"**Campground Review: ** As an adventurer in Colorado, I often find myself driving down I-70 and over the Vail Pass."
$28 / night
"Our site was also a short walk down to Lake Dillon which was perfect for the kids and dogs to splash around in. Close proximity to Frisco is great too if you want to get some pizza for a meal."
"As someone who prefers wild camping, it was definitely not that, but was one of the more positive campground experiences I've had."
"Dogs welcome. No bathroom or water. Along a river. Free. Fire pits at certain sites. Rarely neighbors. Quiet. Close to midturn, red cliff, and Avon should you have forgotten anything."
"Fishing, hiking, climbing and biking close by. Plenty of room for pets to run. And plenty of wood for fires."
$29 - $56 / night
"Heaton Bay Campground, located near Dillon Reservoir in Colorado, offers a stunning lakeside camping experience with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains."
"Bring your fishing pole, SUP, kayak, or hammock to hang out by the lake. This is my favorite campground in Colorado for the accessibility to the lake and town nearby."
$8 / night
"Creek at entrance. Wildlife dept offers educational entertainment on Saturday evenings at their tiny amphitheater. Great for children. Sylvan lake is approx 20 min drive."
"i went on a sunday night so it was completely empty but if you get as lucky as me make sure to get the spot next to the trailhead"
Guidefirst place I went camping in Colorado and I loved it so much I paid for an extra day. it rained on the last day but it was still wonderful. felt lost in the mountains and loved it
TravelerEasily one of my favorite places to camp in Colorado! It’s a must stay every year for me. Killer views, great hiking, beach days and a peaceful location.
LegendGore Creek Campground is a true gem of the National Forest Service. If you are looking for a great boondocking location that is close to great trails and breathtaking views, this just might be the place for you. The entrance to the campground is ~2 miles off of I-70 Exit 180 on Bighorn Road. Only 10 minutes from Vail Village and 25 minutes from Frisco.
We stayed in Site #8, which provided plenty of room for our 22’ travel trailer and pickup. The sites each have a large picnic table and fire ring.
Pit toilets are spread through the campground and were very clean and well maintained. The campground hosts do a great job of keeping everything tidy and looking great. They also have bundles of firewood for sale for $7 at their site just inside the entrance to the campground.
I can’t say enough about this place. It’s probably my favorite spot to camp in Colorado. I almost didn’t post this review for fear of the secret getting out.
ScoutSome spots close to the road but it gets quiet at night as Independence pass is not heavily trafficked after dark. It is in a great location, close to Twin Lakes but also all the hiking up the pass. All first come first serve. Pets are allowed, we had our dog with us.
GuideRiver Run is our favorite place to stay when visiting RMNP. We have stayed here on two occasions and will be bringing family with us this July. Great dog parks, bike trails, bowling alley, arcade, swimming pools, playgrounds and very clean laundry rooms. They also have activities planned during your stay. The RV sites are well spaced, although it is a newer campground so landscaping is young. We have also stayed in a 2 bedroom villa, but had to leave early due to wildfires. My kids are always excited to visit River Run.
RangerI’m a mountain girl! Like grab your back pack and hike in! Then we had kids and splurged on a camper... and now this place has me over here laying pool side... drink in hand, head over heels about glamping. Seriously I loved this so much. They have an amazing pool! Bowling alley, arcade, restaurant, bars (yes more than one!) they had live music, they have fishing, and dog parks, bike rentals, daily trash pick up from your campsite, firewood delivery, play grounds, golf carts... it is a little close together with out any trees of coverage BUT the pros far (FAR FAR FAR) out weigh that one con.
GuideI first camped in Colorado last year with a friend and we chose this dispersed due to it being close to travel too- yet still dispersed. I’ve come back 4 other times to camp here!
This trail does require some 4x4 action to get to the top. Lots of rocks, bumps, and pools of water to travel through to get anywhere.
The trail has a decent amount of dispersed sites along the way up to the top, although you can not camp the first mile or two, they are residential.
Even at the end of the trail, next to the reservoir there are some great spots to camp at. And a hike around the reservoir would show you that you could even do a bit of backpacking if you wanted to camp by a waterfall for the night.
This place has become a favorite camping spot of mine, and a place I love to bring friends. Quite clean, very scenic, and a beautiful creek rushing by most of the camp sites. There is also a really cool teepee stand waiting to be used to camp under at the top!
TravelerThis area is beautiful with access to Halfmoon Creek and tucked away under groves of pines. It’s just over a half-hour drive from Leadville so if you ran out of supplies or just want a better breakfast than oatmeal with boiled water, you’re in luck. There’s designated fire rings and many of the campsites can fit multiple cars if you decided carpooling wasn’t an option. When I camp here again, I will definitely be looking for campsites that are away from the road a bit more. There’s a few that are down a modest hill closer to the creek. The reason for this is this area is super popular for hikers climbing Mt. Massive and Mt. Elbert. (The tallest and second tallest peaks in Colorado) You will experiences cars driving through late at night and even super early in the morning to get to the trailheads. I’m talking starting at 3:00am…I know because my tent was blasted with headlights from numerous cars rolling through. Be aware if you bring kids or pets as well because some cars do not drive through at a respectful speed. Overall it’s a great place to camp, especially if you need a quick weekend getaway.
TravelerWe took our new camper here to get a full service hook up. We didn’t want to worry about anything except the systems in the camper. Later in the season we got a free day of we paid for two days. For a pull through it was only $67+tax per night.
Arcade, restaurant, mini bowling alley (free), playground, dog parks, pool, hiking trails both paved and unpaved, and a general store (our 25’ fresh water hose was too short. Needed about 29’ so it was nice to have a store on property.)
It is a huge place so I would recommend a mode of transportation like a bike. I have an electric skateboard which was perfect.
COVID shut the hot tubs down but they have them. One of the restaurants was closed either for COVID or that it was later in the season.
While we plan on camping mainly off the grid it was a real nice glamping getaway.
The Vail-Eagle region sits at elevations between 7,400-8,150 feet with camping areas positioned among aspen groves and pine forests. Summer temperatures typically range from 45-80°F, creating moderate daytime conditions but requiring warm clothing for evenings. Most campgrounds in the area have at least partial cell service, though connection strength varies significantly between established and dispersed sites.
Fly fishing spots: Red Sandstone area offers creek access with small brook trout that don't require advanced skills. "Lost Lake, which you can swim in. It was definitely buggy, got my fair share of mosquito bites, so I recommend bug spray," notes Ali S. about the mile-long trail accessible from Red Sandstone - Primitive Dispersed.
Mountain biking trails: Gore Creek provides direct access to bike paths leading to challenging summit routes. "Close to the bike trail which was nice, rode up to vail pass. Beautiful," reports Lyle R., who stayed at Gore Creek Campground. The paved path connects directly to Vail Pass for ambitious riders.
Accessible nature viewing: Shrine Pass includes wheelchair-friendly observation areas with mountain panoramas. "Julia's Deck not only offers wonderful views, but is totally wheelchair accessible, which was really great to find so deep in the wilderness," according to Isabelle K., who visited the Eagle-Holy Cross district. The deck provides universal access to alpine scenery without difficult terrain.
Privacy between sites: Sites at Gore Creek offer natural separation through dense tree cover. "Campsites were spread out and didn't feel like you were on top of the group beside you. You can hear i70 in the distance but I was able to tune it out," writes Cheyenne W. about her experience at Gore Creek Campground. Most sites include natural sound buffers.
Night sky viewing: Rock Creek Trailhead provides optimal stargazing conditions away from light pollution. "Basically no light pollution. Beautiful scenery, beautiful night sky views. So many types of birds—great spot for birdwatchers!!!" reports Raven S. about Rock Creek Designated Dispersed Camping, noting the added benefit for bird enthusiasts.
Trail connections: Most dog friendly campgrounds near Avon connect directly to hiking networks. "Loop goes around hill blocking highway," explains Daryl Arno K. about Rock Creek's trail system that shields campers from highway noise while providing immediate trail access for dogs and hikers alike.
Road condition challenges: Many dispersed sites require high-clearance vehicles and careful driving. "The road up has tons of ruts, some a hit deep so I would not come with any tow behind," warns Heather E. about accessing Halfmoon Campground, though she concludes the effort pays off with "BEAUTIFUL" campsites.
Weekend crowding: Popular pet-friendly camping areas fill quickly Friday through Sunday. "On Fourth of July weekend... Not terrible busy on a Sunday in July. We passed 5 or 6 occupied sites before finding space for us," reports Ryan L. about Rock Creek Trailhead, suggesting even holiday weekends offer opportunities for latecomers.
Limited facilities: Prepare for minimal amenities at most dispersed sites. "No services but plenty of space, Mountain View's and locations near gurgling creek," notes Will S. about Rock Creek, emphasizing the trade-off between convenience and natural setting that characterizes most dog friendly camping areas near Avon.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Position campsites near meadow edges for animal sightings. "We were woken up early in the morning by a mountain lion, saw 3 moose cross the river about 100 yards from the camper, and saw a huge mule deer buck hanging out in the bushes," recounts Elena R. about her stay at Homestake Road Dispersed.
Educational programs: Some established campgrounds offer ranger-led activities. "Wildlife dept offers educational entertainment on Saturday evenings at their tiny amphitheater. Great for children," explains Ladawn S. about Yeoman Park, providing structured learning opportunities during weekend stays.
Water play access: Select sites with safe creek or lake shore for children and dogs. "Short Hiking trail connected to the campground plus so many trail options close by," shares Reagan M. about Prospector Campground, where families can enjoy both land and water activities without driving to recreation areas.
Limited turn-around space: Many forest roads lack adequate turning areas for large rigs. "I would not recommend it based on road width and lack of turn arounds," advises Anthony P. about Homestake Road, suggesting that RVers should scout potential campsites before committing to narrow access roads.
Length restrictions: Even when roads accommodate RVs, individual sites may not. "We brought in our 27foot camper and had a spectacular visit," shares Ladawn S. about Yeoman Park, confirming the campground works for medium-sized rigs despite its remote setting.
Water availability: No hookups mean planning water usage carefully. "Make sure you have full water supply," warns Anita A. from Yeoman Park, emphasizing the need for self-sufficiency when camping with pets that require regular hydration, especially during summer months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Avon, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Avon, CO is Gore Creek Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Avon, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 263 dog-friendly camping locations near Avon, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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