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Dog-friendly camping near Bayfield ranges from free dispersed BLM sites with fire rings and wide spacing between campsites to developed RV parks with full hookups and dedicated dog walking trails. Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping offers free pet-friendly sites along BLM land accessible directly off Highway 160. Several established campsites feature fire rings with no facilities, making it ideal for self-sufficient campers with pets. The areas can be accessed via dirt roads that are generally navigable with 2WD vehicles when dry, though some deeper spots may require 4WD capability. Sites are dispersed with good distance between them, providing privacy for campers with active dogs. Roads can become difficult after rain, and some visitors note the presence of cattle wandering through campsites.
Outdoorsy Bayfield provides a developed alternative with full hookups, cable TV, and pet-friendly policies just 20 minutes from Durango. The grounds include walking trails specifically designed for exercising dogs, though campers should be cautious as sites are located very close to Highway 160, creating potential hazards for pets. The RV park features well-maintained grassy areas between most sites, though some spots are quite close together with limited privacy. Seasonal closures affect camping options in the area, with many dispersed camping areas closed from December through April. Cell service is excellent throughout most camping areas near Bayfield, with one reviewer noting full Verizon 5G coverage at dispersed sites, allowing pet owners to easily locate nearby veterinary services if needed.
"there are spots up front i stayed at a spot on one of the road forks towards the end use these coordinates 36350–36498 US-160 Bayfield, CO United States"
"Relatively convenient for access to the town and activities in the area. The main road into the area is very easy navigable by any vehicle. Some of the side roads get significantly tougher."
"Dog park was large enough with a shaded tree and benches. Pickle ball, movie night, pool, playground ect included."
"They have a swimming pool, laundry facilities, a small dog park, and a very basic playground."
from $47 - $197 / night
Check Availability"No dog park but enough area to do their business. Tight spaces. We're 43 feet fifth wheel. Barely enough room to park truck in the site. We would stay again."
"Its really close to the Durango old Town area (like 10 min drive or less) and about 45 minutes to mesa verde."
from $45 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Very nice campground in a beautiful area near Durango. The bathrooms were very clean and the lots were all in good spots. Very close to part of the Colorado Trail!"
"The double site allowed us to put our 24-foot trailer across both spots with our front door facing the back of the campsite with nothing but beautiful national forest behind us!"
from $32 - $150 / night
Check Availability"Pond, 2 Acre dog park- beautiful sites and quick drive to town or off-road. We stayed here twice because a bad experience in Silverton"
"About 5 miles drive to town which is fine for us. We stayed in a shady spot near the back. Bathrooms are clean and decorated with a country/western vibe, and a 2 acre dog park !"
from $65 - $1 / night
Check Availability"One of the most beautiful in Colorado and that's saying a lot. Our site was big and it was right by Vallecito Creek. Big drought conditions going on this year so the reservoir was pretty low."
"There were some barking dogs, but nothing to get too upset about. The only thing that was no fun and could not be controlled was the mosquitoes. Holy cow, they were everywhere."
from $32 - $45 / night
Check Availability"The lake view spots are amazing backed right up to their private lake. Plenty of walking trails and areas to run with the pups. This place is 20 from durango but bayfield has plenty to do in town."
"There are an abundance of flowers, streams, fishing areas, and walking trails. Gravel sites are very level. All hookups are available at every site, including cable TV."
from $39 - $999 / night
Check Availability"It’s right on the lake but tucked away in some towering ponderosas, with lots and lots of space between each site."
"This campground will always have a special place in my memories as my first camping trip in Colorado."
from $31 - $39 / night
Check Availability"While a bit dusty, this campground is well maintained, nicely laid out, and has nice access to the lake."
"There is good access to hiking and we rented kayaks at the local marina. Only wish we had more time here."
from $32 / night
Check Availability"Sites are very dusty which can be annoying..there is also a heard of cows that wonder around freely and poop. But overall a good easy spot to camp and be connected. No views tho."
GuideOur family vacation destination- would provide 6 stars if a could. Main features- pool, great family play areas, huge lots and shaded lots- not really a bad spot. Pond, 2 Acre dog park- beautiful sites and quick drive to town or off-road. We stayed here twice because a bad experience in Silverton
RangerThis campsite is great if you want to do Telluride on a budget - it's free. It's right next to the town and is used a lot for Telluride's summer festivals. Its more than a campground it is also where a lot of town events are held and also has sports venues. There's also grills, bathrooms, picnic tables, a dog park, and a pond. Unless you're at a festival, the campground isn't where you will want to spend your time though. The campground is very close to Bridal Veil Falls, a huge free fall waterfall. You can drive or hike up to it, and climb around on the rocks and get blasted by cold water from the falls. It's huge. There's also a bunch of awesome hikes around Telluride - the San Juans are my favorite part of Colorado.
LegendWe camped at Vallecito for a week in July of 2019. The water to the reservoir was pleasantly over capacity (a joy after a drought) but meant that the water line was well into the brush making swimming a challenge among the branches and driftwood that would tangle little feet. I saw signs that I assume were supposed to be at a beach, twenty feet out into the lake. I would imagine that this would be a great swimming hole when the lake was at a normal capacity.
The campground was typical for a forest service campground. There are vault toilets and the host comes around once per day. There is a dumpster. There is clean water.
The campground is almost entirely shaded by tall pines. There is a creek that trickles past some of the campsites (which makes for a pleasant sound when lying in the tent at night).
Noise travels over the water and through this area like it doesn't at many other campgrounds. While overall, I found the campground to be quiet and peaceful, neighbors arguing a few campgrounds down, or being rowdy by the fire, will keep the light sleeper awake at night.
There are many RV parks on the other side of the lake (about a 20-30 minute drive from North Canyon) where showers can be purchased for about $5. Call ahead. There is small store on the other side of the lake too, but it was closed when we went trough.There is a camp store in an RV park only a few miles away from North Canyon where a camper could likely purchases supplies. Bayfield has many amenities.
The campgrounds on the East side of Vallecito are all located on a very well maintained dirt road. If driving to the camp from Bayfield be sure to take a right before the dam. We camped in a large group of people, and most of them missed this turn. Trying to drive around the lake will create two problems. The first is the addition of an hour to your drive time. Secondly, a couple miles north of North Canyon Campground, the road ceases to be well maintained (this questionable area is not marked as a road on all maps and is likely seasonal). There is a dirt road that will connect the North to the East--however, but many vehicles and trailers are not recommended to pass through. To drive through it will look as though the traveller is going through at least two different, private campgrounds. They will pass a warning sign about the road conditions, and they will have to go up a steep grade and around a sharp corner. The dirt road is minimally maintained. Having said that, I arrived at Vallecito from the North after and 4 day wilderness trek in the Weminuche, so I wanted to investigate this stretch of dirt road. I was able to pass through with my minivan (nicknamed VanJeep). Needless to say, it would be better to take the right before the dam!
ScoutIncredibly friendly staff, great store with camping necessities and fun swag. Dog park was large enough with a shaded tree and benches. Pickle ball, movie night, pool, playground ect included. Almost every space was filled but it was quiet because the activities are spread nicely away from where we were. Pull through sites with enough room. Good price for the location.
GuideLoved loved loved our stay here! Tucked away from the highway and far enough from any big city, you want nature and stars at night? This is the place! We backed up to a huge green field. The gentleman that helped us back our 42 foot rig into our site gave PERFECT directions, telling my husband which was to turn our wheel which make this a first try back in. The owner was the kindest man we enjoyed getting to know. No dog park, but a large open field we're allowed to utilize, letting the pups off leash. They LOVED it! Mesa Verde NP with the cliff dwellings are a short drive away, perfect day trip. We should have stayed here a whole week!
GuideAbout 5 miles drive to town which is fine for us. We stayed in a shady spot near the back. Bathrooms are clean and decorated with a country/western vibe, and a 2 acre dog park !
GuideFriendly staff, enjoyable stay. Wide spaces with picnic tables and grills. Showers, laundry, dog park
LegendMy family and I stayed here for 3 nights in late July in a 34-foot travel trailer. We made reservations over the phone and found the customer service to be exemplary (I called at the last minute to both cancel and then later to re-instate my reservation when we had car trouble on the way). When we arrived the check-in process was straight forward and easy. The roads are gravel but well-graded and the majority of the sites are pull-thru. We had no trouble getting into ours, however, we found rather quickly that sites are extremely close together. Our back-side neighbors had to move their picnic table back in order to accommodate our driver-side slide (the distance between our extended slide and their trailer is about 8 feet. But... we all made it work. There is a 10 pm lights-out policy to cut down on light pollution and see the stars. And the people who camped next to us were considerate.
The campground has lots of amenities. A log cabin (rec center) with pool, video games, TV with DVD library, books, and board games. Laundry with decent pricing. Mini-golf ($3 per person). A nice pool and hot tub. A dog park with agility obstacles. Nice playground. Wifi signal is strong with decent bandwidth (they discourage streaming). Next door is a horseriding stables ($40 an hour, $25 for a half hour); the horses come up to the fence and love to be petted. The store in the office is small but has the basic amenities. Groceries can be purchased in Cortez, a 15-minute drive away. And, of course, Mesa Verde National Park is right across the road, less than 5 minutes to the visitor center. The only downside (besides the tightness of the spaces) is that dumpster was very full and near to overflowing.
Overall we enjoyed our stay here, and thought the location to the park and local area was perfect. Would recommend and definitely stay here again.
TravelerThe campground is set just a couple miles before Durango. They have a swimming pool, laundry facilities, a small dog park, and a very basic playground. They also have a little Caboose from which they serve simple breakfast items, and a little store with a couple of Essentials. Overall the staff was friendly and helpful and our experience was very positive. It was 55 bucks for a pull through site with hookups. We were not allowed to pitch a tent in the camper campsite.
Dispersed camping near Bayfield, Colorado offers access to San Juan National Forest and Vallecito Reservoir at an elevation of 6,900 feet. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F and winter lows frequently dropping below freezing. Camping options range from primitive sites with no facilities to developed campgrounds with electrical hookups, most open from May through October.
Hiking the Colorado Trail: Junction Creek Campground provides direct access to one of Colorado's premier hiking experiences. "We got to our spot a little before sunset but noticed that most spots were filled (late july, midweek) so keep that in mind," notes Heather M., who camped at Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping. For more serious hikers, Vallecito Campground connects to longer trails: "The trailhead for the Vallecito river trail is right there. It's a beautiful hike through the Weminuche Wilderness area," explains Michael W.
Fishing Vallecito Reservoir: Pine Point Campground provides excellent lake access for anglers. "We kayak and this trip was the second of 3 consecutive two day stays in search of the perfect padding spot," reports Gail from Pine Point Campground, adding "The fishermen in boats were a hoot to watch, and it seemed they did very well." Sites at Graham Creek also accommodate fishing enthusiasts: "Nice campground. Vault toilets, water, picnic tables, fire rings. Great if you want to camp and then fish the lake," shares Mike H.
Riding the Durango-Silverton Train: United Campground offers a unique train-watching experience. "Not only does the train bisect the RV and Tent camping areas so you can watch it go by, but the city free trolley stop is right at the entrance and will take you to within a block and a half of the station downtown," explains Brian O. from United Campground of Durango. The historic narrow gauge railroad runs multiple daily trips during summer months.
Privacy and space: Junction Creek's layout earns praise for its natural seclusion. "Sites are nicely spread out so you feel like you have privacy and space. It's extremely quiet and we enjoyed the sound of crickets and campfires at night," shares a camper from Junction Creek Campground. Another adds, "Sites are huge. The views are spectacular. Electric at some sites, double sites available also."
Water recreation: Graham Creek Campground provides lake activities beyond simply hiking. "Great campground with good lake access. While a bit dusty, this campground is well maintained, nicely laid out, and has nice access to the lake," notes Chris E. from Graham Creek Campground. Visitors often recommend bringing watercraft: "I suggest bringing a canoe/kayak to take out on the lake!"
Clean facilities: Despite being primitive, most campgrounds maintain clean bathrooms. "The bathrooms and showers are very clean. There were lots of dogs, but everyone kept them quiet," notes Ronald from Alpen Rose RV Park. At Pine Point, one camper was particularly impressed: "Pine Point Campground is a lovely place to stay. The price is good, the hosts are just soo friendly and helpful. The site was even swept clean of pine needles as the toilets are very fresh."
Seasonal closures: Many sites close during winter months. "The gate was closed from Dec 1- April 30. Looked like it would have been a nice spot," reports Hannah P. about Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping. Vallecito Campground typically operates from May to September, while Junction Creek runs May 11 to September 23.
Wildlife encounters: Be prepared for animal visitors at dog friendly campgrounds near Bayfield. "Some raccoons did attempt to steal our car... or they were after the marshmallows in the backseat," jokes Mike H. from Graham Creek. At Vallecito Campground, campers report: "Deer would cross our campsite every night at dusk."
Bug preparedness: Mosquitoes can be numerous, especially near water. "The only thing that was no fun and could not be controlled was the mosquitoes. Holy cow, they were everywhere. Bring a lot of spray or bug zapper," advises Sarah G. from Vallecito Campground. Several reviewers mention similar experiences during summer months.
Kid-friendly amenities: Oasis RV Resort (formerly KOA) offers activities specifically for children. "They had an ice cream station, outdoor movie watching area, pool, playground and other things. You can order breakfast and go to the trailer where it's cooked," explains Andy O. The campground is consistently rated as family-friendly despite highway proximity.
Consider water temperature: Vallecito Reservoir provides cooling recreation but can be surprisingly cold. "It's super cold and great for cooling off in close to shore, but we really loved taking our paddle boards out. The water was calm and so clear," notes Nathan R. from Pine Point Campground.
Trail accessibility: Many trails near pet-friendly sites accommodate different skill levels. "There is what looks like a maintenance area behind the campground so there was traffic back and forth most of the day that kicked up some dust," notes Steve W. about La Plata County Fairgrounds, adding "The Animas River trail is within walking distance."
Hookup availability: Electric access varies significantly between sites. "Going east from Durango, you make a right turn on silver hills road. You will see the blm sign. Gravel road, fire pits. We stayed in a camper van at one of the first spots and had 5g internet with AT&T," reports Kaltra B. about Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping.
Road conditions: Access roads to several dog friendly campgrounds near Bayfield require caution. "Lots of washboarding on the road up but it's fine if you just coast over the bad areas and go slow. Our site was level, clean, and very spacious!" shares Heather W. about Junction Creek. Another camper advises: "This is an RV friendly campground. So if you have a traditional tent, I would recommend the sites near the camp host."
Seasonal water levels: Reservoir conditions fluctuate dramatically through the season. "The lake was at 67% capacity and was not expected to exceed that this 2021 season. There was no snow on the surrounding peaks which should still have had observable snow pack on them in early June," notes a camper from Pine Point, adding "While water was accessible it was a good hike with a 48lb kayak and most of it was very rocky."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Bayfield, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Bayfield, CO is Bayfield/Durango Dispersed Camping with a 4.3-star rating from 17 reviews.
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