Haviland Lake Campground permits pets across all camping areas, with sites spaced far enough apart to offer privacy even when the campground is at capacity. Located 15 miles north of Durango and 6 miles south of Durango Mountain Ski Resort on Highway 550, this National Forest campground features both primitive tent sites and electric hookup options for RVs. The campground surrounds a serene mountain lake where dogs can accompany owners along the shoreline on leash. Campsites include fire pits and picnic tables, with clean vault toilets throughout the property. Many campers appreciate the Lake Loop trail circling the water, which provides an ideal route for exercising dogs during the day. The Dyrt includes reviews of campgrounds near Cascade, Colorado.
Lime Creek Dispersed camping areas offer free options for camping with dogs where leash regulations are typically more relaxed than at developed sites. These dispersed camping locations require higher clearance vehicles to access, with the road becoming increasingly rough past the meadow areas. Dogs enjoy exploring the network of elk trails throughout the area, but owners should monitor pets closely due to wildlife presence. Both Old Lime Creek Road and Lime Creek Dispersed Sites provide access to streams where dogs can cool off during summer months. Campers note the area has beautiful wildflowers in July, making for scenic walks with pets. Winter camping with dogs remains possible at some locations, with Haviland Lake Campground reducing rates to $13 per night starting in mid-September when the campground enters winter operation mode with limited services.
$25 - $45 / night
"multiple bathrooms throughout the park to accommodate campers, showers ($5 for 4 minutes- not the greatest but hey its hot water) plus fire rings and bear safe trash bins. the lake is stocked with trout"
"I've spent quite a bit of time at various sites around this campground during annual vacations and using it as a base for geological field work nearby."
$32 - $98 / night
"I stayed at Haviland Lake near Durango, Colorado for three days, but could have stayed for a week or more!"
"The area was so peaceful and the Lake Loop trail was the perfect thing to wipe out our dogs for the day."
"Nice little campground on the Million Dollar Highway heading between Durango and Silverton, with the Colorado Trail passing right through the campground."
"Beautiful campsite with easy access to lots of fun trails, including the CO trail. Only a short drive from Silverton and an hour or so outside Durango"
"AVOID THE BOULDERS IN THE ROAD, will scratch car, do a diagonal dance up the path and you’ll be fine. I drive up in a sedan and almost made all the way to the lake."
"Beautiful views of surrounding mountains and Alta lakes as well as access to the ghost town of Alta."
"A beautiful location with river front sites, a pool, amazing pizza, ice cream, clean facilities, and kind staff. Wonderful stay, no complaints! My dogs enjoyed it too!"
"Outside of Durango, away from the road, all you hear is the river running by. The sites are all large and the grounds are immaculate. We stayed 5 nights and were very sad to leave."
"Flat grassy site, good distance away from the campground below. Had the place to ourselves"
"Dispersed camping, no amenities, but beautiful location. Little streams running nearby, wildlife viewing, the drive up the slope is beautiful as well"
"Was a really nice area with a ton of campsites off the dirt path or close to the river."
"Lots of fire rings scattered around the rocky area. This site can get very full and very loud as it is very popular and close to Silverton."
$32 - $45 / night
"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."
$20 / night
"Right next to Hermosa Creek trail. Such a beautiful place. The bathrooms are clean, the camp host is an awesome guy. Would definitely stay again."
"Access to camp ground is on a rock dirt road that goes from single to double lane off and on. I drove a 21foot bus with a 16x7 tandem axle trailer."
"Had a wonderful stay right next to the lake. Woke up to the sounds of birds. Sites include RV/van sites (2?) and at least six tent only sites. Each night only one other site was occupied."
"Pulled into this area late one evening on a fall camping trip across Colorado. Totally expected it to be full but there were a couple areas left to setup thankfully."
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.
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!
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.
LegendThe Cortex/Mesa Verde KOA in Cortez, Colorado, was the best campground we stayed at (out of 10) on our #9parks12days road trip in June 2016. Not only was the site itself updated, it was the FIRST KOA we stayed at that had usable Wi-Fi - as in video streaming capabilities! When traveling with kids, this is such a HUGE amenity.
This campground has an updated playground, heated (seasonal) swimming pool, a 1-mile walking trail, dog park, and even tepees in addition to cabins for overnight camping. Not to mention, the campground is located a mere 15 minutes from the entrance to Mesa Verde National Park. Other highlights: newer laundry facilities, of which we made use, and awesome mountain and mesa views right from your site.
Don't expect a ton of privacy - sites are very close together. The family next to ours had an outdoor living room set up that pretty much took the entire space between our RVs. However, the grounds were well-kept, and there was plenty of space to remove yourself from other people throughout the facility.
GuideI just parked in the car park for the night and I would stay the price is a bit much for just a parking spot with no amenities but the staff was amazing and the bathrooms were extremely clean and nice!! Also a very nice dog park!! The spot I was in was next to the entrance and had some road noise as well as bright light from the Park sign.
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.
GuideDon’t let the dilapidated mobile home near the entrance scare you away. This place is super well maintained. Every site is well thought out and has great hookups. I thought a plug water and sewer was pretty uniform. Our site had a pedestal with 20/30/50 amp and then another with 30 20 feet further into the site. Lots of shade. The sites along the south edge of the property have amazing views of the Cortez valley and Sleeping Ute Mountain. Really nice communal fire pit, dog park and some trails too. Some sites have a beautiful brick fire ring too.
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.
Situated in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, pet friendly camping near Cascade offers access to pristine mountain landscapes at elevations between 8,000-11,000 feet. Winter season at many campgrounds begins mid-September with reduced services and lower rates. Most dispersed camping areas remain accessible through October depending on snowfall patterns.
Trail access: Molas Lake Park & Campground connects directly to the Colorado Trail for day hiking with dogs. "There is easy access to major hiking trails right within the campground," notes Tyler M., who recommends preparing for the shorter summer season due to elevation.
Water recreation: Dogs can swim at Little Molas Lake Campground where the shallow waters are safe for supervised pets. "We could see tiny fish jumping in the lake but none swimming," shares Melissa K., who visited during monsoon season and enjoyed watching wildlife with her family.
Mountain biking: Several trails near Lower Hermosa Campground accommodate both hikers and mountain bikers. "From the area, several trails leave, so you can go for nice evening hikes. These trails are also mountain bike friendly!" states Leah W., who stayed for four nights.
Creek access: The sound of moving water creates a peaceful atmosphere at Kendall Camping Area. "We pulled in around 8:30 PM. There were many campers, big and small, as well as tents... Found a spot along the creek. Very quiet after sunset," describes Sarah L., who stayed two nights with her 33-foot fifth-wheel.
Wildlife viewing: Many campers report seeing diverse wildlife throughout the region's pet-friendly campgrounds. "We saw a lynx on the bank one morning!" shares Mandy K. about her stay at Little Molas Lake, though she noted road noise from passing trucks was a drawback.
Stargazing: Clear mountain nights offer exceptional stargazing opportunities. At Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area, "The stars were BEAUTIFUL! This is a great spot for stargazers too," explains Kelsey I., who found space even during Memorial Day weekend.
Road conditions: Access roads to many dispersed sites require appropriate vehicles. "The road up is a bit rough. We managed it barely in all wheel drive vehicles but did get stuck for a bit at one point when we had to stop for someone on their way down," warns Paul H. about Alta Lakes Campground.
Campground capacity: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. "We pulled in shortly after lunch on a Friday and it was already somewhat crowded but by bed time it was packed," notes Melissa K. about Priest Lake Dispersed Camping Area.
Altitude effects: Camping at elevations above 10,000 feet impacts equipment performance. "Elevation is about 10,300 and posed a problem for our generator that caused severe spark-plug fouling," reports RaD_Travels from Little Molas Lake, who solved the problem by "re-jetting the carburetor from a #61 to #58."
Weather preparation: Mountain weather changes rapidly even in summer. "It was raining when we got there and it started raining again at 11 the next day," reports Melissa K. about Priest Lake, suggesting families bring appropriate gear for sudden temperature shifts.
Kid-friendly fishing: Several lakes offer fishing opportunities suitable for children. "The kids enjoyed being able to fish with little supervision since the lake is really quite shallow and it's very close to the sites," notes Melissa K., who caught a "super small brook trout, very pretty and very feisty" with her family.
Site selection: For families with children, Vallecito Campground provides good spacing between campsites. "Our site was big and it was right by Vallecito Creek," explains Andy O., who visited with his 8-year-old and adds, "Bring some good bug spray because there were plenty of mosquitoes and flies."
Hookup options: Most campgrounds offer limited or no hookups, requiring self-containment. "We payed for a premium sight that backs right up to the river. ABSOLUTELY beautiful," reports Matt O. about Durango North-Riverside, noting it's "no longer a KOA but still is the best."
Site leveling: Many forest campgrounds have uneven parking areas. "The 'parking area' has some rocks and is a bit uneven. We have a 33ft 5th wheel camper. We had to go slow to not scrap our jacks," advises Sarah L. about Kendall Camping Area, adding her "camper was level, no blocks needed."
RV size limitations: Pay attention to maximum vehicle lengths. "Need to understand some sites are along the road and not good for a bigger rig with slide outs, but also have backin sites great for 40 ft Motorhome," notes LeCena M. about Haviland Lake Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Cascade, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Cascade, CO is Molas Lake Park & Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 32 reviews.
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