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Pawnee Buttes Dispersed Camping accommodates pets throughout multiple dispersed sites in the Pawnee National Grasslands, with no additional pet fees or breed restrictions. The area features established campsites with fire rings and access to vault toilets at the trailhead. Both tent and RV camping options are available with pets, though the dirt roads leading to campsites have occasional deep ruts that may challenge larger RVs over 25 feet. Campers regularly report cows wandering near their sites, so dogs should be kept under control. Several dog-friendly campsites offer panoramic views overlooking the buttes, particularly those situated along the ridge about a quarter mile past the main parking lot.
The hiking trail to the Pawnee Buttes remains accessible year-round with dogs, though portions close between May 1 and June 30 to protect nesting birds. Vault toilets at the trailhead provide basic facilities, but no drinking water is available—campers must bring all supplies including water for pets. The grasslands environment offers minimal shade and can experience intense winds, making proper pet hydration and shelter essential considerations. Most campsites provide adequate space and privacy from neighboring campers. Temperatures fluctuate dramatically between day and night, especially during winter months when nighttime temperatures can drop to single digits. Cell service varies throughout the area, with most spots receiving adequate Verizon coverage for emergency communication.
"an incredible place, traveling cross country so just me, 2 cats and a small tent. very windy, lots of cows. i was lucky enough to have a pop up thunderstorm with rain. loved it 10/10"
"Stopped on my way east through NE Colorado for the night and watched the sun set over the buttes. Absolutely lovely. Can see the windmills in the distance but I don’t mind that."
"When you think Colorado you think endless mountains, but a good chunk of CO is prairie and grasslands."
"Shaded spots next to a wildlife walk. Tons of birds! Campsites were clean, nice big fire pit and bbq. Lots of room to spread out. Large picnic area if you have a lot of people. Clean bathrooms."
from $17 - $339 / night
Check Availability"The surroundings are characterized by lush grasslands, and the camping spots situated atop hills provide stunning views."
"Between the serenity, lack of bears, ease of access to water activities at the local State Park. This has been my favorite find so far!"
"Good cooking grill, good fire pit, not a lot of extra wood laying around. Spacious campground"
"Each camp spot in Pelican has an entrance to lake although a rocky step before water. There is a small beach at the end to put your kayaks, rafts, boards in."
"Had a spot by the lake and enjoyed the view for sure! There was plenty of areas to walk my dogs and the area was well kept."
from $28 - $540 / night
Check Availability"All facilities are free but they have a Dropbox at the entrance humbly requesting a $5-$10 donation to help the park maintain the facilities, which is very reasonable."
"Was able to find a spot in the dark and get set up away from people and close to the lake. Camping was peaceful but the best part was the pictures I got of the lake and the night sky."
"The only reason I took off a star was because the location is right next to the freeway so you get a lot of noise from it and literally no landscape whatsoever the sites were nice and flat and everything"
"Close to each other. We were here five days, only full 2 nights and very high turn over. Staff is nice and so have been the campers."
"Gravel lot, some road noise but never heard any at night, facilities were awesome, heated, lots of hot water plenty of stalls, close to TA truck stop to eat or get food etc"
"Mike, the host, came by as we were about to turn around and leave. He said someone had left early so we could have the site. Thankful. The sites are pull thru, fhu, gravel and level."
"Pet friendly with a small off leash dog run. Pretty quiet. Even though it was almost full. They also have a BBQ restaurant that smelled amazing. Wish we had time to eat!"
"Even have a fitness center. 2 dog runs and 2 dump stations also. BarBQ restaurant, theyll deliver to your site. If they're busy then you'll be right on top of each other, spaces are maybe 12' apart."
from $27 - $62 / night
Check Availability"Our site had a nice little grass area for our dog to play in. Laundry room was nice. Bathrooms were nice. Beware of sand spurs in the roadway. And the TRAINS…. All day and night."
"Close to Interstate, level gravelly lots. No picnic tables or fire rings, or cable but does have wifi. Nice long pull through. Will stay again!"
GuideThe positive comment, the staff is friendly. Someone helped back our RV into our spot, but they have to because the spots are soooo tiny and wedged between residential motor homes. The place looks more like a junk yard or an RV used sales lot, which it is! The dog park is the size of a postage stamp, but at least they have one. We needed a place to stay and it sufficed, but this is not an RV “park” in any sense of the word.
GuideI gave 4 stars because the campground was really clean and the staff was extremely friendly. The laundromat was nice and wouldn’t worry about the washers and dryers being clean. The only reason I took off a star was because the location is right next to the freeway so you get a lot of noise from it and literally no landscape whatsoever the sites were nice and flat and everything is gravel. There was a dog park and the WiFi was not bad. We have Verizon not sure about other carriers. It was packed full of overnighters. Completely cleared out the following morning. I would stay again if we are ever in the area but wouldn’t stay for any amount of time.
TravelerWe stayed for one quick night. The hosts were gracious. We had to make our reservation same day because of some delays. They were very accommodating and didn’t gouge us! Everything was clean and in working order. Very organized. Full hook ups on almost every site. Decent WIFI, even cable hook ups. Pet friendly with a small off leash dog run. Pretty quiet. Even though it was almost full. They also have a BBQ restaurant that smelled amazing. Wish we had time to eat! FYI- Google tries to take you in the exit. So go in where the BBQ sign is! We will come back!
GuideI highly recommend looking at the website. Lots to do here. Pet friendly. Laundry room, showers, market available. A steakhouse right next door. Definitely would stick to chain restaurants if you’re wanting a steak though. Or any food for that matter. It’s definitely gorgeous here.
ScoutWe pulled in during “Frontier Days”. The Dead Heads were playing a concert so it was WILD. The rv spots are pretty close together, but the day after the concert (Tuesday) it cleaned up FAST. There was basically no one here after.
You can pet bison, which is worth it. The rest of the prices are geared towards kids. Sorta run down for the prices you pay.
Definitely a ONE night stay sort of place.
More KOA than Dude Ranch.
Spot 66 was a straight mud pit.
Would recommend a “deluxe” spot.
Traveleran incredible place, traveling cross country so just me, 2 cats and a small tent. very windy, lots of cows. i was lucky enough to have a pop up thunderstorm with rain. loved it 10/10
TravelerWe stayed on a Sunday night in April and we were able to get a campsite with no neighbors as far as the eye can see. There are long-drop bathrooms dispersed throughout the park that are pretty clean and have TP. The roads are gravel but in good shape and we had no trouble pulling our small travel trailer through the park. All facilities are free but they have a Dropbox at the entrance humbly requesting a $5-$10 donation to help the park maintain the facilities, which is very reasonable.
The only reason it received 4 stars is that there are multiple train tracks across the road and we were woken up 3 times between 11:00 and 6:00 by train horns blaring a bunch. Not just a regular “toot toot” but a “blaaaarn! Look out! Blaaaaaaaaaaaaarn” as if there were a deaf cat on the tracks 4 miles away. It didn’t overall ruin the night or anything but it sure does throw you off when you’re in happy dreamland then all of a sudden a hyper-aggressive freight train is chasing you through the dream.
I’ll reiterate that it was a great campsite and our dogs loved the freedom to run around our site off leash and we would stop here again for sure.
GuideLoved this spot! Stopped on my way east through NE Colorado for the night and watched the sun set over the buttes. Absolutely lovely. Can see the windmills in the distance but I don’t mind that. Found a spot tucked in right off the road. Easy camping and a lovely spot for a night or two.
GuideWe stayed in Pelican camp grounds (#86). Easy pull-through, clean spot, large metal picnic table with large fire pit and grate. Each camp spot in Pelican has an entrance to lake although a rocky step before water. There is a small beach at the end to put your kayaks, rafts, boards in. You have to walk through that camping spot but that’s the pros/cons of that last space. You are allowed to enter water anywhere.
Dogs are allowed anywhere as long as on leash, including beaches.
Never went to the main beach. The marina was stocked with a variety of things but not a lot of quantity. Plenty of wood and ice. Friendly staff. Fires allowed!
Biggest complaint- SOOOO MANY GNATS!!!! I mean more than we have ever seen anywhere. The gnats issue almost made this a 3-star review.
Pawnee National Grasslands offers extensive dispersed camping opportunities near Grover, Colorado at an elevation of 5,000 feet. The area experiences temperature extremes with summer days often exceeding 90°F and winter nights dropping below freezing. Wind is a constant factor across these grasslands, which can complicate tent camping but helps minimize mosquitoes during warmer months.
Stargazing sessions: The open grasslands provide exceptional dark sky viewing, particularly at the ridge campsites. "Perfect spot to catch sunrise and sunset. This area is also a 'dark site,' so on clear, moonless nights the stars / Milky Way are phenomenal," notes a camper at Pawnee Buttes - Dispersed Camping.
Birding tours: Crow Valley serves as the starting point for the Pawnee birding driving tour. "This is the beginning and end of the Pawnee birding driving tour and less than an hour from the Buttes themselves," shares a visitor to Crow Valley Campground. Another camper adds, "Spent the night overlooking the Buttes and had a summer storm roll in. Didn't get to hike out to The Buttes because the trail was closed to protect bird nests."
Water recreation: For those wanting a break from the dry grasslands, nearby reservoir options exist. "Made the trip in May and overall had a nice time. Had a spot by the lake and enjoyed the view for sure! There was plenty of areas to walk my dogs," reports a visitor to Jackson Lake State Park.
Weather diversity: Grassland weather creates memorable camping experiences. "We had a great swim, dinner and s'mores, and great sleep. The trains were frequent and kept some awake," notes a visitor to Oliver Reservoir. At Pawnee Butte View, another camper shared, "Epic overnight. The roads coming in are well maintained due to all of the oil rigs that are coming in and out."
Solitude opportunities: Many campers appreciate the open space and quiet. "It's a bit of a drive out here over some iffy gravel and dirt roads... very peaceful and quiet. Have heard the sky watching is great, but so far have had clouds and storms," reports a camper at Pawnee Butte View.
Wildlife encounters: The grasslands host diverse wildlife beyond the cattle mentioned in the existing description. "Cows in the distance and saw pronghorns on the way in," notes one camper. Another visitor to the area mentions, "The grasslands environment offers an amazing place, traveling cross country so just me, 2 cats and a small tent. Very windy, lots of cows. I was lucky enough to have a pop up thunderstorm with rain."
Road conditions: Access routes vary significantly in quality. "You have to drive for several miles on some bumpy roads, but my Ford transit handled it fine," notes a camper at Pawnee Buttes. Another visitor to Pawnee Butte View mentions, "The roads coming in are well maintained due to all of the oil rigs that are coming in and out."
Seasonal considerations: The area's camping conditions change dramatically with seasons. "Chilly at night (10 degrees) but no wind," reports a winter visitor to Oliver Reservoir State Recreation Area. During summer, "Wasn't very cold or super windy when we visited in July," notes another camper.
Limited facilities: Most dispersed sites offer minimal amenities. "No facilities here, only have seen the one outhouse here by the parking lot to the trails. Long way to anything including gas, so fill up and bring your own water," advises a camper at Pawnee Butte View.
Night activities: The clear nights make for memorable family activities. "Flat spots, great views, felt safe, nice and quiet. Great place to star gaze on clear nights. Bugs not bad," reports a camper at Pawnee Buttes.
Educational opportunities: The grasslands offer unique learning experiences. "The campground is very quiet and clean. There is great bird watching in this area. The Pawnee Buttes Trail is close and a wonderful hike in the cooler months or early morning," notes a visitor to Crow Valley.
Activity planning: The limited shade requires careful planning for family outings. "A few little pull offs with fire rings - very pretty scenery and nice sunsets / stargazing. No trees obviously because of the grassland, so no shade or wind protection," shares a visitor to Pawnee Buttes.
Site selection: RVers should select sites based on rig size and weather protection. "We camped on the bluff overlooking the trailhead parking lot, approached from the south. Chilly at night (10 degrees) but no wind," notes an RV camper with a rooftop tent at Pawnee Buttes.
Wind considerations: The persistent wind affects larger vehicles. "It's a great spot off of i80. You can stay up to two weeks and it's free, though you should donate," shares an RVer at Oliver Reservoir. Another camper at a dog friendly campground near Grover mentions, "Really beautiful but verrrry windy. My van rocked me to sleep every night."
Seasonal timing: For dog friendly campgrounds near Grover and surrounding areas, timing matters. "We came at the tail end of January to test out our new Airstream. It was very nice and secluded but REALLY windy. Not drop dead gorgeous but a great scene to stay at for a day or two. Wind was fine in the trailer but would be awful to tent camp this time of year," advises an RV camper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Grover, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Grover, CO is Pawnee Buttes - Dispersed Camping with a 4.5-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Grover, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 dog-friendly camping locations near Grover, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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