Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Maybell, CO

Maybell Park welcomes campers with pets without charging additional pet fees. This established campground provides electric and non-electric sites in a town square layout just off Highway 40, offering a convenient stopover when exploring northwest Colorado with dogs. Campers have access to clean restrooms, showers, and drinking water, with both tent and RV sites available. Sand Wash Basin, a free dispersed camping area near Maybell, also permits pets throughout its spacious terrain where wild horses roam freely. The basin features primitive conditions with no facilities but offers excellent opportunities for off-leash dog exercise in open spaces. Most sites across the region provide picnic tables, though individual fire pits are limited. Sites at Maybell Park fill quickly during hunting season when the small town's population nearly triples.

Dog owners visiting Juniper Canyon and Maybell Bridge campgrounds along the Yampa River can access water for pets to cool off during summer months. Both locations permit leashed dogs and provide river access for swimming and wading. The nearby Sand Wash Basin BLM area offers extensive trails for hiking with dogs, though owners should watch for wildlife and carry sufficient water as there are no services available. Vehicles accessing Angora Hills dispersed camping require high clearance and 4WD capability, particularly after rain when clay roads become impassable. Trail and Hitch Tiny Home Hotel and RV Park provides more amenities for pets including water hookups and trash service. Morning hours at public facilities can become busy with travelers stopping to use restrooms, which may affect dogs sensitive to high traffic or noise.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Maybell, Colorado (31)

    1. Maybell Park

    4 Reviews
    Maybell, CO
    0 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 623-0336

    $15 - $20 / night

    "We used the dump station, $5 and took our dogs on a walk. The park was quite and only had 5 campers in it at the time. We are planning to come back and stay to explore this area of the state."

    "This is a pet friendly campground around a square park right on 40. They have electric and non electric sites, but the majority were electric (and cost more)."

    2. Juniper Canyon

    2 Reviews
    Maybell, CO
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 276-2061

    $14 / night

    "The night view of the sky is amazing... access to the river for fishing was both incredible and makes this an amazing off the beaten path campground. There’s a boat launch here for rafts."

    3. Maybell Bridge Primitive Campground — Yampa River

    1 Review
    Maybell, CO
    3 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 276-2061

    "Located right off US 40, access is easy and most sized rigs will fit.  While right off the highway, US 49 is very quiet at night with almost zero traffic. "

    4. Sand Wash Basin

    5 Reviews
    Maybell, CO
    16 miles
    Website

    "This area is located directly in the middle of the Wild Horse area of Northwest Colorado. This seems to be the place to ride dirt bikes or do some mountain biking. "

    "Tons of trails! Bring your camera because you just may be able to see some of the 700 wild horses roaming the area! Beautiful moment and capture if you do! "

    5. BLM CO 1597 - Dispersed

    1 Review
    Craig, CO
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 826-5000

    "it was the perfect stop for the night and in the morning we were passed by people on atvs heading down to the lake!!"

    6. Deerlodge Park Campground — Dinosaur National Monument

    3 Reviews
    Maybell, CO
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (435) 781-7700

    $12 - $14 / night

    "Plus, the camp site is basically only walk-in and mostly designated for tents. With a RV, you will park at some sort of parking lot, close to the actual sites but not really there."

    "The river was very dry and you could walk across it. No signs of wildlife except for birds and rabbits. Did find an Elk skull so that was pretty cool."

    7. Yampa River Headquarters Campground — Yampa River State Park

    18 Reviews
    Hayden, CO
    41 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 276-2061

    $28 - $36 / night

    "Additional $10 entrance fee for non Colorado residents."

    "We were close to the boat ramp so it was an easy walk down to the river. We drove out to Steamboat Springs one of the days and had a lot of fun on the river trail."

    8. Trail and Hitch Tiny Home Hotel and RV Park

    6 Reviews
    Meeker, CO
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 235-1104

    "Meeker is one of my favorite towns in Colorado. Everyone is too nice there! Stayed for two weeks and will be back again. Laundry onsite, bathrooms and showers were cleaned daily."

    9. Angora Hills Dispersed Site

    3 Reviews
    Rangely, CO
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 878-3800

    "At the first place the road splits, I turned left and found a perfect circle to turn around and park. It was flat but no shade and my Verizon had no service."

    10. Craig KOA

    2 Reviews
    Craig, CO
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (970) 824-5105

    "The location was great for us. Everything was clean. Our site was next to railroad track but I never saw a train. The owners were very friendly and kind."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Maybell, CO

135 Reviews of 31 Maybell Campgrounds


  • Kelsey U.
    Aug. 6, 2024

    Freeman Reservoir Campground

    A Secret Gem!!

    We hit this place coming from the northern Colorado border with Wyoming on a Sunday night. I've grown up and camped in Colorado my whole life, this place was 10/10, and one of my favorite spots ever! With hiking, biking, and fishing, you could spend some time here!

  • Kim R.
    Aug. 14, 2023

    Maybell Park

    I’ll be back

    Nice Town park with 53 sites according to the website. We came through on our way to Brown’s park and Flaming gorge . We used the dump station, $5 and took our dogs on a walk. The park was quite and only had 5 campers in it at the time. We are planning to come back and stay to explore this area of the state. There is gas and a convenient store on the next block. Below is a quote from the website.

    During summer months, visitors come here to play on the Yampa and Green Rivers. They also enjoy Maybell as a gateway to Sandwash Basin, Irish Canyon, Browns Park, and Dinosaur National Monument. During the hunting season, our normal population of 75 nearly triples, when Maybell becomes home away from home to hunters. Spots are now reservable on camplife.com.

  • Laurie
    Jul. 15, 2021

    Loudy-Simpson County Park

    Pleasant surprise on the Yampa

    I’m not quite sure what the story is with this park. There are about six primitive sites plus one wheelchair accessible site down at the boat launch area of this expansive county park. There is no signage at all to indicate if the sites are day use or overnight stays allowed? We figured it doesn’t explicitly state ‘no camping’ so we spent a peaceful Wednesday night here and had no company until locals showed up in the morning to use the dog park located right in the area (which is also a wonderful trail along the Yampa). The sunrise over the Yampa was spectacular and we saw many species of birds and several deer crossing the River. All and all this site exceeded our expectations. Do note that there are sparkling clean bathrooms in the playground area of the park, but that area is a good 500 yards away. No restrooms at all at the actual campsite.

  • Hayley K.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 18, 2021

    Sand Wash Basin

    Be on the Lookout for Wild Horses

    This area is located directly in the middle of the Wild Horse area of Northwest Colorado. This seems to be the place to ride dirt bikes or do some mountain biking. 

    This is easy to find location since there is a large sign right off the road and there is TONS of space for camping. 

    We stayed here one night on the way to Idaho and it was a great stopover spot for the night but due to ATV's and lots of people coming through, it's not a quiet long term camp spot. 

    Co Rd 67, Maybell, CO 81640

  • gothinavan A.
    Aug. 4, 2024

    Maybell Park

    Good place to park, more expensive than advertised.

    This is a pet friendly campground around a square park right on 40. They have electric and non electric sites, but the majority were electric (and cost more). This was advertised $15 - $20 but the prices online were $38.50 for an electric site for one night (granted, it was a Saturday in August). There were not pet fees. There were lots of spaces available when we visited.

    There is no office here, you pay for your rental online or on an iPad in the kiosk (if working). There is WiFi at the kiosk, but it does not reach many of the campsites well.

    Sites are close together but level. Felt safe and it was quiet at night save for occasional passing cars. No fire pits or individual picnic tables, but there is a shared covered picnic area.

    Clean bathrooms. Showers were more of a 2.5/5. Not super clean and water smelled rusty. Water from sink was fine though.

    Morning became very busy with travelers stopping to use the public restrooms, which may help you decide where to park.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 4, 2019

    Sand Wash Basin

    Sand Wash Basin BLM

    -BLM management camping

    -Free

    -Awesome place to camp! 

    -Bring your dirt bikes and ATV’s! Perfect spot for riding. Tons of trails!

    -Bring your camera because you just may be able to see some of the 700 wild horses roaming the area! Beautiful moment and capture if you do! 

    -This campground spot fills up quick on weekends due to the riders but still is pretty remote and the riders don’t bother you. 

    -Lots of hiking around.

    -Beautiful scenery!

    -Maybell,CO is the closest town to get anything so be sure to bring all your survival necessities( plenty of water, food, gas if you’ll be riding atv’s or dirt bikes, etc..)

    -4wd recommended, especially if you go further down through the valley, gets pretty rough and big broken sharp rocks on the road. 

    -There are no bathrooms

  • Jeni N.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 6, 2021

    Irish Canyon Campground

    Pretty view, very isolated

    We camped here for 3 days at the beginning of July. There are about 6 or so designated campsites with tables and fire pits (which we didn’t utilize because of the fire ban). Good amount of shade and pretty windy at time, which was well appreciated because it was 90 and sunny all three days. There is plenty to explore at the campsite and plenty of opportunities to post up a hammock. Bring plenty of water and fill up your gas tank, the closest gas station is in Maybell.

  • C. R.
    Jul. 6, 2018

    Gates Of Lodore Campground — Dinosaur National Monument

    Rafters Put-In Camp on Green River for Gates of Lodore Float

    This campground is a typical rafter's camp, very distant and out of the way. Make sure you have enough gas for the return trip or shuttle. The nearest gas is in Maybell, but the service station is closed in the evening.There is water, pit toilets, bear lockers, and picnic tables. There are a few big cottonwood trees, but otherwise little shade. Very much a high desert camp. There is also a ranger station there and rangers check rafters for safety equipment and permits prior to departure. Permits are hard to get for the float down the Green River, so apply early. There is a great view down the river to the Gates of Lodore. When we were there on June 28, it was extremely buggy in the evening with both mosquitoes and biting flies, so beware and bring some DEET.

  • P
    Jul. 7, 2020

    Irish Canyon Campground

    A great off the beaten path free campground

    This is a really neat camp for those looking to get away from the normal summer Colorado crowds. It’s in a gorgeous limestone canyon. I think there are 7 sites in juniper trees under hundred foot limestone walls. No cell service for me (ATT) but very quiet and peaceful. Please leave it cleaner than you found it. On this visit it was very clean and this was right after 4th of July weekend. This is a great soot to break up the drive from central Colorado to The Tetons.


Guide to Maybell

Dispersed camping near Maybell provides access to northwestern Colorado's high desert terrain at elevations between 5,500-7,000 feet. The area experiences hot, dry summers with daytime temperatures reaching the 90s and cool evenings dropping into the 40s. Camping options range from established sites with facilities to remote BLM land where water isn't available and cell service is unreliable.

What to do

Wildlife viewing: Observe wild horses in Sand Wash Basin, where approximately 700 wild horses roam freely across the landscape. "Bring your camera because you just may be able to see some of the 700 wild horses roaming the area! Beautiful moment and capture if you do!" writes camper Canada0718! F. Most visitors spot horses within 20-30 minutes after entering the area.

River activities: Wade the Yampa River during summer when water levels are lower. The Juniper Canyon site offers excellent river access. "The river is shallow and wide and warm enough to swim in," notes Derek S., who visited in late August. "The bank is probably too steep for putting in boats on trailers," but there's a boat launch for rafts.

Stargazing: View dark skies away from light pollution. The remoteness creates exceptional night sky viewing conditions, particularly during new moon phases. "The night view of the sky is amazing," according to Derek S. at Juniper Canyon, while Casey H. at Sand Wash Basin enjoyed seeing "consistent meteors" during clear nights with a new moon.

What campers like

Solitude: Camp away from crowds at Deerlodge Park Campground in Dinosaur National Monument. "This campground is one of the best spots that I ever spent a night at. The scenery is breathtaking, it is very remote and absolutely silent. There is literally no noise whatsoever," writes Marcus K., who camped there in October.

Spacious sites: Enjoy ample room between camping spots at most area campgrounds. "Sites have plenty of room between them," notes Angela M. about Yampa River Headquarters Campground. Similarly, at Maybell Park, gothinavan A. noted, "Sites are close together but level. Felt safe and it was quiet at night save for occasional passing cars."

Convenience: Easy stopover location when traveling through northwest Colorado. Maybell Park serves as "a great small town overnight stop. It is on the side of the road in the last town before you hit no mans land heading west," according to Hayley K.

What you should know

Access challenges: High-clearance vehicles required for many dispersed sites. At Angora Hills, Lynn warns, "I put truck in 4WD and went up the dirt road slowly." Another camper cautions, "Warning: access road is CLAY dirt and do not access if wet saturated, you will get stuck maybe."

Weather preparedness: Wind can be severe at higher elevations, particularly in Sand Wash Basin. Casey H. reports, "The only downfall was it was super duper windy at night to the point where it was tough to sleep even with my heavy canvas tent walls."

Limited amenities: Bring all supplies when heading to remote areas. Canada0718! F. advises, "Maybell, CO is the closest town to get anything so be sure to bring all your survival necessities (plenty of water, food, gas if you'll be riding ATVs or dirt bikes, etc.)"

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Look for sites with play areas for children. Yampa River Headquarters Campground features a playground according to several reviewers, making it suitable for families with young children.

River safety: Monitor children near water as river conditions change seasonally. Talia J. notes the Yampa River Headquarters Campground has "a barbed wire fence between you and the Yampa River," which can help keep small children away from water hazards.

Timing considerations: Avoid hunting season for quieter family experiences. As Kim R. observed at Maybell Park, "During the hunting season, our normal population of 75 nearly triples, when Maybell becomes home away from home to hunters."

Tips from RVers

Site selection: Choose elevated spots in areas prone to flooding. "Less expensive spots are not level so I chose the more expensive option," notes Evan S. about Trail and Hitch Tiny Home Hotel and RV Park.

Power options: Electric hookups limited to certain campgrounds. Doug W. points out that Maybell Bridge is "dry camping and cost was $15 when we stayed," while Maybell Park offers electric sites for higher fees. Buz S. clarifies that at Maybell Park, "Water is available as is a dump station but power only at the site."

Morning routines: Plan for busy bathroom times at public facilities. "Morning became very busy with travelers stopping to use the public restrooms," warns gothinavan A. about Maybell Park, which "may help you decide where to park" if you're sensitive to noise or traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Maybell, CO?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Maybell, CO is Maybell Park with a 3.5-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Maybell, CO?

TheDyrt.com has all 31 dog-friendly camping locations near Maybell, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.