Kebler Corner's pet-friendly campsites accommodate tent, RV, and cabin camping along the river near Paonia. The campground features drinking water, electric hookups, and trash facilities for campers with dogs. Black Canyon Dispersed Camping offers free primitive camping on BLM land where pets are welcome year-round, though without amenities like drinking water or toilets. Crawford State Park's Iron Creek Campground provides pet-friendly sites with electric hookups, picnic tables, and showers. Most campgrounds in the area require dogs to remain leashed at all times, with some sites offering designated pet waste stations. The campground at Big B's Delicious Orchards allows pets at their tent, RV, cabin, and glamping sites with access to drinking water and shower facilities.
Several campgrounds near Paonia offer river access where dogs can cool off during summer months. The Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area permits pets at dispersed river sites with picnic tables and vault toilets, though owners should pack out waste as trash service isn't provided. Trails around Paonia State Park welcome leashed dogs, though the reservoir water levels fluctuate seasonally. When camping with pets in this region, owners should be aware of wildlife including bears and cattle that may wander through campsites. The large off-leash dog park at Riverbend RV Park includes obstacle course activities to encourage pet interaction. Campers report that most sites have sufficient space between them for dogs to relax without disturbing neighbors, though mosquitoes can be problematic near water during summer months.
$20 - $34 / night
"We had deer around our campsite (we had to have our dog on a leash because at that time of year the deer have babies and get fiesty."
"I'd like to correct a couple of misconceptions that might be coming from faulty info here or in other listings outside the recreation.gov system."
"Didn’t say pet friendly on the reviews but my dog and I found a nice little secluded campsite off to the right and down a less jagged road. Be careful."
"Great location right next to the park! There are plenty of sites and the views are beautiful. Entrance was slightly rutted so make sure you can off-road just a bit!"
$36 / night
"Great view of the lake but the lake level was down so we weren't as close as you could be but still a great lake & mountain view. I have Verizon I had 2 to 3 bars & could stream Pandora."
"Many vineyards close by. Joe Cocker (rock singer) had a ranch nearby."
$25 - $170 / night
"Campsites are a small piece of grassy area next to a pond or on an outside loop. Portable toilets only. Traffic noise at night."
"Our only complaint was that it was quite hot (topped out near 100 degrees)."
$20 / night
"This campground is on NPS land, so there is a fee ($16 in season+ water/$8 off season no water) that can be paid at the nearby ranger's station on the honor system."
"Driving through Colorado in the fall there is nothing which can compare. "
$32 - $166 / night
"Every year, my family (+- 10 people) heads somewhere in Colorado to camp over Labor Day. This year we headed up to Marble, CO and stayed at the Bogan Flats campground."
"Lovely quite campground in the woods next to a river. We stayed on the side away from the river and I wish we had stayed on the river side, but it was still fantastic."
$35 - $725 / night
"It is quiet and peaceful next to the roaring of the river. Perfectly situated between Paonia (Big B’s cider) and Kebler pass leading to Crested Butte."
"We were hoping for a peaceful getaway for us and our dog and found it at Kebler. Yes, some of the spaces are close together but everyone there made it work well."
"Lost Lake Campground near Crested Butte, Colorado, is a hidden gem that combines serene alpine beauty with a peaceful camping experience."
"There are some reserve able sites near the lake, and some first come/first serve sites as well. Also dispersed camping on the way up to the campground."
"Hiking trails nearby. Multiple campgrounds along the road but the road is bumpy and one way so occasionally someone has to pull over to let others pass."
"It's one car width and has some drop offs next to it but people were driving RVs on the road. Managed it fine in a Honda HR-V. Might be tough if it's muddy."
$18 - $36 / night
"The campground is about 15 miles from the town of Paonia. We stayed three nights and only had one other camper in the campground. The ranch above us was moving cattle higher for the summer."
"We pulled in for the night after a long day of driving. The place was completely empty. Everything seems newly constructed. The pit toilet was spotless and empty. "
GuideRight on Anthracite Creek after it exits Dark Canyon but before it joins the N Fork of the Gunnison River, Erickson Springs is a very basic USFS campground. It is not far up the Kebler Pass road toward Crested Butte from Paonia Reservoir, and gets some dust from occasional traffic, though not to an excess. Very quiet otherwise, and is a good home base for exploring the area.
TravelerThe Gunnison KOA is in a beautiful setting with large trees that is about 75 yards from the river. The spaces are generously sized, although the camping sites could use power outlets. They are very kid and pet friendly; and have a dog park. There is a friendly donkey who roams the grounds, so make sure your 4 legged friends are okay around bigger animals. The bathrooms are clean and functional. The same could not be said for the dishwashing station that is outdoors. It is in horrible condition, including a dripping faucet. Also, be aware that you are very close to the river and there is a mosquito and moisture problem. Even with these minor problems, this is still a great place to stay.
RangerI cannot thank Leslie, Frederick and Tom for their support with my RVing needs! We ended up staying an extra night--such a lovely campground with special touches at every site. If we visit again, I would definitely request a back-in site along the river! Just walking along the river pathway was breathtaking! The dog park is huge and has fun obstacle course activities to encourage interactions with pets. Everything about this KOA is great! We took a day trip to the Iron Mountain Hot Springs (fun!) and to the Rifle River water falls (an easy little hike but WOW! Cool water falls and caves to explore!) Come visit this KOA! You won't be disappointed!
TravelerThis is the most beautiful RV Camp in Colorado. We come every year.
GuideCan’t say enough about this camp spot. Wow!! Pull throughs ... back ends available. Fabulous service from the owners. We planned on staying 2 nights but ended up staying a few more days. Dog park, showers, laundry faculties, full hookups, general store, art, great WiFi (we had Verizon) ... and some sites are backed up to the Colorado River. Just amazing .... very clean. Would highly recommend!
TravelerWe spend three days here between some disperse camping in the region and could not say enough good things. The staff were extremely friendly, this sites were clean, dog park great, river amazing, and location to Montrose perfect.
The laundry rooms was clean with new equipment.
The Wifi was five stars which is rare in most RV parks. Super fast speeds.
We will be back!
GuideDrove out with some friends from Kansas in early October this year and the views and weather was Amazing! Campsite has “fees” through an honor system so you no host to worry about you come and camp as you go here. Place has fire pits bathrooms! One of my favorite spots to camp in Colorado so far.
GuideThis was such a magically beautiful location. The aspens were amazing, the surrounding forest, flowing river and waterfalls, and sweeping mountain scapes were breathtaking. Why only two stars? Well, first off, our campsite seemed too perfect to still be open, and it was. Unbeknownst to us, we were the only place for miles that you can get cell service, so we had 20-30 “visitors” a day drive up to our little round about spot to get a phone call or text out. That’s more people I see a day than even my own neighborhood and far more than I want to see on my outdoor exhursion.
Ok, so we picked a bad spot.... but every place we hiked and drove was overrun with cattle. Within an hour of our arrival and set up, cows began to wander over, pooping all over the place. Cows were EVERYWHERE- all the way up to Silver Jack reservoir and further. That made the flies worse than normal. They were the only “wildlife” we saw in four days... 15-20 at a time... hundreds overall. In all of my years camping in Colorado, I’ve never experienced this. Every camper we encountered complained about it. I loved the views, but I’ll never be back to camp.
RangerLet’s just start with the only downside- this campground is not near Glenwood. It’s about 20-25 miles into Glenwood Springs from here. So just know that going into it and everything else is great.
Now onto the awesome campground itself. The people are really friendly and the spots are perfectly level.
Our spot was right on the river which is beautiful. The campground maintains nice grass in the area, fire pits and picnic tables. The park is an all encompassing RV resort. There is a splash pad, a bbq/ picnic area, a trail around the river, a nice store, a pool, a dog park and to top it off big grassy areas to play in. It’s a very nice park.
I would also recommend checking out Rifle Falls (video attached) and Rifle Gap State Park which are both nearby!
The Gunnison Valley near Paonia sits at elevations between 5,600 and 8,200 feet, creating varied camping experiences with temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night. Campers frequently encounter wildlife including deer, turkeys, and occasionally elk in this transitional zone between desert and alpine environments. Several camping areas offer river access with fishing opportunities across BLM land and established campgrounds.
Fly fishing access: At Lost Lake Campground, trout fishing opportunities abound throughout the season. "Great place beautiful scenery elk bugle in the mornings. Quiet not too many people out on memorial weekend," notes Misty D., who found good fishing at the lake even when the campground was closed.
Hiking to mountain views: The Three Lakes Loop trail accessible from Lost Lake offers moderate hiking with scenic payoffs. Jordan L. explains that the North Rim area features "beautiful hiking trail along the rim and interesting plant community of the high plateau. Be prepared for any type of weather. We had a wild thunder, lightning and wind storm with violent downdrafts—typical for this country."
Stargazing opportunities: The Black Canyon area offers exceptional dark skies for astronomy enthusiasts. "Absence of light pollution means awesome night skies!" writes Deborah D. about North Rim Campground. Pack red-light headlamps to preserve night vision while setting up equipment after sunset.
Riverside camping spots: Kebler Corner provides water-adjacent sites that campers consistently praise. Christina M. notes, "It is quiet and peaceful next to the roaring of the river. Perfectly situated between Paonia (Big B's cider) and Kebler pass leading to Crested Butte."
Easy national park access: The dispersed camping areas provide affordable alternatives to park campgrounds. According to Kat P., the Black Canyon Dispersed Camping area is "right off the main road, 1 mile from the entrance to the park. Could not have been more convenient."
Peaceful atmosphere: Even when sites fill up, most campgrounds maintain a relaxed environment. Jeane L. observed at Kebler Corner, "The community vibe was respectful and friendly and it was lovely to stroll about and enjoy it all. Families were out and about, playing with their children."
Water levels fluctuate significantly: Paonia State Park experiences dramatic reservoir changes throughout the season. Patricia B. reports, "The ranch above us was moving cattle higher for the summer. As we were leaving the campground, we realized several of the cows had walked through our campsite to drink from the reservoir."
Road conditions vary by season: Many dog-friendly campgrounds near Paonia require navigating unpaved roads. Brooks G. found at Black Canyon Dispersed Camping, "Several of the deeper paths aren't specifically marked and can be hard to find when camper vans and sprinter vans block the line of sight to them. Some paths are also very muddy and shouldn't be challenged unless you have AWD or 4WD."
Reserve ahead during fall colors: Bogan Flats becomes extremely popular during autumn. Nicci M. advises, "Reserve early during fall colors. Also try and get a creekside spot. Perfect location to visit Marble and Crystal Mill."
Cooling off options: At Crawford State Park, families enjoy water access during hot summer days. Carrie R. suggests preparation for sun exposure: "We used a sun shade with a tarp on one side that we would keep rotating during the day to create shade. The sun is unbearable here for a whole weekend without some shade!"
Kid-friendly recreation: Several campgrounds offer child-oriented activities beyond hiking. At Kebler Corner, Jeane L. found "a little playground and some activities in a covered space like velcro axe throwing and corn hole. There were soccer goals set up at one of the grassy areas too."
Loop biking for kids: Crawford State Park offers beginner-friendly cycling options. Carrie R. notes, "Great loops for biking with kids, very clean campsites and nice bathrooms, great trails for biking or walking between the camp loops, nice reservoir for water activities."
Site selection for larger rigs: At Bogan Flats Campground, RVers should carefully research site dimensions. Ashley R. mentions, "We stayed at site 34 and had booked for an RV and a trailer, apparently this is not allowed, even though recreation.gov let me book it with both equipment types listed."
Weather protection: Mountain campgrounds experience dramatic temperature changes and storms. Sky B. advises, "The Black Canyon is a supreme work of Creator's art you don't want to miss." But warns about unpredictable conditions where temperatures drop rapidly after sunset.
Hookup limitations: Many dog-friendly campgrounds near Paonia have partial hookups. Martine C. notes about Bogan Flats, "Each site offers a bear box, picnic table, and campfire rings. The vault toilets are kept clean. There is a faucet for drinking water and dishes. It's a fly fisherman's heaven."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Paonia, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Paonia, CO is South Rim Campground — Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park with a 4.6-star rating from 67 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Paonia, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 141 dog-friendly camping locations near Paonia, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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