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Caddis Flats Campground's riverside location offers campers multiple pet-friendly sites with fire pits and picnic tables approximately 10 miles from Telluride. The small Bureau of Land Management campground provides 3-5 developed campsites and a larger parking area where camping is permitted, making it accessible for both tent campers and RV owners with pets. Dogs can explore the area along the San Miguel River while remaining supervised, particularly when water levels are low. Vault toilets are maintained on site, though no trash receptacles are available, requiring visitors to pack out all waste. The campground functions on a first-come, first-served basis with a 7-day stay limit and no reservation system. Highway noise can be noticeable at night according to multiple visitors, but the riverside location creates natural white noise.
Last Dollar Road dispersed camping areas accommodate pets with expansive mountain views and multiple fire rings at established sites. The access road from Telluride (Route 145) remains well-maintained for most vehicles, while the Route 62 approach requires high clearance and 4WD capabilities. Pet owners should be prepared for primitive conditions with no facilities, running water, or waste disposal. The area features excellent cellular coverage, with most sites reporting strong Verizon and AT&T signals for those needing to stay connected. Wind exposure affects many of the sites, particularly during fall months, requiring secure tent setups and proper pet monitoring. During peak seasons, the limited prime viewing spots fill quickly with both tent campers and RVs. The road becomes increasingly difficult past the main camping area, with several additional dispersed sites available for those with appropriate vehicles willing to navigate rougher terrain.
"Beautiful location. Drove in via Deep Creek Road. The road isn't terrible if you have high clearance and 4WD. 4 stars because some of the other campers lack some common decency and respect."
"We drove in from ouray side and took the long 40 min dirt road and I will say, the road was rough.. we made it just fine in my hyundai tuscan but I will say, I was sh*ting myself driving it!"
"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."
"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."
"The campground is bordered on one side by the San Juan River and by the park on the other side, making a tight but nice campground."
"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."
"Many walk in sites available. Not too many drive up sites. We chose one by the lake but had to walk back and forth to our truck to get things and set up camp. We stayed here two nights."
"Matterhorn Campground, located near Telluride and nestled in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, offers an excellent balance of comfort and outdoor adventure."
"We were happy to have hot showers as we were on day 4&5 of our camping across Colorado honeymoon and it had rained nights 1-4. There were two camp hosts both of the ladies were nice."
from $26 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Campground Review Caddis flats is located not too far from Placerville, and a short distance farther in the opposite direction from Norwood."
"Nice and spacious, river access, close to Placerville if you need something. Functional picnic tables and fire pits. Absolutely stunning views."
"Great sites, lovely staff, dog park, great BBQ, band at night ... really a top notch KOA."
"At the back of the campgrounds was Bachelors Stables, horse trail riding was offered which we highly recommend."
"the sites are full, or snag a hotel near 550 when we don't want to chance a night on a slope."
"Site was clean, easy to access and close to restroom. Great views all around and super close to Ouray and surrounding hiking trails."
from $28 / night
Check Availability"We had a great spot in the back, near the river so we could just walk from camp to fish. There was more highway noise than you’d expect, but that’s really the only con."
"One portable toilet near the entrance. Campground host is super friendly!! The campsites are a little close, so not a ton of privacy, but a beautiful river flows right through the campground."
from $14 - $18 / night
Check Availability"The site was big and a real short walk from the car. It was nice that the road didn't go next to the campsite like usual so it cut down on noise."
"We were in site 123 which didn't have a great view, but plenty of space around and behind us to stretch out. "
from $28 - $36 / night
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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!
LegendCampground Review
Caddis flats is located not too far from Placerville, and a short distance farther in the opposite direction from Norwood. It's along a scenic road that runs from Norwood out to Ridgeway with a turnoff at Placerville that heads out to Telluride. This is a small little campground that has 3 developed campsites with picnic tables and grills. One has a shelter of sorts as well. Two of the three sites are right out in the open, on their own little island of sorts between the road with in the campground. We didn't stay in one of these three developed sites though. We parked by the boat ramp and there was a small trail that led back to an area that had about 4 tent sleeping areas and two fire rings. Due to fire restrictions, the fire rings did not get used by us. It was very spacious and had great shade, along with the rumbling of the river, it was quite nice. We were able to mount our hammocks in the trees and sit comfortably, even if the site was without a picnic table. Our car was close enough that we didn't have to carry anything too far and we used most of our storage tubs as small tables. We cooked with our small camp stove and our jetboil and ate a lot of freeze dried meals from Mountain House Foods. We ended up sharing several meals so that everyone could have a little bit of everything.
The area was quiet and the stars were amazing. The pit toilets were very clean, well stocked with toilet paper and had little oder. There was a bit of traffic noise from the highway that runs through the area but it died down sometime after midnight. The river is right there in the campground and it is running pretty low right now, but still moving along quite nicely. The kids were able to play around with minimal risk while supervised. There was a note saying that the river had changed paths up a ways and impassable by a boat. You could hear the river babbling all night long.
We kept our food in our truck but a bear was sighted a few miles down the road so if you are camping without a vehicle, it may be a good idea to hang your food.
The kids enjoyed biking and it was a nice campground to relax at. There were some great spots for photography and if you are in to geocaching, there is a pretty cool one in this campground!
Product Review
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - today I am testing the INH640 Aero Light 2 (4 bike) made by Inno. This rack boasts a 4 bike capacity, has a foot peddle to drop the rack down for easy access to the back of your vehicle. It has mounts that attach on the top of the rack as well as on the frame coming down below the seat post. The box arrived with everything from locking pins, adjustments for the hitch size, tools, straps and keys for the lock that is included with the rack.
While it says it holds 4 bikes, I just don't see how it is possible. We had three adult bikes on the rack and struggled to get them situated. With some adjusting we did get them on and they definitely were secure. Our older boys' bike did not fit, the distance between the top of his frame and the bottom was too narrow. But even if it had fit, I'm not sure we would have gotten it on, just not enough room. The feature of the lower frame secure point ended up being a little troublesome. We have water bottle carriers on our bike and we had to pull the bike on and off to make sure it situated correctly as we couldn't adjust with the bike on the rack already. It is insanely secure though, seems to be gentle on the bike frames. Once you get moving, it's a pretty easy install, it was a bit cumbersome at first.
I really like how the rack folds down when not in use to maintain a lower profile. With the included locking pin, you don't even have to worry that someone is going to walk off with your rack. I really like the little foot peddle that drops the rack so you can get in the back of your vehicle. It's the difference between completely unloading everything and just dropping, grabbing and continuing on. This rack will definitely make biking more accessible and should get us out on our bikes more often!
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 !
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.
GuideWe usually boondock, but stopped here for a change. Great sites, lovely staff, dog park, great BBQ, band at night ... really a top notch KOA.
GuideI avoid campgrounds because most feel like parking lots. Not this one! Large grassy area in the center for kids to play, pavilion with live music plus group fire pits to sit around in the large swing seating. Two small dog parks with seating and shade. Seating near the river for guests to sit and chill. Every site has gas grills, fire wood and fire pits at no additional cost. Staff is amazing and the grounds are spotless. Definitely recommend. We have a 26ft. C class and 2 dogs.
TravelerSpent two nights to rest and relax after crossing Red Mountain Pass during snow storm. Enjoyed bathrooms, showers and dog park (2 acres). Camp hosts were especially friendly and helpful. Spent time at Durango Hot Springs too! Make sure you go!
Dispersed camping options near Placerville, Colorado offer a mix of riverside sites, mountain views, and forest settings at elevations between 7,000-9,000 feet. Weather patterns typically bring afternoon thunderstorms in summer months, with temperatures dropping significantly after sunset even in July and August. Several Bureau of Land Management and National Forest locations accommodate tent campers and RVers seeking pet friendly experiences without formal campground restrictions.
Fishing the San Miguel River: At Caddis Flats, the river provides good fishing opportunities during low water periods. "When we got there the river had changed paths up a ways and impassable by a boat," notes a camper who enjoyed the accessible riverside location where "kids were able to play around with minimal risk while supervised."
Hiking mountain trails: Alta Lakes Campground offers access to numerous hiking paths. One camper shares, "There are little walking paths around the Priest Lakes that are very short and easy, plus another trail that I didn't check out." Another mentions, "about .7 miles down the road is the trailhead for Alder Creek...which was a nice hike."
Stargazing opportunities: Clear mountain skies make for exceptional night viewing. At Priest Lake, campers report "The stars were BEAUTIFUL! This is a great spot for stargazers too." The lack of light pollution at higher elevations creates prime conditions for astronomy enthusiasts.
Stream-side camping: Many sites feature creek and river access that creates natural sound barriers. At Ouray KOA, one visitor appreciated "site #5 (water following right behind us.. it was great to hear the peaceful sound while looking at the amazing stars and skyline, in front of the firepit!)."
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife populations. At Amphitheater Campground, one camper mentioned they "had deer in my camp site" while others report moose sightings at higher elevations.
Good cellular coverage: Unlike many remote areas, several campgrounds offer reliable connectivity. A Last Dollar Road camper noted, "I had good cell service too (working remotely)" while another confirmed, "I have AT&T and had good coverage here."
Road conditions vary dramatically: Access requirements differ between locations. At Last Dollar Road, "the road from Ridgeway was well maintained but definitely a little rocky getting closer to the top of the road. Road gets washed out in the rain so heads up." Many campers emphasize 4WD requirements with comments like "High clearance a must."
Seasonal closures affect planning: Several areas have limited accessibility outside summer months. One camper attempting to visit Alta Lakes in June found "the road to the lake is closed, the sign said it was due to deteriorating conditions."
Early arrival recommended: Popular sites fill quickly, especially on weekends. A Priest Lake camper advised, "We arrived around 7pm on a Friday and were able to find a place to park, but if you have a larger vehicle or need a spot for a tent, I'd try to arrive a bit earlier."
Water play options: The San Miguel River provides natural recreation for children. At Mary E Campground, one visitor noted it was "a great home base for a fishing trip" where "we had a great spot in the back, near the river so we could just walk from camp to fish."
Short hiking options: Several locations feature kid-friendly trails with minimal elevation gain. One family at Alta Lakes mentioned "the kids enjoyed biking and it was a nice campground to relax at."
Temperature management: Mountain elevations mean significant day-to-night temperature swings. A camper at Alta Lakes warned, "It got pretty chilly at night and rained most of the days," suggesting bringing extra layers even during summer months.
Size limitations: Many dispersed sites aren't suitable for larger rigs. A Last Dollar Road camper reported, "A site with amazing views that were all blocked by large RVs and campers," indicating popularity with smaller Class B and C vehicles rather than large motorhomes.
Limited hookups: Most dispersed options near Placerville lack services. For those needing full hookups, Matterhorn Campground offers alternatives as "some sites even offer electric hookups, making it a great option for RV travelers."
Level sites are limited: Many dispersed areas feature uneven terrain. One camper noted they "would have been hard pressed to find level ground for our overland tents without putting blocks on the ground," suggesting bringing leveling equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Placerville, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Placerville, CO is Last Dollar Road with a 4.3-star rating from 29 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Placerville, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 175 dog-friendly camping locations near Placerville, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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