Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Ridgway, CO
Ridgway State Park campgrounds welcome pets throughout their three distinct camping areas—Elk Ridge, Dakota Terraces, and Pa-Co-Chu-Puk. Each campground provides pet-friendly accommodations including tent sites, RV spots with full hookups, and select cabins or yurts where pets can stay with their owners. Most sites feature picnic tables and fire rings, with Dakota Terraces offering covered picnic tables that provide shade during light rain showers. Leashed pets must remain under control at all times while in the park. Nearby, Ouray KOA and Ouray Riverside Resort both accommodate pets in their tent sites, RV spaces, and cabin options, giving travelers multiple pet-friendly lodging choices within a short drive. The campground areas feel natural with sites spaced out comfortably, though Dakota Terraces offers limited tree cover which can make summer camping challenging in direct sunlight.
Free dispersed camping with pets is available along Last Dollar Road near Telluride, approximately 20 miles from Ridgway. This undeveloped camping area allows dogs without restrictions but lacks amenities like drinking water or waste facilities, requiring campers to pack out all pet waste. For those seeking unique accommodations, Orvis Hot Springs in Ridgway permits pets in their campground area, though dogs aren't allowed in the pool areas. The campground resembles a parking lot with raised tent platforms and fire pits, primarily serving as base camp for hot springs access rather than destination camping. Hikers with dogs will appreciate the trail system within Ridgway State Park and nearby public lands, though wildlife encounters require keeping pets leashed for safety. Winter campers find Dakota Terraces particularly appealing, as one loop remains open year-round with electric hookups, and the visitor center offers loaner snowshoes for exploring snow-covered trails with four-legged companions.
