Fran K.
Scout
ScoutEast Ridge Campground - Royal Gorge
Primitive but very clean with lots of trails and great views of the canyon. Only 5 mins from the Royal Gorge Bridge.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Rockvale, CO
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Haggards RV Campground features a huge fenced dog park that receives praise from visitors as one of the best they've seen while traveling. The immaculate campground accommodates tent and RV campers with pets, offering pull-through sites with full hookups including 50-amp service. Pets must remain leashed throughout the campground except within the designated dog park area. Royal Gorge-Canon City KOA welcomes pets at their tent sites situated on a hill with scenic views, though tent pads are relatively small for families traveling with pets. Local campgrounds are searchable through The Dyrt's listings. Red Canyon Park allows pets but requires careful navigation due to cacti mats throughout the area that pose safety hazards for dogs. Most dog-friendly campgrounds near Rockvale maintain standard pet policies requiring leashes and proper waste disposal.
Trails near East Ridge Campground in Royal Gorge provide hiking opportunities for campers with dogs, though some areas have limited pet access. The Arkansas River flows through several campgrounds, offering water access for pets that enjoy swimming, though owners should be cautious of currents. Wildlife encounters are common in the region, with deer frequently wandering through campgrounds, requiring vigilant pet supervision. Summer temperatures in the area can reach 97 degrees, making early morning or evening walks more comfortable for dogs. Mountaindale Cabin & RV Resort provides pet-friendly accommodations including cabins, with clean facilities and picnic tables at each site. Campers report that staff at many locations are helpful with pet-specific recommendations for nearby activities and trail access suitable for dogs of various activity levels.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Rockvale (197)
1. Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites
"There was 5 different camp site areas at the bottom right next to the water. The worst and only bad part was the insane amount of biting flies."
"I kept it around 20 mph the whole time and was pretty shocked at how fast some people were driving. There are a lot of blind corners and narrow roads, so be careful!"
2. East Ridge Campground in Royal Gorge
"Hiking: What we really loved about this place was its access to some great hiking trails! Once in the south loop, you'll see a wooden sign that says "trails" near campsite 7."
"Paved & gravelled roads, hiking trails, free camping, sightseeing, off roading, atv, handicap accessible, dogs off leash, picnic tables, firepits, kid friendly."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
3. East Ridge Campground - Royal Gorge
"Tucked away and very nice campground close to the Royal Gorge and Canon City if you need to get camping supplies. Get water and ice at the filling station by the Goodwill store for a great price."
"Watch your dogs for cactus thorns."
Check Availabilityfrom $20 / night
4. Royal Gorge-Canon City KOA
"They are great for 1-2 people, but we are a family traveling with pets, so we have a larger tent. Nice community feel. Lots for kids to do. Close to rafting, Royal Gorge and other attractions."
"Beautiful views and a great walking path for my dog. I could have gone for miles. People are super friendly and it’s clean! Close to hiking. Well worth the visit"
5. Red Canyon Park
"Fun to explore by day through the little canyon or along the rocks above, there's a walk for everyone here. Best enjoyed in fall and spring, summer is quite hot. The campsites are basic and roadside."
"Rock formations and hiking around was absolutely beautiful! About 3 group sites and quite a few smaller ones. The only downside was I think we went at the worst time for gnats."
6. Haggards RV Campground
"The views are great (Pikes Peak nearby). Close enough to Pueblo and 35 mins to Colorado Springs. A few horses, and dog park in this park are great."
"There's a seasonal pool, walking trails and a HUGE fenced dog park. Most spots are pull thru, and it's worth the short, easy drive from I-25."
7. Arkansas Point Campground — Lake Pueblo State Park
"This was first camping trip staying in a Colorado State park and it was great! We had an electric only back-in site next to the bathhouse which was clean and had 4 separate bathrooms with showers."
"The lake is beautiful. The most beautiful sunsets and electrical storms. It's quiet. The only hookup is electric for me or camper. The water and dumpstation is on your way in and on your way out."
57 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $36 / night
8. Phantom Canyon
"It is a bumpy road, but we had an F150 and a Santa Fe, that both made it in fine, though some spots are walking only."
"I’m a rooftop tent camper and the views are amazing but was hoping to be close to the water and isolated from other campers."
9. Mountaindale Cabin & RV Resort
"A great midpoint basecamp location for going up to Colorado Springs area or down to Canon City(Royal Gorge) areas. The campground was always quiet in the evenings and felt secure. "
"This is a lovely park about 30 minutes south of Colorado Springs. We camped here for 5 nights in a back in spot with full hookups, site 51."
Check Availabilityfrom $69 - $79 / night
10. Royal Gorge RV Resort & Cabins
"The camp store was well stocked with firewood, camping supplies, a s’mores bar, cold drinks and lots of Colorado made items. The view from the hot tub was amazing!"
"We had a great tent spot up on the hill with a great view of the valley behind. So it was a quiet tent spot to ourself, but 30 seconds down the hill foe access to the amazing restroom and showers!"
Check Availabilityfrom $45 - $74 / night
Drive Time
- 40 min from Pueblo, CO
- 1 hr from Colorado Springs, CO
- 1 hr 52 min from Denver, CO
- 2 hrs 15 min from Boulder, CO
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Rockvale, CO
158 Photos of 197 Rockvale Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
East Ridge Campground - Royal Gorge
East Ridge Campground in Royal Gorge
Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites
Penrose BLM sites
Royal Gorge-Canon City KOA
Haggards RV Campground
Phantom Canyon
Manifest Ranch PrivateCamp
Red Canyon Park
Shelf Road Sites
The Bank CampgroundG
Northern Plains Campground — Lake Pueblo State Park
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Rockvale, CO
1602 Reviews of 197 Rockvale Campgrounds
Duane V.
Travelerpike national forest (CR 511)
Not to far off of a paved road. You do have to open and close 1 gate. Just a lot of people walking dogs on the nearby trail.
N. Cole P.TravelerStarlite Vintage Resort
Super cute campground, well kept, beautiful views, very close to the Royal Gorge. Camp hosts were very responsive, we got in a little late and they were quick to help us out. A few things that are important to know: they have a lot of stickers, the super sharp prickly ones and the super sticky ones. They have a decent size dog run(dog park) area that is great because of the stickers. It’s a good spot to take your dogs let them run off some energy. I would suggest a small cover down there due to all the weather. We really thought the sauna and hot tub should be available to the patrons staying here at the facility and so we went to go check it out and it cost $29 for an hour. Which was a bummer.
Jeff S.ScoutBlack Sheep Retreat
Beautiful and quiet, miles from any traffic or noise. We used it as a base camp for hiking the local ranges.
Daniel H.ScoutMountaindale Cabin & RV Resort
Great spot for relaxing weekend getaway for our family. Plenty of room for the kids to explore and they even had a blow up bouncy house for them during the day. Hot tub under the stars at evening time. Very clean bathrooms!
Juliana J.
RangerPhantom Canyon
Love a little history/camping combo!
Cool spot. I like there were different sized spots and a clearly marked line where a 4WD/AWD vehicle is needed and no large rigs. I found a spot that was visible by the road, but there was water access and cool surroundings. The main road was well paved, but turning into my site was a bit rough and I needed the 4WD. There were large animal (I assume black bear) prints to give that extra bit of camping excitement, but no actual sitings (one day, Juliana. One day). Some mosquitos but not overwhelming. The scenery was gorgeous. Definitely a bit desert-esque but it was legitimately perfect weather in mid September. Cool creek rocks and a stunner of a sunset. Would absolutely return again. No numbered sites. Toilets about 1/4 mile beyond the drive through boulder.
- Juliana J.Ranger
Cripple Creek BLM Area
Worth the trek! Stunning landscape right on the creek
Quite the drive but worth it. They were repaving some of the road and I personally had no issues getting to a site. It’s gravel, but doable for most vehicles. There was a propane tank and some trash left behind when I got there (always disheartening to find), but it didn’t feel “lived in” like some other spots have so I ultimately felt pretty safe. It was truly beautiful. I got a spot right at the creek that was tucked away from the main road. Maybe a handful of cars passed throughout my stay, so very peaceful and quiet. Zero amenities, so come prepared. No Verizon cell service. Lots of milky quartz laying about, beautiful birds and minimal bugs. Would make the trek here again in a heartbeat.
Lauren P.TravelerFive Points Campground — Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Very close to the highway
Basic amenities, but clean and easy to find. The campsite is very close to the highway, so if you're looking for something more off the beaten path, keep looking. However, if you just need a place to sleep with great views, this is a solid spot. We saw bighorn sheep and even heard what sounded like a bobcat possibly mountain lion at night.
Shannon F.ScoutPikes Peak RV Park
New owner are not good people
I want to start on a positive because that is the type of person I am, and because this review is going to have a lot of negative. This park is a great location for sightseeing, especially if you are going to Pikes Peak by way of the Cog or shopping in Manitou. My GM and I worked hard to make the park as great as we could with the very little funding that we got. As seen in the reviews we had excellent customer service and had high standards for keeping the park clean. I was very good at my job and I loved doing the work until the new owners took over. When the park was sold, we had high hopes that the new owners would be good people and want to put real work into the park. We were very disappointed that they turned out to be money grubbing horrible people. Ken, one of the owners, treats people and his business very Trump like. He and his wife must state that they are religious more than a few times when having a conversation; I personally think this is to make themselves look good to cover the toxicity that truly lies under the surface. When they meet people, they put on a façade and lie and say whatever they think people want to hear to get what they want; proven to me by the broken verbal promises they made to me. They are not community driven; they are money driven; you can make money and still be good people, but they chose not to be. They practice wage theft just like big corporations by over working employees and under paying them; in their words“you must wear all hats”. They are the type of people that use others until they don’t need them then throw them away like garbage. I was bullied into quitting on a phone call where Ken was very disrespectful and unprofessional with me. The phone call was me trying to explain that I could no longer do the FB post due to our deferent ethical viewpoints, and he would not let me talk by saying“you are not doing your job, are you going to quit” repeatedly. I found out that I was not allowed to post about Manitou Pride parade because he said,“it is not family friendly, and the company and I do not promote the LGBTQ+ community”. I am a proud member of that community and so I should not be the one to post on FB for the company. The groundman quit a day later because of disrespect and broken verbal promises. Then a few days later my boyfriend was fired and then Sheryl the GM was fired.(I believe they were fired for retaliation) Ken only wants employees that are easy to exploit or controlled, because he is incapable of managing people without fear and bullying. He boasted that he is called the grim reaper in business, but I don’t think that is the flex he thinks it is. But yes, he was the destruction of the community we put so much work into. I also want to voice my disappointment in Dana, who Sheryl worked hard getting to be allowed to come back as an employee. Dana did great work her first summer with us, so it was a shock to see her true colors show when she started to brown nose Ken. She spread multiple rumors, I feel the worst one was about Melinda’s daughter and the things she wrote about in her diary. I also did not like how she used David, the guy that does the golfcart tours in Manitou, was nice to his face then talked so badly about him when he was not around. I truly think Jesue and her father would be ashamed of her for how she acted to get her new position.
Guide to Rockvale
Dispersed camping sites near Rockvale, Colorado offer varied terrain with elevations ranging from 5,300-7,500 feet across several public land areas. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-90s during day and drop to the 50s at night, with afternoon thunderstorms common in July and August. The area's red rock formations and pinyon-juniper woodlands create distinctive camping environments with limited shade.
What to do
Tunnel exploration on scenic byways: Phantom Canyon Road features historic tunnels that make for memorable drives. One camper noted, "The tunnels were also super cool to go under. I highly recommend this sight to everyone! Especially families!" Another visitor at Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites mentioned they "drove out to phantom canyon gold belt tour... We camped next to Eight Mile Creek and the tunnel."
Rock scrambling and hiking: Red rock formations provide excellent terrain for low-impact exploration. "There are plenty of rocks to scramble up on for a view of the formations that are public," reports one visitor to Red Canyon Park. For more established trails, East Ridge offers "beautiful trails with some amazing views" according to a camper who "found some great trails with some amazing views."
Stargazing without light pollution: The remote setting delivers exceptional night sky viewing opportunities. A camper described Phantom Canyon as having "stunning views of the canyon and great star gazing," while another noted "no service, no noise, just the sound of the creek and an occasional car driving by."
What campers like
Natural seclusion with creek access: Multiple campers value the quiet settings with water features. At Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites, one visitor found "a place tucked back away from the road and felt completely secluded from the world" while another described finding "an amazing camp site that was down a slope... There was 5 different camp site areas at the bottom right next to the water."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The region hosts abundant wildlife. At Mountaindale Cabin & RV Resort, campers report, "We saw deer wander around the campsites every morning and evening" and another mentioned "large spread out sites. Beautiful wildlife right by our site."
Fishing in small streams: Local creeks offer trout fishing opportunities. One visitor to Grape Creek - Temple Canyon Park shared, "It's a small stream but it's sure as hells got some trout in it! I've been fishing this stream since I was a kid, and I still have a good time there."
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Many access roads require careful navigation. A camper at Phantom Canyon warned, "It took us three attempts to get our overweight 2-wheel drive van up the hill and back onto the road. There are a lot of loose rocks." Another at Temple Canyon Park stated bluntly, "There is no warning on how these roads are!! Please do not bring any trailers or rvs out here as they will not fit/fall off of the windy roads."
Limited cell service in remote areas: Communication becomes challenging at several sites. At East Ridge Campground - Royal Gorge, a visitor noted spotty connections, while a Mountaindale camper mentioned "cell service which was nonexistent but they did have free internet which was a satisfactory alternative."
Insect pressure can be intense: Biting insects are commonly reported. A Phantom Canyon visitor warned, "The worst and only bad part was the insane amount of biting flies. It was unbearable at times and our dogs were very stressed from them all over them. Bring those fly bags that attract them away from you."
Tips for camping with families
Look for educational trail systems: Some areas offer learning opportunities for kids. The Royal Gorge area features "nice spots with fishing, biking, and boating" according to one visitor, while another at Arkansas Point Campground noted, "The area has a lot of wildlife and bird watching."
Choose sites away from traffic: For safety with young explorers, select spots set back from roads. One Phantom Canyon visitor highlighted that after setting up camp "we didn't have to worry about them being near the roads," while another recommended sites where "you're secluded from the road and have a lot of tree coverage for hot days."
Consider weather timing carefully: Plan around temperature extremes and storms. A visitor to East Ridge Campground warned, "We went end of May. We would not camp here much later than that as it starts to get very hot," while others noted rapid temperature fluctuations between day and night.
Tips from RVers
Select proper rig size for terrain: Not all sites accommodate larger vehicles. At Phantom Canyon, campers advise checking vehicle capabilities before arriving, with one noting "4WD not necessary but always recommended in Colorado."
Invest in water filtration systems: Water quality varies significantly. A camper at Haggards RV Campground noted "water system needs work; well water has rust and sediment, be prepared!" while others recommend bringing your own water for primitive sites.
Seek level terrain for overnight stays: Many dispersed sites require careful positioning. One RVer at Royal Gorge RV Resort appreciated that "the sites were level and well-kept" while a Mountaindale visitor noted "we were in our Ford F-150 and kept it on 2WD the whole time."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Rockvale, CO?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Rockvale, CO?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Rockvale, CO is Phantom Canyon Road BLM Sites with a 4.6-star rating from 40 reviews.
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dog-friendly camping near
Rockvale, CO?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Rockvale, CO?
TheDyrt.com has all 197 dog-friendly camping locations near Rockvale, CO, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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