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Cozy Hills Campground welcomes pets with a dedicated dog park, though some campers note the 3-foot fence height may be insufficient for more athletic dogs. The 178-site facility in Bantam, Connecticut operates from April to October with full hookups for RVs and cabin options for those preferring solid shelter. Several state parks in the area also accommodate pets, including Macedonia Brook, Kettletown, and Housatonic Meadows, each offering camping from late May through early September. Lake Waramaug and Black Rock State Parks provide additional pet-friendly options with amenities like drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables. Most campgrounds require pets to remain leashed at all times, and campers should bring vaccination records.
Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park offers free dispersed camping with pets allowed, providing a more primitive experience for those seeking to avoid established campgrounds. The park's trails connect to larger networks suitable for dog walking, though water access is limited compared to developed sites. Campers report the Kenneth L. Wilson Campground in nearby New York features a wonderful dog park that receives consistently positive reviews. When camping with pets in the Gaylordsville area, visitors should be prepared for wildlife encounters and varying weather conditions. Sites are typically clean and well-maintained with adequate space between campsites, though availability is more limited during summer weekends and holiday periods. The campgrounds are generally quiet and family-friendly, making them suitable for campers with well-behaved dogs.
"My family has been camping at Lake Waramaug for over 20 years. I can say most of what’s been said is true or partially so but whether it’s bad or good depends on your point of view."
"One of my favorite so far , went with family , to comply w covid and social distancing, the camp only rent your site and no one on your left or right or across ! Amazing !"
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"teaching scouts of all ages how to take and prepare for the wilderness survival badges place is clean it has running water has a porta potty and festival you don't have to worry because the state of Connecticut"
"Our camp spot was right above the river the flows behind this spot. You can go sit down by the water. But be careful!"
from $14 / night
Check Availability"With Covid/social distancing requirements, many sites are closed so it’s extra quiet and spread out. I stayed at site 6 with my seven year-old daughter from Tue-Thur."
"When you are camping with a large group of friends and don't all have access to a car, this is the perfect spot."
from $21 / night
Check Availability"However, we picked this place because it has an enclosed dog park. It does have an enclosed dog park but the fence is only 3 feet high."
"We stayed near the water. Clean private bathrooms were a plus. Clean pool but only 3 feet deep."
from $72 - $122 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $50 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Tall pines, the sound of the mighty housatonic river, and some car noise on the nearby 2 lane."
"The Housatonic river is wide and shallow but good for soaking on a hot day and right behind pretty much every campsite. The riverside sites have a clear view, the others you walk through the woods."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"We love this State Park because it's close to our home for a quick getaway. This time we tried one of the sites on the water, and I probably wouldn't choose the same site again. "
"I love kettletown, it’s a favorite that is very close to home. It’s a small camp ground and it’s absolutely beautiful."
from $17 - $50 / night
Check Availability"Less then 10 min drive from town, but hiking in and finding a suitable place to make camp has the feeling of the wild, with the safety of having full cell service."
"The campground is right on Bantam Lake which is great for boaters/kayakers fisherman and families. I have found the east side of the lake to be much more windy than the west side of the lake. "
"Beautiful lake for swimming, kayaking or fishing. Small little island"
"We stayed in lot 109, which was perfect because going through the really faint trail through the trees you can come to a ledge overlooking the Hudson River."
"There are great hiking trails on the Hudson River right outside your campsite. Amenities are the great outdoors and an ancient bath house built during the New Deal in the 1930's."
from $21 - $102 / night
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ScoutWe have enjoyed our stay. Nice campground with lots of activities and things to do. However, we picked this place because it has an enclosed dog park. It does have an enclosed dog park but the fence is only 3 feet high. While this might be fine for some dogs, I have 2 young border collies that will jump that fence like it is not even there.
ScoutThe campsite was great. Big and going after Labor Day means there was tons of space. Well priced. We did have neighbors that had a trailer and used their generator early in the morning and late at night. Beside that it was fantastic. We had planned on driving to hiking but there was so much to do around the camp site we just walked around and did the hiking near by. The dog park is wonderful. Our dog loved it.
GuideLots of room in many sites for my 24 ft RV and 30 ft trailer. Big meadow in middle with new full playground set.
Dry camping but water available and a sewer dump. Gotta haul your own trash.
Two ponds to play in and a fenced dog park.
Some nice hiking in the park.
GuideSuch a clean and well maintained campground. Staff were so nice and friendly. Only one shower area that was a bit of a trek from our site, a bike would have been nice to get around. We had to move our tent as we had set it back too far and was not on the site pad and park ranger Brian who was very lovely came and asked us to move it and we had a nice chat. Lovely big dog park. There are some nice little walks and small hikes on the ground with a lake that you can rent kayaks or canoes. Close to Woodstock which is a cute town. Our site was a little exposed but the sites either side of us were closed for restoration thankfully. There are some more secluded and set back sites too though.
ScoutRecently, we camped here for a week. We don’t ever post negative reviews like this. The last day, we experienced a violent attack by a very large and aggressive Pit Bull. The Pit Bull did not have a collar or a leash and was accidently let out of the RV to roam free and unsupervised. It immediately ran to our site(4 sites away) and attacked our dog that was tied at the time. The incident was unprovoked. While trying to save our dog, my wife and I were also attacked. The wounds were serious enough to require emergency transport to a hospital for treatment including stitches. All we could think of was what might have happened if our granddaughter had been playing with our dog.
To put it mildly, their existing pet policy is grossly lacking. They never checked what breed of dog or ask to see documentation of shots when we were registering. Yogi Bear Jellystone Park needs to better manage their pet policy to address aggressive dog breeds and ensure the safety of campers. We camped there for seven days and saw multiple sites have more than one large dog, which in many places we’ve camped at would have been banned due to breed type or size. We have RV’ed extensively across the US and have never seen such careless enforcement of a pet policy regarding aggressive dog breeds. Seriously, think about avoiding this park if you have pets or small children.
GuideMy first visit to New York state was amazing, largely in part due to my campsite at the Woodland Hills campground. I had a back in site and was having problems with my camper, and they were able to change to a pull through at time of check in. However, it was in early May and before the summer crowds. The pond has a fountain which sounds like a small waterfall at night, and wildflowers were in bloom. Very nice bathrooms and showers, and my dog loved the dog park.
ScoutCan a campground be cozy? I think this place is.
It's not too big, and it's not too small, it's just right.
Bring decent tent pegs because you will probably hit a stone or two.
They sell huge bags of firewood for 8 or 9 dollars and it's much better than the plastic wrapped stuff you get at convenience stores.
Last time we went they were sold out and we had to buy (damp) wood elsewhere.
Each loop has a bathroom. They are clean and well-lit.
They have a single building for trash/recycle/reuse and for washing dishes. They also have a playground and a dog park.
The campsites are nice and shaded.
Each site has a picnic table and grill. The picnic tables can be moved around.
No Wi-Fi. Haven't tried to make a call so I'm not sure about that.
I'd feel safe here if I camped alone. Staff are friendly and helpful.
RangerCampsites Great campsites, wooded and cozy, though a little tight for longer rigs as our neighbors found out when they ran over a wooden post backing in. But spaced apart nicely with lots of vegetation between. Nice and level. Amenities Bathrooms are older and need of some repair but let me tell you I was very happy to see a normal shower head with real hot water! So no complaints here. Laundry facilities were clean and open 24/7 with reasonable prices 2.50/2.00 washer/dryer. And the dryers actually worked. Small dog park, communal spaces, and a camp store all made the place feel like a little village. They even have a wine store- cab sav was good. WiFi I work remotely and WiFi is always an issue. We have Starlink but in a wooded campsite, connecting is an issue but luckily their WiFi was great. Had no issues and could stream just fine. Halloween! We visited mid October and folks had sites decorated and the KOA has trick or treating and other activities every weekend in Oct. we were SO bummed to be leaving on a Friday and miss the festivities because it looked really fun. Would definitely go back. Also, staff was super nice.
TravelerI have camped here many times. There are three campsites; two that require short hikes (.5 miles and .75 miles, respectively) and a third that can be driven to. Each one is far away from the others. The two that are closest are still divided by several hundred feet of wooded area; you can hear if someone at the other campsite shouts loudly enough, but you can't hear normal conversation or see any lights.
There is no cell phone coverage at any of the campsites (if you care about that while camping).
All of the campsites are right next to the Shepaug River. There is a very crude outhouse between campsites #1 and #2, but none at #3. Each campsite has a designated fire pit, and the Steep Rock Association provides ample firewood. SR 1 and SR 2 both have picnic tables at them; SR 3 does not. Pets are welcome; there are many people hiking and camping with dogs, and people ride horses down some of the trails.
On 9/2/17, when camping at SR1, we saw a Dumpster on the side of the trail that leads from campsite SR1 to campsite SR2. I have never seen a Dumpster anywhere at Steep Rock before, so I don't know if that is a permanent new addition or if it was there temporarily.
Reservations are required and can be made by contacting the Steep Rock Association office during the week.
Gaylordsville, Connecticut sits in Litchfield County at approximately 400 feet elevation, characterized by rolling hills, wooded terrain, and the flowing Housatonic River. The camping season generally runs from late April through October, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during daytime hours. Winter camping isn't available at most established campgrounds in the immediate area, though some dispersed options remain accessible year-round.
Hiking on historic trails: Macedonia Brook State Park features a challenging 6.7-mile trail loop with elevation gains providing views into New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut. "The loop hike over the mountains was good, at times more intermediate than beginner and I wouldn't try to go it with younger kids. We did the east side one afternoon and the west the next," notes a visitor at Macedonia Brook State Park.
Kayaking and water sports: Bantam Lake offers multiple water recreation options with minimal restrictions. "The lake is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoes and for fishing. Bring your own gear but kayak and canoe rentals are available," explains a camper who stayed at Lake Waramaug State Park.
Wildlife observation: The Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park provides free dispersed camping with wildlife viewing opportunities. "There is plenty of trails to explore and wildlife to enjoy, especially since these over 900 acres also back up to another huge plot of protected forests," notes a visitor who appreciated the natural setting.
Large, private campsites: Campgrounds in the region vary in site sizes, with some offering spacious options. "Sites are HUGE. Bathrooms, water, showers are close by. You will almost always have a view of the water," reports a camper at Point Folly, emphasizing the benefit of waterfront access.
Swimming areas for cooling off: Multiple campgrounds feature swimming options during summer months. "Clean and beautiful. Great hikes. The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite," explains a visitor at Clarence Fahnestock State Park.
Fishing opportunities: Local waters support diverse fishing activities. "The camp sites were laid out kind of odd, making some of them right up on a neighbor spot even when they didn't need to be, but the campground was only about 10% full when we were there, so it didn't affect us," notes a camper about Macedonia Brook State Park, which offers creek fishing in addition to hiking.
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Campground bathroom quality differs significantly across locations. "The bathrooms are usually unclean, they run out of tissue, there is only 1 shower for the entire bathroom AND they clean them right when people are waking and need to pee (between 7-8)," warns a visitor to Lake Waramaug State Park.
Road access considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging road conditions. "The roads around the campground are very narrow with a lot of blind curves. Be careful and aware when driving, and I think cyclists are taking a gamble," cautions a camper who stayed at Lake Waramaug.
Weather preparation: Weather patterns can change quickly in the region. "This campground changed in the last few years, but not for the better. It is apparent that the manager does not like campers. If you have a tent, you are treated ok, until you violate one of their endless rules," reports a frustrated visitor at Lake Waramaug State Park.
Off-season advantages: Visiting during non-peak times offers a different experience. "It was Saturday afternoon, and it was NOT full! On LI- its impossible to get a campsite unless you book it 6 months in advance. Our first 24 hours were a bit of a let down, as we landed right in the middle of a 3 site family 'fiesta'... but by 12 on Sunday-we had the entire campground to ourselves… in the middle of JULY," reports a camper at Housatonic Meadows State Park.
Kid-friendly swimming: Some swimming areas are better suited for certain age groups. "The swimming area is an absolute joke, unless you are 18 months old, and then its probably perfect. (Extremely small, extremely shallow, and some sand to dig in.)," notes a visitor to Lake Waramaug State Park.
Wildlife awareness: Prepare children for potential wildlife encounters. "Every campsite has deep drainage ditches, likely roots, and stumps as well, but not too much pine in the immediate vicinity to make a mess of your gear," observes a Lake Waramaug State Park visitor.
Site selection for larger rigs: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles. "All sites were so different. There was a storm the night before our arrival date, all campers were evacuated and they did a fantastic job clearing all the debris and downed trees before our arrival," mentions a visitor to Clarence Fahnestock State Park.
Hook-up limitations: Many campgrounds in the area have limited or no hook-ups. "Clean. Well run campground. Beautiful area. Fishing on site. Crafts And events. Great camp store and grill and hot food," describes a camper at Cozy Hills Campground, one of the few full-service options in the region.
Limited cell service: Several campgrounds have poor connectivity. "99% of people don't even know this area exists. If you want a quiet piece of beautiful forest to truly rough it and go camping for a few days, then this is what you have been looking for," explains a visitor to Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park, noting that despite the remote feel, there's "full cell service" at this dispersed camping location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Gaylordsville, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Gaylordsville, CT is Lake Waramaug State Park Campground with a 3.1-star rating from 9 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 100 dog-friendly camping locations near Gaylordsville, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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