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Macedonia Brook State Park Campground allows pets in its rustic, well-spaced sites situated along a winding mountain brook. The campground offers primitive car camping with water pumps and portable toilets but no bathhouse facilities, making it ideal for those seeking a more wilderness experience with their dogs. Lake Waramaug State Park also welcomes pets throughout its camping loop, though campers note that wildlife including skunks and squirrels are common and will get into belongings even in closed bins. Both parks enforce leash requirements for pets. Cozy Hills Campground provides additional pet-friendly options with cabin accommodations, along with tent and RV sites that accept dogs.
Hiking trails accessible from Macedonia Brook State Park provide excellent opportunities for exercising pets, with a challenging loop trail over mountains that's suitable for more athletic dogs. No cell service exists within the park, ensuring a true disconnected experience. Lake Waramaug features lake access where dogs can swim, though the designated human swimming area is primarily suitable for small children. Point Folly Campground at White Memorial Conservation Center offers additional water access via boat-in sites where dogs can join their owners. The quiet, rural setting around these campgrounds means pets need to be monitored for wildlife encounters, particularly after dark. Freedom Farm Homestead, a newer pet-friendly option with 20 sites, provides drinking water and electric hookups for campers with pets.
"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 $17 / night
Check Availability"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"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 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 Availabilityfrom $50 - $70 / night
Check Availability"Pet friendly and kid friendly with a playground available. Our favorite site is #25. Up a hill, totally private and has a lean-to."
"Close to the city and civilization, yet large enough to have nice trails and creeks to feel away from it all. The camping sites are very different so it’s useful to go in person and select the area."
from $45 - $55 / night
Check Availability"Reminds me of lake camping that I grew up with. Hosts are very nice and helpful. This is more of a seasonal camping site. Do not follow your GPS directions. Get directions from the campground staff."
"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 also has a lake for swimming,trails for hiking, and some nice quiet areas for fishing. Well maintained bathrooms, with available showers, are also spread throughout the grounds."
"Beautiful state park, very clean .. fishing, lake swimming, hiking trails. Bathrooms, free showers .. stores within a 5 minute drive. Most of the camp ground site are not secluded .."
from $17 - $50 / 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.
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.
ScoutThis is a nice family friendly campground that makes for easy trips. There are a variety of sites available, from open field sites to more wooded and private areas. The campground also has a lake for swimming,trails for hiking, and some nice quiet areas for fishing. Well maintained bathrooms, with available showers, are also spread throughout the grounds. Not pet friendly unfortunately.
In Sherman, Connecticut, camping options range from primitive woodland sites to lakefront locations within the hilly terrain of Litchfield County. The area sits at elevations between 500-1,100 feet, creating varied camping environments with cool summer nights dropping to the mid-50s even during July and August. Several campgrounds don't offer bathhouses or full facilities but provide more secluded wilderness experiences.
Hiking on challenging terrain: Macedonia Brook State Park's trail system includes rocky paths with significant elevation gain. "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 camper at Macedonia Brook State Park Campground.
Lake activities during weekdays: Lake Waramaug offers boating, fishing, and swimming opportunities with fewer crowds midweek. "If you like lakes and water sports, make sure you target this place. Great for kayaking, canoeing, water skiing and more! People were fishing and swimming," reports a visitor to Lake Waramaug State Park Campground.
Stargazing in dark skies: The rural setting provides excellent night sky viewing with minimal light pollution. A camper at Macedonia Brook notes: "Well spaced sites. No bathhouse, just portable toilets and a few water pumps. And a night sky as dark as you can find in CT."
Private wooded sites: Campers appreciate spacious sites away from neighbors at certain parks. A visitor to Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground commented, "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. The camp areas were secluded if you wanted more private camping."
Clean water features: Lakes and streams in good condition enhance the camping experience. At Point Folly Campground, a visitor shared: "Clean and quiet. Beautiful lake for swimming, kayaking or fishing. Small little island."
Affordability: Most state parks in the area maintain reasonable pricing. "Was only $25 night. Great looking facilities and friendly staff," notes a visitor to Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park.
Limited connectivity: Cell service is spotty or nonexistent at many campgrounds. A camper at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation shared a unique perspective: "Close to the city and civilization, yet large enough to have nice trails and creeks to feel away from it all. The camping sites are very different so it's useful to go in person and select the area."
Bathroom facilities vary significantly: While some parks maintain clean bathrooms, others offer only basic accommodations. At Kettletown State Park, a visitor noted: "The bathrooms are in real need of updating. Having visited 2 other state parks in a neighboring state, CT should really invest in better quality bath houses."
Wildlife interaction: Beyond skunks and raccoons mentioned in existing descriptions, bears have been spotted. A Macedonia Brook camper warned: "Our camp spot was right above the river the flows behind this spot. You can go sit down by the water. But be careful! As we were walking back up to our tent there was a small bear within feet from us that we almost didn't see!"
Beginner-friendly options: Certain campgrounds are better suited for families new to camping. At Cozy Hills Campground, "Well maintained, very clean campground. Lots and lots of activities for kids! Arts & Crafts, Arcade, Bingo, Casino Night etc. Pool is very nice for families - with no deep end, really safe for younger kids."
Timing for quieter experiences: Weekday camping offers more peaceful family time. A Lake Waramaug visitor advised: "If you go during the week the place is a ghost town... I would never camp here on a weekend.... it is a party place then."
Dog-friendly campgrounds near Sherman: Most parks accommodate pets but have specific requirements. Freedom Farm Homestead opened recently with 20 pet-friendly sites and provides electric hookups for families camping with dogs.
Site selection importance: Research specific sites before booking for level ground and adequate space. At Clarence Fahnestock State Park, a camper advises: "This is one of my favorite campsites I have been to but only because after several visits we have finally found our favorite site. This place can book up during camping season in the Northeast so make sure to book early in advance."
Electric hookups availability: While primitive sites are common, several campgrounds do offer electric service. At Cozy Hills Campground, "Clean. Well run campground. Beautiful area. Fishing on site. Crafts And events. Great camp store and grill and hot food."
Drainage considerations: Pay attention to site drainage after rain. At Kettletown State Park, a visitor mentioned: "Site 32 and the upper loop was not great though. The sites were super close together and the boundary lines were unclear."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Sherman, CT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Sherman, CT is Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 33 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Sherman, CT?
TheDyrt.com has all 91 dog-friendly camping locations near Sherman, CT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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