Dog-Friendly Camping near Dover, ID

Riley Creek Campground near Dover serves campers between May and September with extensive recreational options and well-maintained amenities. The campground sits along the Pend Oreille River at approximately 2,200 feet elevation, with typical summer temperatures reaching 80-90°F. Forested sites provide shade while allowing access to extensive trail networks and swimming opportunities for families and pets.

What to do

Hiking trails: Riley Creek Campground offers extensive trail networks suitable for all skill levels. "Lots of paved hiking paths, a beautiful beach, and a great play structure," notes Chelsea K., who recommends making reservations as walk-up sites often fill quickly.

Fishing access: Cast for trout and crappie from designated docks at Round Lake State Park Campground. "I had a great time casting off from them and even caught a couple of crappies and trout which was a nice bonus," reports Jason S., who enjoyed the clear waters despite some road noise.

Water activities: Paddleboarding and kayaking opportunities abound on Lake Pend Oreille. "The swimming area is nice with kind of sandy beach, but there is a bit of seaweed in the swimming area. There are also two docks perfect for fishing," explains Jason about Round Lake State Park, which restricts motorized boats to electric motors only.

Playground facilities: Many local campgrounds include dedicated play areas. "The playground is fantastic to wear out the kiddos energy too!" says Nanette C. about Priest River's facilities, which complement the kid-friendly beach area.

What campers like

Spacious campsites: Sam Owen Campground offers larger sites with privacy. "All the sites are nice and private with lovely trees and open grassy space between them," writes Jason S., noting that lakeside sites fill quickly during summer months.

Hot showers: Clean facilities make longer stays more comfortable. "Free shorts and very clean bathrooms," reports Roger L. about Riley Creek, which maintains amenities despite high visitation during peak season.

Pet-friendly beaches: Beyond standard dog-friendly policies, some campgrounds offer designated swimming areas for dogs. "There is also a pet area, and you can take your dogs for a swim," shares Roger L. about Riley Creek's dedicated dog beach area that separates pets from the main swimming facilities.

Lakefront access: Some sites offer direct water views. "Site 12 is right on the river which provides impressive sunrise and sunsets. The river is calm in the mornings and evenings with fish jumping," Todd B. explains about Priest River, though he notes the site gets full afternoon sun.

What you should know

Reservation requirements: Most popular campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. "We did not have reservations so had to join a lottery to get one of the walk up sites. Despite arriving early in the morning, we did not know until mid afternoon if we got a site," explains Chelsea K. about Riley Creek's reservation system.

Road noise: Several campgrounds experience noise from nearby highways or train tracks. "One downside was some road noise, which occasionally disrupted the peaceful atmosphere, especially in the evenings," notes Jason S. about Round Lake State Park, suggesting weekday visits for quieter stays.

Seaweed conditions: Lake swimming areas may contain natural vegetation. "The water was nice in the summer but the river does have a lot of seaweed floating in it," Todd B. reports about Priest River's swimming area, though the beach remains popular.

Camp host interaction: Springy Point offers additional amenities for children. "Camp hosts brought our two girls activity bags and came by to clean our camp site out before we set up," says Becky A., highlighting the additional services available.

Tips for camping with families

Activity offerings: Riley Creek provides numerous recreation options. "It has all the standard amenities and more. There is a bathroom centrally located on each of the two loops that were cleaned every morning and nice hot showers to pair with them," shares Nanette C., who specifically mentions horseshoe pits, volleyball and basketball courts.

Beach accessibility: Bonner County Fairgrounds offers convenient biking options. "Easy bike ride to Sandpoint with lots of bike paths," explains Carol J., who appreciates the campground's proximity to town for family outings.

Kid-friendly fishing: Round Lake State Park provides easy fishing access from shore. "I had a great time casting off from them and even caught a couple of crappies and trout which was a nice bonus," says Jason S., describing the docks that make fishing accessible for children.

Educational opportunities: Some campgrounds offer ranger programs. "The camp visitor center has a cool place for kids to learn about the wildlife in the area with foot prints in sand, bird calls, samples of the different types of trees and more," writes Heather M. about Round Lake State Park's interpretive features.

Tips from RVers

RV hookup availability: Water and electric connections vary between campgrounds. "Partial hook ups (no sewer)," notes Roger L. about Riley Creek, explaining that dump stations are available though not at individual sites.

Pull-through options: Site selection matters for larger rigs. "A very nice pull through campsite. All the sites are nice and private with lovely trees and open grassy space between them," Jason S. shares about Sam Owen, though he warns that lakeside sites book months ahead.

RV length restrictions: Site dimensions limit which vehicles can use certain sites. "We got lucking and grabbed the last reservable site online when we decided to do one last camping trip of the 2017 season," explains Nanette C. about Riley Creek, suggesting RVers carefully check site dimensions when booking.

Dog exercise areas: Mirror Lake offers uncommon off-leash privileges. "The dogs were allowed to be off leash which was real nice," notes Paul F., making this location particularly suitable for RVers traveling with active dogs who need exercise beyond standard leashed walks.