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Cartwright Ridge Campground accommodates tent and RV campers with pets across its five sites near Ola, Idaho. Pets must remain on leash throughout the campground, with most sites providing picnic tables and fire rings for comfortable camping. The Forest Service maintains vault toilets that are cleaned regularly, with camp hosts visiting sites daily to answer questions about the area. Several campgrounds in the region include Big Eddy, Cold Springs, Eastside, and Antelope Campground, all welcoming leashed pets. Restrooms and picnic tables are standard at most locations, though hookup availability varies significantly. Dogs should be kept under control as abundant wildlife and cattle with calves are frequently encountered in the surrounding Boise National Forest.
Hiking trails near Sagehen Reservoir provide excellent dog walking opportunities, though swimming areas may be muddy in certain seasons. The Payette River corridor offers multiple pet-friendly camping options with riverside access where dogs can cool off during summer months. Eastside Campground features drinking water facilities and shaded sites that provide relief during hot weather. Riverlife RVing provides both water and electrical hookups with excellent riverfront sites for pets and owners to enjoy together. During peak summer weekends, campgrounds fill quickly, especially those with amenities like fire rings and vault toilets. Cell service is limited throughout the area, particularly at Cold Springs Campground, so travelers should plan accordingly when bringing pets to remote locations.
"Nice setting adjacent to the Payette River adds to the aesthetic with spots along the shore to drop a line and try your luck. It is a smaller park and the maintenance is spectacular. "
"Fantastic views, great owners, and prime location. Our stay was just perfect. We really felt like part of the family as we got to know the owners of the property. "
from $40 / night
Check Availability"the sites are first come first serve. the one we got was right in the middle, next to the bathroom, easy walk to the river. sites are a decent size for tent or rv, just not so much for both."
"If you can’t find a spot here there are several other places along the highway, but this is definitely the nicest."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"This is a small campground right off Highway 55 and across from the Payette River. There are 4 small campgrounds right in a row near here. There is plenty of shade and pretty good privacy. "
from $120 / night
Check Availability"Went on a hike around lake, very nice. Swimming was ok. Kind of a mud hole for swimming. Fishing close by."
"Drive up on the gorgeous Payette River with lots of camping on the river as well."
from $20 - $100 / night
Check Availability"This is a very well run campground and hot springs near Emmett Idaho. The staff is very on top of things and keeps the place very clean and orderly."
"Right off highway for easy in/out. Road is not busy so road noise was minimal"
from $35 / night
"Beautiful spot but while starlight mountain theatre is running you hear the play..that can be positive or negative depending on your plans. I enjoy it."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Restroom close by. Lake is only a short drive away. A camp host comes by at least once a day. Nice people to talk with. They know the area"
TravelerWell-kept state park. No playground for kids. Dog park. Very quiet. Right on the highway but it’s not loud at all. Very many mosquitos, like swarms of them. Site was very flat and easy to park our 23’ camper. Small trails good enough for a stroll but not long enough for a hike.
GuideThe only thing I can say is it would be nice if there was more room between RVs. Other than that, excellent facilities, crew, pool, spa, off leash dog park, laundry, showers, garbage pick up(wow right!), Good power, good water pressure, stores nearby, just a great stop!
ScoutI was here alone with my two dogs during the heatwave of June 2021 (104°+). The dogs and I didn't leave the RV much due to the heat. But we were parked next to the pool, it's small and busy late afternoon early evening. The little dog park was nice although we only used it a couple times since one of my dogs does not always get along well with other dogs.
5G and 2G wifi were excellent. Towers throughout property for access points. Never a week signal. I was able to telecommute and stream without any issues and never used my Hotspot or cell data.
I would have given 5 stars except for closeness of RVs, it's difficult to reserve a site, and because of the heat and my dogs, I didn't use any of the amenities or visit any destination.
I do prefer dispersed RV sites, however this site came through in a pinch for the heat wave.
LegendThis is an urban rv part. The sites are packed in very tightly so they can squeeze in as many people as possible. Shower and bathroom were ok. There is a pool, hot tub and small dog park. Not much else to do here. We stayed one night on our was to Craters of the Moon Np.
GuideGlorified parking lot. Sewer connection isn’t threaded, instead they provide you with a rock to place on top of your line so it doesn’t blow out everywhere. Pets are allowed but the only grassy area in the whole park dogs aren’t allowed in. The entire front of the dumpsters had broken glass scattered all over the ground mixed in with the dirt and rocks. And my last complaint BEES!Hornets and wasps were surrounding our outdoor area. The laundry building was clean and maintained. Overall it worked for the 3 nights we stayed but I wouldn’t want to stay longer.
GuideFrontier Motel and RV Park is more of a motel than an RV park, with only ten spaces behind the motel and in between a public, local road. The motel was fronting Hwy 95 and the RV spaces were one block behind. They have a pool (nice!), laundry and easy town access, since the motel was right in town. The pool wasn’t warm, maybe 75F, but it sufficed for the cool-off need. The town, Cambridge, ID, was a nice, small town, maybe 200 residents. It appears that most of the 10-or-so RV spaces were used by monthly renters, but they had a spot for me and during a holiday weekend. Nice staff. For some reason I couldn't make friends with the black lab (the owner's dog). She's old, doesn't walk that well, but was wary of new people. I did not have any, any negative interactions with her, she just wouldn't let me give her a pet. The three-star rating is that the site location, noise from the highway and the street, and the marginal sewer connection (water/power were fine).
TravelerWell managed, clean, beautiful landscaping, level sites, clean restrooms, plenty of showers, supply store, full hookups, pet friendly, wifi in most of the park, excellent prices.
LegendThis is pretty much a parking lot behind a gas station near the Idaho/Oregon border.
TravelerCamping is free, limit of 10 days. Not really any designated sites and surrounded by private land with aggressive signage. Not all roads around the reservoir are public, so be prepared to turn around and back up at dead ends. We came to an orange gate that said "private property", and stopped. While trying to turn around, we noticed a white truck sitting behind us. When we turned around and passed him, he motioned to roll down the window, and then berated us and called us idiots, even though we had not even entered the private land, nor did we want to. We felt threatened. In the end we chose a site on the upper road of the reservoir. The view was nice but not close to the pit toilet. No fire ring. No table. A no frills place. Like many lakes in Idaho, the reservoir is mostly dry. Not a huge deal but not the prettiest to look at. There is only one single pit toilet for the whole reservoir and someone was set up right next to it like it was their own. People ride off-road vehicles here. In an area with slim pickings for free camping, I guess you have to take what you can get.
The Boise National Forest near Ola, Idaho offers camping opportunities at elevations ranging from 4,200 to 7,500 feet with cool summer nights and warm days. Located about 30 miles north of Emmett, the area features several campgrounds surrounded by pine forests with access to Sagehen Reservoir and the North Fork of the Payette River.
Fishing at Sagehen Reservoir: Antelope Campground provides direct access to the reservoir with its own dock and boat launch. "Within 100 ft of sagehen reservoir with its own dock and boat launch. Plenty of trails for all skill levels," notes reviewer Will R. The fishing improves as summer progresses and water levels recede.
River activities: Big Eddy Campground offers "great fishing, and river beach access" according to reviewer Phyliss G. The Payette River provides opportunities for swimming, tubing, and fishing throughout summer months with several campgrounds providing riverside access points.
Hiking trails: Multiple trail options exist for various skill levels, from casual walks to more challenging treks. "Avid climber and backpacker before kids but still found trails that challenged us with the kids," shares Will R. about trails near Antelope Campground. Nearby Sagehen Reservoir offers a loop trail suitable for most ability levels and dog walking.
Peaceful riverside settings: The sound of flowing water enhances the camping experience at several locations. At Riverlife RVing, campers appreciate the natural soundtrack: "We fell asleep to the sounds of the Payette and woke to the most beautiful scenery imaginable," writes Jason W.
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife populations. "Abundant wildlife and so wonderful and relaxing watching the river," notes Frank B. about Riverlife RVing. Morning and evening hours offer the best wildlife viewing opportunities, with deer, elk, and numerous bird species commonly spotted.
Shade during summer months: Eastside Campground gets high marks for its tree cover: "Many trees to provide shade for the entire campground," says Jessica O. This feature proves especially valuable during hot summer days when temperatures can reach the high 80s.
First-come, first-served availability: Most campgrounds in this area operate without reservations. "First come first serve, for the most part. If you can't find a spot here there are several other places along the highway," explains Jayden K. about Big Eddy Campground. Weekends fill quickly from June through August.
Limited or no cell service: Connectivity is sparse throughout the region. "I did not get cell service here," reports Amy S. about Cold Springs Campground. Plan communications accordingly and download offline maps before arrival.
Livestock presence: Cattle grazing occurs throughout the forest during summer months. "Lots of momma cows with calf," warns Kimberly D. when describing the Sagehen Reservoir area. Keep dogs leashed and maintain safe distances from cattle, especially those with calves.
Reservoir swimming options: Sagehen Reservoir provides swimming opportunities but conditions vary. "Swimming was ok. Kind of a mud hole for swimming," shares Mike L. about Antelope Campground. For clearer water, river spots generally provide better swimming conditions.
Natural entertainment: Cartwright Ridge Campground offers basic amenities with natural surroundings that engage children. "Lake is only a short drive away. A camp host comes by at least once a day. Nice people to talk with. They know the area," explains Tim M. Hosts can suggest family-friendly activities based on current conditions.
Berry picking seasons: When timing aligns, wild berry picking adds enjoyable activities for children. "Lots of huckleberries when in season (gave the kids something extra to do)," mentions Mike L. about the Antelope Campground area. Huckleberry season typically runs from mid-July through August.
Site size considerations: Many campgrounds have limited space for larger vehicles. "Sites are a decent size for tent or RV, just not so much for both," notes Christopher S. about Big Eddy. Measure your unit before arrival as many sites cannot accommodate RVs longer than 25 feet.
Water and hookup limitations: Most forest campgrounds lack water and electrical connections. For those requiring hookups, River Pond Campground offers these amenities: "Electric was fine and there is a community potable hose to fill up upon arrival," shares reviewer J S. Expect to pay $35 or more nightly for sites with hookups.
Road conditions: Access roads to more remote pet-friendly camping near Ola, Idaho can challenge larger rigs. "Sage hen Reservoir takes a bit to get to - nice but narrow dirt roads for about 12 miles," cautions Kimberly D. Consider road conditions when selecting campsites, especially after rain events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Ola, ID?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Ola, ID is Riverlife RVing with a 4.7-star rating from 9 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 134 dog-friendly camping locations near Ola, ID, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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