Sacred E.
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GuideGary McDermott RV Park
Nice and convenient especially since in mid November most parks are closed. Shower house is closed but there is a spigot to fill tanks. Lots of trains but right in town.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Apple River, IL
7 campgrounds with availability this weekend
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Canyon Ridge Campground at Apple River Canyon State Park welcomes pets at no extra charge, offering 47 secluded sites with picnic tables and fire rings. The sites provide privacy and are ideal for quiet tent camping in a wooded setting. Dogs can accompany hikers on the park's nature trails and near the shallow water access where pets can play. Both Apple River Canyon and Apple River Canyon State Park Campground maintain pet-friendly policies that attract campers with dogs. Sites at Apple River are especially quaint and secluded compared to more commercialized campgrounds in the region, making them perfect for campers seeking a natural experience with their pets.
Several pet-friendly campgrounds near Apple River feature diverse amenities for dogs. Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground in Wisconsin offers a dedicated pet beach area separate from human swimming areas, allowing dogs to enjoy the water safely. Most campgrounds in the area require pets to be leashed at all times, particularly on trails where wildlife encounters are possible. Hiking paths throughout Apple River Canyon provide excellent opportunities for dog walking, with numerous trails winding through forested terrain. The campsites are generally clean and spacious, giving pets room to relax while remaining contained within their owners' sites. Some nearby campgrounds like Rustic Barn Campground RV Park feature large grassy areas specifically designated for dog-walking with conveniently placed waste stations.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Apple River (84)
1. Walnut Grove Campground - Apple River Canyon
"We absolutely love the quaintness of Apple River. The sites are secluded and provide privacy. Great spot for quiet tent camping. Not a big commercialized campground."
"Really peaceful and quiet night here at Apple River Canyon. Not too many people around, but the sites were large and private anyway. Fairly clean pit toilets and level site for our tent."
Check Availabilityfrom $8 / night
2. Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground
"This is a popular place in the area, the human beaches are full and the small pet beach area was well used by my husband, myself and our two dogs; Odinn & Frigga over Memorial Day."
"Tons of forest with cross country, equestrian, and hiking trails. One of the best lakes in Wisconsin for fishing along with a nice beach, and pet area. There is a free gun range."
74 Sites AvailableAvailable this weekend
from $18 - $110 / night
3. Canyon Ridge Campground — Apple River Canyon State Park
"Visited Apple River Canyon State Park for a quick weeks getaway with the kids. We were able to walk up and get a camp site without reserving one."
"I found it eventually but I'm glad I wasn't towing a camper because there was a lot of turning around. Some of the sites are able to be reserved."
Check Availabilityfrom $8 / night
4. Vel Terra
"A nice Little campground close to Elizabeth Illinois. The bathrooms are well capped, but the showers require quarters!"
"Galena Illinois is a major tourist spot for Chicago folks to get away too. This camp site is 20 min from Galena 5 min from Elizabeth and 15 min from Apple Canyon. Has both RV and Tent sites."
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $40 / night
5. Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area
"This was an unexpected good find in Illinois. The campground was nice with the standard set up - picnic tables, restrooms, water available."
"There are some trails that will take you around some of the hills through open fields if you are interested in walking around the campground. This is a nice place to camp."
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $30 / night
6. Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground
"Hidden gem near the iowa/illinois border. Secluded and beautiful."
"It has trails for walking and lots of concrete for riding bikes. We did both. The park is close to the River and has plenty of places to put your boat in across the highway."
7. Palace Campground
"This campground is tucked into a little area next to a Walmart, Culvers, and Mini golf course. It sits between east Dubuque and Galena. When we stayed they had a dirt bike rally."
"Campground was right next to Walmart, which was convenient, and a short walk down to the high school to get the shuttle into Galena itself."
8. Lena KOA
"It is about 40 minutes away, but is nice to be away from the traffic. The KOA store is well stocked and has some pretty cool souvenirs!"
9. Rustic Barn Campground RV Park
"Activities/Amenities: There are many activities offered, including a dog park, basketball, horseshoes, games (cornhole, large checkerboard, and others), a barn with a television, a book library, puzzles"
"There’s a cute store and a cute little area with outside games like corn hole and yard checkers. There’s a huge grassy area for walking the dog and several stations set up with poop bags/garbage."
10. Blanding Landing
"I was a solo female traveler with my two service dogs. When I arrived, the site was clean, and we had a site with an open site on one side making it feel twice as big."
"Hosts are friendly and I saw rangers driving through multiple times. Each site includes picnic table and fire pit. Most have electric. "
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $14 - $25 / night
Drive Time
- 45 min from Dubuque, IA
- 1 hr 4 min from Rockford, IL
- 1 hr 19 min from Janesville, WI
- 1 hr 21 min from Madison, WI
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Apple River, IL
91 Photos of 84 Apple River Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Canyon Ridge Campground — Apple River Canyon State Park
Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area
Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground
Honey Bee & Bee Homestead
Green County Fairgrounds
Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground
Rustic Barn Campground RV Park
New Glarus State Park Campground
Spring Lake CampgroundK
Mud Lake County Park
Grant River Recreation Area
Swiss Valley County Park
Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Apple River, IL
559 Reviews of 84 Apple River Campgrounds
- CCharles T.
ScoutWalnut Grove Campground - Apple River Canyon
Really enjoyed this park. Beautiful river, bluffs, and hilly country. Only downside to this specific campsite is the road is very close. I also had a blast exploring and fly fishing.
- GGreg F.
TravelerVel Terra
Great little campground in rural setting. The owner was great. We stayed in Oct 25 while doing a fall color/wine tasting/Galena trip. It was a perfect central location for us.
Nicole R.GuideMiller Riverview City Park
Right on the river
We came towards the end of season so we were one of the few people staying there. The spaces are close together but we had no one near us so we didn’t mind. We had a great experience with the host, very friendly. However, it is a bit noisy since the highway is right there and you do constantly hear the trains. Also, there are some questionable people roaming through the campground.
Zach G.TravelerNew Glarus State Park Campground
Smaller campground with decent sized campsites with picnic table and fire ring pit. Although my site and quite a bit of unleveled ground which made for limit options to pitch a tent. Pretty good cell service with T- mobile.
- Zach G.Traveler
Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park
Great campground nice drive.
Campground is nice spacious and we’re well divided. The drive from the entrance of Governor Dodge to cox hollow was a good 2-3 miles but was very scenic.
- Maria W.Scout
New Glarus State Park Campground
Rustic but nice trails and close to town
Campground is small with only 18 car camping sites. Vault toilets, no showers. No electricity or dump station. Group camping sites and walk-in or bike-sites also available. I don't mind vault toilets but they were very low to the ground without any grab bar. I found it odd that this campground has many sites for cyclists using the sugar river bike trail and there isn't any showers. Being close to town is nice. There is a paved path that takes you right into New Glarus and past the New Glarus Brewery. After a day of cycling or hiking, one really needs a shower before heading into town!!
- ttraveller
LegendMaquoketa Caves State Park Campground
Grea clean campground
Tons to do, trails, the caves, playground, picnic areas The sites are average The caves are amazing Water, power, bathrooms and dumping station
- ppeggy R.Scout
Brigham Park
Fall camping
LOTS of acorns and walnuts dropping on the camper all day and night
Guide to Apple River
Apple River Canyon State Park in northwestern Illinois sits along limestone bluffs carved by the Apple River. The park's elevation ranges from 700-850 feet, offering visitors terrain unusual for the typically flat Illinois landscape. Campsites throughout the area vary from secluded wooded spots to open grasslands, with spring and fall offering the mildest temperatures for outdoor activities.
What to do
Fishing spots: Apple River Canyon State Park offers fishing opportunities in shallow, rocky waters. "The rice is below and is very shallow. It's rocky so water shoes are useful," notes Art S., who also recommends following the Primrose trail from camp along the cliff top for access to fishing areas.
Stargazing: Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area provides excellent dark sky viewing. "The stars on a clear night is what keeps me coming back every year," writes Mitch in his review, adding that he was "surprised my camera picked up the stars that well" during his 4-day stay.
Hiking trails: Canyon Ridge Campground has several trails ranging from easy to more challenging routes. "There's also several trails to explore and some beautiful scenery to enjoy and photograph," shares Chris D. The Tower Trail comes recommended by reviewers as it "goes up and up and then flattens along a nice wooded trail."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Yellowstone Lake State Park Campground, "I'm very picky about my camp sites- I want to be in nature and not within eyesight of everyone else's campers. These sites were a perfect site and I felt like I was getting away!" writes Becca Z.
Clean facilities: Multiple campgrounds maintain excellent bathrooms. "The shower house and attached bathroom we were near were probably the most clean and taken care of that I have been to in a while," notes a camper at Yellowstone Lake State Park. Similarly, at Rustic Barn Campground, "Showers and restrooms were cleaned and well maintained. Sites are a combination of cement pad and crushed gravel."
Affordability: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the reasonable rates at many campgrounds near Apple River. "Very affordable camping!" mentions Marissa F. about Apple River Canyon, while Bellevue State Park offers "a bargain at $11/$16 for non-electric/electric sites from 5/1-9/30, and the cost is $6/$11 the rest of the year."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Reception varies widely throughout the region. At Apple River Canyon, "AT&T cell service is mostly nonexistent in camp, but kicks in as you head out, so plan your research ahead of time," advises John W. Another camper notes, "I love that there is minimal cell signal to keep everyone off their phones."
Weather preparedness: The area experiences typical Midwestern seasonal changes. "Bring the strongest mosquito repellent you can get, Wisconsin in summer can be rough," warns a camper at Yellowstone Lake State Park, while others mention potential for muddy conditions during rainy periods.
Water conditions: Several parks have lakes with variable conditions. At Lake Le-Aqua-Na, one visitor cautions, "We had a lot of fun there playing in the water on the beach however my son who was five at the time got a really bad bacterial rash from the water."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly
campsite near Apple River, IL?
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Apple River, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Apple River, IL is Walnut Grove Campground - Apple River Canyon with a 4.1-star rating from 12 reviews.
What is the best site to find
dog-friendly camping near
Apple River, IL?
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Apple River, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 84 dog-friendly camping locations near Apple River, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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