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Navajo Lake State Park's pet-friendly campgrounds include Cottonwood, Pine Main, Pine Cedar, Pine Juniper, and Sims Mesa, all accepting dogs with standard leash requirements. The campsites provide varied accommodations from basic tent areas to full RV hookups with water, electric, and sewer connections. Cottonwood Campground sits along the San Juan River with shaded sites under large cottonwood trees, particularly appealing to dog owners seeking relief from summer heat. The campground never feels crowded despite being popular with anglers who appreciate the direct river access with their pets. Moore's RV Park & Campground also welcomes pets and offers cabins for visitors preferring non-tent accommodations.
Angel Peak Scenic View and Angel Peak Badlands allow dispersed camping with pets in more primitive settings. Dogs can accompany owners on the hiking trails near Cottonwood Campground, with paths leading directly to the river for water access. The trails on the north side of the San Juan River leading to Texas Hole are walkable with dogs though portions are in poor repair. Temperatures at Navajo Lake reach 100 degrees during summer months, making the shaded sites at Cottonwood particularly valuable for pet owners. The lake area sits at 6,000 feet elevation, requiring adjustment time for both humans and animals unaccustomed to higher altitudes. Wildlife including deer and elk populate the surrounding areas, necessitating careful driving on approach roads, especially at night when animals are most active.
"The campground is reached via 511 to 173 (top of the hill when you see The Sportsman Bar and Grill and a scenic drive)."
"This is a campground that has access to the San Juan River below the Navajo Dam. There is direct access to bait Waters as the campground is on the river."
from $30 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Several sites available right on the lake, just steps away from the water. Bathrooms available. Water and trash available just a short walk."
"Navajo Lake was a last minute reservation to escape the southern heat. SUCCESS, the sites had shelter, access to water and good Marina. Not many marked trails but you can still explore."
from $15 - $90 / night
Check Availability"About New Mexico sunrises and sunsets, there are two shows daily, no reservations required!"
"We have been running the AC most afternoons till around 6-7pm. The evenings cool enough to just open all the trailers window and enjoy the evening."
"Showers, laundry, dog park"
"Nice dog park divided into two areas so your dogs don’t have to co-mingle. There is a clean, reasonably priced laundry room and a swimming pool."
from $45 / night
Check Availability"Many campsites with views of Navajo Lake. Pit toilets in Juniper, real toilets w showers in main Navajo campground. Food at Marina is good and affordable"
"We had views of the lake, but not so close as to hear any of the boats. good tent sites and some shade from juniper trees."
from $15 - $90 / night
Check Availability"Navajo Lake State park is situated on a relatively big lake for New Mexico standards. The campsites are relatively small and close together."
"Amazing views of the lake! There are two trails right next to this spot that lead down to the water. Bathrooms were very clean as well."
from $15 - $90 / night
Check Availability"The road in was quite rough and washboarded, so I had to drive slowly at about 10 mph for a while. However, I took a different route on the way out, heading north, and found it much smoother."
"Road was rutty but our 2wd van was fine, just drive slow."
"It is worth the 6 mile drive in. Look for the sign Angel peak scenic area. It is a gravel road."
"There’s a handful of picnic tables but only one you can park right next to. They have shelters over each table if you’re a hammocker but given that it’s on the edge of a canyon it’s very windy."
"Had 2 large dog-park areas for dogs to run. Unfortunately one had some sewage coming up in it. I'm sure they've gotten that taken care of. Site was level so we didn't have to un-hook. "
"60' rock wall, 60' free fall, zipline over the river, 18 hole disc golf, 2 huge fenced-in off leach dog parks, 1/2 mile of riverfront property on both sides, 2 sand bottom ponds with free stand up paddle"
from $39 - $94 / night
Check Availability"A big Campground south of Durango and 15 miles outside of Farmington, NM."
from $15 / night
Check Availability
GuideWe stayed in the main campground, Pine. There are trees for some privacy and the angles of the sites help get as many sites to have views of the lake. The Navajo Dam Spillway is impressive. We were told there is great trout fishing nearby. Marina. Just passing through, good choice.
LegendJake from the Dyrt here! Navajo Dam has an awesome glamping setup on top of some cliffs overlooking the area. Check them out and make sure to leave a review on the Dyrt!
LegendThe campground is reached via 511 to 173 (top of the hill when you see The Sportsman Bar and Grill and a scenic drive). Wind through the little town of Navajo Dam, cross the river and then you turn on Rd 4280, which is approximately 2 miles of rough washboard gravel. This takes you to the park entrance which is nicely paved. The entrance is currently under construction as of my visit and there is heavy machinery moving earth to make a more elevated entrance road. The need for this was evidenced by signs of washouts on the existing entrance road. However, this construction has nothing to do with the rough gravel road leading to the park entrance road.
Once inside, this campground is a big loop with 47 campsites coming off like spokes on a wheel. The inside sites have views of the other sites across the circle. The outside loop sites are more private.
Overall, the campground is nicely shaded by large cottonwoods and many of the sites back right up to the river. There is a decent amount of space between sites. A few don't have much in the way of vegetation between them, so not much privacy for those. There are back in and pull through sites. Also a dump on site and a group site. Hookups for water and electric. I used the restrooms and they were clean and adequate. Not sure if there were shower facilities. I didn't use them.
There is a paved trail to the river with benches for relaxing and taking in the beauty of the San Juan and there is a trailhead at the end of Rd 4280, but I didn't hike it.
I had zero Verizon cell service. Had to drive up to The Sportsman Bar and Grill in Navajo Dam to get a signal.
This is a fly fishers paradise as you can wade right into the river, fish and then walk back to your campsite with your catch.
ScoutThis is a campground that has access to the San Juan River below the Navajo Dam. There is direct access to bait Waters as the campground is on the river. The Quality Waters, which are catch and release and barbless fly fishing only, are a short drive away. This campground has shade, which is nice because the summer sun is very intense. It has hookups and is RV friendly, with both drive through and driveway sites available. The campground has bathrooms facilities, but NO SHOWERS. The campground is accessed by a rough dirt road, which may present an issue for some people. Overall, we really enjoyed our time here and we recommend this campground.
GuideOur family vacation destination- would provide 6 stars if a could. Main features- pool, great family play areas, huge lots and shaded lots- not really a bad spot. Pond, 2 Acre dog park- beautiful sites and quick drive to town or off-road. We stayed here twice because a bad experience in Silverton
ScoutIncredibly friendly staff, great store with camping necessities and fun swag. Dog park was large enough with a shaded tree and benches. Pickle ball, movie night, pool, playground ect included. Almost every space was filled but it was quiet because the activities are spread nicely away from where we were. Pull through sites with enough room. Good price for the location.
GuideFriendly staff, enjoyable stay. Wide spaces with picnic tables and grills. Showers, laundry, dog park
GuideAbout 5 miles drive to town which is fine for us. We stayed in a shady spot near the back. Bathrooms are clean and decorated with a country/western vibe, and a 2 acre dog park !
TravelerThe campground is set just a couple miles before Durango. They have a swimming pool, laundry facilities, a small dog park, and a very basic playground. They also have a little Caboose from which they serve simple breakfast items, and a little store with a couple of Essentials. Overall the staff was friendly and helpful and our experience was very positive. It was 55 bucks for a pull through site with hookups. We were not allowed to pitch a tent in the camper campsite.
Camping options near Navajo Dam, New Mexico range from developed state park campgrounds to primitive dispersed sites. The region sits at 6,000 feet elevation with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 90°F, though nights cool considerably even in peak season. Access roads to several campgrounds feature washboard gravel conditions requiring slower driving speeds, especially on the 2-mile approach to Cottonwood Campground.
Fishing access: San Juan River offers premier trout fishing with specialized areas. At Cottonwood Campground, "There is direct access to bait Waters as the campground is on the river. The Quality Waters, which are catch and release and barbless fly fishing only, are a short drive away." Many sites back directly to the river, allowing anglers to "wade right into the river, fish and then walk back to your campsite with your catch."
Mountain biking: Alien Run Trail provides purpose-built trails just northwest of Navajo Dam. The Alien Run Trailhead Basecamp serves as a convenient camping spot with "flat, very clean pit toilets, picnic tables with shade and a great trail." The area has "full bars of fast cell signal" making it popular with mountain bikers who "arrived in the morning" after overnight campers.
Badlands exploration: Angel Peak offers hiking and photography in unique geological formations. The 6-mile drive to Angel Peak NM Badlands rewards visitors with "absolutely incredible views" along well-maintained trails. "There are walking trails along the campground and benches to sit and view the canyons," making this accessible for most ability levels.
River proximity: Sites near water are highly valued. At Sims Mesa Campground, campers appreciate that "Several sites available right on the lake, just steps away from the water." One camper notes this area is preferred because "it has less traffic and less people" than the main marina area.
Spacious sites: Many campgrounds provide ample room between sites. Moore's RV Park & Campground features "large spaces" where "the RV sites are easy to get into, relatively level, and have tables and grill/fire pits." Campers appreciate that "The spaces are nice and wide and many have large trees for nice shade."
Year-round accessibility: The campgrounds remain open throughout all seasons. Winter visitors to Pine Juniper Campground find that "The restrooms are clean and heated" making off-season camping comfortable. A visitor notes, "This campground is an excellent location for winter fishing and birding" with decent protection from elements.
Limited shade: Many campgrounds have minimal tree cover. At Sims Mesa, campers advise "Not much shade on the Lakeshore, so make sure to bring something for the day time." This is especially important during summer months when midday temperatures regularly exceed 90°F.
Road conditions: Access roads to several sites require careful driving. The approach to Pine Cedar Campground can be "a bit too close to each other" for larger rigs, though a camper with a "30' Class C" reported fitting adequately. Some sites require navigating "rough washboard gravel" roads.
Wildlife awareness: Evening driving requires caution due to animal activity. When approaching from the east side via "64 to 527," campers report "deer and elk EVERYWHERE" making night arrivals slower. Daytime wildlife includes nuthatches described as "local camp robber birds," which frequently approach campsites.
Swimming options: Several water recreation areas cater to families. Tico Time River Resort provides "two ponds stocked with paddle boards and surf boards and sand" plus "a huge water slide with inflated tubes with an abundance of flowing water." The resort also features "sand volley ball court & trampoline" for land-based activities.
Site selection for kids: Choose locations with natural features for exploration. At Angel Peak, "The campground is set along the canyon" providing natural boundaries and interesting terrain. Sites with "covered picnic tables" offer needed shade for midday meals and activities.
Weather preparedness: Temperature swings can be significant. A camper at Pine Juniper Campground advises, "Unless you are lucky on the weather, it is best to have a heater for your tent or camper." Summer visitors report "it is very windy" at ridge-top sites, requiring secure tent staking.
Leveling requirements: Many sites require adjustment equipment. At Pine Main Campground, RVers advise to "bring plenty of leveling materials because several of the sites are uneven" despite having concrete or asphalt pads at some locations.
Hookup availability: Services vary widely between campgrounds. For full-service options, Cottonwood Campground provides "water and electric at sites with a dump station" though "there are no showers." Visitors needing showers can "use the showers at navajo lake state park about a 20 minute drive."
Cell service considerations: Coverage varies by location and carrier. At Cottonwood Campground, campers report "zero Verizon cell service" requiring drives to nearby establishments as "had to drive up to The Sportsman Bar and Grill in Navajo Dam to get a signal." Meanwhile, Angel Peak offers "strong 5G TMobile cell signal" for those relying on connectivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Navajo Dam, NM?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Navajo Dam, NM is Cottonwood Campground — Navajo Lake State Park with a 4.1-star rating from 8 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Navajo Dam, NM?
TheDyrt.com has all 93 dog-friendly camping locations near Navajo Dam, NM, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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