Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Willamette National Forest
Paradise Campground near Blue River sits alongside the McKenzie River with pet-friendly sites that accommodate tents, RVs, and camping setups. All campsites permit pets with standard national forest leash regulations requiring dogs to be on leashes no longer than six feet when outside vehicles. Sites 17 and 49 offer spacious areas with river access ideal for pet owners seeking to let dogs cool off during summer months. Limberlost Campground provides a quieter alternative with pet-friendly accommodations along a smaller stream tributary. McKenzie Bridge Campground allows pets throughout its grounds with clean facilities and riverside spots where dogs can safely access water. The campgrounds maintain clean bathroom facilities with trash service that includes designated pet waste disposal areas to help maintain the natural environment.
The McKenzie River Trail, accessible from Paradise Campground, offers excellent pet exercise opportunities with multiple access points for leashed dogs. Dogs particularly enjoy the trail sections between Paradise and McKenzie Bridge where the pathway remains relatively flat alongside the river. During summer months, early morning or evening hikes prove most comfortable for pets due to cooler temperatures and less crowded trails. Nearby Proxy Falls Trail, a short drive from Limberlost Campground, provides a dog-friendly two-mile hiking loop through lava beds to spectacular waterfall views. Campers report minimal mosquito encounters throughout the area, making outdoor activities with pets more enjoyable than expected for a riverside location. The Paradise and McKenzie Bridge areas feature several shallow river access points where dogs can safely cool off, though owners should be mindful of the strong current in deeper sections of the McKenzie River.
