Looking for the best options for camping with dogs near Alto? Find the best information on pet-friendly campgrounds near Alto, including sites, reviews, and tips. Each pet-friendly campsite offers quick access to one or more of Alto's most popular destinations.
Ratcliff Lake Recreation Area was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It surrounds a picturesque 45-acre lake that was once a log pond and a source of water for the Central Coal and Coke Company sawmill which operated from 1902 to 1920. The facility is open year-round and includes a large campground, picnic areas, a reservable amphitheater, a swim area and many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Camping is available year-round. The Davy Crockett National Forest, named for the legendary pioneer, contains more than 160,000 acres of East Texas woodlands, streams, recreation areas and wildlife habitat. Located in Houston and Trinity Counties, the forest is centrally located within the Neches and Trinity River basins.
Swimming, fishing, hunting, hiking and picnicking are the area's main activities. The designated swimming area and playground provides much fun for the kids (no lifeguard on duty). Fishing piers are available for anglers to try for largemouth bass, bream and channel/blue catfish. Only electric motors are allowed on the lake. Principal game for hunting on the national forest includes squirrel, deer, quail, dove, turkey and waterfowl. Three main hiking trails can be accessed from the facility: the 1.5-mile Tall Pines, 0.75-mile Trail Tamers and the 20-mile Four C, which winds through many types of forests to a scenic overlook. Learn more about recreation in the national forest.
The campground is heavily forested with loblolly pine, oak and other hardwoods, and surrounds Ratcliff Lake. A wide variety of wildlife exists in the area, including the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.
The Big Slough Wilderness Area, located along the Neches River about five miles north of Ratcliff, is free of modern development and gives the visitor a place for solitude and primitive experiences.
$30 / night
This is a trailhead for the 4C Hiking Trail. Neches Bluff Overlook, located at the north end of the trail, offers a panoramic view of pine-hardwood forests in the Neches River bottomlands with picnic and primitive camping facilities.
Campground at Rusk
Nestled in the Piney Woods near Rusk, the campground offers the exclusive experience of staying onsite at a historic railroad. Campers have access to depot amenities which include lunch, gift shop and movie theater access on train departure days.
Campsites with water only; water and electricity; or full hook-ups with 30- and 50-amp service and sewer.
Grounds are open to campers and train ticket holders at no charge. For all other use, there is a $10 per vehicle, or $5 per person, day-use fee which can be paid at the campground office.
Picnic tables, grills, fire rings, laundry facilities and wi-fi hotspot provided
Separate restrooms and showers on site
Water playground
Quarter-mile nature trail
Campground office complete with sundries, firewood, and ice for purchase$25 - $39 / night
The Piney Creek Horse Trail is a system of horse trails that meanders approximately 53 miles through the East Texas pineywoods in the Davy Crockett National Forest. Trail riding groups of more than 75 persons (including spectators) will need a Special-Use Permit and should contact the District Office three months prior to the ride date. The trail is primitive. Use caution in wet weather since parts of the trail flood. Some sections of the trail route around the bottomlands and can be used even in wet weather. ~ Map ~
We offer discounts for Veterans and First Responders. Please call Denny for monthly rates, as well as discounts!
Relax and settle in to your extra-large RV Spot. Sit and stay a while. Soak up the breathtaking sunrises, 35-mile views and incomparable serenity.
Every site has stamped, stained flagstone style patios and 50, 30, 20 amp service. We designed our East Texas RV park for the discriminating traveler who wants to escape the ordinary and experience truly sophisticated RV living.
Over 10 miles for hiking trails located on the property.
$45 - $55 / night
Ranger
Has great camping. Entertains many hike trails. One even for handicap person to follow thru. Good for horses or bikes. You can go for miles even to a dispersed camping lookout point.
Ranger
This is another Great in deep e. Texas. They have really clean it up over the years. Even thin out more by the swimming area and boat ramps. Has a boat ramp but no electric motors. Also a dump station. They upgraded a RV spot that also has a playground too. You will find remants of the old sawmill here.
Ranger
Has the best clear blue water for swimming in all of E. TEXAS!! Has exploring trails and even some wildlife roaming if you are a camper. Has a mystical, Lord of Rings vibe. ENJOY!!
Ranger
If you like fishing this is a popular fav spot among locals. You can float the river most either way overall. Sand bass is a fav when in season.
Ranger
Famous place where the limestone for the Galveston seawall after the storm of 1901 Has two ponds or waterholes. One is good just for fishing. The other grew up swimming in. Found big chunks of limestone all around still.
Traveler
It is centrally located on big sam for great fishing , nice clean
Traveler
Very friendly staff and residents. Mostly long-term residents. Nice facilities and pool. Privacy fence around lot and large shed to store in or use as an extra living space.
Traveler
Love this location everything was so simple nothing extra just simple relaxing camping and beautiful scenery
Scout
I can't tell you how much help this is for traveling and trying to find a lady minute place to stay. Had saved my butt more than once! Everyone who camps should try it out!
Traveler
First & foremost, This park is not well-maintained, and the camping sites are right off of the highway. The splash pad does not work, and the bath house was terribly dirty and freaked of sewage. The group sites are basically a big parking lot- zero grass space between site numbers, although there is shared grass areas along the rows. We moved site numbers within the group sites so that our kids would not be playing right beside the highway (there is a gate, however it’s still concerning), and to slightly distance ourselves from the traffic noise. Beware there is also a large wedding venue directly across the highway & our kids were woken to the sounds of fireworks at night on the weekend. There were large fire ant mounds all along the concrete, and we had to purchase fire ant killer ourselves, as well as deal with some broken glass & the trash can for our site that wasn’t emptied before our stay. I spoke with the staff member working in the office and all she could say was “i will let management know.”
As far as the good: we had 6 kids and 4 adults staying, so despite the concerns and annoyances, we still were able to relax enough and enjoy our break from the daily grind. The kids played outside all day- making walking sticks, fishing a lot, catching bugs (spotted some really neat moths, too), and making up games.
The best: the nearly-daily trains coming right through the campground for various reasons (loading new cars or taking passengers on a local trip). My son is an avid train-lover and this was the main reason we booked our stay here.
GuideThis place was great! Nice, clean vault toilet, many sites, and rather empty. Any car should be able to make the dirt road in dry to moderately wet conditions, if it's been seriously stormy, I'd avoid without AWD/4WD because the road is dirt/sand.
Guide
This park is in a perfect spot on the outskirts of town. It’s really quiet, has a pond, dog park, walking trail and the road to town is beautiful. It’s only about 5 to 10 minutes from a fairly new shopping center and restaurants. Has a laundry facility on site. Everything is super clean. Anthony is great to work with and is very helpful. Neighbors are friendly and courteous. Wish we could stay longer.
GuideDirt road to sites isn’t bad at all. Several places to pull off & camp. T-Mobile getting one baby bar.
Scout
It sounds like a great place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of East Texas. Moreover, relaxing with the basket random game will be an extremely great idea.
TravelerI have been several times.
We love it,,,
Lots of tall trees. Very little if any biting bugs. Grounds keeper pick up trash daily. Staff are very friendly.
For more on this great place. go to our Facebook group on this.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/781897506027639
TravelerVery primitive and off the beaten path, our 02 Mustang was able to handle it. No site numbers just pop the tent wherever. Very quiet and beautiful.
TravelerWould camp here again. Was defiantly a hot one in august 108 when we got here at 4pm.
TravelerIf you're someone who camps to get away from everyone, this is not the spot for you. It should come to no surprise that it isn't secluded as it does have several sites available. There's bathrooms and showers, a swim area, fishing, and a selection of trails to do while staying here. At the primitive sites you get a fire pit and a picnic table. Great place overall.
TravelerI recently did the 4-C trail at Davy Crockett National Forest. The night before I did the hike, I stayed here. There is no cost to stay the night or to park for day use here. It's very peaceful on this side and serves as the north entrance to the 4-C trail. There was on other camper there and they were no bother. I am not 100% on it, but it looked like there's only really two defined area for camping, but it doesn't seem like all that many people go there so you should be able to find a spot. There is a glorified porta potty and no water source, so be prepared for that, but it is primitive after all so you can't be mad about that. Definitely a good choice of place to stay if you on doing the 4-C, especially in a single day, so you can get started early.
Guide
Nice little spot right off the feeder road tucked back into the trees. Great playground, beautiful pool, friendly staff. Wi-Fi was great! I was able to work without using my hotspot. Bathrooms and showers were clean and stocked. We would definitely come back here again.
TravelerHad to come for a appointment and stayed a couple days. It's more of a park for workers in the area and a few that looks like they live here. It's a one row park, large gravel sites with a small concrete pad, some grass. No picnic tables or fire ring's. No office that I saw, never could get in touch with the manager or owners, sent a few messages and got no response. WiFi is pretty good though. I'm a little worried about getting out due to the tight turn leaving the park, I have a 40 camper and a 4 door long bed dually, large trees right at the turn onto the county road. It is pretty quiet mostly, couple dogs barking once in a while when people leave their dogs in the gates they have around their "yard" area. Looks like residents not campers. There is a laundry room with a pool table that says it's open 24 hours a day but it was locked and nobody was around to open it.. so if you just need a place to stay it works, if you're looking to go somewhere nice to camp, I wouldn't. Sites are close to being level and campground is on a slight hill, couldn't ride bicycles or anything like that.
GuideMy boyfriend and I stayed one night (were planning on two but there was a severe cold front when we stayed), and it was AMAZING!! Very secluded. If you take a right, just before you get to the actual “campgrounds” (saw RV spots with pit toilet), there is a drive able trail. We found a spot that had been used before, and it was very secluded and private. There was a creek nearby that we hiked up and down, even found what appeared to be a natural spring feeding the creak. We used the creek as our water supply, and the water was delicious. Lots of cool rocks, and even found a couple snail shells. 10/10 would definitely go again and explore more. The overlook is so pretty, and honestly, this place gave us the perfect camping experience. We were able to fit two vehicles in our spot, and there was a pre-existing fire spot. Lots of downed trees for wood. There is some spots of poison Oak/Ivy to be aware of, but nothing unavoidable and was in one area. It was a blast!
ScoutThis place is awesome to stay at and the view is breathtaking.
Traveler
Reservation all the way to leaving was a great experience. Staff was awesome and super supportive with any questions/assistance.
Camp sites and park altogether super clean and maintained.
Bathrooms in good spots.
Trails are awesome and scale from easy to hard. Cool landmarks to find in each of the trails as well.
Group campsite itself was great and was huge! Plenty of space and located great with couple Peking spots
Scout
There is nothing here. In the office is a single washer and dryer and a vending machine. There is traffic in and out all day and night.
GuideTook a chance on this campground because many reviews on various websites were bad and many were old...Used to be a TX state park but was "decommissioned" evidently. It is not the most maintained campground, but it is a small loop with pull-in sites w/ full hookups. The bathroom didnt seem maintained much, but we have a camper, so don't have need for the bathrooms. The texas state RR train engine car came through one time in the afternoon to turn around to pull the train back to palestine...that's pretty unique and a cool thing at a campsite IMO.
our group loved this place--albeit a very different experience if you are used to well-maintained KOAs etc, but for those that are self contained and just want to hang out/camp, it's a cool place. Had a nice walk around the historic train depot and the little pond behind it. we camped in october and It was very "fall vibes" with all the super tall pine trees and we thought it was a hidden gem and appropriately priced for what you get (ie: it's not priced like a KOA, so don't expect similar amenities--but there are good things about that too--it's not packed with people!!). Not sure I'd make a super long destination out of it if you're too far away, but We will be back since it's close to camp here!
Scout
We LOVED our stay at Salmon Lake! We have been here a few times. The staff is amazing, the prices are great and include full hookups and the campground is one of the most unique places we’ve ever stayed. There is an old west town, cabins, a ton of space to explore, some neat photo ops and a great swimming hole with a sand bottom. We were told that we were welcome to spread out and take up 2 spaces. The place was built in the 80’s for festivals so the new owners are working on a lot of upgrades. The new bathhouse is really nice. We love that we can camp in the woods or under the stars- there are a lot of options. We were also really happy when it rained and due to the sandy soil, the water drained quickly and we didn’t have to deal with mud holes that evening. If you’re into old school camping- this is your place!!
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Alto, TX is Mission Tejas State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 15 reviews.
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