Groton State Forest's campgrounds welcome pets throughout their various sites, including Little River State Park, Ricker Pond, Kettle Pond, and New Discovery State Park. These established campgrounds offer accommodation options for tent campers, RV owners, and those seeking cabin or glamping experiences. Most sites feature picnic tables, fire rings, and access to toilets, with many also providing showers and drinking water. Leashed pets are permitted at all these locations, though specific pet policies may vary by campground. Visitors frequently mention the well-maintained facilities and scenic surroundings for camping with dogs. Some remote sites at Kettle Pond State Park provide a more secluded experience for campers with pets, accessible by hiking or paddling around the pond.
Trail access directly from campgrounds allows for convenient dog walking opportunities throughout Groton State Forest. The Cross Vermont Trail connects multiple camping areas and provides excellent paths for exercising pets. Water access at various ponds offers swimming options where pets can cool off, though always under owner supervision. Campers should note that wildlife is abundant in the area, necessitating proper pet control and waste management. Smaller campgrounds like Gold Brook in Stowe and Onion River in Plainfield also accept pets, though the latter has received mixed reviews regarding site quality and maintenance. Seasonal operation varies by location, with most campgrounds open from May through October, and campers report that early autumn provides ideal camping weather for pets with comfortable temperatures and fewer insects.
$19 - $28 / night
"Little River State Park is located just outside of Waterbury Vermont so it’s an ideal location for jumping off on other adventures!"
"We came here to hike the Dalley Loop Trail (which is a great trail full of history), but we wish we had camped here instead of the private campground 45 minutes away where we did stay."
$19 - $110 / night
"This campground is easy to access, though owing to that one can hear traffic on the nearby road. The lake is beautiful, clear and clean, and there is a beach with sand for swimming."
"The campground has a small beach, boat launch and it's right on the Cross Vermont Trail. I stayed in October and it was really quiet and relaxing."
"Remote campsite #9 was a bit wet this spring but in truth everything has been wet here in Vermont this year. 3 night get away with son, and first time on Kettle pond."
"Kettle Pond is a classic northern pond set in Vermont's Groton State Forest."
$20 / night
"I’d say this was one of Vermont’s best kept secrets, except I don’t think it’s exactly a secret. Even in October, the Park seemed full with visitors and Stowe was hopping!"
"Close to tons of beautiful hikes. As for the campground. It was quiet, comfortable, and kid, as well as pet friendly. Would definitely camp here again."
$20 - $38 / night
"Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion. Noticed more than a few sites that I could hang at."
"There are hiking trails right from the campground, which we always appreciate. You can also go down to the water and rent a kayak or canoe from the rangers."
"While we were next to the creek at site 12, it was blocked by brush and trees.
Check in was easy, and the staff were present enough in case you had questions or needed to buy firewood.""Our dog loved swimming in the creek and meeting his first bullfrog. The campground also has a small pool, one washer and one dryer, and decent showers/restrooms."
"Check-in happens at Stillwater, purchase your firewood and drive the 2 min down to Big Deer. For Vermont, these sites felt close, but we could still get privacy."
"Very nice sites, most have good privacy and are rather large - many of them also have large boulders around them! Access to Boulder Beach is included, which is a short walk or drive down the road."
$19 - $28 / night
"Our lean-to, Hickory is situated in a lovely meadow, but quite close to other campers and a view that overlooks the campground road. There is very little shade and no privacy."
"Great hiking trails from easy to difficult. Early and late seasons are quiet. It's quite busy during the summer months as the lake is great for families and swimming."
"Tucked away in a beautiful part of Vermont, the campground is right on Groton Lake with a swimming area and designated boat launch."
"We brought our dog as well. Busy, depending on the time of year, so may be a little loud at night. RV sites available. Large campsites with fire pits and picnic tables."
ScoutThis is one of our favorite places to camp in Vermont. The sites are fairly private without being built too close together. Lake is clean and has a great concrete dock that the kids love to jump off. They have boat rentals and nature tours on the lake led by the state park faculty. When the kids get tired from swimming they're a nice beach area and playground.
GuideI have a 24’ RV towing a 30 foot trailer for perspective. I easily fit in site 107 and lots of other sites would have worked. They have a place to drop trailers if you don’t fit.
Sites 90 to 108 are best. Spaced out under trees.
Sites 1 to 16 are close to each other.
Sites 113 to 119 are bad. Very close to each other. No redeeming qualities.
Sites have 30 amp electric and water but might need a longish cord or hose. Clean easy to use dump with water.
Tent sites looked nice.
Short walk to nice beach or you can drive a car. Short tunnel so no campers or bikes on the roof.
Right next to rails to trails path that goes onto a causeway over the lake. There is a bike ferry to keep going. Nice ride.
Nice dog park 3/4 miles to the South on the trail.
Far away from noise. Can’t comment on loud campers.
GuideWe just spent 5 days at this wonderful campground. They have paid attention to all of the finer details. Beautiful landscaping, well leveled sites, very clean and neat. The staff is wonderful. My only disappointment with the camp is that there are only a few sites with sewer hookup. However, the dumping station is conveniently located, so if you have a small tank, daily trips are not a problem. There is plenty to do in the area - Littleton is a beautiful little town. The old houses in are incredible. New Hampshire is not a dog friendly state, but a short Drive into Vermont gets you access to many fine restaurants where you can bring your dog. Be sure to visit Dog Mountain in Vermont- a truly touching memorial to departed pets.
GuideVery nice, clean campsite. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Campsites are spread out, great dog walking areas , and very spacious dog parks, one for big dos and one for little ones.
ScoutWe enjoyed our stay here and our dog loved the dog park! We would highly recommend this campground.
TravelerWe stayed in a cabin with our pup. This place was very clean and loaded with amenities: pool, dog park, events, open fields, deer, store, etc. This was glamping with a fire pit 😃 There were plenty of sites for all size RV’s with hook-ups. A town with lots to do and see is nearby including hiking trails.
GuideThis campground is drive in and never touch the car again. Two huge sites that can be rented in tandem as a group site. Each site has a prep table, picnic table, fire pit, 5 gallons of fresh water, a raised platform for tents, and a porta potty. Very spacious sites. Easily two camoer vans and two tents on each site. Site is at the bottom of Kitchel and Herbs trails, atop the exit/entrance trails into the village of East Burke. Showers are a short walk away at Mike's Tiki Bar, in the Kingdom parking lot. The sites can be reserved, and usually are up to a year in advance. So call ahead! Sites are pet friendly and there's lots of space for big dogs to run around. Sites are super private from the outside world. This place is truly a hidden gem that can make your trip.
LegendThis is a small family-owned and operated campground just a few miles outside of St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The campground abuts the Moose River which makes for a pretty backdrop and wonderful place to dip your toes in the water. The shallow river is a clear flowing rocky river.
The campground is a mix of seasonal and transient campers with sites large enough to fit big rigs. There is also a rental camper and cabin available. There were tent sites but the owner mentioned they may fade those out. We stayed in a large pull thru (well over 125’), full hook-up site in the center section of the campground. (Site 27 @ $47/night). The electric worked fine and the sewer was easily reached with my 20’ sewer hose. The pad was gravel (as were the roads) and the patio was nice grass. Cable television is available and produced 32 stations. Our Verizon hotspot and phone worked well.
There are lots of activities at this park. It seems like every week there was a community bonfire where lots of palettes were set ablaze. During our stay, there was a potluck dinner in which the owners supplied roast beef and hosted us in a large covered pavilion. One evening they drove around the campground offering free ice cream sandwiches or drum sticks. Some mornings they supplied free bagels or donuts and always had free coffee. And, there were people always on the porch playing cards. Amenities include river access, a decent size dog park, large covered pavilion, bathhouse and laundry. When you arrive, you are given a swag bag with printed information about the surrounding area and businesses. This is a really nice touch because the reusable bag can be used in the grocery store as plastic bags have been banned in Vermont.
If you can score a riverfront site those are nice to sit outside and enjoy a fire. The pull thru sites are very close on one side as each RV pulls in the opposite direction; however, the sites are so long that if you pull up far enough you are not looking at your neighbor. Your patio opens to a neighbor but the sites are far enough away that it’s not a bother and you don’t feel like you are on top of them. Probably the nicest site in the park is #23 which is a back-in site with your patio facing the river.
The campground is in a good location, just a few miles from downtown St. Johnsbury, just a mile or so from “Dog Mountain,” and about 15 miles from Littleton, New Hampshire. There is a town forest just a few miles away that has some nice hiking trails. The campground is pretty small so we were happy to find places to hike with our dog.
LegendThis hut has it all and its pet friendly! It's a short walk from a roadside parking area (though a little longer in the winter due to the parking being moved across the road). There is a lovely wood burning stove and fire wood is supplied. There's a nice deck outside with a picnic table and fire ring there as well. The river is a few steps away and water can be treated from there.
There is a well maintained privy outside the cabin and toilet paper was available. The cabin has a sleeping loft with a few foam mattresses but the stairs are quite steep, too steep for a four legged doggo to make it up and down. There is a futon downstairs that can be used as a couch or sleep two people. There are dishes and everything you need from knives to bottle openers. There is a propane stove and a kerosene lamp.
The Nulhegan section of the Silvia O. Conte wildlife refuge is a short drive away with a lot of hiking options. There is a general store less than five minutes away in Bloomfield, VT. This spot really can't be beat!
Groton State Forest campgrounds offer four-season access in northeastern Vermont's mixed hardwood forests at elevations between 900-1400 feet. The interconnected network of seven state park campgrounds creates a concentrated area for pet owners seeking dog friendly camping options within a 30-minute drive of Calais. Winter temperatures can drop below zero, while summer days typically range from 65-80°F with cooler nights ideal for campfires.
Hiking with your dog: The Cross Vermont Trail connects multiple campgrounds and provides relatively flat terrain suitable for all ages and abilities. At Kettle Pond State Park, you'll find "a great walk or moderate hike" that "takes about 2.5 hours" to loop around the pond according to one camper who noted they've "been coming here since I was a little kid."
Paddling on motor-free ponds: Kettle Pond prohibits motorized boats, creating a peaceful atmosphere for wildlife viewing. Visitors frequently spot loons, beavers and other wildlife while paddling. One camper at Ricker Pond State Park emphasized that the pond is "motor free" and "a great place to swim, paddle, explore, and fish."
Winter camping options: While most campgrounds close after Columbus Day, some parks offer winter accessibility. A camper at Smugglers Notch State Park noted: "Free of charge during off season, you just have to call a couple weeks ahead to reserve and make sure you park in the allotted area. Hike/snowshoe in to your site as the gate is closed and the area is not plowed."
Remote site seclusion: For those seeking privacy with their pets, several campgrounds offer isolated sites. At Kettle Pond State Park, "The first two lean-tos are a few hundred feet apart. But the rest are fairly private, spread out along a trail that rings the pond... The farthest, most remote site, is about a mile from the parking lot."
Multi-day paddling adventures: Accessing remote sites by water creates unique camping experiences. One visitor described their Kettle Pond experience: "We rented canoes and paddles across Kettle Pond to one of the shelter sites in early September and it was incredible. Each site has access to a fire pit, lean-to, and outhouse but no immediate running water."
Night sky viewing: The area's limited light pollution provides exceptional stargazing opportunities. A visitor at Elmore State Park shared: "Because our lean-to was in a meadow with no tree coverage, we were treated to the most awesome night sky we've ever seen at a Vermont state park. It was mesmerizing!"
Limited facilities at remote sites: While beautiful, boat-in and remote sites have minimal amenities. At Kettle Pond State Park, "Remote campsite #9 was a bit wet this spring but in truth everything has been wet here in Vermont this year... The site had plenty of places to hang our hammocks."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly between campgrounds. A visitor at Little River State Park noted they "would highly recommend this campground to anyone looking to visit the Stowe/Waterbury area. We had easy access to hikes in Stowe, plus the Ben and Jerry's shop is about 20 minutes down the road!"
Reservation timeline: Popular sites book quickly, especially for summer weekends. For Ricker Pond State Park, one frequent visitor advised: "I've been visiting Ricker Pond for nearly 20 years (except for the years that I don't book enough in advance and aren't able to secure a spot for my desired length of stay)... Book in advance for the best availability!"
Easy access water activities: Shallow shorelines provide safe swimming areas at several parks. At Big Deer State Park, visitors noted: "Access to Boulder Beach is included, which is a short walk or drive down the road." This arrangement gives families flexibility for swimming without staying directly on busier beach campgrounds.
Educational ranger programs: Parks often offer structured activities for children. One visitor to Stillwater State Park reported: "On our second day, there was an interpretive program at the pavilion. The ranger led visitors in making bark boats out of materials found in the park. The project was a great idea, as the kids could test their boats right there in the lake."
Kid-friendly hiking options: Several short trails accommodate young hikers. At Little River State Park, one visitor shared: "The hiking trails are really good—actually pretty steep. There are lots of old foundations hidden on the trails that are fun to discover."
Limited hookup options: Most state parks in the area lack electric and water connections at sites. One exception is Gold Brook Campground in Stowe, where campers report: "Our site was level and extremely spacious, FHUs, and featuring a fire pit. There is a nice playground in the center and a creek that follows the tent sites."
Bridge and access limitations: Some campgrounds have narrow access points. A visitor to Onion River Campground cautioned: "Lovely river running through the property but you need to go over a bridge in order to get to the campground which is ridiculously narrow and there are terrible potholes. Our 42 foot fifth wheel barely made it in."
Winter storage considerations: Seasonal camping requires proper winterization due to freezing temperatures. Little River State Park's season runs "May 19 to October 22," requiring RVers to plan for storage or alternative camping during the colder months when temperatures regularly drop below freezing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Calais, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Calais, VT is Little River State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 24 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 163 dog-friendly camping locations near Calais, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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