Pine and Cedar Lakes Primitive Camping offers pet-friendly tent sites in a secluded setting near Bellingham. Dogs are permitted on leash throughout this first-come, first-serve campground accessed via a steep but short hike from Chuckanut Drive. The camping area features several primitive sites surrounded by dense forest, with some offering views of the small lake where people fish. Log benches mark the designated camping areas, though facilities are minimal with no toilets or running water available. The boardwalks around Pine Lake provide pleasant walking paths for pets and owners to explore, with the island site at Pine Lake considered the most desirable camping location.
Campers with pets should bring adequate water supplies for themselves and their animals, as the lake water requires good filtration and may not be suitable for pets. The proximity to Bellingham—just 15 minutes from downtown—makes this an accessible option for quick overnight trips with dogs. Several hiking trails connect with the campground, providing additional exercise opportunities for dogs, though wildlife is present in the area and pets should remain under control. Bug spray is essential during summer months for both humans and pets, and swimmers can access the lake if shoreplants aren't disturbed during entry. While primitive, the forested setting provides natural shade that helps keep pets comfortable during warmer weather.
"Larrabee State Park is a publicly owned recreation area located on Samish Bay, six miles (10 km) south of the city of Bellingham, Washington."
"It's only a few miles from town, so you could head in there for a day away from the forest/beach, or you could hike one of the many trails leading to scenic views."
$12 - $40 / night
"Close to water. Close to beach. Lots of hiking trails good for all ages. ADA friendly and pets allowed while on leashes."
"If you look at the map, you can pick some spots with privacy (tent and rv spots) Great trails in the area. For training, hiking, or just casual walking; you can do all of the above."
$12 - $75 / night
"We were able to make it work, even with our dog-reactive dog, though. Recommend campsite 48 as it seemed to be one of the most private ones. The beach was lovely and not at all crowded."
"Beach walks and a county path nearby. There is also a marine center with small aquarium nearby."
"The dog park is gravel, so that was a bummer. The hot tub, indoor pool, and and gym are closed for the season. Not sure how those are seasonal. Overall it’s clean and quiet."
"There is a creek that goes by the campground and it makes it for a nice walk with dogs or without dogs :) There are a lot of trees there, which provide shade for part of the day, which is great."
"Great trails in and near this park we enjoy walking the dogs and riding bikes and watching birds if you like any of these activities this is the place and fairly quiet as well."
"The facilities were all nice and modern and there were trails going right off the campground loop that connected to the main trail network. We brought our dog for his first camping trip."
$60 - $120 / night
"Lynden KOA was the perfect nearby campground. Tent sites in the back are rather dusty (no grass)… but then again we’re camping so who cares. Grassy sites are around the pond and book up quickly."
"Lots of places to walk my dogs."
"They do have "proximity" sites next to the restrooms. The roads and sites are gravel, but seem to be maintained. There are a few hills that might be a problem for larger Class A's with a trailer."
"Close to the freeway. It’s convenient but you can definitely hear the freeway. It’s very safe and clean."
"Steep but short hike, but hey, it's close to town! A 15 minute drive from downtown Bellingham and you get yourself a secluded, quiet lake."
"Close to Bellingham, no bay views but nice scenery, little lake, and dense forest nonetheless. Good steep trails nearby and charming boardwalks."
$35 - $65 / night
"Lisa gave us a tour and let our children pet/feed the cows, goat, and pig. The kids loved it!!"
"It is located on a working farm. There were chickens, cows, calves, a heron (I think it was nesting near the driveway), a raspberry field, a garden and even a cat wandering around. "
"This was our first trip in a new trailer, and the park is close to home for us, so perfect for our maiden voyage. Shaded sites, some hookup (water/electric), but most unserviced."
"Beautiful campground located right next to the bay awesome walking distance from our site to the bay and not too noisy either! Would definitely stay again perfect for small children as well!"
Travelerit’s great access to the northern cascades. first time staying there and I have been camping in Washington since I was born
it has great access to some really good trails the scenery is beautiful.
ScoutGood little RV park, within walking distance of a dog park, children's park and public bathrooms which is nice. Only downside is that there is not septic at the spots which for $40 a night I would think that they would, but the water is clean and overall the whole lot is nicely kept up with and clean.
ScoutEveryone’s so nice, good dog park, pool, and friendly staff. Little mini mart on site.
TravelerThe campground itself is very clean, you can tell the owners take pride it in. The showers are warm, not as hot as I’d like but very very nice! The dog park is gravel, so that was a bummer. The hot tub, indoor pool, and and gym are closed for the season. Not sure how those are seasonal. Overall it’s clean and quiet.
ScoutWon't let me give zero stars. So I donated$200 plus, and stayed long enough to drive phase 1 and phase 2 loops, and then left and drove 1 hour and 1/2 home. RED FLAG: First, they take reservations but do not reserve a spot for you; rv spots are first come first serve. RED FLAG: No specific photos of RV SITES on website. All roads are gravel. Phase 1 are all straight back in and not angled. You literally butt against the rv directly behind with maybe 12 inches separating you. The slidouts were literally inches away from neighbors. The only thing green were the weeds around the power and water poles. Phase 1 was bascially a refugee camp. The rv pads were weeds, grass, and some gravel. This area is not maintained at all. Phase two was full, with no trees. Grass dead. Nothing green except weeds. Sites were big and wide. It's was dreary and sad. There were two other RV'S circling and appeared to as shocked as us. I've seen better dog parks. I called my friend who wanted a review after our stay as he had a reservation in September. Needless to say he cancelled his reservation. The beach is not walking distance I would never consider this park ever and plan on leaving this review anywhere I can. The photos in other reviews here look nothing like what I saw today.
RangerGreat spot for an Overnighter on the road through quaint Sedro-Woolley WA, this spot contains amenities for all, along with RV parking and a handful of tent lots. If you care to go swimming it has easy access directly to the lake with a primitive boat launch meant for smaller, canoe-like, vessels. Clean Restrooms, no showers, but they have a stage and performances during the summer months and two Parks, meant for all ages! Surrounding areas to explore include a Dog Park just across the way, and a spooky hike among abandoned buildings which were once part of Northern State Mental facility. Be sure to take in the Train display at the Town’s enterance and have a great trip!
RangerThe service… At first, over the phone, the worker here seemed very nice but upon arrival, this campground was very off-putting. I’m not a big fan of anyone walking into my campsite even if they think they are being helpful. But this worker followed us into the site and immediately told us our rig was too far forward… we hadn’t even cut the truck off yet. And proceeded to talk to us while we were just trying to get settled. Just really weird vibes.
About this site itself…. TIGHT. No room on either side. No privacy. No place for pets to go even though it advertises that there is a pet area. This morning, after walking to the back of the campground where the worker told us we could take our dog when we checked in, he told us that we couldn’t let our dog walk in that grassy area. We were like, there is literally nowhere else to take the dog. It’s entirely surrounded by business and the airport.
We kept to ourselves and got a refund for the final booked night so we could just leave. The worker was really not thrilled about that request and was pretty rude about it.
The only reason we give it two stars is for the location. You can’t get any closer to Bellingham which is absolutely awesome.
ScoutAffordable stay $25 @7/2020. Closing at end of month for renovations.
Well kept large quiet park. Great dg waking areas; including a dog park. Some sites with trees for shade. Hookups work. Free city dump station within a mile; easy to access. 2 clean bathrooms; no shower. Manager on site. Gate locked by 10pm. Access through older well kept neighborhoods. Grocery store on main road. Lorenzo-s was closed due to COVID; we ate their 10 years ago; mighty good rellanoes. Gave it 4 as one toilet with very slow flush! Perhaps renovations will solve that problem. Perhaps showers will be included; they could charge more.
GuideThe prices for everything is amazing! The campsites are spacious and run along the creek! There are tent pads that make the ground not so hard under your tent. A table, grill and campfire ring at every site. The cabins are very nice! And are spacious as well. Have a porch swing, campfire ring, table and grill outside. Most cabins have an electric heater and a heat stove inside. The heat stove heats up the entire cabin very well!! They provide trash cans and bags and a broom to help keep the dirt cleaned up!
The bathrooms are very nice and clean. And they have firewood for sale on site. There is an attendant that will be there after work hours for people who are arriving late to get you checked in and answer questions you have. There are a couple of hiking trails, twin lakes, boats, canoes, and bikes to rent on site. There is also an enclosed dog park on site. There are tent sites, cabins, rv sites and even little apartments to rent for your stay. Great place and only 25 miles from town!
Pine and Cedar Lakes Primitive Camping sits only 15 minutes from downtown Bellingham, with campsites situated at approximately 1,500 feet elevation. The area receives around 35 inches of annual rainfall, creating a dense forest environment with year-round moisture. Water filtration equipment is necessary due to standing water quality concerns.
Hiking near Deception Pass: Access extensive trail networks from campsites at Deception Pass State Park Campground. "There's lots of beaches to walk and trails to hike. The little store right outside the camp has amazing salmon," notes Kaila R. The park offers both beach trails and forest paths suitable for all skill levels.
Birdwatching at Padilla Bay: Bring binoculars for spotting herons and migratory birds. "Padilla Bay is beautiful and within walking distance of the campgrounds," writes CJ W. about Oostema Farmstead. Morning hours provide optimal viewing opportunities along the shoreline.
Fishing for dinner: Fish directly from campground lakes or shorelines. "People were fishing in the lakes here but we were hiking. Fairly empty," reports Harry H. about primitive camping options. Fishing licenses required, available at most local sporting goods stores or online through Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Train watching at Larrabee: Some campers at Larrabee State Park Campground enjoy the unique railroad experience. "Could be cool for kiddos," mentions Izzy H., though many reviews note train noise is a consideration. The tracks run adjacent to camping areas, offering close-up views of passing trains.
Fresh farm experiences: "We awoke the next morning to a beautiful view of mountains and farmland. Lisa gave us a tour and let our children pet/feed the cows, goat, and pig. The kids loved it!!" shares Christina B. Many dog-friendly campgrounds near Acme offer agricultural experiences during summer months.
Stargazing opportunities: Clear nights provide excellent star viewing. "Definitely worth a stay with its proximity to the beach, stargazing, hiking. The whole area feels magical," writes Will L. about camping in the region. Peak viewing occurs during summer months when skies remain clear past 10pm.
Weather considerations: Rain occurs frequently even during summer months. "Be prepared for rain," advises Leonard H. about camping at Deception Pass State Park Campground. Pack waterproof gear regardless of season, as morning fog and occasional showers happen year-round.
Site selection strategy: Early arrival recommended for preferred locations. "If you plan to hike or bike in and use these spots, get there as early as you can. All the sites got used and several folks who showed up toward evening didn't get spots," explains Travis D. regarding dispersed camping areas.
Wildlife awareness: Local wildlife includes raccoons and larger animals. "Just be aware that it has some nosy raccoon residents who feel very comfortable coming right up to camp to investigate your food situation," warns a camper at Larrabee State Park. Secure food in vehicles or bear canisters overnight.
Kid-friendly amenities: Many campgrounds feature playgrounds and activities. "With young children we loved that Larrabee had a playground area and easy access to the beach. We also took advantage of the hiking trails nearby," shares Carlyn N. at Larrabee State Park Campground.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming for children. "Cranberry Lake has a designated swimming area where the water is super shallow and just perfect for the kiddos," describes Travis D. about Birch Bay State Park Campground. Water remains cold year-round, so afternoon swimming provides warmest temperatures.
Entertainment alternatives: "Great Amenities…. Swimming pool, mini golf, arcade games, paddle boats. Lots of trees and shade!" recommends Renee R. about Lynden KOA. During rainy days, several campgrounds maintain indoor recreation options that work well for families with children.
Site leveling challenges: "The sites in the new section are strangely not level, you can tell by the amount of blocks under the motorhomes," notes Kathy A. about Burlington-Anacortes KOA. RVers should bring additional leveling blocks for most campgrounds in the area.
Hookup considerations: "Just 20 minutes from Mount Vernon/Burlington, near the water front/slough. Small campsites (some really tiny) with picnic tables, pit toilets and potable water," explains Shari G. about Bay View State Park. Many pet-friendly RV sites near Acme have water hookups but limited sewer connections.
Parking logistics: "Parking can be tricky in the higher numbered sites, especially for large vehicles," warns CJ W. RVs over 30 feet should confirm site dimensions when booking, as many older campgrounds have limited turning radius and narrow access roads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Acme, WA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Acme, WA is Larrabee State Park Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 41 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Acme, WA?
TheDyrt.com has all 193 dog-friendly camping locations near Acme, WA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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