Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Joyce, WA

I’ve stayed at Rainbow’s End twice. Both times were in their overflow camping area, which are two spots with water and electric only, under some trees which made for comfortable shade. The staff at the park are nice and professional, the facilities are always clean, and there is a large dog park (it has a somewhat short fence, perfect for my small dogs but be careful with bigger animals). Lots of people live at Rainbow’s end full time. It’s very clean and well maintained. You do get some road noise from the US 101, but it’s not too noticeable. If you aren’t taking advantage of water and electric hookups, it could be a little expensive.

We have stayed here many times. This campground has everything you need for a nice getaway. The sites are somewhat private, the bathrooms are sufficient, and there are trails to explore close by. The campground IS in the National Park, so make sure you have your Access Park Pass or you must pay the entrance fee to the park. Also keep in mind that National Park rules apply to dogs. So you will want to keep your pet leashed at all times, or risk a hefty fine.

Showers and flush toilets. Lots of campsites. Also, an area for RVs. Deer wander around the camp like pets. Sunsets are spectacular and the water views to the north you can see Canada. The area is a high bank from the beach. Very clean grounds. Keep your coolers in your car as there are racoons that wander the sites at night!

We camped here in September 2017 when the campground was first come first serve, and even after Labor Day it was a busy spot.

We thought it was one of the prettiest campgrounds. Heavily forested, with mossy trees. We also loved that Rialto beach was just a mile or so down the road. Perfect for sunsets.

The showers we clean enough, not spotless, but clean.

Our spots were on the smaller side, Only big enough for one tent really. But there were bigger and better spots than what we got.

Pet friendly, showers, and now accepting reservations! We will absolutely be back!

Wife and I stayed here in April 2019, during our tour of the Olympic peninsula. We stayed in many places from Sequim to Westport, and had a great time. The Dungeness area was great for bird watching, but I wasn't really a fan of the campground. Nothing wrong with it, just too big and busy for me. 

They do take reservations, I guess it's necessary with 60+ sites, and group camping.  At $26/night for non-Clallam county residents, and a $10 reservation fee, this place is no bargain. One nice thing is they do have running water, which is a rarity in the places I usually go, and coin-operated showers. A nice shower sure does beat the adult bath wipes. Firewood is available here, for $5/bundle of 6 sticks. Looks like one round split in to six pieces. 

For the price, I'd almost recommend staying at a VRBO or AirBNB in the area. 

Pets must be allowed, because there were plenty.

We stayed for two nights. On first night (Friday) we didn’t get there until 730pm but there were not too many people and we were still avail to get one with water view. There were many sites right by water open but having a puppy with us we figured to stay little fat from water. It’s $20 a night, and depending on which loop your site is in pay station differs (it’s all right by bathroom) one of the book we have says this place offers shower but we did not see one.

Size of the site was pretty big. There were 4 of us plus dog we had 3 tents (4p and two 2p tent) still had enough room for us to have cooler around etc. first night said lowest was 45 but it definitely felt colder. We had our winter sleeping bag but our friends said it was pretty cold. View of lake was beautiful and you can walk down to boat launch with wasn’t too far from my site (80). Some people had hammock but some sites like ours had trees too far from each other so if you’re thinking about hammock make sure you get a set with decent tree for your needs.

There is not many pet friendly hikes sadly. But there are plenty of short hikes near by for those without. If you go back to where the ranger station is there is hike for waterfall which is pretty easy and towards the end there is stairs but very easy hike.

Sites were busy on Saturday there were definitely more cars and people. Even there is quiet hours some people got loud pass midnight which woke me up. Please be considerate of others! (Sites were close to see each other but can’t hear conversations or anything)

Check out time is 11am. Sunday wasn’t too cold at all didn’t need my jacket in the morning to go use bathroom and we only started fire to cook, actually had few logs left over.

I wish I had my kayak or something. Water is definitely cold to swim but would love to be out there. View of stars by the boat launch at night was beautiful as well.

I think it was pretty quiet and not too clamped considering it’s only the second weekend after they open for the season. Would love to go back there in the summer hopefully there isn’t too many people lol

Couldn’t get a spot at Fairholme so I opted for this location. I only saw 2 small areas you could back in with fire pits. One closer to the 101, and one further back before you cross the bridge. Spots are muddy so I’d be cautious in regular non AWD/4WD vehicles. Secluded enough, but with easy access to the freeway just a 5 min drive down the road. There are plenty of other pullouts off the road that would suit someone just looking for a spot to sleep for the night, or van folks who are fully contained.

My only gripe, PACK OUT YOUR TRASH. Saw numerous bags, tissues, etc. stretching down the road and one of the fire pits at the sites had toilet paper all over it. Seriously? Pack it out or dig a cat hole at least.

I camped here the Saturday before July 4th, so I should have expected crowds... but it was raining, and didn't know enough people were as crazy as I was. After the pleasant 0.7 mile hike to the beach, I was amazed by how many tents I saw right by the end of the trail. It almost looked like a tent city! Luckily, after walking a mile or so down the beach, the tents spread out significantly and we were able to find relative solitude.

Amenities: There were a few small streams coming in to provide drinking water. We didn't use the privy, and I wouldn't count on finding a place in the woods to dig a cat hole. There was enough driftwood at the edge of the beach to set up tarps for rain/sun protection.

Plan ahead! you have to get a permit in either Quinault or Port Angeles, and bear cans are required.

Highlights: We saw a pod of orca!!! And lots of cool tidepools :)

Campsite Review: This campground in the Sol Duc Valley is composed of several different loops and setups for every type of adventurer. In addition to the lodge with a general store and restaurants, there is an RV only parking lot which seemed a little different as it’s just a parking lot with hookups and a table at the end of each space. There was no separation whatsoever between them. However, the loops are more set into the fairytale-like forest and you feel much more like you’re actually in the rain forest. The campsites themselves seemed to all be kind of small, and a little close together but with nice flat areas, tables, fire ring, and lots and lots of underbrush you can’t really see your neighbors. We stayed at site 38 in loop A which had a nice tent spot set out under the trees along with a decent table and fire ring set back from what is basically a parking lot that was open to the road. When getting your site be careful about the exact size allotment if you’re in a larger vehicle, because these sizes didn’t seem correct. This site is listed as being a 35’ back-in, but it really is just a shared parking lot between this and the site next to it (37) across from the central restrooms. While the site might say it’ll fit your vehicle, the roads are narrow and there are a good number of trees and branches around which may impede your maneuvering if you’re in something large. Because our site and the one next to it have “spaces” for 2 vehicles each, we did have a few people whom would pull up park in the “lot” and then explore around the campground and loop at the board for available spaces which was a little annoying, but at least they aren’t walking through our site.

The toilet facilities in Loop A were clean, but could have used a good once over. They seemed to have been maintained, just not super regularly and thankfully no guests had come in and destroyed them. There was hand soap but unfortunately the hand dryers were broken (which I normally like because of the reduction of trash, but dislike because of the increased noise they produce). You have some potable water/dish cleaning spigots, but nothing is there to catch the waste. There are also a couple of bear proof trash cans and the camp host sold fire wood (pricey at $8 a bundle). However, you can collect downed wood whenever the host isn’t selling wood.

Amenities: standard picnic tables, fire rings, plus flush toilets, potable water, & bear/cougar proof trash cans |Prohibited: pets off-leash

Nearby Hikes: Sol Duc Falls, exploring some old growth forest with a waterfall (highly recommended), Lover’s Lane, Ancient Groves, a self guided nature trail, & a couple lake trails

You’re also just down the road from the Sol Duc Hot Springs, which is 3 different pools with the water pumped into them. At $15 a person, this seemed a little pricey, but you do get access to the showers, so if you’re really desperate it might be an option to clean up and then relax after some strenuous hikes.

Lyre River is a bit of a hidden gem for car campers on a crowded and often expensive Olympic Peninsula. Tucked away from Highway 101 west of Joyce; it's a great place to settle down for a night or two, enjoy some fishing and visit some often overlooked locations on the OP.

As Washington Department of Natural Resources land the campground is free with a Discover Pass (purchased at any outdoor oriented location) and allows for a maximum stay of 7 days at the site. Because it is free and operates on a first come, first serve basis it's pretty full every night in the summertime. I would suggest arriving early (around 9 AM) and trying to swipe a spot when someone leaves, you may have to wait a bit but it's totally worth it. All spots are usually occupied around 11 AM and people are constantly driving through looking for openings.

As far as things to do in the area the main draw is fishing. There's a fishing platform at the southern end of the campground and a number of beaches with deeper pools that trout and salmon like to hang around in. One crusty old-timer said that during runs the river is overflowing with fish, including the highly coveted Steelhead. Around the area places like Murdock Beach gives great views of Canada and the Salish Sea. Joyce has a great museum and general store with a bit of everything. South lies Lake Crescent which has untold number of hiking trails, beaches and amazing views of the Olympic Mountains. The area serves as a great jump-off point for heading west on Highway 101 towards the rainforest or west on Highway 112 to Sekiu and Neah Bay.

Other points to note: Bathrooms (privies) are on site and there's a smaller privy in the southern end of the campground. There's a covered area to gather and a handicapped accessible campsite there as well. Although there are no showers you have the option of taking a bath in the beautiful Lyre River or driving to Salt Creek State Park to use their coin-operated showers.

This is my go-to spot while working out in the area and is great for families, friends or just weary travelers passing through.

Sadie Creek Campground west of Joyce on Highway 112 is perfect for a certain group of people, and not so amazing for another group of people.

If you enjoy Off-Roading or motorized anything this is the spot for you! With six spaces and plenty of parking for your trailer or RV, Sadie Creek has everything you could ask for. Also an extensive system of trails both on the northern and southern end of the highway will give days of riding through heavily wooded (and probably difficult) terrain. Also a great place for equestrians although if your horse spooks easily perhaps not.

If you are a tent camper or enjoy solitude as apposed to the social aspects to the great outdoors I would heavily advise against this campground. It's ok for a quick night's stay if a spot is open but the sites are practically right next to each other and expect to share the space with others that may not be so quiet. I would suggest Lyre River campground 6 miles to the east if that's what you're after.

Although there's no hook-ups there is a pit toilet on site. With a yearly Discovery Pass ($30) the campground is free. You have Murdock Beach down the road which gives great views of the Salish Sea. Closest town would be Joyce 10 miles to the east, with a great general store and through street to Lake Crescent. Multi-use trails run out from the north or south of the campground so great jump-off point for hiking or trail running in the Olympic National Forest.

We camped here by chance over New Years. Beauty, Lush, Evergreens, Moss, Eagles, the mighty Lyre River, Steelhead Trout, a hike to through Aspen forests to view the San Juan. It rained the entire time, with mini breaks, but we camped with a 20’ travel trailer and boondocked with a generator and full tank of water at the host campsite (#6). The water was on and bathrooms open but only at the pavilion. DNR was by daily, felt safe and secure. Joyce General Store nearby - been there since 1911 and owners bought it from original owners in the 60’s - a nostalgic place to get randoms, say hi to some locals, and get gas if needed.

Really enjoyed our stay here and our stay in Washington in general. Although the weather was iffy here the 3 weeks we were visiting, I would still recommend coming and visiting. Washington has some of the best hikes!! It did rain quite a bit which was a bummer, but we enjoyed our stay. We really liked this campground, and thought it would be a place we would come back and stay. We brought our RV all the way from Kentucky, and it fit perfectly in the campsite we got. We reserved our spot ahead of time, but we came in May so it wasn’t busy. We could have just come that day and got s spot, but I’m sure once summer hits it’s busy. We did some awesome hiking!!! Although it was foggy and rained on most of our hikes, we still loved every second of it. We also enjoyed some of the restaurants nearby and shopping about an hour away. Our dog loved hiking with his too!

Campground Review:

Bogachiel State Park is poised right between the Olympic Peninsula Coast near Forks, Washington and La Push and the Hoh Rainforest. It's incredibly lush, so even though some campsites are closer together it never feels crowded. Instead, it has a lovely, meandering vibe.

I appreciate that there are a two campsites reserve just for bikepackers or walk-ins, as well as the larger car camping sites. There is also a group campsite and a ADA-accessible campsite for disabled campers. The bathrooms have showers, and are also ADA-accessible. RVs under 40 feet in length can be accommodated, too.

Named for the Bogachiel River that extends out of the Hoh Rainforest towards the Pacific, you can get your feet wet here and even go tubing. The location is pretty ideal— it's a reasonable drive from both Portland and Seattle and equidistant between the beach and the mountains, so it's a great basecamp from which to further explore the Olympic Peninsula over a multi-day camping trip. There are plenty of amenities to make your stay comfortable, but you still feel like you're really in nature, which is nice.

Product Review:

As a Dyrt Ranger, I'm lucky enough to occasionally have the opportunity to test and evaluate products. On this trip, I tested Ethnotek's Padu Dopp Kit Toiletry Bag, the Padu Zipper Pouch, and the Chaalo Pocket Travel Bag.

One of my biggest pet peeves any time I'm living out of a backpack is losing all my small items only to find them rattling around in the bottom of my pack later. Whether I'm camping or traveling, I like knowing exactly where all my charger cables, chapstick, hand sanitizer, pens, sunscreen, makeup, and hairpins are. The Padu Dopp Kit Toiletry Bag and Padu Zipper Pouch were perfect for wrangling all that ephemera within my big backpack.

Both the Padu bags are surprisingly roomy. I was impressed with how much I could fit into them. There are a number of thoughtful details, too. The Toiletry Bag is pretty on the outside, but the inside is made of water-resistant fabric, so I don't have to worry about spilled hand cream ruining my bag. There's also a mesh pocket so you can easily confirm the contents at a glance. The other interior pocket is made of that same water-resistant material, which is nice for keeping things like your toothbrush clean and separate.

The Padu Zipper Pouch is smaller and simpler, with no interior pockets. Still, it was plenty big enough to hold all sorts of things, like a few phone chargers, sunglasses, and my spare battery pack. I like that you can order both products in a variety of different exterior patterns, too. It makes it even easier to stay organized when I don't have to worry about mixing up my bags. It's also wonderful that these are sturdy and practical, but pretty enough that I can carry them as a clutch bag. Perfect for when you're trying to travel light and need your gear to pull double duty!

The Chaalo Pocket Travel Bag can definitely play multiple roles, too. You can use it to keep your essentials in one place within your larger backpack, like your keys, wallet, passport, credit or transit cards, point-and-shoot camera etc. It's long nylon strap, though, lets you use it as a cross-body or shoulder purse, too, just the right size for excursions where a day pack would be too much. No fumbling around looking for the car keys— there's an interior key clip. No looking for a pen, either, with the three pen slots. I was glad to have this when we wanted to leave Bogachiel and grab brunch at the River's Edge Restaurant on the Quileute Indian Reservation thirty minutes away.

Like the two Padu bags, the Chaalo is also a really attractive bag that is as nice-looking as it is sturdy. That's a bonus for me— sometimes I get tired of outdoor gear that is all about performance but leaves something to be desired in the aesthetic department. Bogachiel is in such a beautiful part of the world. It's nice to have bags that are just as attractive.

Pros: Dog-friendly, spacious sites at Staircase with close proximity to Lake Crescent and several trails (no dogs allowed).

Cons: Popular site, so may feel crowded. Closest town is Hoodsport (30min drive). Limited access for dogs on unpacked trails in ONP (but for good reason). Otherwise, no cons.

Tips: FCFS campground, so if you want to land a highly coveted creek-side site, start your hunt around 11am for campers to check out. Don’t forget to visit a pull off site on the gravel road alongside lake crescent for a beer and a swim. You can purchase most gear + bear canister in Hoodsport. Take out at the local Mexican place is alright. Be smarter than we were and don’t sit on old tree trunks or else your butt will get sapped. Hike with your dog outside ONP at Big Creek, which is 11 min drive outside Staircase.

The Olympic National Park is one of my favorite places in Washington. There are so many great hikes nearby you don’t want to miss out! I think the best time to do is during the summer because the weather is the best this time of year. If you go in the spring there is still snow at some campgrounds and hiking areas. The fall is gorgeous here because of all the changing colors! Lillian Ridge Trail is amazing and a must do!! The views at the top are incredible. You’ll also see some wildlife- mountain goats and Pikas. We saw a cute little Pika family, with the little Pikas crying on a rock to their mother. We got the best weather in July, although it was VERY busy!! We did a few hikes nearby, all of which were full of people. Please look ahead if dogs are allowed or not. Highly recommend!

Perfect spot to enjoy the Fort and lovely beach. Super dog friendly. Free showers