6 Dog-Friendly Campgrounds in Washington and Oregon
When you’re planning the big family camping trip you want to be able to bring the whole family—including the furry family members. Dogs are our best friends, and you don’t want to leave your best friend behind. Though it can require a little more planning to find the right camping accommodations for dogs, it can be easier, cheaper, and give you better peace of mind to have them with you rather than arranging a pet sitter or dog boarding.
Here are some pet-friendly campgrounds around Washington and Oregon that are fun for the whole family. These camping areas have restroom facilities for the humans but don’t forget to bring plenty of waste bags to pick up after your pet. Now pack up your pup tents for a tail-wagging good time!
Washington
Deception Pass State Park
Deception Pass is Washington’s most-visited state park and it’s friendly to our leashed furry family members. The 3,854 acres is a marine and camping destination with 77,000 feet of saltwater shoreline and 33,900 feet of freshwater shoreline around three lakes. The park spans the two islands of Fidalgo and Whidbey, connected by the bridges Canoe Pass and Deception Pass. Families fish and swim in Cranberry Lake. Beach explorers comb for shells along miles of Puget Sound beachfront. Hikers can trek a part of the Pacific Northwest Trail for sweeping views and amazing sunsets. Birdwatchers monitor the busy nesting grounds and treetops while whale watchers gaze at the waters in quiet suspense. History buffs will enjoy learning about the history of the park and the stories of its discovery by early explorers, its time as a military reservation, then development as a public park by the Civilian Corps of Engineers in the 1930s.
The park offers docks and moorage for boating, watercraft launches and docks, miles of trails for hiking and biking, a horseshoe pit, amphitheaters, a playground, fire circles, interpretive center, and more. Other must-sees are The Sand Dunes Interpretive Trail at West Beach with its observation deck, The Maiden of Deception Pass story pole located in the Rosario Beach area of the park. Consider an extra adventure with Anacortes Kayak Tours or a tree canopy climbing tour by AdventureTerra available nearby.
With the three campgrounds at Deception Pass State Park there are over 200 sites offering a variety of camping experiences. Cranberry Lake campground hides in a setting of old-growth forest on Whidbey Island. Quarry Pond campground sits beside a rock-rimmed pond and has cabin options. Bowman Bay campground is a smaller, old-fashioned camping site tucked in the trees near the water’s edge.
Check for camp site availability at washington.goingtocamp.com.
Kalaloch Campground
Not all parks and campgrounds in Olympic National Park allow dogs, but this one does. Kalaloch Campground is located on a bluff overlooking the ocean on the southwest coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Olympic National Park. Trails descend from the campground to the beach 40 feet below. The shoreline abounds with marine life: tide pools shelter crabs and sea urchins in tide pools; sea otters float through kelp beds; and, colonies of shorebirds nest on beaches. Keep an eye out for a glimpse of whales offshore. Follow the Kalaloch Creek Nature Trail through the forest along Kalaloch Creek which drains into the ocean. Beyond the park’s 73 miles of coastline are three national wildlife refuges and one marine sanctuary. The Hoh Rain Forest and the towns of Queets, Quinault and Forks are within a 45-minute drive.
The park offers camping, hiking trails, beach access, ocean views, and forest and marine wildlife observation.
Camping options include 175 campsites, campfire rings with grates, and picnic tables. Food lockers and drinking water are available at the restrooms.
Find reservation information at www.recreation.gov.
Kachess Campground
Set within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest among dense old-growth conifers and surrounded by towering peaks near the northwest shore of Kachess Lake, this campground is a wilderness paradise. Kachess Lake is a reservoir that provides irrigation for south-central Washington. The surrounding undeveloped wilderness, streams and forests support a wide variety of wildlife such as deer, porcupine, native fish and migratory birds for visitors to observe. Starting at the campground, the Kachess Lake Trail is a short loop beside the lake, suitable for hikers of all levels. Anglers can cast their lines for rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and kokanee salmon from boat or shoreline. This is a prime location for fishing, swimming, boating, paddling and mountain biking in summer and early fall.
The park offers one motorized boat launch, one non-motorized boat launch, a swimming area and picnic areas.
Camping options include 150 sites for tent and RV camping equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings with grills, and vault toilets. Drinking water is available but there are no electric hookups.
Find reservation information for this campground at www.recreation.gov.
Oregon
L.L. Stub Stewart Memorial State Park
Set in the foothills of the Northern Oregon Coast Range in Washington County near Vernonia, this campground sits on former timber land along the Banks–Vernonia State Trail and was named to honor the memory of lumberman, philanthropist, and state representative Loren LaSells “Stub” Stewart who served on the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission. The 1,654-acres include natural features such as forests, canyons, and a scenic viewpoint called “Hollie’s Point of View,” named for Washington County Circuit Court Judge Hollie Pihl who was widely known as a very opinionated person and helped build the 21-mile paved abandoned railroad bed trail which connects with the park.
The park offers camping, picnicking, a disc golf course, horseback riding, mountain biking, a fenced off-leash dog area, hiking, orienteering course, and Discovery Depot Visitor Center.
Camping options include full-hook up multi-use sites, walk-in tent sites, primitive hike-in tent sites, cabin camping (some allow dogs), accessible restrooms, and showers.
Get details, travel updates and rules about pets at Oregon State Parks at stateparks.oregon.gov.
Champoeg State Heritage Area
For a lesson in living history you can camp at the original site of Champoeg, five miles southeast of Newberg on the south bank of the Willamette River. The historic pioneer town is where Willamette Valley settlers convened for the first time. Now a ghost town, archeological site, campground, and recreation destination, the park offers museum exhibits which include a restored 1852 house, an authentic pioneer cabin replica, an 1860s-style garden, and historic general store considered to be the oldest in the state.
Natural features to explore include acres of forest, fields, and wetlands with pet-friendly hiking trails.
The park offers camping, trails, picnic areas, wildlife observation, bike paths, fishing, disc golf, an amphitheater, and accessible exhibits.
Camping options include full hook up sites, tent sites, select dog-friendly cabins and yurts, restrooms, and showers.
Get details and COVID-19 alerts at stateparks.oregon.gov.
Ainsworth State Park
A waterfall wonderland for hikers and campers, Ainsworth State Park marks the eastern end of the Columbia River Gorge’s “Waterfall Corridor.” Situated along the Historic Columbia River Highway just four miles from the majestic Multnomah Falls, this shaded campground is the perfect starting point for a scenic outdoor adventure. Though dogs must be leashed at all times at the park, there is a designated area at the nearby Rooster Rock State Park to take your canine crew for some off-leash fun.
Natural features to explore the include the Gorge 400 Trail and Horsetail Falls trail located along three roadside parking areas a half mile west of the campground entrance.
The park offers camping, hiking and biking trails, wildlife observation opportunities, picnic areas, and a playground.
Camping options include full hook-up sites, tent sites, bike-in camp area, and restrooms.
Get details and COVID-19 alerts at stateparks.oregon.gov.