Rise above the summer heat at these high-elevation campgrounds, where cool mountain air and stunning scenery make for the perfect getaway with your dog.
• Convict Lake Campground, Inyo National Forest: Talk about the “wow” factor. Convict Lake, known for its robust trout fishery and the dramatic, color-streaked mountain massif that frames it, is one of the most scenic spots in the Eastern Sierra, and its campground is one of the most popular. The 2-mile loop trail around the lake is dog-friendly and mostly flat, making it a good warm-up hike before tackling bigger adventures. Keep your dog leashed near the water’s edge, as the lake drops off steeply in places. Reservations fill up fast for summer weekends, so plan ahead.
• Wawona Campground, Yosemite National Park: Ten developed campgrounds within the park allow dogs, but Wawona has the advantage of being close to the Wawona Meadow Loop Trail, a wide, 3.5-mile path that rates as the only dog-friendly dirt track in the preserve. The meadow is gorgeous in spring and early summer when wildflowers are blooming, and the trail is flat enough for dogs of all fitness levels. Elsewhere in the park, you and your dog can enjoy the scenery from roads, sidewalks and bike paths. The campground itself sits along the South Fork of the Merced River, where dogs can splash around and cool off after a hike.
• Crystal Basin Recreation Area campgrounds, Eldorado National Forest: Five reservoirs and adjacent campgrounds maintained by the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD) make this area off Highway 50 midway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe a top destination for those in the know.
For families with pre-teens and paddle craft (kayaks, rafts or canoes), we recommend Gerle Creek Reservoir and Campground, where motorboats are prohibited and kids and dogs alike can play pirate on a small island close enough to shore for visual supervision. Loon Lake and Wrights Lake offer similar no-motor policies, plus direct hiking access into the dog-friendly Desolation Wilderness Area. If you’re bringing a motorized boat, choose one of numerous campgrounds at Union Valley or Ice House lakes and settle in for a scenic good time. Dogs are welcome at all the Crystal Basin campgrounds and on surrounding national forest trails, where leash rules are relaxed compared to state parks.
• Woods Lake, Eldorado National Forest: Arrive midweek to snag a spot at this 25-site, first-come, first-served campground two miles south of Highway 88 near Carson Pass and an endless network of hiking trails. The lake itself is small and picturesque, ideal for a quick paddle or swim with your dog. Bring a warm sleeping bag and fleece up even in August: nights are always chilly at 8,200 feet. The trailhead to Round Top Lake, one of the prettiest alpine lakes in the area, is a short drive away.
• Lake Alpine Recreation Area campgrounds, Arnold, Stanislaus National Forest: A necklace of six campgrounds rings this pretty little lake situated at 7,300 feet elevation about 50 miles east of Angels Camp on Highway 4 in Alpine County. Lake Alpine, Pine Marten, Silvertip, Silver Valley, Backpackers and Lodgepole Overflow campgrounds are all first-come, first-served and dog-friendly. The lake has a gentle shoreline that’s great for wading dogs, and the surrounding trails through lodgepole pine forests offer miles of peaceful hiking. A small general store near the lake sells basic supplies and snacks, so you won’t have to drive far if you forgot the marshmallows.
