Camp Nauvoo is a small, family-owned campground near Placerville with 16 sites spread across 86 acres along a genuinely pretty Sierra stream. The Roses, who took over what was once a 1960s Mormon girls camp (and later a Boy Scout facility), opened their first full summer season recently with a real mix of accommodations. You can pitch your own tent at dog-friendly sites, stay in an unfurnished platform tent, or choose from a pair of plains Indian-style teepees and two luxury safari-style glamping tents — though those last two aren’t set up for dogs.

The central lodge has a fireplace, showers, and restrooms, with a barbecue area for cooking and a big fire circle where people gather in the evenings. There’s a children’s playground and volleyball courts if your group wants some activity, plus more than two miles of hiking trails winding through the property that work well for getting your dog some real exercise.

One nice practical touch: all sites are walk-in, which keeps the place quieter and more spread out, but the camp provides carts to haul your gear down to your spot. It’s the kind of detail that suggests the owners actually thought about what makes camping less annoying.

Dogs need to stay on leash here. The camp recommends treating your dog with a topical flea and tick preventative like Advantage about three days before you arrive, which is smart thinking for anyone camping in the Sierra foothills during warmer months. The combination of water access, hiking, and a genuinely relaxed atmosphere makes this a solid choice if you want something more low-key than a typical campground but still want some basic amenities and other families around.