Camp Shelly is a 25-site campground tucked into the forest a few miles outside South Lake Tahoe, sitting just above Highway 89 between town and Emerald Bay. The location puts you in a pretty sweet spot for accessing the area’s lakes and trails without being right in the thick of South Lake Tahoe’s summer crowds.

The sites themselves are spacious and ringed by tall trees, which means good shade during the day and a real sense of being in the woods. Your dog can move around freely at the campground, and the proximity to hiking trails and water access makes it easy to spend whole days exploring. Swimming and fishing are both options in the nearby lakes, and there are enough trails in the surrounding area that you won’t run out of places to walk your dog if you stay for a few days.

Each site comes with a fire pit and picnic table, so you can cook over a campfire if that’s your style. The campground has that classic camp feel—nothing fancy, just solid basics that let you focus on being outside. Summer gets busy here since it’s so close to Tahoe, so don’t show up expecting solitude in July or August. Spring and fall tend to be quieter, though you’ll want to plan accordingly for weather, especially as elevation changes.

Since it’s managed by the Livermore Area Recreation and Parks District, you’ll want to check their website or call ahead for current availability and any seasonal closures. The drive from the Bay Area is reasonable if you’re looking for a quick mountain getaway that doesn’t require a long drive each way.