So, a friend told you about a great place to camp with your dog. But how do you make reservations? Here are three places to start:
Reserve America handles reservations for 572 federal, state, private and regional park district campgrounds in California (a dog icon designates those that are dog-friendly).
Recreation.gov is an umbrella site for reservable activities on federal lands, including camping in national forests.
California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds lets you search by region and amenity and has a dog icon next to the listings. Many have Reserve Now links.
“Foghorn Outdoors California Camping” by Tom Sientstra (Avalon Travel Publishing) is a useful tome for finding descriptions and reservation information for more than 1,500 campgrounds, most of them dog-friendly.
Be aware that most of California’s coastal campgrounds, as well as most in popular destinations like Lake Tahoe, are booked out six months in advance for summer visits, so snagging a last-minute weekend reservation can involve as much persistence as finding a bargain airfare to Hawaii at Christmastime. But it can be done. Here are some strategies:
Inquire about the cancellation window at your chosen location (30 days at Yosemite, for example) and call that many days in advance of your preferred dates, hoping a spot has opened up.
Find out if your preferred campsite has any “first-come” or “overflow” sites in its inventory (most do). Take a risk by showing up at the gates about a half-hour before check-out time.
Some popular coastal campgrounds use a lottery system to distribute sites made available through cancellations. If you’re flexible, this can work.
Choose a campground that operates purely on a first-come basis and arrive on a Thursday if you want to stay over the weekend. Or go midweek, or wait until after Labor Day.
When you do land that campsite, a few dog-specific preparations will make the trip smoother. Bring a tie-out stake or a long lead so your dog can relax at camp without wandering into neighboring sites. Pack a portable water bowl and enough food for the trip plus an extra day, just in case. A lightweight dog bed or blanket gives your pup a familiar spot to sleep, which helps in an unfamiliar setting. And if your dog isn’t used to wildlife sounds — owls, coyotes, rustling critters — a trial night in the backyard beforehand can save everyone a sleepless first evening at camp.
One last tip: check campground rules about dogs before you arrive. Most California state parks require dogs to be on a six-foot leash at all times and don’t allow them on trails. National forest campgrounds tend to be more relaxed, but rules vary. Knowing the policies ahead of time saves you from awkward encounters with rangers — and keeps the campground welcoming for the next dog owner who comes along.
