3 dog-friendly Bay Area camping spots to scout out this summer

You don’t need to go to Yosemite to have an awesome outdoor adventure this summer. And unlike Yosemite, which is experiencing massive overcrowding since the end of the park’s reservation system and which prohibits pets through most parts of the national park, many of the Bay Area’s county parks offer camping opportunities that allow for pets to join the family camping trip and don’t fully book out six months in advance.

Here are three nearby destinations to consider for your next camping trip (four-legged friends included) - plus three bonus campgrounds farther afield.

Huckleberry Flat, Memorial County Park, Loma Mar

One newly dog-friendly destination is in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Available since late 2023, San Mateo County’s Memorial Park has offered dog-friendly campsites at its Huckleberry Flat Campground in Loma Mar, deep in the redwoods.

The sites are in high demand - earlier this summer, they were booked out on weekends into October, but some summer weekday reservations were still available. There are six sites that can accommodate up to 12 people and three dogs, and one that can accommodate up to 30 people and five dogs.

The sites are relatively luxe, with well-maintained surfaces for tent setup, plus barbecue pits, picnic tables and food storage bins. As a bonus, the campground even had flushing toilets and hot showers.

While dogs are not allowed on most of the trails within the county park, they are welcome at Loma Mar Redwoods, a 174-acre property with old-growth redwoods that’s now part of Memorial Park. The entrance is about a mile down Pescadero Creek Road from the main part of Memorial Park.

Consider treating the pup (and yourself) to a morning stroll through the redwoods there, followed by a visit to the nearby, charming Loma Mar Outpost, a cafe-nonprofit-community hub offering baked goods, a mini market, last-chance Wi-Fi, weekend breakfasts, burgers, sandwiches and more.

Details: Huckleberry Flat at Memorial County Park is located at 9500 Pescadero Creek Road, Loma Mar; book a site by calling the reservation desk 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays at 650-363-4021. The Loma Mar Redwoods area is about a mile west of the Memorial Park entrance on the north side of Pescadero Creek Road. The Loma Mar Outpost opens daily at 9 a.m. at 8150 Pescadero Creek Rd, Loma Mar; lomamaroutpost.org.

Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore

Home to the trailhead for Murrietta Falls and one of the endpoints of the Ohlone Trail, the wilderness access at this Livermore megapark is near-instant, especially if you lock down a campsite ($35 and up/night) or cabin ($100/night) before you hit the trails. But if you’re not in the mood to hike “six miles one way with over 4,000 feet of ascent for a waterfall that might not have any actual water in it,” as AllTrails describes the route to the highly seasonal Murrietta Falls - you can skip the hiking and head straight for the lake.

While dogs aren’t allowed to join in the swimming here, people are welcome to swim, and lifeguards are on duty 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Aug. 14 and on weekends and holidays through Sept. 27 - though people should check the latest reports on bacteria and algae levels beforehand.

And don’t sleep on the numerous opportunities for pairing your camping trip with a visit to a dog-friendly winery nearby. A few dog-friendly options include Retzlaff Vineyards, Garré Vineyard and Cuda Ridge Wines.

Details: Open 6 a.m.-9 p.m. daily at 7000 Del Valle Road, Livermore; ebparks.org/parks/del-valle/camping.

Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park, Gilroy

A 449-acre fishing lake with abundant wildlife, trails and hot showers? This Gilroy camping destination, with 54 tent campsites, was surprisingly underpopulated on an overnight visit a few years back, given its amenities.

Despite its accessibility - it’s under 20 minutes from downtown Gilroy - the park feels remote, like a secret outdoor retreat.

Note that this area can get hot in the summer, and swimming is not permitted in the lake. But boats, kayaks, paddleboards and other watercraft activities are allowed until mid-October.

After your camping trip, you can celebrate your arrival back into downtown Gilroy with a visit to the Promised Land Brewing Company taproom, which has a dog-friendly patio so the pup can join the refreshing fun, too.

Details: Open 8 a.m.-sunset daily at 10840 Coyote Lake Road, Gilroy; parks.santaclaracounty.gov.

Farther afield:

If you’re willing to drive a bit farther, opportunities for camping (and hiking) with dogs abound throughout rural parts of California, particularly in and around National Forests and National Recreation Areas. Here are a few favorites:

Mammoth Lakes: Beyond Yosemite in the Eastern Sierras, this high-altitude, magical mountainous wonderland is an adventure pup’s heaven, with abundant swimming opportunities and endless trails.

Trinity Alps Wilderness: Northwest of Redding, the second-largest wilderness area in California features an incredibly diverse array of wildflowers and plant life, spectacular granite mountain vistas and alpine lakes. Nearby campsites are abundant, and you can also secure a backpacking permit to overnight in the wilderness.

Desolation Wilderness: This wilderness area, situated in the Eldorado National Forest southwest of Lake Tahoe, offers stunning hiking and backpacking opportunities, particularly around Echo Lake. It’s popular, and permits are required.

If you go: Make sure you know your limitations and those of your dog. Keep hikes on the shorter side, especially in areas where it can be hot, or where sand, pumice or gravelly terrain prevail, as this can be hard on paws and lead to injuries. Always be sure to carry extra water, and consider having a pet first-aid kit on hand. In most locations, dogs must remain leashed and under control at all times.

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This story was originally published July 14, 2026 at 8:45 AM.