Autumn in Washington State turns the landscape into a stunning canvas of reds, oranges, and golds. It’s the perfect time for camping with your dog.
I’ve spent years exploring the Pacific Northwest, finding campgrounds where dogs can roam freely and enjoy nature.
From coastal retreats to mountain hideaways, these eleven dog-friendly camping spots offer breathtaking fall views. Plus, your four-legged family member is welcome to join the adventure.
Deception Pass State Park
This park offers dramatic coastlines and dense forests painted in autumn hues.
Leashed dogs are welcome throughout the camping areas and most trails. The Cranberry Lake area provides a gentler beach experience compared to the windswept North Beach.
During fall weekdays, you’ll often have stretches of shoreline to yourselves.
Pro tip: Book sites in the Cranberry Lake campground for more shelter from autumn winds and easier beach access for morning dog walks.
Fort Worden Historical State Park
Your pup will love sniffing around the grassy parade grounds while you soak in views of the Olympic Mountains dressed in their autumn finery.
Beach access is a major highlight here, miles of shoreline where dogs can investigate driftwood and shoreline treasures. The campground sits atop a bluff with sweeping water views, especially spectacular during fall’s clear days.
Morning fog often blankets the parade grounds in October, creating an eerie atmosphere around the old military buildings.
Kanaskat-Palmer State Park
Rushing water from the Green River provides the soundtrack at this hidden gem east of Seattle.
My dog couldn’t get enough of the riverside trails here. The campground’s location in a forest of mixed conifers and deciduous trees creates a spectacular autumn canopy overhead.
Many sites back right up to the river, perfect for dogs who love water sounds but prefer not to swim in the swift current.
The park is typically less crowded in fall, giving you and your furry friend more space to enjoy nature’s show.
Lake Wenatchee State Park
The south campground remains open through October, offering prime access to one of the most dog-friendly beaches I’ve found in Washington state parks.
Frosty mornings are perfect for paddling with your pup in the crystal-clear waters.
The 5-mile loop trail around the lake offers spectacular leaf-peeping opportunities. Autumn brings fewer crowds but equally gorgeous scenery, with reflections of fall colors dancing across the lake’s surface each morning before the breeze picks up.
Rasar State Park
Rasar offers a gentler autumn experience with meadows full of grazing deer and riverside trails ablaze with fall colors.
The spacious campsites provide plenty of room for dogs to stretch out beside your campfire as evening temperatures drop.
Fewer crowds in autumn mean more opportunities to spot wildlife along the river.
The trail system is manageable for older dogs, with gentle terrain and beautiful river access points perfect for a quick drink or cool-down.
Kachess Campground
Unlike state parks, national forest campgrounds typically have more relaxed leash policies in camp (though always check current regulations).
Mornings at Kachess bring a special kind of magic: mist rising from the lake as the sun illuminates golden hillsides.
The campground’s location at the quieter north end of Lake Kachess means fewer boats and more tranquility during fall months.
The surrounding forest erupts in patches of yellow and orange, creating perfect photo opportunities with your furry hiking companion.
Salmon La Sac Campground
Fireside evenings here are something special. The smell of woodsmoke mingles with pine as temperatures drop into the perfect sleeping range. Just wow!
The campground serves as an ideal base camp for day hikes into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness (where leashed dogs are welcome, unlike national parks).
October brings spectacular color to the surrounding hillsides while reducing the summer crowds. The sound of the river masks any remaining campground noise, creating a peaceful retreat for dogs sensitive to commotion.
Colonial Creek Campgrounds
While the national park has stricter rules about where dogs can go, this campground itself welcomes furry friends and offers spectacular scenery right from your site.
The South Campground typically stays open later into fall, offering waterfront sites where your dog can watch for jumping fish.
The Thunder Knob Trail, accessible from the campground, allows leashed dogs and rewards with panoramic views of mountains in their fall splendor.
Temperatures drop quickly here as autumn progresses, so pack extra blankets for your pup. The combination of alpine lakes, jagged peaks, and fall colors makes this worth the drive even if you’re limited to dog-friendly areas.
Ross Lake National Recreation Area
Fall brings stunning colors to the hillsides surrounding this 23-mile-long lake.
Plus, the boat-in campsites offer a unique experience for dogs who enjoy water transportation. My pup absolutely lived for these boat rides to remote campsites where he could explore shorelines rarely visited by other pets.
Autumn temperatures mean comfortable hiking during the day and cozy tent time at night.
Beware, wildlife activity increases in fall. Keep dogs leashed and close as deer and occasionally bears prepare for winter in this pristine wilderness area.
Howard Miller Steelhead County Park
This county park offers a different kind of fall experience: salmon runs that fascinate both humans and canines alike. The riverside campsites provide front-row seats to this natural spectacle, with eagles often gathering in nearby trees.
The campground’s smaller size creates an intimate experience, with fewer neighbors during autumn weekdays.
Morning walks along the river let your dog safely observe the salmon migration from shore.
Dosewallips State Park
Fall transforms the deciduous forests along the river into a kaleidoscope of colors, while the campground’s location offers protection from autumn storms.
Low tide reveals a wonderland of marine life that had my retriever utterly fascinated.
The mix of saltwater and freshwater environments creates diverse habitats to explore with your four-legged naturalist.
We spotted river otters playing near our campsite at dawn. The campground sits at the confluence of the Dosewallips River and Hood Canal, creating a peaceful soundtrack of flowing water and gentle waves for nighttime sleeping.