- Camping with pets allowed
The best dog-friendly camping in Lake Don Pedro
95% (6K) • 413 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds in Lake Don Pedro
BaseCampByBo!
1. BaseCampByBo!
95%
(343)
Groveland, CA · 6 sites · Tents, RVs
If you are looking for man made and leveled campsites, then this is not your basecamp. This land is a gorgeous 20 acres that means a lot to us.
It's space to find your peace of mind and pitch a tent or hammock, as you would when hiking the backcountry.
Aside from complimentary ice water, potty, shower, soaps, sanitizer, sunscreen, first aid, communal fire pit, wood stove and dishwashing area) this is not "glamping".
If you are a person who appreciates nature and making due with what the land has provided, then we are a great fit.
Guests have 20 acres to find a secluded, or socially distanced spot to pitch camp.
This is for people that know how to camp in the backcountry -
Without a trash can, who don’t leave cigarette butts, respect the land and would rather not be sectioned off.
Flat areas are all over if you explore, and use your feet to brush aside rocks and twigs, to lay down a tent base, as we do every time we camp in the backcountry.
The geography of these mountains is just that, hills and mountains. The vista at the top of the property is gorgeous and easily camps 5 tents spaced out. The property does offer many other great camping areas, and I’m more than happy to point them out.
Yosemite is 30 minutes away, Don Pedro lake is 30 minutes, Cherry Lake is 30 minutes, Preston falls and Carlon falls are both 30 min away. Downtown Groveland Is 7 minutes away, and other historic towns are not too far.
Close to many swimming holes. Rainbow pools is 15 minutes away. 10 min from the local grocery store and other local shops. Base Camp is just off of highway 120. Sonora has a great farmers market on Sunday and is a beautiful 40 min drive away.
Thank you for taking time to read this, we look forward to hosting you!
-Best
Jarrett & Bo
Toilets
Showers
Potable water
from
$88
/ night
Private Reservoir
2. Private Reservoir
94%
(49)
Valley Springs, CA · 3 sites · Tents, RVs
Private property on a private reservoir. Enjoy some quiet time on the water, swimming, fishing, camping or just sitting and enjoying this hidden gem. Conveniently located a couple minutes from town to get some groceries or even fast food and gas. Also minutes from the large lake of New Hogan if your brining a jet ski or boat. Come relax on this 10 acres of private water access.
Fish till your heart is content. Please catch and release. We have a variety of fish: Bass, Blue Gill, Cat fish and even some big Carp. Use our canoe or paddle boat or bring your own kayak, SUP, canoe etc.
Newly added large floating dock, sand beach and large swing set/ hammock polls. Come play and have fun and listen to the sounds of frogs at night and the birds in the morning.
Campfires
Picnic table
from
$76
/ night
LDMA Italian Bar
3. LDMA Italian Bar
93%
(21)
Columbia, CA · 20 sites · Tents, RVs
The Lost Dutchman Italian Bar Camp is a 160 acres of Priviately Owned Patented Mining land and our priviate campground located in the Stanislaus National Forest and on the South Fork of the Stanislaus River, which runs through the camp.
Camping is available on both side of the river making the Italian Bar camp a destination for campers since we rebuilt the camp from the ground up in the late 1970’s.
Whether you want to relax in your campsite listening to the river, dip your toes in the cool waters or try your hand at panning for gold, I-Bar offers all of this and more. There are miles of hiking opportunities around the camp as well, from short river hikes to Trailblazing like the Miners of old. We are betting that you can find the types of hiking you are looking for.
You camping includes access to the Bathhouse with commodes and showers. And yes there is even hot water.
Little History:
The property was discovered and first settled around 1849 as a gold rush mining camp. At one time over 3,000 people lived here and mined for gold. When the gold rush came to an end so did Italian Bar. Until over a hundred years later, In 1976 when our founder fell in love with this remote property and purchased the land and we began rebuilding the I-Bar camp from the ground up and opened it to our members. It didn't hurt that somewhere close by Our founder found a 800oz pocket of gold. Even today, Prospecting for gold is encouraged!
If you want to try your hand at “Gettin on some of the shiny” let the Caretakers know! We have a few gold pans we loan out that are just waiting for some color to make you smile.
Of course we have pans for sale.
If you’re an avid outdoors person, carrying a gold pan with you just makes sense.
Big Trees State Park: 1 1/2 hour drive
Yosemite National Park: 2 hour drive
*We are located approximately 7.5 miles from Columbia State Historic Park. Italian Bar road turns into gravel 5 miles from the park. The camp is 3.5 miles from the start of the gravel.*
Please call (209) 213-1485 for any questions
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from
$60
/ night
Main Street
4. Main Street
Chinese Camp, CA · 2 sites · Tents, RVs
Welcome to a unique property located in the heart of the historic and haunted town of Chinese Camp! This centrally located lot features two separate entrances for easy access and convenience. The property is equipped with a 220V power supply at 80 amps, offering ample electrical capacity for your needs. You'll find both an asphalted parking spot for smooth parking and an additional gravel parking area for extra space.
A notable feature of this lot is its original, hand-dug well, steeped in history and mystery, leading to underground caves that remain off-limits for safety. This one-of-a-kind property blends historical charm with practical amenities, offering endless potential in a fascinating setting. Don't miss the chance to own a piece of Chinese Camp's eerie legacy!
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Water hookup
from
$30
/ night
Joyful Heart
5. Joyful Heart
99%
(69)
Jamestown, CA · 1 site
When we moved to the Sierra Foothills, we found this cozy, little spot on the property and we set up a campsite for friends and family.
People loved the space so much that we decided to build this cozy cabin and host other guests as well...
The hot tub can be filled with fresh water and be heated by wood and/or be filled using the on demand hot water heater.
The private outdoor shower is in a beautiful garden setting.
Toilets
Showers
Campfires
from
$95
/ night
95% (6K) • 413 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds in Lake Don Pedro
BaseCampByBo!
1. BaseCampByBo!
95%
(343)
Groveland, CA · 6 sites · Tents, RVs
If you are looking for man made and leveled campsites, then this is not your basecamp. This land is a gorgeous 20 acres that means a lot to us.
It's space to find your peace of mind and pitch a tent or hammock, as you would when hiking the backcountry.
Aside from complimentary ice water, potty, shower, soaps, sanitizer, sunscreen, first aid, communal fire pit, wood stove and dishwashing area) this is not "glamping".
If you are a person who appreciates nature and making due with what the land has provided, then we are a great fit.
Guests have 20 acres to find a secluded, or socially distanced spot to pitch camp.
This is for people that know how to camp in the backcountry -
Without a trash can, who don’t leave cigarette butts, respect the land and would rather not be sectioned off.
Flat areas are all over if you explore, and use your feet to brush aside rocks and twigs, to lay down a tent base, as we do every time we camp in the backcountry.
The geography of these mountains is just that, hills and mountains. The vista at the top of the property is gorgeous and easily camps 5 tents spaced out. The property does offer many other great camping areas, and I’m more than happy to point them out.
Yosemite is 30 minutes away, Don Pedro lake is 30 minutes, Cherry Lake is 30 minutes, Preston falls and Carlon falls are both 30 min away. Downtown Groveland Is 7 minutes away, and other historic towns are not too far.
Close to many swimming holes. Rainbow pools is 15 minutes away. 10 min from the local grocery store and other local shops. Base Camp is just off of highway 120. Sonora has a great farmers market on Sunday and is a beautiful 40 min drive away.
Thank you for taking time to read this, we look forward to hosting you!
-Best
Jarrett & Bo
Toilets
Showers
Potable water
from
$88
/ night
Private Reservoir
2. Private Reservoir
94%
(49)
Valley Springs, CA · 3 sites · Tents, RVs
Private property on a private reservoir. Enjoy some quiet time on the water, swimming, fishing, camping or just sitting and enjoying this hidden gem. Conveniently located a couple minutes from town to get some groceries or even fast food and gas. Also minutes from the large lake of New Hogan if your brining a jet ski or boat. Come relax on this 10 acres of private water access.
Fish till your heart is content. Please catch and release. We have a variety of fish: Bass, Blue Gill, Cat fish and even some big Carp. Use our canoe or paddle boat or bring your own kayak, SUP, canoe etc.
Newly added large floating dock, sand beach and large swing set/ hammock polls. Come play and have fun and listen to the sounds of frogs at night and the birds in the morning.
Campfires
Picnic table
from
$76
/ night
LDMA Italian Bar
3. LDMA Italian Bar
93%
(21)
Columbia, CA · 20 sites · Tents, RVs
The Lost Dutchman Italian Bar Camp is a 160 acres of Priviately Owned Patented Mining land and our priviate campground located in the Stanislaus National Forest and on the South Fork of the Stanislaus River, which runs through the camp.
Camping is available on both side of the river making the Italian Bar camp a destination for campers since we rebuilt the camp from the ground up in the late 1970’s.
Whether you want to relax in your campsite listening to the river, dip your toes in the cool waters or try your hand at panning for gold, I-Bar offers all of this and more. There are miles of hiking opportunities around the camp as well, from short river hikes to Trailblazing like the Miners of old. We are betting that you can find the types of hiking you are looking for.
You camping includes access to the Bathhouse with commodes and showers. And yes there is even hot water.
Little History:
The property was discovered and first settled around 1849 as a gold rush mining camp. At one time over 3,000 people lived here and mined for gold. When the gold rush came to an end so did Italian Bar. Until over a hundred years later, In 1976 when our founder fell in love with this remote property and purchased the land and we began rebuilding the I-Bar camp from the ground up and opened it to our members. It didn't hurt that somewhere close by Our founder found a 800oz pocket of gold. Even today, Prospecting for gold is encouraged!
If you want to try your hand at “Gettin on some of the shiny” let the Caretakers know! We have a few gold pans we loan out that are just waiting for some color to make you smile.
Of course we have pans for sale.
If you’re an avid outdoors person, carrying a gold pan with you just makes sense.
Big Trees State Park: 1 1/2 hour drive
Yosemite National Park: 2 hour drive
*We are located approximately 7.5 miles from Columbia State Historic Park. Italian Bar road turns into gravel 5 miles from the park. The camp is 3.5 miles from the start of the gravel.*
Please call (209) 213-1485 for any questions
Toilets
Campfires
Showers
from
$60
/ night
Main Street
4. Main Street
Chinese Camp, CA · 2 sites · Tents, RVs
Welcome to a unique property located in the heart of the historic and haunted town of Chinese Camp! This centrally located lot features two separate entrances for easy access and convenience. The property is equipped with a 220V power supply at 80 amps, offering ample electrical capacity for your needs. You'll find both an asphalted parking spot for smooth parking and an additional gravel parking area for extra space.
A notable feature of this lot is its original, hand-dug well, steeped in history and mystery, leading to underground caves that remain off-limits for safety. This one-of-a-kind property blends historical charm with practical amenities, offering endless potential in a fascinating setting. Don't miss the chance to own a piece of Chinese Camp's eerie legacy!
Electrical hookup
Campfires
Water hookup
from
$30
/ night
Joyful Heart
5. Joyful Heart
99%
(69)
Jamestown, CA · 1 site
When we moved to the Sierra Foothills, we found this cozy, little spot on the property and we set up a campsite for friends and family.
People loved the space so much that we decided to build this cozy cabin and host other guests as well...
The hot tub can be filled with fresh water and be heated by wood and/or be filled using the on demand hot water heater.
The private outdoor shower is in a beautiful garden setting.
Toilets
Showers
Campfires
from
$95
/ night
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
K
Kenneth
January 2026
Tent
Group trip
Highly recommend this spot if you love quiet, secluded camping. The host, Jarrett, was really friendly and helpful. He greeted us when we got there and gave us a run down of everything we needed to know for our stay. The hill top view of the sunrise and sunset was beyond beautiful. Looking forward to staying here again for our next trip to Yosemite!
See more
Elizabeth
January 2026
16 ft car
This was our third time here and we loved every second of it! As usual, Emily went above and beyond to make us have the best stay possible! We even got there late to check in and she helped us get settled in the dark. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a getaway by the river. Thank you so much Emily, as always! We will be back soon 😊
See more
J
Jenny
January 2026
With pets
Malaina was a super responsive, thoughtful and accommodating host! Absolutely a delight.
I've never slept in a more comfortable bed! The heater kept the space warm and cozy. The plush bathrobes and towels were a nice touch.
Just a shame we couldn't enjoy the property fully on our first day NYE (no fault of Malaina obviously). The heavy rain made it a pain to walk to the outhouse, use the kitchen area and sit by the fire pit. New Year's Day was perfect though and we welcomed the New Year with a nice, relaxing soak.
It is the perfect place to unwind, reflect, do minimal things (I did start to get a little stir crazy with the rain pounding on our roof). I'd recommend lots of reading materials, a lantern (one was provided) and more candles.
See more
N
Nichol
December 2025
With pets
Malaina was a great host, respected our privacy and wow both my boyfriend and I were significantly impressed with the hot tub. Cool area to explore, malaina recommended a hike that gave a beautiful view of Lake New Malones. The bed was a comfy and there was a gate we could close off our space with for optimal privacy/comfort for puppy off leash. Thanks for a great adventure!
See more
M
Megan
November 2025
Weekend Trip to Joyful Heart
Malaina’s space was magical and Malaina was a fantastic, attentive host. We arrived a bit late and Malaina had started a fire and heated up the cabin for our arrival. The hot tub was a fun touch, the instant hot water was great, and we loved the outdoor shower! Perfect spot for a romantic, private getaway with spectacular stargazing and waking up to the birds singing.
See more
j
jeff
October 2025
Tent
Group trip
We had a great time. They had nice chairs perfect for relaxing on the dock. Lots of wildlife to enjoy the sounds of nature. 10/10 recommend.
See moreM
Mary
October 2025
3 nights at Joyful Heart
There was everything to love and appreciate about this Jamestown getaway. I felt so close to nature, so relaxed, and so taken by the bird chorus surrounding me. Truly special. And the host, Malaina, was amazing: gracious, kind, caring.
See moreJ
James
October 2025
16 ft pop-up camper
We loved camping at BaseCampByBo! The location and scenery was insane and we got to meet Bo himself! It was easy to find and Jarrett was incredibly helpful.
The campsite feels isolated and gives the wild camping feel whilst being not crazy far from civilization.
30 minutes from some amazing hikes in Yosemite.
See more
J
Jordan
September 2025
Weekend Trip to Joyful Heart
We absolutely love it there!! This was our second time and we plan on going back multiple times in the future. Malaina it is such an amazing host. She makes you feel right at home. It’s so comfortable there. The bed is super comfy and It’s so peaceful. The hot tub is amazing and the outdoor shower as well. We went in the winter and again in the summer and we will be back in the winter again. Definitely one of our favorite spots. We went Just one day and we feel so relaxed. Thank you Malaina!
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DONNA
September 2025
16 ft travel trailer
We had a nice weekend camping at Pond Bank Waterfront. The property was easy to find and access. We parked our trailer parallel to the pond so that we had a nice view of it. We were the only ones accessing the pond so that was nice. We were aware of neighbors across the pond but they are far enough away that it was no issue. We really enjoyed watching all of the birds come and go to the pond. Sunrises and sunsets were beautiful!
We liked that the location of the property is so close to things to do during our stay. We spent the afternoon on Saturday checking out the Kennedy Mine and Kennedy Tailing Wheels. Fascinating. Walking around Sutter Creek was fun too.
The only issue we had were mosquitos which come any place with water. Just be prepared for them to come out an hour or so before sunset. We didn't have any issue with them during the day.
See moreJ
Jillian
September 2025
Tent
With pets
Having a private reservoir to unwind at was a lovely addition to our weekend away. We explored some local trails with our dog and then came to fish and relax by the resorvoir. There are some neighbors with animals that are chatty but that is to be expected out in the country. We took out the paddleboat and enjoyed hours relaxing on the land. Thanks James!
See moreB
Brian
September 2025
14 ft travel trailer
With kids
Great site. Good views and peaceful and quiet. Shower and bathroom were in good shape.
See more
Hudson
September 2025
15 ft pop-up camper
We love this place! Emily is super accommodating. This was our second visit and our site was perfect. Secluded and quiet. Right on the river with easy access to swimming holes. Fishing, relaxing, fun for everyone here. Would recommend to anyone. We’ll be back again!
See moreJ
Jason
August 2025
Tent
With pets
Really cool spot by the river! Definitely a trek to get there, road is rough but a jeep or truck is ideal.
See moreD
Dani
August 2025
Tent
The ultimate in privacy and quiet .
Perfect water temperature in the pond and lots of wild and domestic birds.
My 3rd trip here
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Sergio
August 2025
Tent
Great Host ! Great camping spot! Will definitely recommend! The host was really kind, helpful and informative! His Dog was also pretty awesome! We Had a great experience!
See moreD
Dani
August 2025
Tent
This was my second stay, really enjoyed the peace and privacy.
See moreD
Dani
August 2025
Tent
With pets
Loved my stay here!
So peaceful and private .i didn’t see a soul the entire time.
The paddle boat was great and I appreciated the runner of artificial grass that was very soft
The pond is so refreshing and the sand beach .nice to lie on.
Note there is no picnic table but a glass table and a wooden stool, so as long as you have chairs it’s not an issue.
The gas grill does not work .
There is a large fire pit on wheels that will be awesome once the fire ban is lifted.
I even made a sweet duck friend! I’d come back just for him!
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Zoe
August 2025
24 ft Class C
With pets
Amazing little camp spot, great for a family gathering, something to do for all. The canoe was such a plus! We enjoyed the entire weekend. Must love bird, cricket, bullfrog and neighborhood dog noises. We didn’t mind, lulled us to sleep
See moreR
Ryan
July 2025
Tent
With kids
The kids had a great time playing in the river and picking berries!
See more
