Michigan State Park Pet Rules vs. Campground Pet Policies

Michigan state park pet rules are simple: pets are welcome in state parks and campgrounds, but they must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and under your immediate control at all times, even in the water. They can’t go on designated swim beaches or inside any state building, including restrooms, showers and most cabins and lodges, and you have to clean up after them. Most private campgrounds in Michigan follow the same pattern, then add their own extras, like a dog park, or their own limits, like no pets in rental cabins.

Below are the state rules in detail, the full pet policies at The Oaks Campground in Munith (next to Waterloo Recreation Area) and Walnut Hills Family Campground in Durand, and where the two sets of rules differ.

Michigan state park pet rules

These rules come from the Michigan DNR and apply at Waterloo Recreation Area and every other state park and state forest campground:

• Leash: 6 feet or shorter, always on, and the owner must have immediate control. Leashes stay on in the water too.
• Where pets can go: campgrounds, state-designated trails, harbors, boating access sites and shorelines outside the buoyed swim areas.
• Where they can’t: designated swim beaches, posted wildlife areas such as piping plover nesting habitat, and inside state buildings (offices, restrooms, showers and overnight lodging).
• Unattended pets: the DNR asks that dogs not be left alone in a camper or tied at the site, so barking doesn’t bother neighbors.
• Cleanup: carry waste bags and pick up every time. Keep pets away from wildlife.
• Pet-friendly lodging: a short list of state park cabins, yurts and lodges allow up to two cats or dogs for a nightly pet fee ($10 per pet per night in a cabin, $15 in a lodge), booked in advance. Waterloo’s campgrounds aren’t on that list, so at Waterloo a pet means tent or RV camping.

The exemption for leashes applies only to hunting dogs on land open to hunting, which doesn’t affect a camping trip.

Pet policies at The Oaks Campground, next to Waterloo

The Oaks borders Waterloo Recreation Area, so a lot of our guests split their time between the two. The campground’s pet rules line up with the state’s, with a few additions:

• Leash: dogs are on a 6-foot leash or inside your RV everywhere in the campground except the dog run and the back trails.
• Dog run: an open off-leash area toward the front of the campground, away from the campsites, where dogs can run and chase a ball. It has a dog selfie station. Fencing and toys are planned for future seasons.
• Trails: dogs are welcome on the 120 acres of trails behind the campground, and they may be off leash back there. Trails are shared with bikes, golf carts and the occasional horse, so a dog that recalls reliably will enjoy them most.
• Swimming: no dogs on the sand beach or in the swim lake. Dogs can swim in the fishing lake, which sits downstream of the swimming lake, so there’s no sanitation issue.
• Buildings: no pets in the camp store or bathhouses.
• Cleanup and supervision: pick up everywhere, including the dog run, and don’t leave pets unattended at the site.
• Behavior, not breed: there are no breed restrictions. We simply ask that every dog be friendly and under control around people and other pets.

Dog costume contests are part of the Halloween weekend at The Oaks, judged by age group alongside the kids’ and family costumes. The full rules are on The Oaks map and rules page.

Pet policies at Walnut Hills Family Campground

Walnut Hills, our sister park about an hour north in Durand, uses the same core rules and has the better dog park of the two:

• Leash: 6 feet or in your RV. Clean up after your pet. No unattended pets.
• Not allowed: in the camping cabins, the store or any building, on the beach, or in the swimming lake.
• River swimming: dogs can swim in the Shiawassee River. Most owners take them down to the boat launch area.
• Dog park: fenced, just over a quarter acre, with open grass and shaded tree cover, picnic tables for owners, waste-bag stations, tunnels, a real fire hydrant and a dog selfie frame. It’s big enough to throw a frisbee, and it gets used roughly every hour of the day in season. As a campground employee put it, “it’s one of the most-used spots in the whole park.”
• Behavior, not breed. No breed bans; dogs just need to be friendly and under control.

The dog park sits in the entertainment zone next to Pavilion 2, the Kangaroo Jumper and the ball field, so dogs can run while the kids play. Rules are on the Walnut Hills map and rules page, and our guide to campgrounds with dog parks in Michigan has more on the park.

State park pet rules vs. campground pet policies: the differences

The biggest practical difference is off-leash space. A state park campground has none; both GatherGrounds parks have a dedicated area where your dog can run. The other difference is that our staff are on site, so any concern about a dog is handled the same day.

Why don’t campgrounds ban certain breeds?

Some private campgrounds publish breed lists. GatherGrounds doesn’t, and the reasoning from our team is worth repeating: a breed that’s often labeled aggressive produces plenty of calm family dogs, and a dog from a breed everyone considers gentle can have behavior problems because of its history. So the rule is about behavior: a dog that can’t be around people and other pets safely isn’t a fit for a family campground. That keeps the campground safe for kids without turning away good dogs.

Tips for camping with a dog near a state park

• Plan the swim. Your dog can’t use the beach at Waterloo or at the campground. At The Oaks, head to the fishing lake; at Walnut Hills, the river.
• Bring a 6-foot leash, not a retractable one. Retractables routinely run past 6 feet, which goes beyond the state limit.
• Carry bags on every walk, including the trails. Both parks have bag stations, but not at every turn.
• Don’t leave the dog in the camper for the day. Both our parks and the state ask that dogs not be left alone at the site, and summer RVs get hot fast. If the family is heading to the Aquaglide or Wibit, take turns.
• Quiet hours are 11 PM to 8 AM, and that includes barking. A dog that has spent the day on the trails usually sleeps right through them.
• Watch for wildlife. Deer, sandhill cranes and turkeys are common at The Oaks, and the campground borders Haehnle Sanctuary. Keep dogs from chasing.

Campground pet policy FAQ

Are dogs allowed at Waterloo Recreation Area campgrounds?

Yes, on a 6-foot leash, in the campgrounds and on trails, but not on the swim beaches or in buildings. Waterloo has no pet-friendly cabins, so dogs mean tent or RV camping there. Our Waterloo camping guide covers the campgrounds.

Is there a pet fee at The Oaks or Walnut Hills?

Neither rates page lists a per-pet fee. Up to four dogs per site is our guideline; mention your dogs when you book. Our guide to campground pet fees explains what other parks charge.

Can I bring a cat?

The posted rules say “pets,” not just dogs, so leashed or contained cats are fine. The same no-beach, no-building and no-unattended rules apply.

Are there pet-friendly cabins at Walnut Hills?

No. The two camping cabins are pet-free. For cabin options that take dogs, see our pet-friendly cabins in Michigan guide.

Which park is better for a dog?

For a fenced dog park and a river swim, Walnut Hills. For trail miles and space to roam, The Oaks, which also has more on camping with dogs in Michigan in our dog-friendly campgrounds guide.