Estes Park Campgrouind at Mary’s Lake – CO – 2

Location & Map

  • When – July 2021
  • Weather – Warm but comfortable evenings

Facilities

  • Notes:
  • Minimal shade, however, sites 129 and 131 have a bit of afternoon shade.
  • Dirt roads so plan on dust!
  • Big rigs only in parking area, trailers and tent space are being expanding
  • Most pads are somewhat level – all gravel
  • Close to Estes Park and easy access to Rocky Mountain National Park
  • Plan on multiple visits to RMNP, there is so much to see.
  • Changing weather at 12,000 ft is something to have in mind as you plan your travels and hikes.
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • 5G service Verizon!
    • No TV service
  • Wildlife – only in the park

Photos

Rocky Mountain National Park Views and Hikes

Golden Gate Canyon State Park – CO

Location & Map

  • When – July 2021
  • Weather – Comfortable

Facilities

  • Notes
    • Pads asphalt but not level, bring your blocks!
    • Rain water rushes down hills and across many pads
    • No real paths to shower building (One shower facility to service all sites)
    • No road  markers for campground Reverend Ridge Campground. Google Maps & Ford Nav directed us to the visitor center which is 7 miles from our campground.
    • Laundry and kitchen wash area available.
    • Small amphitheater behind office building.
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • No cell service.
    • Showers are coin.
    • Chip rock / mountain gravel road from Hwy 119.
    • Library about 3 miles away for internet.
    • Close to historic Central City and BlackHawk casinos.

Photos

James A Robb – Colorado River State Park – CO

Location & Map

  • When – July – 2021
  • Weather – Warm but comfortable evening

Facilities

  • Notes:
    • This is a small park / camping area. The ‘park’ is actually three separated parks all with different facilities and amenities. This is a camping area directly off I-70 and along the Colorado River.
    • Vault toilets and flush available at camper service center.
    • Pads are gravel but level.
    • Some shade in some areas.
    • Colorado River right in camp ground! There is a berm that separates the campground from the river.
    • Amphitheater and playground area.
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • Loops D and C are closer to I70 so more traffic noise.
    • Water not at sites but in loops.
    • Gas station at I70 exit.

Photos

Ridgeway State Park – CO – 2

Location & Map

  • When – July 2021
  • Weather – Warm but comfortable

Facilities

  • Notes
    • Some privacy with nice space between sites.
    • Pay showers are now free, (but lower water pressure to conserve water).
    • No water at sites.
    • Tuesday in Silverton many business are closed
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • Ridgeway is close to Ouray, Silverton, Black Canyon Montrose and Telluride. Easy day trips are great way to enjoy the western mountains in Colorado.

Photos

Eleven Mile State Park – CO

Location & Map

  • When – July 2021
  • Weather – Hot

Facilities

  • Notes:
    • Horrible roads. Gravel from the south that Google Maps directed us as a ‘passable’ road… The road on the north is patched pavement and not a whole lot better!
    • Vault toilets 
    • Water in each camping loop
    • Water activities. Fishing, boating, etc.
    • Good cell service.
    • Several toilets and showers out of service!
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
  • Wildlife is limited as this is a camping area to service the lake activities.
  • Dirt pads that are not close to being level after being rutted by rain and scraped to smooth.
  • No shade in this park!
  • Some pads are elevated and look into the neighbors.

Photos

Trinidad Lakes State Park – CO -2

Location & Map

  • When – July 2021
  • Weather – Warm

Facilities

  • Notes
    • The spaces are tight with limited turning room on the narrow road.
    • Length limited for long rigs
    • Coin showers
      • However, very clean showers and restrooms!!
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • Limited wildlife as this is a camping area to service the lake.
  • Media
    • Colorado Springs TV and good cell service.

Photos

Caprock Canyon – CO -2

Location & Map

  • When – July 2021
  • Weather – Hot – Deluge over night – 5″ of needed rain!

Facilities

  • Notes:
    • This was similar to our previous visit as far as privacy (click here for 2019 visit)
    • 2021 has been a wet summer so far more green grass!
    • Remember… Bison have the right of way!
    • This is such a clean park and fun to explore.
  • Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Wildlife!
    • We enjoyed watching the burrowing owls, quail, bison, dung beetles and tarantulas.
    • Fortunately we captured several photos of the bison on our arrival day. After the overnight storms, they disappeared into the canyons and were not visible the next two days.
  • Media
    • Amarillo TV stations, Limited cell

Photos

Iron Mountain Campground, AR

Location & Map

  • When – June 2021
  • Weather – Comfortable

Facilities

  • Notes
  • Park Map:
  • Notes:
    • This is a nice sized park with space for tents, trailers and RVs.
    • There were hot showers and fairly clean.
    • The pads are spaced for some privacy.
    • We were surprised how quiet this park was, given the proximity to the city and Interstate.
    • The location was very convenient from the interstate.
    • No playground that we found.
    • Nice and shady

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • Pads not level, some rigs may be challenged finding a level spot
    • No walkable path down to lake. The camp area is up 1-200′ from the lake level and we did not discover any park-provided nor camper-made trails to the lake.
    • No water at site.

Photos

Eldon Hazlet State Park, IL

Location & Map

  • When – May, 2021
  • Weather – Cool and comfortable

Facilities

  • Notes:
    • No showers in the campground, available by the pool and camp store.
    • Very quiet, even with a busy lake.
    • A few pads have a nice view of lake.
    • There was plenty of wildlife… herons, deer, woodchucks and a screech owl learning to fly!
    • The pads are reasonably spaced allowing for a bit of privacy.
    • Extra parking for Day use and camping.
    • Reasonable cell service and TV
    • Tent camping throughout the park was available.
    • No check in needed if you have reservations… although, no park maps with site numbers to guide you either!

Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • Notes
    • Vault toilets
    • Gravel parking pads so bring a leveling block or board.
    • No water at each site, nor easy drive-up access to a spigot either.

Photos

Lake Eufaula State Park, OK

Location & Map

  • When – May, 2021
  • Weather – Cool and Humid

Facilities

  • Notes:
    • This is a good sized park and lake. The marina is quite large with boat covers and storage.
    • There is a swimming area.
    • Play area available for the kids and a huge grassy field for play/running/Frisbee!
    • Long pads… fairly level, asphalt and/or asphalt and concrete.
    • Picnic table and grill available at each site.
    • Nature center and amphitheater, (although closed on our visit).

Park Map

What we liked / disliked

  • The toilets and shower facilities need some attention and upgrading.
  • “Pay to park” everywhere in the park, obviously a revenue stream for the State.
  • Water hookup was in a ‘camo rock’, see the photo below.
  • TV and cell service available.

Photos