Alpen Rose RV Park is located about two miles north of Durango just west of Highway 550 North. There are about 100 sites of which the majority are pull-thru sites. The entrance off of Highway 550 North is asphalt but the drive isles and sites are gravel. Each site has a grass area with picnic table. Most of the sites are oriented so that the passenger side of the RVs face each other. The sites to the north, south, and west of the office are shaded by large trees. The majority of the these sites have 30 amp connections. The 47 sites east of the office all have 50 amp connections are designed for larger sized RVs. Only a few of the sites east of the office have any shade. Many of those 47 sites have views of the cliffs on east and west sides of the valley.
The office and market building is located in the center of the park. The restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities are located just west of the office building. As such, it can be a bit of hike to the get to those facilities if your site is located near the perimeter of the site. There is also dog washing area, two acre fenced grass are to allow pets to play, above ground pool, small playground area, and group pavilion area within the park. The park does allow washing RVs and vehicles onsite but requires advance notification and charges an additional fee.
We stayed at site #86 during our four night stay which was one of the 47 sites east of the office building. The spacing between our site and site #87 which faced us was sufficient. Connections included 50 amp service (no 30 amp service), a single hose bid, cable TV, and sewer. The angle at which the sewer connection came out of the ground didn't make it useable without there being standing water in the sewer hose after dumping so we didn't use it. Our site had no shade so our motor home heated up during the day but was able to quickly cool down once the sun set. The Wi-Fi signal and speed were sufficient to allow for streaming of videos. We had sufficient 4G cell phone coverage on both AT&T and Verizon.
The length of our pull-thru site was probably 45 feet and relatively flat. The large loose gravel used by the RV park necessitated the use of jack pads/leveling blocks in order to avoid shifting once the leveling jacks were deployed. We were able to fit our 39 foot motor home but because of the site length and angle, we were not able to park our tow vehicle at our site without partially blocking the drive isle so we parked it about 100 feet away in a group parking area.
During our Thursday to Sunday stay in mid-July, the campground was about 95% full. In general, the days and nights were quiet. Quiet hours were from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM. In the early morning hours, it is possible to hear some road traffic noise from Highway 550 North but it isn't bothersome. Trains from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad pass to the east of the park a few times in the morning and again in the evening. The trains usually blow their steam horns when they are nearby.
We would stay at this RV park again.
Beaver Dam Campground is located within the Caney Lakes Recreation Area in the Kisatchie National Forest. It consists of one loop containing 29 back-in sites with asphalt driveways. Nine of the 29 sites backup to the Upper Caney Lake. All of the sites have water and 50 amp power connections. There are no pull-thru sites. Flush toilets and showers are located in two locations within the campground. The first area is near site #13. The second area is near site #21. Both locations include parking for a few cars. The showers are free. The toilets and showers are in acceptable condition but could use some updating. Groups of trash cans are located throughout the campground.
We stayed at site #16 during our three night stay. The spacing between our site and adjacent sites was very generous. The site included a fire pit with a grate for grilling and a wood picnic table. Connections included a dual hose bid for water and 15, 30, and 50 amp power connections. There is no dump station within the campground but there is one near the entrance and exit to the recreation area about one mile away. The water pressure was about 40 PSI. The nightly rate was $15. With an America the Beautiful pass, the nightly rate would have been $9.50. The fee was payable in cash at the pay station at the entrance to the campground.
The length of our back-in driveway was probably 100 feet. We were able to fit our 39 foot motor home and Ford Edge without any problems and still have sufficient space for another couple of vehicles. Although none of the other sites had as long a driveway, I think that most of them could accommodate our motor home and tow vehicle.
Our site was relatively flat in all directions. Many of the other sites appeared to be the same.
During our Monday to Wednesday stay in early June, the campground was about 10% full. In general, the days and nights were quiet. Quiet hours were from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. In the early morning hours, it is possible to hear some road traffic from nearby state route 159 which is a two lane road. The campground is under the flight path of the adjacent Minden Airport. During our stay, I don't think there were more than a dozen flights per day during daylight hours. The planes were single or dual propeller type planes. There were no large commercial flights.
Upper Caney Lake has a fishing boat ramp about a half mile away. During our stay, I didn't see more than one boat on the lake at a time.
The day use area of the Caney Lakes Recreation Area is about one mile away on Lower Caney Lake. It includes a fishing pier, boat ramp for both fishing and water skiing, man-made swimming beach area, and numerous covered picnic tables. There are a couple of different hiking trails thought the recreation area.
The wildlife we saw was limited to a few different bird species, rabbits, squirrels, and deer. Upper Caney Lake is reported to have one alligator. We didn't see it.
The nearest town with the typical services (Walmart, gas, groceries, etc.) is Minden which is about 15 minutes away.
The roads that lead to the entrance to the campground were in good condition. The road within the campground was a single lane that was in good condition with very few low hanging branches.
Despite the June heat and humidity, I really enjoyed staying at this campground.
The park has one campground area made up of three adjacent sections. Section A contains 42 sites of which 10 are pull-thrus. Section A has 24 sites with 50 amp service and full hook ups. The remaining 18 sites within Section A are 30 amp service with full hook ups. Section B contains 48 sites of which 44 are 30 amp service with full hook ups and four are 30 amp service with no sewer. Section C contains 25 sites of which 23 are 30 amp service with full hook ups and two are 30 amp service with no sewer. Some of the sites within all three sections offer lake views. Neither section B nor section C contain any pull-thrus or 50 amp service. Each section had its own restroom building with showers. The restrooms are in acceptable condition but need updating. The showers are free. Section B also has a activity center.
There is also a primitive camping area near section C that is accessed via a dirt road that loops around the area and needed to be regraded. I didn't see any marked sites within the area but there are concrete picnic tables, trash cans, and few hose bibs.
It is about a three mile drive from the park entrance off of highway 72 to the check-in office at the entrance to the campground. The office also has a very small general store, phone, firewood, and laundry. The store accepts credit cards. There are two washers ($1.00 per load) and two dryers ($1.25 per load). Check-in is required even if the was used internet to reserve the campsite. As such, there are five RV parking spaces at the check-in office. Access into the campground area is controlled by a gate arm and requires a code that is provided when checking-in. There is a dump station inside the campground area near the exit.
We stayed at site #A023 during our three night stay which was a pull-thru. The spacing between our site and adjacent sites was sufficient. The site included a fire pit with a grate for grilling and a concrete picnic table on a concrete pad. Connections included a single hose bid for water, sewer, and 15, 30, and 50 amp power connections. The hose bib was only about ten inches off the ground. Connecting both a regulator and the hose was tight but doable. The water pressure was about 42 PSI. We received 13 TV stations via the over-the-air antenna including ABC, CBS, FOX, and PBS. The stated nightly rate was $29 but after sales tax and fees, the rate worked out to be $34.39 per night.
According to the online campsite reservation website, the length of our pull-thru driveway was 65 feet. We were able to fit our 39 foot motor home and Ford Edge without any problems and still have sufficient space for another vehicle. The website indicates there are eight sites, mostly pull-thrus, with driveway lengths of 60 feet or more. The website contains a photo of each site.
Our site was relatively flat left-to-right but did slope front-to-back. Although the front jacks were almost completely extended, we didn't need leveling blocks. The other adjacent pull-thru sites seemed to have similar slopes. Many back-in sites appeared to have slopes as well.
Entering our pull-thru site with the motor home was easy. Exiting by driving forward was not. The loop road curved to the left as it went down a slight slope and joined with another loop road. There was a small ditch on the right hand side. If you have a bigger motor home, fifth wheel, or travel trailer, the easiest way to exit this particular site is to back out of the site.
During our Sunday to Wednesday stay, the campground appeared to be about 50% full. The days and nights were quiet. Quiet hours were from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
The day use area, which is accessible via a pathway and wooden bridge from section A includes a fishing pier, man-made swimming beach area, numerous picnic tables with trash cans but no BBQs and a few pavilions. Also within the day use area are four tennis courts which need repairs to the playing surface, two basketball courts, a grass volleyball court, and smaller sized soccer field. Considering the size of the park, I was disappointed that there was only about four miles of hiking trails.
Also within the park, there is also an 18-hole golf course, a lodge with a swimming pool for guests only and a restaurant, cottages near the lodge, and a marina. There are cabins for rent on the south side of the Wheeler Lake.
The wildlife we saw was limited to a few different bird species, some lizards, and squirrels.
The nearest town with limited services (gas, groceries, etc.) is Rogersville which located just east of the entrance to the park and is about a 10 minutes away from the campground. Florence, which is about 30 minutes away, is the nearest bigger town and has all of the typical services.
The road that leads to the entrance to the park and all of the roads within the park are in good condition.
We had two bars of 4G and/or 3G on Verizon and one bar of 4G on AT&T.
The park has one campground area with 62 sites with power and water and 17 primitive sites. None of the primitive sites can accommodate a motor home. There is one dump station. While we were staying at the park, most of the sites with power and water were being used by campers with tents. Most, if not all, of the sites are surrounded by trees and have views of Haynes Lake.
We stayed at site #15 during our four night stay which was located across from the dump station. There were no issues with the proximity. The site included a fire pit, picnic table, 15, 30, and 50 amp power connections along with a water connection and was very spacious. The nearest campsite on either side was at least 50 feet away.
According to Reserve America, the driveway length was 52 feet and the maximum vehicle length was 40 feet. We were able to fit our 39 foot motor home and Ford Edge tip to tail into the site. Although Reserve America might say differently, I think there are only about three sites that can accommodate a motorhome of our size and a tow vehicle.
During our stay, the campground was 25% full on weekdays and 80% on the weekend.
I considered the days and nights to be very quiet with no loud music or campers. Quiet hours were from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
The campground has three restroom buildings of which only one, near site #22, was open while we were there in mid-May. The restroom and showers in that building were clean and in good condition. The showers were free. I didn't see any washers or dryers.
There are about 13 miles of hiking-only trails which I would classify as beginner level and are well marked. The lake allows fishing from the shore or a boat. Swimming in and water skiing on the lake are not permitted. The park does have a pool. There are three different disc golf course located throughout the park.
The park, but not the campground, is bisected by the Natchez Trace Parkway. The nearest town with the typical services (Walmart, gas, groceries, etc.) is Iuka and is about 20 minutes away.
The road that leads to the entrance to the park and all of the roads within the park are in good condition. The paved road to and from the dump station has numerous potholes but is still usable. Leaving the dump station and trying to turn left to access sites #14 and higher with a large motor home is a difficult endeavor.
The park consists of three different campgrounds, Deer Run, Eagle Ridge, and Warrior Trails. Warrior Trails allows motorcycles, ATVs, and mountain biking.
Our site, located in Eagle Ridge, was considered premium because it backed up to the lake. The site included a fire pit, picnic table, 15, 30, and 50 amp power connections along with a sewer connection and water connection. According to Reserve America, the driveway length was 68 feet and the maximum vehicle length was 40 feet. We had no issues fitting our 39' motor home and Ford Edge tip to tail. Sites 37 and 38 located just to the west had even longer driveways.
I considered the days and nights to be very quiet with no loud music or campers. We didn't hear any motorcycles or ATVs. The noise from the occasional fishing boat was brief and acceptable. No one was water skiing when we were there. Quiet hours were from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
The restroom, showers, meeting room, and laundry building within Eagle Ridge were clean and in good condition. The showers are located inside the restrooms. The showers were free. There were three washers and three dryers. The rate was $1.00 per load.
The extent of the hiking-only trails is limited and beginner level with only minor changes in elevation. The 565 acre lake allows water skiing, fishing from the shore, pier, or boat. Swimming is not permitted. The lake was partially drained during our stay (May 2016) for repairs to be made to the dam. There is a disc golf course near the entrance to the park. Park guests can enjoy a 18-hole golf course without paying green fees at the Pontotoc Country Club which is located nearby. Firewood is available for purchase in the park. Other than the hiking trails, we didn't partake in any other activities.
During our stay, the campground was 50% full on weekdays and 100% on the weekend.
The park is conveniently located about 10 minutes from the Natchez Trace Parkway and about 20 minutes from Tupelo which has a Sam's Club, Lowe's, Home Depot, Harbor Freight, CVS, Walgreen's and multiple Walmart locations. There is no Costco or Camping World.
Faulkner Road, which leads to the entrance to the park, is paved but the last mile is pretty rough with a few potholes and a number of uneven spots. Inside the park, the roads were in good condition.