Doug

We loved dry camping here. In Cactus Wren (the cheapest dry camping area) there is the most room to space out, even though you don't have a view of the lake. You still get incredible sunsets and sunrises every day, plus the sky is filled each morning and evening with hot air balloons, which was a treat. We loved the pool, the clubhouse activities (like the free ice cream social!!) and having everything on site - water fill, dump station, gas station, laundry, etc. It did get busier on the weekends, but we still had plenty of space and weren't bothered by excessive noise. Like others, we did hear the wild donkeys on several nights, but never caught a glimpse of them. We would definitely come back and next time with friends.

This park is outstanding. There are so many different trails for hiking and biking and they all have something a little different. We obviously saw lots of gators in our stay here (none in the campground, don't worry) and there are many nice picnic areas. Also, try to come on close to a new moon when there are clear skies - the stars are incredible. The George observatory was closed when we came (Covid-19...) but normally it is open on Saturdays. We just sat out and looked at the stars ourselves and it was great.

There were a few issues while we were there with the laundry facilities and the bathrooms, but the park staff was very attentive once we informed them. Oh, and there is no cell coverage whatsoever in the park. You can drive down to the entrance where there is wifi (doesn't work so great) or hope to find cell coverage in the 40-Acre Lake parking lot.

Sites were big enough for small rig and truck, but we couldn't fit the truck in so we parked on the side. Our site was right on the playground, which was a huge plus with the kids and made using the showers easy (since there is no sewer hookups). The wifi was only usable in the middle of the night, but I guess that's to be expected. We mainly came for the close proximity to New Orleans. The park seems like it has more to offer in the summer months, with a pool for campers, but we did enjoy the short hiking paths and just riding our bikes around the park.

We really enjoyed our short stay here. The mesquite camping area was easy to navigate and had water and electric hookups. We also had a covered picnic table and fire pit with a grill. We even got a full 5g signal with AT&T in the campground - it was hit or miss in the rest of the canyon. We enjoyed the trails both in and around the canyon. We also enjoyed the blue bell ice cream at the camp store after a long day of hiking. They also had very reasonably priced gifts.

Just be aware that even in October, when the temperatures were mostly in the 70s, our trailer was full of flies from the moment we arrived. We bought 2 rolls of fly paper in the park store and they filled up overnight.

The park itself is fantastic. We loved having the jetties so close by for the kids and being able to just hop over there by bike (10 min ride) or by car was very convenient. Also, the campground loops are full of kids riding around on their scooters and bikes all day, which made for a very family friendly environment. It was a bit tight to park our 36 ft. trailer in our back in spot and I'm sure it would have been much more difficult if there was a car parked in the spot across from us, but we managed.

We really enjoyed our stay here. We were planning on only spending a few nights, but we just couldn't leave. We were lucky enough to get one of the few actual spots for RVs (there are plenty of spots for tents) away from the boat ramp. We had private access to the water, which the kids really enjoyed. There are snow capped mountains in every directions and rolling hills, which make for fantastic sunsets. Just bring your bug spray for the late afternoon. If you don't get one of the existing spots, there were several people that just parked in the field across from the river, which can accommodate many rigs.

We really enjoyed exploring Big Timber, a cute small town with some nice shops, restaurants, breweries, and a free museum which is not to be missed.

We stayed here for a few nights around Christmas time. There was good privacy between the sites and my kids enjoyed biking around the park and playing in the sand at the beach. I also liked that our site had a covered picnic table, as well as a fire pit and grill. As others mentioned, there are 2 different loops - one with full hookups and one with electric & water only.

We also saw lots of birds and plenty of deer. The best time to go to the birding area is in the morning, when the put food out for the birds.

If you are staying for more than a few nights (or staying at other state parks in Texas), definitely consider buying the Texas State Parks Pass - it's good for 1 year and gives 50% off the second night and covers the day-use fee.

We really enjoyed our stay here. There is plenty of room to space out and it is very close to the north and west entrances of Joshua Tree National Park. We took the recommendation of another reviewer and drove in on Broadway right out onto the lake bed. It did get a little noisy on the weekends, but only from off on the distance (gunshots, loud music, etc.). Also, check the forecast because some days can get very windy.

The campground is brand new, so the landscape seemed a bit bare (no tall trees, no shade, etc.). Other than that, the pool, laundry room, and playground looked great (we didn't use any of them). The staff was very nice and even greeted us with a mug and pen as a welcome gift. It was convenient for visiting Fairhope and the surrounding area.

The campground had decent privacy between sites, but they were not very spacious and there was noticable highway noise. The bathrooms were alright, but a bit dated. They were clean however and they have laundry machines for $1.50.

The park itself is very small and outside of a short nature trail and canoeing to the lake, there wasn't much to do. Make sure to check out the mammoth oak (short walk from the ranger station).