I camped at Big Meadows every summer all throughout my youth and after a 30 year hiatus, spent camping in the North East, I returned with some friends in September 2016. What an AMAZING trip. We stayed a full week every day was a dream. I had read some reviews on trip advisor, claiming that the rangers were a little harsh, but if you adhere to the rules and quiet hours (which should go without saying) it will be as enjoyable trip as it was for my friends and I. In that particular year the black bear activity was abundant due to a late spring. We reserved walk in site number 35, which is a quick walk from the small parking lot for the walk-in sites, there are others further into the woods and those have a bear proof locker for food storage, which is essential. Every single day of our trip we witnessed these majestic creatures, especially after the weekend crowds left. There are two restaurants on within the camp ground that offers a nice change from cooking meals at the site. The lodge, which also has cabins and rooms within the main building, has a full service restaurant, and a bar that serves local brews. The camp store (wayside) is well stocked with camping gadgets, frozen individually wrapped meat (chicken, steak and hamburgers) for backpackers, all of your sandwich needs and quite an impressive selection of beer. The shower facilities are the BEST I have ever encountered in all my recent years of camping. There is a laundry facility and a place to purchase wood bundles. There are daily ranger programs for the whole family to enjoy. I'll attach some photos I took during that trip. I simply can not wait to go back.
I camped in Big Meadows during my entire youth and I have fantastic and fond memories of all of my experiences there (including the occasional inclimate weather. I'll be returning there this September for the first time in nearly 30 years with my family and friends and I am so looking forward to making new memories with them.
Absolutely adored Pawtuckaway State Park. We camped there back in 2013 for a week in September. The sites on Horse Head Island are mostly right on the lake and the facilities are well kept. Definitely planning on a return trip soon. Ideal campsites on Horse Head are 7, 19, 62 & 74.