roadtripper7570922

We usually avoid private campgrounds due to their ugly, cramped tendency and usually opt for state or national campgrounds instead. We were unable to get a site at Sleeping Dunes National Lakeshore (just 15 minutes away) so we found ourselves here instead and were pleasantly surprised. Our kids were thrilled with the large, old school playground and nicely landscaped pool. We opted for the sites nearest these amenities. I appreciated the more generously sized sites than typical and trees throughout the campground. Only negative was the sites are rather sandy/dusty.

PROS: Spacious sites, all wooded and shaded, most include both paved RV pad and a tent pad at each site. We were in site 30 furthest from lake but a very private woodland view. Lake is gorgeous stone bottom, clear water with minimal development. Very popular due to its boat ramps for lake access. Our Verizon signal was adequate for working and streaming.

CONS: RV sites are not true waterfront as there are woods obscuring the view. Some sites have a long windy walk around figure 8 loops to get to the water. There are no shortcuts between loops or to the bathrooms. Bathrooms were lacking toilet paper and dirty. Access to swimming usually involves climbing stairs, hills or over rocks. Not much to do besides swim and boat. Bring your groceries, not much shopping around other than small convenience stores.

This was our second stay and while I love the state park and setting the sand fly infestation absolutely ruins it for me. You can’t enjoy your campsite (or at times even the beach) without clouds of biting sand flies absolutely attacking you. No amount of Deet keeps them away, and screens only block of a few of these tiny terrors. Their bites hurt followed by mosquito-like itching for days. Google “sand fly parasites” and you’ll realize this campground is a potential public health disaster.

The rest of the state park only has normal amounts of sand flies so this is definitely a campground issue, not a regional issue. If you are okay avoiding the outdoors near the campground the hiking trails, island expeditions, Beaufort outings, marsh sunsets all deserve 5 stars.

Sites are large, private and flat and have electric hook-ups only. Campground 200 has no showers. Campground 100 and 300 both have showers. My low review (3 stars) is due to the lack of clarity on the website and throughout the park on the amenities, paths, and connections between campgrounds and these components. It was difficult to discern from the park website what the differences were between the campground loops so we ended up in 200. After a late evening hike (more on that next) we found ourselves having to wander around to figure how to get to the other campground loops on foot to get a shower. The park map given to us when we entered the park showed no connections between campgrounds so after wandering around hoping to find one we ended up having to walk the main road in the dark with no sidewalks, about a mile round trip, just to get a shower. Husband refused to unhook to drive us over.

Back to the hike. The park map also showed no connection between the campground and the hiking trails, but after wandering around we found several connections that were not shown on the maps. It seems like such a basic thing to show these connections on the paper map, website and the way finding signs. The trails themselves were fine and the river and falls were very pretty other than being dirty/polluted.

Finally, it was overpriced. $40.00 nightly rate plus $7.75 reservation fee plus $13 entry fee = about $60 for one night of electric only and a mile walk for showers.

We lucked out with site K and its beautiful sunset view and landscape that provides privacy from other sites. We wish we had longer to enjoy it! It was just 15 minutes to Macinaw City where we rode the ferry to Macinac Island.

We stayed for one night while exploring the national park and Chicago. This campground seems adequate for tent campers with nicely spaced, wooded sites and who have a vehicle to get around the area. I don’t recommend this campground for those with motorhomes because this side of the park has zero parking or beach accessibility for oversized vehicles or RVs. Its about a mile walk to the beach from the campground. There are a lot of trees overhanging the roads in this area. About 20 minutes drive away there is oversized parking at West Beach which is a very crowded beach.

Bolar Mtn Recreation area is situated on Lake Moomaw, a pristine lake surrounded by undeveloped, protected forest. The only lake access is through the parks, keeping this lake serene and generally calm. Get a lakeview site if at all possible, since the lake is what makes this campground special. Try using Google satellite to assess sites. We camped in the Sugar Ridge Loop which is non-electric and on a peninsula on the lake. Site 115 has some great lake views despite being an interior site looking across other campsites. Site 111 and 113 have spectacular views but are generally first come first serve. The camp host was very friendly and helpful. Most of the campers bring their boats. We rented a jon boat from the park marina to spend a few hours on the water. Pontoons and other boats are available, but you have to get a VA boater's card (similar to a driver's license) in advance. Also note the marina is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. You can swim off all the shores in the park, but the designated beach is large, sandy and has beautiful views of the mountains. At the beach there is a clean bathroom, playground, picnic tables and enough parking to accommodate RVs and trailers.

This is the nicest campgrounds we’ve stayed in. Location is convenient to Glacier NP. We got one of the landscaped sites and it was lovely and provided a feeling of privacy despite the typical close spacing of sites. There are mountain views everywhere, beautiful flowers (July), lots of high end amenities. It is however very expensive, probably only worth it if you spend considerable time in the campground vs in Glacier.