ROCK CREEK PARK, TWIN FALLS, ID

Our Opinion: Recommend.  This small park was a comfortable, convenient base for our exploration of Twin Falls.

Date of Stay: May 9, 10, 11, 2012.

Weather During Stay: Spring weather - sunny every day, windy and cold one day, lows around freezing and highs in the 60’s.

Sites: 25 sites, of which 6 or 7 are pull-throughs.  All face west; wide gravel strips between sites.  All of the pull-throughs are long enough for a 40’ rig, and quite flat.  The back-ins were somewhat shorter, and some of them were too sloped to accommodate us.

All sites have water and electricity; back-in sites have 30 amp; most or maybe all of the pull-through have 50 amps. No picnic tables or fire rings at sites, but several covered picnic tables in the grassy area of the park.  No dump station in the park, but there is a large, free dump station one mile away.  Bathrooms are pit toilets and there are no showers.

Not much shade at the campsites, but they all look out towards beautiful green lawns, Rock Creek, and trees and park pavilions beyond.  This is a park frequented by locals, walking their dogs, joggings, pushing strollers.  Very friendly.

Rate: $15/night for 30 or 50 amps and water. 

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon signal for phone and aircard was occasionally interrupted, but usually worked.  No obstacles for TV satellite.  Half a dozen or so channels on the air antenna, four of them excellent Idaho PBS.  Local NPR on 91.7.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This campground is situated in a canyon; Rock Creek runs down the middle of it, with thick green grass on both sides.  Up top, there is a gravel operation and busy Addison Road; down in the canyon, it is lovely, green and quiet. Elevation is around 3,600 ft.

Lighting/Noise: No obtrusive lighting, and it was very quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: We picked a pull-through, as they were longer, more level, and offered 50 amps for the same price as 30 amps.

Hiking/Walking: Very nice walking here.  Paved paths go off in different directions, one of them about a mile long (through the picnic area of the park, which is accessed by a separate road).  There also are several spectacular paved walks along the rim of the Snake River Canyon, a couple of miles away.

Comments: This was an enjoyable stop for us, a little hidden oasis in the small city of Twin Falls.  The price was reasonable for the services provided, and the hosts were very helpful and friendly.  Finding the driveway was a little tricky (look for the Westwind Homes sign), and the narrow, downhill driveway into the campground is a bit intimidating, but easily doable.  We would return here.

YUCAIPA REGIONAL PARK, YUCAIPA, CA

Our Opinion: Recommend.  This large regional park has spacious sites and good hiking, in the midst of an urban area.

Date of Stay:  December 11th and 12th, 2011.  Our first stay here was in March, 2011 – click here to see photos on that springtime review.

Weather During Stay:  Mild and sunny when we arrived; changed to rain the following day.

Site Description:  Our site is a large pullout along the side of the campground road.  A school is next to us at the border of the park, so it is quiet at night but some “kid noise” during the day.  All sites are paved, with large concrete patios surrounded by grass.  BBQ grill and sturdy picnic table at each site.  FHU with 50 and 30 amp electric.

The campground is gently rolling, with lots of green grass and trees (most are leafless this time of year).  Most of the 42 RV sites are pull-outs, but some are back-ins.  Not all are level, but most are quite long; all are fairly spacious.  Many of the pull-out sites have multiple utilities for groups of two or three. Several restrooms (with showers); plenty of trash cans.  Tent camping sites are available in a separate area. Dump site available.  All sites can be reserved at www.sbcountyparks.com/.  Maximum stay 14 days in 30.

Rate: FHU RV sites are $35.  Senior camping rates are available Monday-Thursday, $30.  We paid the senior rate for both nights, though the website says the senior rate only applies Monday-Thursday.  Maybe because there were so few campers here?  There is a fee to make a reservation, which is advisable at other times of the year.

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon service is good on both the aircard (3G) and phones.  Lots of trees mean you need to pay attention if your TV satellite is roof mounted.  On the antenna, we have four digital stations, all PBS.  NPR on 91.9.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  Rolling hills, lots of trees, green grass and lakes.  Elevation 2,600 feet.  This large, regional park is in a busy urban/suburban area, with the school next door and homes nearby. Views from the campground are of other campers, the surrounding hills, and the school.

Lighting/Noise: No streetlights here (a good thing), but the restrooms are brightly lit at night.  We were positioned so that wasn’t a bother.  Noise from the neighboring students during the day.  Sites near the front of the campground had considerable road noise.

Favorite Sites: All have some good, some not-so-good features.  As usual, we prefer perimeter sites to the interior sites.  The north end of the campground loop is quite open with very few trees; more sunshine and fewer satellite RV obstacles.

Hiking/Walking:  Walking the loop road of this huge park is pleasant.  A rather strenuous hike goes to the peak of the highest nearby hill, Mt. Zanja.

Comments: This park is a pleasant oasis in a busy urban area in the Inland Empire of California.  The campground occupies a small area of the park, which includes a large lake (with fishing), swimming beach, water slides, playground, and several large picnic areas.  I suspect this park is very crowded with day-users in summer.  Grocery shopping nearby; 18 hole public golf course ¼ mile away.

HOWARD MILLER STEELHEAD PARK, ROCKPORT, WA

Our Opinion: Rave, if you don‘t mind partial hookups.

Date of Stay: July 13-17, 2011

Weather During Stay:  Cool and damp.  Frequent rain, showers or downpours.  Limited sunshine.  Photos were taken during the short periods of sunshine.

Site Description:   Forty-five or so RV sites in a beautiful green park adjacent to the Skagit River.  Thirty of the sites are arranged in circular groups of ten, like spokes on a wheel, on mostly level graveled pads, with large expenses of grass surrounding each circle.  Other sites (paved) are near the river, including the 7 pull-through sites.  Most sites are suitable for big rigs.

All the RV sites have at least 30 amps and water; sites 40-49 have 50 amps as well as 30 amps.  All sites have a substantial picnic table and a fire ring. 

Two restrooms with showers; dump station; separate tent sites alongside the river; a covered pavilion for groups; a couple camping shelters that look like they are used by bicyclers; a boat launch area; a day use area with interesting historic information.

Rate: $26/night for 30 amps; $28/night for 50 amps. 

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for phones and aircard.   Roof mounted satellite TV dish will work in most sites, though perhaps not those closest to the river.  We didn’t try the air antenna.  No local NPR station.  No park-provided WiFi.   

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  BEAUTIFUL park, extremely well maintained, 240 feet elevation.  Though most of the countryside around here is thickly forested, the park has been cleared - very welcome in the drizzly weather we encountered.  Lots of grass, lots of planted deciduous trees, with evergreen forest borders.  Views are of other rigs, grass, trees… and the river if you have one of the adjacent sites.

Lighting/Noise: Very quiet and dark at night.  Most of the park is unlit or has low lighting; lights on the restrooms are on all night long. 

Favorite Sites: Any of the sites in the circles (20-49), big, level gravel sites.  Sites 8 and 10 are our favorites of the riverside sites.  16-19 were the least appealing to us (on sloped grass), can be difficult to access and are the last to fill.

Hiking/Walking:  Great walking west of the park on a mowed grass trail through a wild area.  You can walk for miles from the park (trailhead well marked on the west end).

Comments: Howard Miller Steelhead County Park is a beautiful park in a very small town.  Reservations RECOMMENDED if you want to stay on a weekend - two rallies were going on over the weekend we were here, though parking was wide open during the week.  Park staff is particularly helpful; knowing we wanted to stay over the weekend, they kept us in the loop for cancellations.  Though we had to move to another site, we were able to stay.  We found this to be a good, lower elevation campground to explore North Cascades National Park.

WENATCHEE RIVER COUNTY PARK, MONITOR, WA (ADJACENT TO WENATCHEE).

Our Opinion: Recommend, if you want close proximity to Wenatchee.
Date of Stay: July 7-8, 2011
Weather During Stay:  A very hot afternoon when we first arrived dropped a welcome 15 degrees when a cool front blew in that evening.
Site Description:   47 spacious, level sites well suited to large rigs.  Only 3 sites are pull-throughs (and are some of the least appealing sites in the park).  43 sites are FHU (20/30/50 amps); 4 sites are W/E only.  Good voltage, strong water pressure.  All roads are paved, as are the sites.  Most of the sites (40 back-ins) are arranged in circular groups of ten, like spokes on a wheel.  Plenty of space, grass and trees around each of these sites. 
No tents are allowed in this park.  There is a grassy dog run area, and plenty of playground equipment for kids.  Nice day use area adjacent to the campground.
Rate: $29/night for FHU, going up in 2012 to $30, I think.
Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for phones and aircard.   We were not able to get a satellite TV signal on our roof-mounted antenna because of the tall trees to our south, but this would not be a problem in some of the sites (those closer to the river).  We tried the air antenna, but only picked up one station, snowy analog.  NPR on 90.3.   
Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  At 700 ft. elevation, this park is so close to Wenatchee as to be considered urban, unfortunately impacted by noise from heavy traffic on Hwy 2.  It is visually very appealing, with large swathes of well maintained lawn and huge trees to provide welcome shade.  The Wenatchee River flows adjacent to the park.  Our view (from a north facing pull-through) was of the overflow/storage parking lot, a row of trees, and the rushing traffic beyond.  Views from the back-in sites are considerably more appealing.
Lighting/Noise: Night lighting is pleasantly dim.  Highway noise is noticeable until quite late.  Trains pass on the other side of the river occasionally. 

Favorite Sites: We had site 42, one of the three north facing, less appealing, pull-through sites.  If we had a choice (too late, by the time we called for a reservation - highly recommended, by the way), we would reserve one of the sites closest to the river in camp area A, B, or C: 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 24.  Camp area D is less appealing than A-C.
Hiking/Walking:  No trails from the park that we found, but there are a lot of recreational opportunities in Wenatchee, including a long, paved Riverwalk.
Comments: This county park was quite attractive, and very convenient for the errands we wanted to run in the urban area.  It was full while we were there, and apparently usually is in spring, summer, and fall.  It seemed to be very well maintained and managed; our stay was pleasant.  If we were planning to stay in the area longer for sightseeing (plenty to do here), we would be likely to try for a site at one of the nearby state parks, hoping to escape the traffic noise.

ARMITAGE COUNTY PARK, EUGENE, OREGON

Our opinion: Rave. We first discovered this Lane County campground in October of 2009, and we returned for six nights on June 8, 2011 and another week in August, 2011. 

This is our choice if we want FHU when we visit this Eugene.  Spacious, close to town, usually quiet, with a combination of sunny and shaded sites.  The camping area shares the park with several picnic areas, a group camping area, and a dog park.

The only drawback to this park for us?  Our Verizon air card is on National Access here (read: slow), and the new (unsecured) WiFi provided at the park doesn’t reliably reach to our favorite site!  So maybe we’ll pick a new favorite site.  :)  Updated 8/2011: we are in site 14, and the WiFi signal is strong and fast.  Our friends in site 32 find it unusable, so pick lower numbered sites if WiFi is important to you.

In 2009, word was that showers would be built soon, but that hasn’t happened yet and we saw no sign of construction during this visit.  Click here to read our full review from our first visit, which has been updated to reflect changes since 2009.

JUNIPER CAMPGROUND, RIRIE, IDAHO

Our Opinion: Recommend, if you want to get away from it all - nothing much around here.

Date of Stay: September 22 through 24, 2010.

Weather During Stay:  Balmy fall days and cool nights; very windy afternoons and evenings.

Site Description:  What a mix of sites!  The campground, with a large reservoir on one side and agricultural fields on the other, consists of 2 paved loops with 40+ paved sites and a grassy area for tents.  Perhaps a third of the sites have a large enough flat spot for a big rig - the rest (mostly back-ins) are either too short or two sloped for big rigs. 

The utilities are also a mix.  Most sites are FHU, with at least 20/30 amps, but several sites have 50 amps.  Some of the developed, paved sites have no utilities at all, and one has 30 amps and water, no sewer.

Sites are very spacious, and each site has a concrete picnic table and a large fire ring.  Well-watered and manicured grass surrounds all of the sites, dotted with appealing juniper trees.  Each loop has a restroom, and the picnic table has its own.

Rate:  $18/night for FHU, $16/night with a Golden Age Pass.  $10/night for tent sites. 14 day limit.

Phone/radio/TV:  Strong Verizon signal for phones and aircard.  No obstacles for the roof-mounted satellite TV dish.  No cable TV here, and we didn’t try the antenna.  Local NPR from Rexburg on 100.5.

Elevation/landscape/terrain: Located at around 4,900 ft., this park feels very remote (nearest town, tiny Ririe, is 4 miles away).  The irrigated grass is very appealing.  Local views are of grass, junipers, and neighboring rigs; distant views are of open agricultural fields and big skies.

Lighting/noise:  Very dark at night - the only lighting came from inside the restrooms.  Very quiet when we visited (but the park was virtually empty).

Favorite Sites:  These are the sites that will accommodate a big rig reasonably well, mostly pull-outs but a few are backins:
50 amps - A8, A20, B3, B6, B10, B13 (our site), B15, B17, B19, B20
30 amps - A14 (no sewer), A17, A23, A25, A26, B4, B12
No HU: A10 and A12, both quite private with great water views.

Hiking/Walking:  Walking the campground loops is pleasant, and some primitive trails wind through the undeveloped area of the park.

Comments:  This park was almost empty when we camped here, a few days after the “close of the season”.  The nearest grocery store is 20 miles away in Idaho Falls, so bring food with you!  We were told the place fills up in summer, especially on weekends, so reservations are a good idea.  Locals come here to picnic, boat, swim.

LEBANON HILLS CAMPGROUND, APPLE VALLEY (TWIN CITIES AREA), MN

Our Opinion: Recommend.  A park-like campground in an urban area with a rural feel.

Date of Stay:  August 17 through 21, 2010.

Weather During Stay:  Warm and humid, highs around 80, lows around 70. 

Site Description:  This campground occupies a small part of a very large county park, with lakes, biking, hiking, and equestrian trails, and a couple nice playgrounds. The campground has sites of all kinds: 58 FHU (20/30/50 amp), 23 E (20/30 amp) only, and 11 tent sites with no utilities.  Some of the sites in the E only loop are suitable for large rigs.  Most sites are back-ins; 3 sites are pull-outs along the loop road.

Roads in the FHU loops are paved.  All sites are manicured dirt/gravel, as are the roads in the non- FHU loops.  All sites have a large, heavy picnic table and fire ring.  FHU sites have less shade, but all sites are surrounded by thick green grass.

The majority of the sites are reasonably spacious, some VERY spacious, others not so much.  The non-FHU sites have a lot of shade and privacy.

We were in the FHU loop, site 48.  Good voltage, adequate water pressure, the site was long and spacious - just one complaint: it wasn’t level!  About half of the FHU sites are sufficiently sloped that large motor homes either used leveling blocks in addition to jacks, or were jacked so high that their front wheels were off the ground.  It is hard to figure out why such a lovely, modern campground would not have leveled the big, spacious campsites adequately.

All loops had nice bathhouses.  A dump station is near the entrance/exit.  The campground uses a central dumpster with separate cans for paper and “mixed” recycling (I like to see recycling at a campground).

Rate: Varies by type of site: FHU - $32.14/night; E only, $26.78/night; No hookups - $18.21/night.  Tack on an extra $7 if you want to make a reservation.  We got in on a mid-week special, so paid half price for our FHU site on the weeknights - nice!

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for the aircard and phones.  WiFi is included in the camping rate, but we didn’t need or use it.  No obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite, and over a dozen channels on the antenna including several PBS stations.  NPR is available at 91.1 and others.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  Elevation is around 1,000 feet, with green, slightly hilly terrain.  Views are of other rigs, thick grass, and big green trees.

Lighting/Noise:  Several streetlights are left on all night; fortunately none were right next to us.  There is some traffic noise, but not more than is expected in an urban environment.  The campground is not far from the Minnesota Zoo, where LOUD summertime concerts lasted until around 10:30 pm on two of the nights we visited.

Favorite Sites:  We didn’t make a list, but would ask for a level site if we called for a reservation, probably site 44.  There are a couple of sites that were less desirable than the majority (2 and 53) - shorter and tighter - and it appears they don’t use those unless the campground is full.  Our site faced mostly north, nice when the weather is hot.

Hiking/Walking:  Excellent!  A one-mile mown grass hiking trail leads from the east loop of the campground to another section of this large park with miles and miles of hiking trails (hiking/ biking, and equestrian trails are separated in this park, a nice touch).

Comments: We came to this park to visit friends and Costco (we’d been out in the boonies too long!).  If you need/want to be in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, this is a very pleasant campground.  For a campground map, visit the website: Lebanon Hills Campground.

LITTLE BENNETT REGIONAL PARK, CLARKSBURG, MD (DC AREA)

Our Opinion: Neutral.  A better place for tents than RV’s, but it worked for us as a base camp for visiting family and a trip into DC.  Staff is exceptionally helpful in making and changing reservations.

Date of Stay: May 28 through June 5, 2010, which included the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Weather During Stay:  Warm and humid, highs in the upper 80’s, lows near 70.

Site Description:  This campground is a very small piece of a very large regional park, with a golf course, hiking trails, and historic sites.  The campground has paved roads, with 91 sites in 5 loops.

Of the 91 sites, all but 25 are for tents only.  The 25 RV spaces are slightly larger, with 30 amp electricity.  Sites are gravel and reasonably large, well spaced from one another.  Although many sites are long enough for big rigs, leveling is difficult as most sites slope, either slightly or significantly.  Site your rig carefully if you have slides, as all sites in heavily forested.

All sites are back-ins, with picnic tables and fire rings.  Water spigots as scattered through the loops (no water hookups at sites), and a nearby bathhouse has showers.  Two washers and two dryers are available at the centrally located activity center.  A dump station is at the entrance to the park.

Rate: $31/night, paid at time of reservation and non-refundable.  We made several change to our reservations (moving the dates, extending the stay, and changing sites) without monetary penalty.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon signal for the aircard and phones.  Southern sky completely obscured for our roof-mounted TV satellite; even the Sirius satellite radio signal had a difficult time if the wind blew!  We got around a dozen channels on the antenna including several PBS stations.  NPR is available at 88.5.  No WiFi.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  Elevation is under 500 feet, in hilly terrain.  This campground is in dense hardwood forest; views are of trees, large and small, and neighboring rigs. Heavily shaded (important in the hot summer).

Lighting/Noise:  Dark, dark, dark at night, and quiet after campers retire from their campfires - or on empty weekday nights.

Favorite Sites:  We preferred the sites on the outside edge of the loop, as they were somewhat more level.  In site 52, we never managed to get completely level, and didn’t see any big rigs that did.

Hiking/Walking:  Excellent!  Trails head off in all directions, with good maps available at the visitor center.

Comments: This is an excellent campground for smaller rigs and tents.  For us, it was the best of the possible alternatives for visiting family in the area.  Though we thought $31/night was steep for what we got, the nearest (and apparently only) commercial park charges more than twice the rate for much tighter sites.  We were 20 minutes from a Trader Joes and Costco, and 25 from the last stop on the Metro Red Line into DC (a 25 minute ride). 

WINTON WOODS CAMPGROUND, CINCINNATI, OH

Our Opinion: Rave.  This county campground on the north side of Cincinnati is lush, green, and appealing.

Date of Stay: May 23 through May 26, 2010.

Weather During Stay:  Warm and humid, highs in the mid-80’s, lows in the upper 60’s.

Site Description:  This campground is a very small piece of a very large county park, with lakes, fishing, and boat rentals; biking, hiking, and equestrian trails; a golf course and disc golf; and a huge, very cool playground (removed from the camping area).  The campground itself was recently renovated and expanded, and we were in one of the 37 new, 50 amp FHU sites. 

12 of these new sites are pull-throughs, the remainder are back-ins.  Back-ins have gravel pads and concrete patios; pull-throughs have concrete pads and patios.  All sites have picnic tables and fire rings.  Roads are paved.  Photos of every site are available on their website, here.

The older part of the campground has 68 shady sites with 30 amp E only (no water or sewer), suitably sized for Class C and B RV’s and smaller trailers (or tents).  There is a launch ramp for canoes and kayaks in this section of the campground.

A deluxe dump station is set up to handle rigs both arriving and departing.  The bathhouse includes showers and laundry.  The campground office includes a small store and snack bar (including ice cream).  There are also 8 new, deluxe camping cabins and 10 basic cabins.

Rate: Varies by type of site: $25/night (30 amp only); $35/night for FHU back-ins; $45/night for FHU pull-throughs.  Senior discount (10%) Sunday-Thursday.  We paid $31.50/night for our 4-day weekday stay, plus a one-time day use pass fee of $5 (annual fee good in all Hamilton County parks).

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon signal for the aircard and phones.  No obstacles for our roof-mounted satellite, and over a dozen channels on the antenna including several PBS stations.  NPR is available at 91.7.  WiFi is available, but we didn’t use it.  Maybe an extra fee (Tengo).

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  Elevation is under 500 feet, with green, slightly hilly terrain.  Views are of other rigs, grass, and big green trees, including towering pines.  Some sites have views of the lake.  Very little shade in the new section of the campground.

Lighting/Noise:  Pleasantly dark and very quiet at night.  Lots of bird sounds in the morning!

Favorite Sites:  For a big rigs, the new sites are best - easy parking and good services.  We thought the pull-throughs were the worst of the new sites, in a row down the middle of the campground with campground roads both front and back.  On hot summer days, the back-ins on the far side (14F through 25F) have the best orientation, facing slightly northwest.  We were in 17F.

Hiking/Walking:  Excellent!  Trails circle the lake and wander all over the park.  Pleasant walking in the older part of the campground, too.

Comments: We really enjoyed this well-cared-for park.  Great amenities, with large sites and plenty to do on-site.  Convenient shopping nearby.  20 minutes to downtown Cincinnati.

USERY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK, MESA, ARIZONA

Our Opinion: Rave.  This large regional park has spacious sites and good hiking trails, adjacent to an urban area (Phoenix, AZ).

Date of Stay: December 15th through 19th, 2009.

Weather During Stay:  Lovely mild southwest winter weather.  Lows at night in the low 50’s, daytime highs in the 70’s.  Mostly blue skies.

Site Description:  Our site (27) is a very spacious back-in, aligned mostly east-west, perfect to capture the sun’s morning warmth.  The reasonably level, gravel pad is suitably sized for a big rig, with lots of level, graveled space behind.  A Palo Verde provides shade and privacy on the south (patio) side.

Of the 75 sites available, it looks as though half a dozen are occupied by hosts - and it shows in the meticulous maintenance of the sites.  Both “pullout” and back in sites are available (predominantly back ins).  All sites are raked gravel, with large concrete picnic tables, fire rings and grills at each site.  All sites have water and 30/50 amps.  Most sites can accommodate big rigs, and most sites are level enough – but we did see several that are too sloped for our use.

This is a huge park, and the campground designers did not skimp on space. Several restrooms (with showers); adequate dumpsters.  Spacious dump station available. 

Rate: W/E sites are $25/night.  No senior discount; no weekly discount.  Camping fee includes use of dump station.  All sites are first-come, first-served, no reservations.  14 day consecutive stay limit enforced, but only one night out required before you return. 

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon service is good on both the aircard and phones.  No obstacles for roof mounted TV satellite. All networks, PBS, and a few independents on rooftop antenna. NPR on 91.5 (probably others as well).

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain:  This is gently rolling terrain, punctuated by arid hills and stony mountains.  Fairly dense desert vegetation: palo verde, saguaro, barrel and cholla… very appealing desert scenery.   Elevation is 2,000 feet above sea level.  Views from the campground are of other (reasonably distant) campers, cactus, multitudes of birds, and high, rocky mountain outcroppings.  Distant views of the city lights at night.

Lighting/Noise: No streetlights in the camping loop (a good thing), but the restrooms have fairly bright lighting at night.  We were positioned so that wasn’t a bother.  Very little urban  noise of any kind.

Favorite Sites: Many, many, appealing sites here.  Choose according to your sun exposure and view preference.  As usual, we prefer perimeter sites to the interior sites, and back-ins to pullouts.

Hiking/Walking:  Walking the loop road of this campground is pleasant for a stroll, or take the half-mile nature trail.  Trailheads for several longer hikes are a short drive from the campground.  We enjoyed the birds-eye view from Wind Cave, and a viewpoint on the Pass Mountain Trail.  Trail maps and information are available at the check-in kiosk.

Comments: This park is a lovely oasis next to densely populated Phoenix, AZ.  The campground occupies a small area of the park, which includes substantial day use areas, numerous trails, and a horse staging area.  November and December would be ideal times to visit - the campground was half full during our stay, but is full daily from mid-January through the end of March.

SKYLINE WILDERNESS PARK, NAPA, CALIFORNIA

Our Opinion: Recommend.  A rather rustic, reasonably priced campground in a large regional park in California’s premier wine-making region.

Date of Stay: Our fourth stay - mid-October, 2009

Weather During Stay:  A mix of mild weather, with sun, fog and showers.

Sites: The campground has a mix of FHU and W/E sites, all on gravel, all reasonably level.  None of the sites are very spacious, though most are long enough to (barely) accommodate a 40’ motorhome, with slides and awnings.

The campground map shows 19 FHU sites, but one appears to be unusable.  Two of the FHU sites are pull-throughs.  Eight of the FHU sites are back-to-back; the remaining 8 FHU sites are back-ins along the edge of a little cul-de-sac.  Many of the FHU sites have shared utility boxes, two sites per box - first camper in gets their choice of the 20, 30, or 50 amp outlet.

The 20 water and electric sites (30 amps) are a mix of back-ins and pull-throughs, and feel a little less crowded than the FHU sites.  Tents have a separate, very spacious, grassy area.

Roads and all sites in the campground are gravel.  Trees scattered throughout the campground and around the perimeter provide shade in some sites.  All sites have picnic tables. Restrooms and showers are available (get a key when you check in). 

Rate: $27 per night for FHU; $25 per night for W/E.  If you are a senior (age 62, I believe), ask for the senior discount - $2 off per night.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon phone and aircard signals.  Few obstacles for rooftop-mounted satellite TV.  PBS stations available on TV antenna.   NPR available on 88.5 (and probably several others).

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Level parking on two tiers in a large, hilly regional park.  Lots of trees and shrubs surrounding the campground.  There is a native plant garden on one side of the campground and a dog run on another side.  Views are of other campers, huge oak trees, and forested rolling hills.  Elevation is close to sea level.

Lighting/Noise: Although there are streetlight-type lights on tall poles in several spots in the campground, they aren’t turned on at night (YAY, though it is probably for budget reasons).  Very dark and quiet at night.

Favorite Sites: No real favorites here - they are all similar except for the utilities.  If we are staying a short time, we pick a W/E site - cheaper and less crowded.

Hiking/Walking: This is where Skyline Wilderness Park shines.  It is HUGE, a regional park with miles and miles of trails for hiking, biking, or horseback riding.  Don’t like hiking?  Take a lovely, easy stroll through the large, fenced native plant garden, or find a seat at a picnic table under the huge oak trees.  A frisbee golf course seems to get lots of play, too. 

Comments: The Napa Valley is a “world-class” destination, and this park is a relaxing, mellow base camp.  A reasonably priced municipal golf course is a few miles away, as are Target, Raley’s, etc.  Chain and independent restaurants abound.  Call 707-252-0481 to reserve a site (no specific site reservations can be made – but you are guaranteed a site with a reservation).

ARMITAGE COUNTY PARK, EUGENE, OREGON

Our Opinion: Rave.  This new Lane County campground is a great option for FHU camping in Eugene.  A plus for dog owners: a huge fenced dog park is located adjacent to the park entrance.

Date of Stay: October 1 through 6, 2009.  Updated during a 5-day stay in June, 2011. 

Sites: 6 long pull-outs (95+ feet) and 26 spacious back-ins (55+ feet), all with 30/50 amp FHU including cable TV.  Roads and very spacious sites are asphalt, with large expanses of grass and many trees.  About half the sites are shaded; the other half are in a sunny, cleared area.  Each site has a substantial picnic table and fire pit. 

Restrooms are available, but no showers.  The park is adjacent to the Mackenzie River with a large day-use area for picnickers and a boat-launch ramp. 
Rate: $30 per night for 30/50 amp FHU with cable TV and free WiFi.

Phone/radio/TV: Good Verizon phone signal, but the aircard signal alternated between broadband and very slow national access.  Free (unsecured) WiFi doesn't quite reach to site 30, but would be work in the majority of sites.  Satellite TV will be blocked by trees in about half the sites, but cable TV is included at all sites.  NPR available on 89.7.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Flat, level parking at about 500 ft elevation adjacent to the Mackenzie river.  Views are of other campers, huge trees, and green grass.  Very appealing.

Lighting/Noise: There is distance noise from I-5 that did not bother us during the day or keep us awake at night.  The park itself was very quiet.  Lighting is on each utility pedestal, directed downward and fairly unobtrusive. 
 
Favorite Sites: Sites 1 through 15 are situated in a sunny, open, grassy area; the remaining sites are partially or completely shaded.  We were in site 30, facing south.  Our site choice would depend on the temperatures expected.  

Hiking/Walking: Decent walking around the park and picnic areas, but we drive to one of the access points to Eugene’s extensive bike trail system for longer walks.

Comments: What a great addition to Eugene’s camping options - certainly these are the most spacious FHU sites available at a reasonable fee.  The campground is close to town, with easy access to shopping (Costco, Trader Joe’s and Safeway are all located on Coburg Road, as is the park).  Make reservations by phone or online for a $10 fee.  The website has excellent descriptions and photos of each site. If you arrive without reservations, you can pay for only two nights due to the reservation policy.  14-day stay limit.

WINDY COVE “B”, SALMON HARBOR, WINCHESTER BAY, OREGON

Our Opinion: Neutral.  Salmon Harbor/Winchester Bay area is fun for RV’ers; this is the most reasonably priced FHU campground in the immediate area.

Date of Stay: September 28-30, 2009

Weather During Stay:  Cool, some heavy rain one night.  Partly cloudy most of the time.

Sites: Windy Cove is a Douglas County campground tucked under the bluff on the south edge of the Salmon Harbor camping area.  Two camping loops hold 40 FHU sites and 29 no hookup sites.  We stayed in a FHU site and didn’t explore the no hookup sites.  22 of the FHU sites are reservable (541/957-7001); $10 additional fee to reserve.  The remaining sites are first-come, first-served.

Full hookup sites (30 amps) are arranged in three rows on a narrow strip of land nestled between Salmon Harbor Drive and a high, forested hillside.  Sites are reasonably spacious with campfire pits and picnic tables.  Restrooms with showers.  On-site office.  Roads and sites are paved.

Rate: $20 per night for 30 amp FHU.  Add $3 for extensive cable TV if desired.

Phone/radio/TV: Strong Verizon phones and aircard signal (broadband).  Satellite TV will not work in most sites (hence the cable TV for $3 more per night).  Didn’t try TV antenna.  NPR available on 89.1 and others.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Flat, level parking at sea level.  We were in the front row, closest to the road, with expansive views of the water and marina.  The two rows behind had less spectacular views, with the center row facing away from the water towards the steep hillside.

Lighting/Noise: Quiet at night.  Lighting is reasonably unobtrusive. 

Favorite Sites: Sites 29 through 40 are in the front row, with the best views.  We had site 29, on the east end of the row, one of the few where a TV satellite will get a signal. 

Hiking/Walking: Great walking around the huge area of the Salmon Harbor Marina and the small town of Winchester Bay.  Dunes and a lighthouse nearby.

Comments: Windy Cove Campground has one drawback for me: it is nestled at the base of a steep hillside which effective blocks sunshine much of the day.  This area is cool or cold WAY more often than it is hot, so sunshine is an amenity - and much of it is lost in this campground.  Winchester Bay has a GREAT Thai restaurant, Pah Tong’s Thai Cuisine.  Call 541/271-1750 for reservations or take out.  Closed Tuesday.  Highly recommended by us for lunch or dinner!

RICHARDSON PARK, JUNCTION CITY, OREGON (LANE COUNTY)

Our Opinion: Recommend, though we might avoid it on summer weekends. This large county park has spacious sites and good walking around nearby Fern Ridge Lake.

Date of Stay: May 28th, 2009.

Weather During Stay: Sunny with a high around 80 and a slight breeze. Low around 50 degrees.

Site Description: This park has 94 sites in two loops (one of which closes after Labor Day). All sites have electricity and water, and each loop has a bathhouse with showers and two dumpsters. Of the 73 sites, 16 have 30 amps only - the remainder have both 30 and 50 amps. None have sewer, though a somewhat awkwardly placed dump station is available (easiest if your towed is unhooked).

All roads and sites are paved, with plenty of grass throughout the park. BBQ grill and large picnic table at each site. Most sites are reasonably level.

Our site (#37) is a large pullout along the side of the campground road, with 30/50 amp E and water. Approximately 25 of the sites are pull-outs (parking parallel to the road), the rest are back-ins. Many of the sites are heavily shaded (not suitable for rooftop satellite dishes); in general the pull-outs are larger and more open than the back-ins.

All sites can be reserved at the Lane County Parks website, but the $10 reservation fee makes that impractical for short stays. This park is often full on weekends. Maximum stay 14 days in 30.

Rate: $20 per night. Add $10 to the cost of your stay if you want a reservation!

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon phone service is good, but the cell card has ups and downs. Lots of trees mean you need to pay attention if your TV satellite is roof mounted. On the antenna, we have numerous digital stations. NPR on 89.7 and probably others.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: This is a flat park with lots of green grass and trees. Elevation is around 400 feet. Views are of trees and other campers. Some sites are very open and sunny, others much more private and shady.

Lighting/Noise: Lots of lawn mowing going on during the weekdays! A fair amount of traffic in some of the perimeter sites, especially those in Loop B close the Clear Lake Road. Night lighting appears minimal.

Favorite Sites: As usual, we prefer perimeter sites to the interior sites. In this park, we choose the pull-outs - they are larger and have fewer challenges for the rooftop satellite.

Hiking/Walking: Great. Walk the campground loops or head over to the lake and marina for a longer stroll.

Comments: This is our second stay here. The park is about 20 minutes from Eugene, a favorite town of ours. We used this park in conjunction with a couple nights dry camping at Valley River Center for a nice stay in the Eugene area (maybe dry-camp at the mall on Friday and Saturday nights, then head over here to dump and enjoy the weekdays without the weekend crowd?). It also is convenient to the wide variety of RV repair and renovation facilities in the Junction City area.

YUCAIPA REGIONAL PARK, YUCAIPA, CALIFORNIA

Click here to read our most recent review  (December 12, 2011) with updated fees and additional photos.

Our Opinion: Recommend. This large regional park has spacious sites and good hiking, in the midst of an urban area.

Date of Stay: March 15th through 18th.

Weather During Stay: Springtime! Lows at night were crisp, in the 30’s; daytime highs in the mid 70’s. Beautiful.
Site Description: Our site is a large pullout along the side of the campground road. A school (high school?) is next to us at the border of the park, so it is quiet at night but lots of “kid noise” during the day. All sites are paved, with large concrete patios surrounded by grass. BBQ grill and sturdy picnic table at each site. FHU with 50 and 30 amp electric.
The campground is gently rolling, with lots of green grass and trees. Most of the 42 RV sites are pull-outs, but some are back-ins. Not all are level, but most are quite long; all are fairly spacious. Many of the pull-out sites have multiple utilities for groups of two or three. Several restrooms (with showers); plenty of trash cans. Tent camping sites are available in a separate area. Dump site available. All sites can be reserved at http://www.sbcountyparks.com/. Maximum stay 14 days in 30.

Rate: FHU RV sites are $27. Senior camping rates are available Monday-Thursday, $23. We paid the full rate for Sunday night, the senior rate thereafter - plus a $5 fee for making a reservation.

Phone/radio/TV: Verizon service is good on both the aircard and phones. Lots of trees mean you need to pay attention if your TV satellite is roof mounted. On the antenna, we have four digital stations, all PBS. NPR on 91.9.

Elevation/Landscape/Terrain: Rolling hills, lots of trees, green grass and lakes. Elevation 2,600 feet. This large, regional park is in a busy urban/suburban area, with a school next door and homes nearby. Views from the campground are of other campers, the surrounding hills, and the school.
Lighting/Noise: No streetlights here (a good thing), but the restrooms are brightly lit at night. We were positioned so that wasn’t a bother. Noise from the neighboring students during the day. Sites near the front of the campground had considerable road noise.

Favorite Sites: All have some good, some not-so-good features. As usual, we prefer perimeter sites to the interior sites.
Hiking/Walking: Walking the loop road of this huge park is pleasant. A rather strenuous hike goes to the peak of the highest nearby hill, Mt. Zanja.

Comments: This park is a pleasant oasis in a busy urban area in the Inland Empire of California. The campground occupies a small area of the park, which includes a large lake (with fishing), swimming beach, water slides, playground, and several large picnic areas. I suspect this park is very crowded with day-users in summer. Grocery shopping nearby; 18 hole public golf course ¼ mile away.