Eisenhower State Park includes most of Lake Texoma lakefront businesses that make up Oklahoma's share of the biggest local lake in north central Texas, which is about an hour's drive north on TXHWY 377N, and a day sail from Gordonville's gorgeous and lively Cedar Mills Yacht, where my family lived during the weekends and holidays, often dining with the keen Bahama 28 yacht owned by North Texas State University's Dr. Bruce P. Foster. Our ragtag racing team included Bruce and Trudy's sons, Rob and Greg + a rotating volunteer from our home church, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Denton. Apparently, from certain times of the year, the sailing vessels known as Valiant Yachts produces various forms of sailing vessels, which are often shipped to every place in the world. I worked on the foredeck, raising the colorful and elegant spinnakers for sailing quite fast pointing down wind. I love the local scene of rural communities in the north Texas and Oklahoma region and the culture of our farmers and ranchers who cultivate their cash crops and send to the local markets in Denton, Dallas, Fort Worth and mid-cities. Cheers, Mark F. read more

We really enjoyed a marvelous weekend at Eisenhower State park not long ago!! I definitely recommend visiting, before it gets too crazy hot. We came here in late spring. They have really nice nearby cabins along the peninsula where we stayed. There's a lot to do for the entire family, trail running, hiking, fishing etc. Plus it is a short drive up north offering the "we are not in DFW" vibe. It is worth checking out for sure! read more

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We spent our 2023 New Year camping with friends, and it was great! We stayed at campsite 153 at Fossil Ridge, very secluded, and enjoyed a 5 mile hike. The views are amazing, and the hike itself was challenging but rewarding. TIP: This park is very close to Choctaw Casino! Nice campsites with lots of trails to hike and a swim beach. FYI, there is a long path with steep steps to get to the swim area. The park is well maintained, heavily wooded, which makes for a great camping atmosphere, especially at night. Noteworthy: The bathrooms were older but clean. A big bonus for me was the isolation, like an authentic camping experience, but there are many options to pick from to fit your camping style! read more

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We love Eisenhower for so many reasons. We have camped, stayed in a screened shelter, gone there for holiday events, and for the day use swimming area. It is always well attended and maintained. Everyone there is so kind and we love the area. It's close to home and one of our fave spots! read more

I enjoyed camping at Eisenhower State Park. Everything is well kept here, including the showers and bathrooms, and friendly staff throughout the park. The hikes are clearly marked along the trails. I'd get in the water next time as it was hot. The trails aren't too bad, a little easier than the trails map claim. read more

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Hidden gem in Texas! This quarantine definitely has made me appreciate nature a lot more. Before you go here make sure you have purchased a day pass in advance otherwise you will not have guaranteed entry. This place is huge!! We definitely got lost upon entering the park. The directions are not clear within the park. We were looking for the trails. We had to stop and ask several people where the trails were and they were lost too. We finally ran into someone who actually knew where the trail was. The main trail is basically along the lake. It wasn't busy at all and we went on a Saturday morning. My only concern is if you were to fall and get hurt it doesn't seem like you would find any help. I definitely do not recommend anyone coming here alone. Unless you're fearless! Besides that the scenery is sooo beautiful! Check this place out! read more

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***This review is for SITE #179 on Elm Point*** This review is not for the park as a whole but just for one particular spot. We've camped at several different spots and site 179 is by far the prettiest, most Coveted spot, yet the worst spot. I say this because once you rent this spot, you sacrifice your privacy for the good views. People will literally walk near your site at all hours of the day to see the lake and the cliffs. Its a big site, granted not all of the space belongs to that site. But when people walk two feet away from your tent while you're sleeping at 6 in the morning and just linger there chit-chatting (big groups too) - it gets annoying. Also beware there is a house across the river that is actually an air bnb and whoever rented that house that night was playing the most inappropriate music ever. It drove the lady next to our site so crazy she lost her cool and sounded just absolutely unstable and the whole night we felt like we were walking on eggshells because we didn't want to wake the monster next Door. I know, not Eisenhowers fault but just sharing the small downfalls that could potentially happen at that spot. Super gorgeous sunrises and sunsets though. read more

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We drove our kids up here the other day because it's only about 30 minutes from our house. We're originally from an area that has beaches, so I heard this little area has a great little beachy area... There's actually quite a bit of sand, the park was very clean, there's also little caves nearby that we were able to look through. The only drawback where that these wasps are near the water line, quite a few of them... their right to be there, it's their home. Lol Other than the wasps, Such a relaxing day, highly recommend the spot. read more

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"CLOSE" to DALLAS This State Park is more conveniently located to Dallas than most at an average drive time of about 1.5 hours. SMALL STATE PARK It's a small state park which shares a road with the Eisenhower Yacht Club and offers hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, boating, picnicking, and even some cave exploration. OVERNIGHT CAMPING Overnight camping options include anything from screened shelters, electric/RV sites, to water and primitive tent campsites. VIEWS OF LAKE TEXOMA The biggest draw to this park is its location on the waterside cliffs of Lake Texoma - with beautiful views of the lake from many parts of the park, its trails, fishing piers, picnic areas, and (very large) swimming cove. RESERVATIONS We have become fond of this state park for overnight camping since it is only a 1.5 hour drive from Dallas. We've also discovered a favorite tent site!! Overnight campers must book several months in advance - via the State Park reservation website - to secure the best sites though some less desirable sites might be available with less notice or planning. RENOVATIONS Renovations have resulted in sectional park, restroom, and swimming area closures on each of our visits in 2020. This is a great sign of continual improvements underway but has required some creative workarounds. This is a place we look forward to visiting whether it's just my partner and I - or with friends:). read more

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We camped in our 34' travel trailer for a week in mid-March on our way north into Oklahoma. This state park campground features spacious pull through sites with full hook ups in the Bois D'Arc campground loop. The sites aren't very level, but f you have leveling blocks you can manage. Also, our site was very muddy after it rained, with mostly sticks and dirt. Other sites at the "top" of the loop did have some grassy areas. Our nightly rate was $23, which is very rare for FHU sites. The campground had clean shower and bathroom facilities; which are always nice, but there was no hot water the last 3 days of our stay. Great fishing on the lake and amazing hiking/biking trails throughout the park. We would stay here again on our way back through the area for the price, but would make sure to ask if the hot water is working and choose a different site. read more

Sooooo.....Eisenhower State Park is quite lovely! We did a easy 7.5 mile hike this morning and was surprised by the accessibility to the cliffs and water. Some elevation gain and well maintained trails, I love how easy it was to get to from Collin County and only $5 (free for state park's pass holders!) I can't wait to come back for more hiking and picnic, where's a hammock when you need one?? read more

Eisenhower State Park - Parks Near Me - Denison, Texas

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We drove in from Denton after work, so it was already dark when we got here. Judging from the lack of lights we knew it would be a nice and quiet weekend. The staff was very friendly and got us checked-in really quickly. Since we arrived so late, there were only a few camping spots left with electricity and water hookups. We were able to get a spot (#40) in the Armadillo Hill camping area, fairly close to the restrooms. Before leaving the front office we were offered trail maps and pamphlets for local attractions. Our first impression of the park, once we were all set up, was that the restrooms and showers were very clean and well kept. That's a definite big thumbs up! The showers have actual doors and plenty of space to shower and get dressed afterwards. The tent areas for the campsites around us were adequately spaced apart and it didn't feel like we were on top of one another. We have a fairly large tent (16'x10') and had not problem fitting it on the tent pad. The next day we were able to explore quite a bit of the park. We decided to do some hiking before checking out some of the sights of nearby Denison. We chose to hike the Armadillo Hill Trail, which was about .8 mi. About 1/4 mi. into the hike, we discovered that part of the trail was under water, since there had been so much rain around that time. We ended up driving around the park to check out some of the other camping areas. We were surprised to discover how large this park actually is! Upon leaving the park to check out nearby Denison, we saw there was a big box where you could select firewood for 50¢ a stick. Most other state parks that we've been to have very overpriced firewood, so we brought our own. It's nice to know that the next time we come to this park, we can just buy firewood there for really cheap. I only had 2 minor gripes with our camping area. The water spout for the camp site next to us was really close to our tent area. Because of this, any runoff from the water spout would flow down towards the front of our tent pad. My other gripe was that our water spout and electrical hookup were quite a bit away from our tent pad. Luckily, I brought a 50' extension cable to run power to our tent, but we only had 1' of the extension cable actually inside of the tent. I look forward to coming and camping here again, and maybe staying in one of the other camping areas! read more

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Be careful when you ,No police People intoxicated fighting. People watch your tent and camping site when you leave to go fishing or swimming they'll steal everything you have. Hear about all the time. .Ice chest, lantern. Billfold. Sleeping bag. Ect. Even break in your car. Happen to me. I wouldn't go down there. But that's up to you. Better watch your belongings. You have been warned read more

We enjoyed an afternoon at Eisenhower State Park and had a picnic near the lake. The campsites are all shut down right now due to COVID-19 but the day use areas are open if you buy a day pass in advance online. There are plenty of trails to hike and picnic areas. There is also a lighted fishing pier. Take your picnic basket and a blanket and sit out by the lake and enjoy socially distanced time away from others. If you are in a vicinity of other people you do have to maintain social distance and you are required to wear a mask while out and about if you're around other people and you cannot congregate in groups of more than five people or parties outside of your own. read more

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We have been in 3 sites so far, none were even near having a level spot, one took 6 inches on one side to get there, also, all the sites I was in have the sewer hookup high making the tank drain difficult. The rest of the park is great. read more

Go there Go there Go there Seriously goooooo there Beautiful park & memorial Christmas lights are terrific read more

Perfect place and great weather. Went with a group of 6 families with small children ranging from 4-10 years old. Tent camping and used the Shelters for staging food and weather contingency. Clean facilities and nearby bathrooms with shower. (and a soda vending machine) Well maintained and safe / patrolled area. Access to lake and fossils as well as a huge variety of outdoor options. A great time was had by all and we will do this again. Notes: Fire detector in shelter so no cooking inside shelter. Outside fire pit with attached grilling area. (Small) Tent camping is much easier on some shelters due to amount of safe level ground on the particular site. SH24 & SH25 were perfect but SH26 was not well suited to more than one small tent due to ground slope and large overhead limbs. SH26 is Directly across the gravel road from Ike's Cabin so the combination would be great. Awesome fossils and animal tracks. Trash receptacles are abundant but not overflowing and they are well placed. Wood for fire available at entrance for a suggested donation of $0.50 / log. Kind and helpful staff. Highly recommended. read more

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Was s bit surprised they charge per person instead of by vehicle - $5/person isn't bad but if you're bringing a lot of folks or coming often I'd get the state park pass. Not a huge park but some cool trails along the lake - would come on a cool day since most of the trains are exposed. The water is pretty clear and you can see fish. There was a beach but it's only open in the summer and dogs aren't allowed. The map had some cool viewpoints and the best ones were Lovers Leap and the fishing pier. Definitely worth a visit if you live in Denison or live around Dallas. read more

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I am a big fan of campgrounds with reasonable prices. I found this one while I was searching for area locations to cover for my travel blog. Originally I was drawn to it for the historical reference to Eisenhower, knowing the birthplace was only a few short miles up the road. But when I arrived, I found a lot of activities which were equally as exciting. During fall it is beautiful with the turning of the leaves including the red oak trees which create an amazing landscape as you travel down the many trails. The swimming beach, while it was to cold to swim from was really amazing and quite different than other lakes I have traveled to throughout my travels. Though a lot of this park is about the lake itself, the activities such as hiking, camping and OHV make this place a bit more than just another lakeside state park. Then the prices... Camping ranges from $12 to $25 depending on what amenities you are seeking, very reasonable by industry standards and much better than other camps in the area run by independents. For those not wanting to stay all day there is a day-use fee of $5 which is very reasonable as well. Something which I noticed but couldn't take advantage of was the boat rental area which apparently has a variety to choose from. This is located near the lighted fishing pier. read more

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Amazing. A must stop for camping or glamping . The lake is gorgeous and loaded with fish jumping out of the water. Kayaking is so perfect and swimming was refreshing. Loved the trails. Easy hookups and great water pressure. Very nice staff, the park Ranger was checking on our street constantly. Felt super safe and slept great! read more

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Beautiful park with lots of options for the entire family. The trails were nice and the focal points outlined on the map are worth the trip! Easy to access scenic views from shortened hiking paths as well. Signage isn't the best so was a bit difficult to find the trail markers that are outlined on the map they give you but it's worth the effort! read more

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As a frequent visitor of this park, I'm going to give a very honest review by listing pros and cons. Pros: Elm Point has beautiful views, there is a nice beach and fun caves to explore, there are public restrooms and free showers, the elevation of the camp lends to having fewer bugs than normal, check out time can be 11-2 PM which is nice, and there is a Walmart only a couple miles away if you need food or supplies. Cons: the outside of the bathrooms are completely covered in spider webs and numerous spiders, we've gotten a noise complaint at 10:30 PM from playing a board game inside a tent, the park rangers seem to take their jobs a little too seriously and can come off very aggressive or intrusive, you can't book your specific pad site until you arrive and pay the full amount, booking a site area in general requires the cost of one nights stay, and there is a $5 per adult entrance fee per day. If y'all have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I know the park pretty well though have only camped at Elm Point. read more

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We wanted to check out Lake Texoma so we decided to camp here. We did book last minute and they have sites available. The sites were okay. The tent spot had mounds and mounds and mounds of red ants. It was hard to enjoy any part of the camp site so we went out most of the weekend. The swimming area was cute and private which I liked. I did not like that no dogs were allowed. We travel always with our dog and when he can't join we can't attend. I'm happy to show proof of vaccinations and clean up after him. We brought an inflatable kayak and wanted to use it from the beach but the swimming beach is the only beach spot around and it wasn't dog friendly. We used marina which was okay just too many big boats. :-/ Overall I was not impressed and will not be coming back. Definitely some better parks around. We made the most of it and had fun. read more

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Beautiful park. Great place to photograph and hike. Nice beach area as well. Had a great time.

This state park is the by far the worst state park I've been to in the state of Texas. Stayed in a RV site along Armadillo Hill, site 14. No bathrooms here or dump station. Person working the desk said the bathrooms had been closed for 4 years, and the dump station was close to 1.2 miles away. The TINY cove for people that wanted to swim had to be driven to, signs everywhere saying no dogs or floats... there were dogs and floats all in the water. You're telling me as huge as lake texoma is, this is it for swimming??! Just a huge cluster. Zero presence of ANY kind of ranger. Signs everywhere not to park on the grass.. there were cars, trucks, boats, you name it EVERYWHERE. I get having to park where you can, but there were 2 to 3 cars/trucks per site, up to 4 tents per site, cords going to the next site to use electricity where there was no camper.. This was a come do whatever you want kind of park. I've never seen a state park run so poorly. Some squatters set up camp right by us and partied loud and long all night until around 6am on morning. I wish I had something good to say about this park but with everything so horrible, I rate this a negative. I'm going to report this park to whatever state office gives a darn. I'm so sad I wasted 5 days of hard earned vacation at this park. read more

The last two times we have been here the park has been severely neglected. Waist high grass, chiggers and ticks and generally not taken care of. Very disappointing read more

The park itself is fine for the most part. What we were disappointed about were the lack of trail markings in general, and certainly not anything matching the trail map they give you. While the 5-6 trails all have distinctive names and distinguishing colors on the map, none of those names are actually used on the trails. If you happen to miss the generic 'nature trail' sign off the road, thinking you'll see one mentioning the 'Armadillo Hill Trail,' you'll miss it completely. Likewise, there's really nothing letting you know you've completed that trail and have started on 'Ike's Hike and Bike Trail' that follows. I'm not sure if the trails on the other side of the park have better signage, but we weren't impressed with what we saw, and the map wasn't any help. There were also several areas where you'd come to a split and had to kind of guess which path was actually the trail you were supposed to be on. read more

This state park makes one of my top 5 so far! The restrooms were a plus in making this decision. The showers were very roomy and clean, which makes it a lot easier to stay. Staff was very friendly. The trails were nice, but flooded because of all the rain. There were options of easy and harder trails. The park map was very informative to follow. We only had one problem with the campsite, but it comes with the territory. The campsite's water dispenser was really close to our campsite which caused water to run into our area. It didn't affect our tent area though so it wasn't a big deal. Also, we got there late and picked one of the two spots that was left. No big deal. Will definitely be back! We get a state park pass every year and try a new park to camp at. Note: This visit was for two adults, no children or pets to reference for. read more

It's a great state park, it really is! For me, I had not camped out since I was young. Eventually, me and a couple of other college friends decided to get away from all the stress of tests and school work for a relaxing weekend. The area is very woodsy and have rocky roads, but there is a very scenic view of the lake. There are about four bays and a lot of trails to hike. However, the trails were very muddy, so we had to work our way around it. The rocks are relatively easy to climb, and it's amazing what you can see when you get high up to see the marvelous view the park has to offer. And just to imagine, the Oklahoma is right across that lake!! We camped in the most northern tip, and we had several neighbors around us. There were a couple kids being rude to our group, but I won't let that get in the way of the full experience. We only decided to stay two days, one night. On the first day, the high was 63 and the low was about 45. We had reserved two campsites because one campsite is suppose to hold 8 people, but it's big enough to hold more if you have a large enough tent.For each campsite, there are two parking spots, and we had taken up all four spots. Each campsite is equipped with running water, a picnic table, and a fire pit. You are able to buy fire wood at the park entrance because collecting your own firewood is prohibited. Note, the fire pit is pretty small!! It's a bit difficult to cook food. We only brought one frying pan and couple cans of food, but it did the job. There was a bathroom within walking distance of our campsites, and they were not bad themselves! They were clean for the most part, but the girl's restroom had no soap dispensers, but the men's restroom did. We had all arrived around 6 PM and it got dark very quickly. A park ranger came around at 7:30 to give us a heads up about quiet hours at 10 PM. He did not make frequent rounds, but we made sure to keep it low afterwards. It was a very chilly night with the low at almost 40, so make sure you bring extra clothes if you're camping out in the winter. It quickly got warmer as the day progressed in day 2, and we spent the time exploring the bay. I can say I really enjoyed myself here. Surround yourself with good company and you're guaranteed to have a great time at any state park you choose. I can't wait to see has other parks Texas has to offer! read more

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This is a nice park. We have camped here often. This time of year you need to book a space in advance. We came out to camp last weekend but all screen shelters and tent sites were taken. This time we stayed in screen shelter 22. The site is a little small. There is no room for a hammock or a tent. All the other screen shelter sites have room for a tent. read more

Eisenhower State Park - Parks Near Me - Denison, Texas

I will recommend this park for family picnic. Swimming, grilling and short hikes is the highlight. However the one Star is for the chigger bites that our entire group of 10 suffered from our visit. Chigger bites cause itching that is unbearable. You will get red blisters on legs and waist area. They will last for 2 weeks. OTC medicine like calmation lotion, hydrocortisone or aloe is useless. After prescription antihistamine and lotion it still took a week to cure these. So make sure you use insect repellent sprays which have DEET in them. Take this seriously! read more

Visited the state park while vacationing at Tanglewood Resort. The entrance fee is $5 per adult and children under 6 are free. The beach area is pretty small and you have to walk down a lot of very slippery steps to get to it. The cool part was the rocks that you can climb on and there are tons of cool photo ops! Our kids (2.5 and 5) had a great time climbing on the rocks! I'd recommend visiting for a few hours or an evening but I would not want to spend the whole day on the small beach. read more

We came here Saturday to do a little light hiking on the trails. We hiked between markers 1 & 2 and between 7 & 8, one hike in the morning and one in the late afternoon. The trail between 7 & 8 is supposed to be a hike & bike trail, but only a masochist would bike on it. It is *very* rocky and not well maintained at all, there are several long segments where you would have to carry your bike or go off the trail which I presume isn't what they would desire you to do. The description says there are 'random lake views' but you cannot see the lake from this trail at all; what you can do is hear all the road noise because you're only about 20-40 feet from the road. We did see three deer pretty close to the trail, that was the highlight of the day. Between markers 1 & 2 is better maintained and less rocky, though bikes are not allowed. It is supposed to be the nature trail with guides and 20 areas of interest, but they were just numbered with no information and I really didn't see anything different about them vs. the rest of the trail. There seemed to be a lot of people camping but we didn't camp so I can't really comment on the facilities. I would think if you did camp here you'd want to get one of the campsites nearer the beach. read more

Eisenhower State Park is located just off Hwy 75 and exit 72. Eisenhower State Park is part of Lake Texoma and the Army Corp of Engineers 55% the Red River Water Authority. Eisenhower State Park offers a wide range of camping options for the outdoor enthusiasts. From hike in primitive camp sites to full hook up sites with both 30 and 50 amps. The Marina is privately owned and operated and offers various boat rentals. The park office offers a pole and tackle program given those interested a chance to do some fishing. Dont worry about a fishing license. The State Park has that covered. The State of Texas waives the license requirement when fishing within the State Park property. Eisenhower State Park has numerous hiking trails, horse shoe park, clean restrooms and play grounds. Eisenhower State Park is just minutes away from downtown McKinney, WinStar and Choctaw Casinos, and Turner Falls Wildlife area. UPDATE: Because of the recent heavy rains the Eisenhower State Park entrance off of Hwy 75/69 is closed. The bridge on exit 72 was washed out from the high water. As of June 2015 the road will be closed until further notice. Contact Eisenhower State Park Office for more information. The Park Office can give you the alternate route to access the park. read more

Eisenhower State Park - Bridge washed out from all the rain in May. - Parks Near Me - Denison, Texas

Great access to Lake Texoma. Beautiful views. Beaches. Discuss accessibility options with the ranger. It's pretty hilly. Good fit families! read more

We have been camping at Eisenhower for years. We started tent camping about 15 years ago but now take our 5th wheel. We always stay in the Full Hookups side. We are 60' long so are limited to certain sites. They've always been great to try and accommodate us. In Dec, you'll be able to reserve certain sites online at all TX State parks. This park is well laid out. The sites are not on the lake or banks. That's actually a good thing. A couple of years ago, we had so much rain or flooded. The water was 3 and 4 feet over the spillway. The park was closed quite awhile for repairs. It is a beautiful park with lots of great trails. Follow the difficulty ratings. They are accurate. read more

Stayed at site 144 at Fossil Ridge camping area in Eisenhower State Park on our way to Arkansas. This campsite has shaded, large pad for tent and long paved driveway good for 30'-40' RV/trailer. Water faucet at each site make it more convenient for $15/night. State park entrance fee is $5/person. Shower is not at Fossil Ridge, but at Elm Point, Deer Haven, Bois D'Arc Ridge camping area. The staff said you can also pick any other site not tagged and just call and let them know. Decent price, nice shaded site, pleasant staff... what's not to like. read more

Took my husband here for our first camping trip together. I grew up camping he grew up glamping. So I figured Eisenhower would be a good way to ease him into really camping. The grounds are pretty (even in the winter when we went), staff is very friendly and accommodating, they even suggested which camping spots have prettier sunrises/sunsets, I like that the park rangers patrol the grounds (makes you feel safe) the bathrooms are always pretty clean and the water pressure is nice and it can get hella warm which is lovely. One morning the hubby and I could not get a fire started and the park rangers saw and brought us lighter fluid that they had found at another campsite and even brought us kindling. All in all we had an amazing time and will definitely be back. read more

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I love this place it is very clean and the restrooms are cleaned every day. The park rangers are nice and very helpful.

It is good place for hiking. You could enjoy the view while hiking. There are plenty of picnic area and resting area. If you go there during summer, do not miss the "pool". Dogs are allowed to certain area. And playing area for kids. Right now, the trail way is still muddy so you might need to be careful. After all, it is a wonderful place. read more

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