Iron Gate Reservoir

Camp site coordinates are incorrect. Search for Camp Creek Campground, there are also Juniper Point/Mirror Cove that have free sites. Coordinates took us into a “neighborhood”, onto a private road, and all over the place while we arrived past 10pm.

Using Google Maps we were able to find out that there were nearby campgrounds and the county website says they were free FCFS.

We stayed at Camp Creek Campground right next to the dock/launch. Camp site has a nice stone table, within minutes we were swarmed by mosquitoes and our dogs had multiple thorns in each of their paws. The table became their safe place. Waking up we discovered the water was full of blue green algae with no notices around. There’s also big piles of horse poop as the horses are allowed to roam the recreation area.

Site is okay if no dogs, port-a-potty was clean. You’re better off staying at Fish Hook/Blue Heron RV Park or closer to I-5 at another RV camp site than camping here where the water should not be accessed.

We saw the brown sign from I-5 and decided to explore Iron Gate. It was an easy 8 miles to the reservoir and another 5ish to the campground. There are a dozen or so spots right on the water. Water spigots for campers although they hadn’t been turned on. Johnny on the Spot toilets. Absolutely nothing fancy but relatively clean and safe place to spend the night or camp for a few days. Which we’ve done thrice now!