We had planned a two-night stay at Mary's Lake, but for various reasons we cut it to one night. Here's the story...

EP Campground at Mary's Lake is in a good spot, just far enough from the taffy shops and tourist traps of Estes Park. The staff were nice and welcoming, but the park itself just doesn't measure up.

It's pretty much just a big gravel parking lot, with sites packed in along various loops and paths. There are hardly any trees where we were, so we were completely exposed to the wicked winds. The picnic table at our site was a nice thought, but when your view is of a gravel parking lot, sitting at the table just doesn't hold much appeal.

The bathrooms are nice and clean, but the showers are coin-operated. Now, I don't mind paying for a good shower, but when you're already paying forty-five bucks a night, throwing eight quarters into a machine for six minutes (if that) of hot water seems a bit like robbery. There's a sign that says you can add a quarter for 30 additional seconds but you have to do it before the six minutes is up. um, I don't wear a watch in the shower.

If all you're looking for is a parking lot with hookups to stow your RV while you explore the park, this place might work for you. But when we're done hiking for the day, we like a place that has some amount of charm, and sadly Mary's Lake doesn't deliver.