Best Glamping near Red Oak, OK

This was our first trip in our new 21’ camper. Robbers Cave was quiet, and the sites were huge. Be sure to check if your site is flat, ours had a huge step down to the picnic table and fire ring. Plenty of tree cover, restrooms and showers if needed. They have upgraded most bathrooms/showers and have one left to upgrade in the RV parking.

There is putt putt, a mini museum, fishing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boats and playgrounds. If you want to rent a Yurt - they have two!

They are also in the process of upgrading and building a huge boat house.

WalMart is 40 minutes away but there is a small town less than 10 minutes with most amenities if you need something or just want a meal out.

Highly recommend and we will be back.

The state park is situated on both sides of a main road and is broken down to several smaller campgrounds throughout the park. Campsites vary from primitive to water and electric, so there is something for everyone. The state park also offers cabins, yurts, and wagon sleepers if you're looking for something different. Each campsite has a fire ring, table (concrete or wooden), trash hook, grill, and a pad to set your tent on. The sites on the southwest side of the road are alongside a small river, while those on the east side of the road are on a hill.

The state park has a lot of amenities which have significantly improved over the past three years. This is not the campground for you if you're wanting to be isolated as it can be busy. Pretty cool spot to bring the family as you can explore caverns, hike, use ATV trails, fish, MTB, and swim. Some camping spots are farther from toilets and showers than others.

We completed this campout with another family and this is our favorite campout in Oklahoma. The large pines, the facilities and the hiking is wonderful. Cedar lake is beautiful. When we lived in Oklahoma we would camp out regularly in March, bring jackets and stuff to keep warm because it is still very chilly, but warm enough during the day for some nice hiking.

Camped at the improved campsite. Not as clean as most Oklahoma state parks.

Campground was alongside the highway, however the highway divides the state park, sites up the hill are farther away from the highway. We stayed on a site that was basically parallel with the main highway, however the trees offer privacy and noise reduction. There is water access and many trails that are available. Some campgrounds are closer to the state park's main geological feature which are the caves that infamous bank robbers used. This state park offered what I would consider typical of Oklahoma state park trails. They are poorly marked, more challenging than advertised, and not appropriate for certain types of activities. Generally when in Oklahoma I prepare for the worst to avoid a negative experience, and it works well for me. Horses do access some of the trails so horse flies are prevalent in those areas, I recommend bug spray.

We do intend to return to this area to camp again in the future.

Robbers Cave State Park is located in the scenic, hilly woodlands of the Sans Bois Mountains of southeast Oklahoma. It is located 5 miles north of Wilburton, Oklahoma, on State Highway 2. Park amenities include camping areas modern to primitive, beautiful lodge, cabins, swimming pool with splash pad, 4 small lakes, streams, a nature center, picnic areas and miles of hiking, cave and equestrian camping andtrails. The office is also a store that sells camping supplies, worms, beer, ice, charcoal, candy, pop, ice cream etc. You can rent kayaks, canoes, bikes and Golf carts for running around by the hour or a golf cart for a whole day for $40. They have fun things to do for all ages such as walking tours, canoe tours, making fishing poles out of cane and then fishing with it. The hay ride is fun. It stops to let you off to see the oldest living pine tree in Oklahoma and stops at artesian water free flowing spout to get a cold drink of sweet water. The hay ride cost $4. There's camping up by the office, down by the lake and stream or primitive camping off hiking trails in the mountains. It gets very hot in the day but the nights are great. So if your hiking be sure and take plenty water. There is all kinds of hiking easy to hard. The lake was not as clean as it was the last time I was there. They have a huge flock of geese that have made Lake Carlton there home this summer. I saw a pair of Bald Eagles and deer. I saw adorable twin fawns. The heat was a little too much for me this trip so I stayed in the lodge. It's is very nice with the most beautiful view of the mountains. Star gazing is awesome. The people that work at the park are very nice. The town of Wilburton is only 5 miles away.

Greenleaf State Park is a gem in eastern Oklahoma. This state park offers fishing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and a splash pad to cool off at! It also is home to The Cabin on the Lake, the first cabin built in Oklahoma for the physically challenged.

We stayed in the Cypress Row campground at site #6. 30 amp and water. No sewer, but dump station close by. This site was close to the bathhouse and lake. You could walk to the lake and fish off the docks or on the lake edge. The only disadvantage to this park is some sites share water. In our site we needed 50 ft of water hose and I would suggest bringing a “y” water connector.

We enjoyed hiking the trails and our little one enjoyed the splash pad. The splash pad is fairly new and kept in great shape. It is a local favorite.

Pros: Clean park Lots of activities Shade galore

Cons: Some sites are shared water-bring extra hoses and a “y” connector

Camping at Robber’s Cave State Park you will quickly discover that no matter what your overall preference for camping style, they pretty much have you covered. On a recent trip I visited the park and discovered that from primitive to improved sites, equestrian areas, atv areas they have a bit of everything. The camp even has options for those who aren’t feeling quite as adventurous and want to live in a bit more of the creature comforts we all have at home with cabins, a lodge and yurts. 

The area itself is filled with historic mystery as it was formerly known to be the hide out of some of the West’s most infamous and notorious bank robbers. From Jesse James and the Younger Gang to Belle Starr the area once served as an excellent place to hide their treasures and watch out to make sure no one was coming. 

The mountains around this area are beautiful and have towering trees and rolling waterways. You will find 3 lakes here that can keep you occupied wether you like to fish, boat, kayak, peddle or swim. Additionally amenities such a nature center, swimming pool, grocery store and mini golf make this site perfect for families who are wanting to find a little fun and adventure without having to go very far. 

Hiking around this park is abundant and there are miles upon miles of trails to explore with some being very easy and user friendly and others posing a bit more of a challenge. 

The campgrounds themselves are pretty standard throughout with picnic tables, lantern hooks, grills and fire rings. Many also have prep tables located just beside the grill making dinner very easy.

 I found that not all campsites were created equally however in way of restrooms. The primitive sites on loops were not evenly placed near restrooms, and a restroom could be a bit of a tall order if you are camping on some of the loops. You would expect that from the hike in campsites, but might want to plan carefully for a stay at the primitive sites based on your need for these facilities. 

Not all facilities offer showers either. Showers are located centrally for all to use and you can easily walk to these or park beside if you are staying a bit further away.

 I did notice that there is camping on both sides of the highway with each having its unique advantages and disadvantages. The primitive sites mostly are located on the side with more recreation, while the more improved sites, cabins and lodge are located on the opposite side. This side also offers hiking and has some improved spaces of interest but the vast majority of the popular spaces you will want to check out will be located just across the small highway. 

On the improved camping loops you will find most of the RV campers. These sites are placed closer together and have improved pull ins as well, unlike the hard pack of the primitive camping/semi improved camping areas. Additionally, these areas have both water and electrical connections and can really squeeze a lot of size into each spot. 

On this side of the park, a grocery store is within walking distance of the improved camping area and easy to access for park information as well as supplies you might need. 

Unlike many parks which are a considerable distance from town, the community of Wilburton is only a short drive from this location and has several restaurants, stores and fuel stops. This makes it very convenient if you are spending more than a couple of days out at the park and want to venture out for anything you might need. 

Tips: 

• Research your site before selecting one online through the booking system or in person. This will save you a lot of headache if you are needing a restroom that is closer. 
• Bring sunscreen!! Despite having wonderful shaded areas, the water is a HUGE draw here and you will want to be able to have fun in it without issues. Don’t forget waterproof sunscreen. Try the trails or rent a boat. The Robber’s Cave trail is the most exciting hike in the park in way of history and challenge, you will enjoy finding the cave that once housed some of the most notorious in the West through a series of inclines and scrambles. Through this is not for everyone, it is able to be navigated by most.

We love this park. If you're from Oklahoma you must visit. The park has so much to offer with several hiking trails, equistrian trails and stables, mini golf, and much much more. It gets pretty crowded during the day on the day use side. But you can stay on the other side of the park during the day and go over to the cave side in the morning or evening even the crowds die down. The bathrooms aren't anything to brag about but they did the job and did have hot water. We will come back again in the fall when the leaves start changing because it is absolutely beautiful.

Our first Oklahoma camping trip lead us to Robbers Cave State Park in the southeastern portion of Oklahoma. It is located on more than 8,000 acres in the San Bois Mountains. The parks claim to fame is outlaws such as Belle Starr, the Dalton Gang, and Jesse James used it as a hideout from the law. This was going to be our first full week of vacation spent in the popup, and our first camping trip outside of Missouri. We selected Robbers Cave State Park for two reasons it’s distance was a little over 4 hours away, and the number of amenities it offered for our 4 year old on our extended outing.   

 The first thing this park did was challenge my perceptions on what the Oklahoma landscape is. This is a park is located in an old growth pine forest, located in the rocky terrain of the Sans Bois Mountains. The park is split in half by Hwy 2 with the east side of the park consisting of the RV campgrounds, cabins, and Belle Starr Lodge. The west side of the park includes Lake Carlton, the equestrian camps, swimming pool, miniature golf, and nature center. This layout was negative in the fact that we could not walk between two sides with my son because of the distance and elevation change, you could rent golf carts if you would like. The positive was that it kept traffic down in the campground from the day use visitors of the park. We booked site 23 in the Old Circle Campground, when booking on the Oklahoma state park website there are no photos of the sites, only short descriptions…sometimes. I will let you know there is a youtube video that someone made driving around the old circle campground. I used this to take a look at our site after booking it.  Site 23 was a pull through site with full hookups located only about 5 feet off the main campground road. This could be a problem if the park was busy and there is a lot of traffic. Lucky for us we were camping through the week and this was not an issue. The site then on the opposite side held our own little secluded spot surrounded by pine trees down a slight slope from camper. We had a fire circle, picnic table, grill, and lantern post. We loved this site for this very reason. I will post pictures of both sides of our site below so you can get a visual. The bathroom and shower house is located in the middle of the old circle loop. The structure is very old and very dated stone structure, where you might find frogs sitting on shower curtains, spiders, and lizards (Those are just the ones that I witnessed). There is a newer shower house located outside of the Whispering Pines campground, next to the campground office and store. If you go to the newer one to take a shower make sure you have some quarters, or some dollar bills, because the showers cost money. Four quarters will get you 6 minutes worth of shower time.   

 When we were not at camp we spent most of our time exploring the west side of the park. We spent two afternoons swimming in Lake Carlton. The designated swim area has a very rocky drop-off for an entrance, but once out it was very nice swimming.  There is a concrete pier that is located along the swim ropes that you can climb up and jump off of. Besides swimming you could rent peddle boats, canoes, and paddle boards to go exploring. There was a pool with two water slides and a splash zone, it is $5 dollars to enter for the entire day. My son also got to play miniature for the first time at the course located next to the pool. One word of warning the golf course is very dated with carpet ripped or completely missing in spots. This did not slow us down at all, it just needs a little work.  They also sell shaved ice at the miniature gold building.    

The Oklahoma Park staff were very knowledgeable, friendly, and willing to answer any of my questions. Also when you get to camp they will give you a schedule of all the events that are going on throughout the week you are staying. We did a hayride that lead us through the park to the stables where there is a petting zoo, we saw the second largest pine tree in Oklahoma, and drank water from anartesian well. They also had a campfire with stories and smores one night, a cane pole fishing class, and even a tour of Lake Carlton by canoe. Just make sure you have cash because each item does cost money. 

The last thing we did before leaving Robbers Cave State Park after our three night stay was to go and search for the outlaws in the cave ourselves. I will give you a spoiler alert, the hiking trail to the cave is steep and rocky with big drop-offs, so be careful with small children. It is a ¾ of a mile trail that my son absolutely loved. He was trying to find the robber that was hiding out. The hike was worth every hair raising nervous parent moment.    

It is a consensus with my family that we will need to return to this park again. It has so much to offer, and we did not even touch on the many miles worth of trails to hike or go for a horseback ride on.  We look forward to our return to continue the exploring and searching for the elusive robbers.

Just a short drive from Tulsa, Greenleaf State Park is a great place for a getaway. The park has tent, RV, and cabin accommodations along with one of the best gift shops in the Oklahoma State Park system. A splash pad is available during the Summer but put-put is available anytime.

RV sites are paved, and gravel, but could use some sewer hook up - dump stations are available and well equipped.

Great staff made this a great weekend getaway!

Busy on summer weekends, the best time to visit is during the week or during the off-season. The park has been voted best in Oklahoma and it shows. Peaceful camping near the lake and additional sites on top of the hill give a variety of options. We’ve used tents and campers with enjoyment for both. The lake has rentals and a marina/restaurant that does not disappoint.

As a bonus, there is a new splash pad that our kids enjoyed. The lake isn’t the best for swimming, so the splash pad works for the hot summer afternoons.

This State Park is really designed just for the hotel, which is incredible. However, the campground really should be avoided. There is a small area to camp with one restroom in the center. It is incredibly crowded to stay in a tent and really should just be considered for a drop in if you have an RV. You should also look at reservations during peak seasons as the limited availability will make this park fill up fast. If you tent camp, I would suggest Cedar lake about 30 minutes away in Oklahoma with many more options to set camp. The pluses of this park are the views from the hotel and "Lovers Leap" but the overall hiking is something less than desirable as the trails are limited unless you choose to go the long route of an out and back of the Ouachita trail.

If you dig the crowds and the splash park scene and the loud music... hit it in the summer. But if you like it quiet and peaceful check it out in the winter or early spring. Fall colors are beautiful but attract a crowd.

One really great thing about the summer is that a pair of Osprey have begun nesting across highway 10! So neat to see the pair nesting in Oklahoma.

The hiking trails need some maintenance. The bridge has been closed for some time but there are ways around and the backcountry is open for camping too which is rare in a state park.

The campsites along the lake at Cypress Row are great along with the rest. Everything from primitive backcountry to full hookups is available here.

The fishing form the dock is fruitful. From a boat even better.

The store is nice. The owners are nice. The loud music they play is not as nice.

Overall a great escape not far from Tulsa.

I really want to love this park. I just can't. The park offers some of the best southeast Oklahoma landscapes available but the park is dated to say the best. The updated part of the park is across the road from the lake and is more expensive to camp at and is really designed for RV's. We tent camp so have always stayed by the lake i one of the primitive sites. It took us several trips to figure out you had to pay at the visitors center by the updated part of the park. When visiting the primitive sites, by careful before you set up camp. We always have to scout the area for glass, old cans, and food scraps so the dogs don't eat anything they shouldn't or cut their paws. You also have a large influx of day use visitors during the pleasant Spring and Fall days. The plus sides are the caves, trails, and lake activities. Large boats aren't allowed on the lakes but paddle boats can be rented. We hike the loop trail around the lake and by the caves which usually takes most of the day. The bathrooms on the primitive side are in desperate need of updates so if you aren't a fan of 1940's bathrooms, beware.

The campground is small with limited pads. Each site is close to the next and are generally occupied with RVs or camper trailers. I would suggest that this campground is most appropriate for the camper who prefers a more modern feel. There is ample cell phone service, WiFi is nearby, facilities are clean and modern. It is approximately a 15 minute drive into Mena, AR where you can find significant shopping. The campground is also near a large hotel. There are many hiking and mountain bike trails available in the area. A few miles down the road you can find an old fire tower which is interesting and can be accessed if you are daring. This area is dog friendly, dogs can access the trails as well. There are also some very neat driving trails, the bypass is a popular destination for motorcyclists which can offer some noise during the day. The park is also approximately a mile from the Oklahoma state line. This is a nice area for the avid cyclist, hiker, and motorcyslist.

We had a blast. The first night it was truly freezing but we made it through. We went to enjoy hiking & fall colors and we're not disappointed. Close clean restrooms makes this park ideal for family. When we pulled in there were signs they were voted one of Oklahoma's best parks for families and we could see why. Tons of sites both with and without electricity. Sites without electricity and water had water pumps nearby for all to utilize. There was even a large pool and several playgrounds

My first evening I wandered down to use the restroom and I observed a pack of turkeys quietly making their way down the ridge. It was magical.

Our site was adequate with a picnic table, water, & electric hookups. Good thing we were in a tent because we couldn't get our electricity to work. We used an uncamped in spot to charge.

Great hiking through gorgeous fall colors. Only slight annoyance was it was some kind of hunting season so we only felt comfortable going so far on the trails.

I some other reviews that described it as more like a small RV park. That’s unfair in my opinion.

I’ve been stuck using a couple of RV parks out west and they packed us in tight.

These spots aren’t super roomy, but you aren’t bumper to bumper either.

The spots are paved and all seemed pretty level. Spots 1-35 back up to the forest. Higher numbers back up to an open field.

Restrooms and showers were spectacular. Everything was clean and well kept.

The lodge is a pretty short walk up hill. It has a restaurant and small gift shop. It also has a lookout, and two trailheads. The lobby is spacious with a great view.

One of the trails connects to Ouachita trail. The drive in from Oklahoma is stunning and the drive to Mena, AR is only about 20 minutes. Several shops and restaurants and a Walmart.

There is a mini golf course, ice cream shop and train ride - but they said it’s only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and they haven’t gotten word of it will open for 2021.

Also has a playground and an Old Steam Train to explore.

The Trailhead camping area is so-so. You can access the camping areas at the back by driving across the lawn. The spots are quite narrow, so your neighbors are right on top of you. There was a water spigot available but in a neighboring campsite maybe 10 ft from the fire ring, so I had to disturb them to get water, it's just a poor setup.

The bathroom was fine, but the shower was in poor repair, with wood rot and an uneven floor. The cover on the drain was loose and moved if you stepped on it. The showerhead could not be adjusted so it sprayed outside the shower area into the rest of the stall where you would keep your clothing. There was no curtain between the shower and the rest of the stall, either, and combined with the short stall door it was not very private at all. No clothing/towel hooks, the only place to set anything was a narrow window ledge. And it wasn't very clean, either. I got out my camp shower and set it up in my campsite because the provided shower was in such bad shape.

We had several people walk through our campsite during the weekend and plenty of noisy neighbors and barking dogs, so it seemed like people camping here in general are either inexperienced or rude. I've never had those problems so frequently while camping as I had here. If you're looking for a quiet campground to relax in, this isn't it.

The water was lukewarm in the lake, but the weather was hot so it felt ok. That's just Oklahoma in June, for you.

The staff were friendly and helpful, so that was a positive point. My overall impression is that this park is in need of funding for upgrades and maintenance, but the staff is doing their best.

Overall, I probably won't camp here again, there are tons of parks in this area and they are in better shape, with better camping areas.

Remains one of my favorite Oklahoma State Parks, and we always enjoy the scenery and off-road jeep trails in Thundering Pines area. Many hiking trails of varied difficulty, all scenic, and fishing - including trout - in the waterways. Seeing the actual “Robber’s Cave” should be done, but I think you only need to do it once in your life…the graffiti ruins some of the ambiance.

The jeep trails now require a $10/day fee and are only open 8am to sunset; used to be free and open all the time, and maintained by local volunteers…hopefully they’re still maintained with the trail funds. Trails have lots of variety, from beginner to difficult, all well-shaded and several seasonal creeks for small water crossings. Rocks won’t cut up your tires like Disney, which is a BIG plus. Trail maps available in the park office, or on GAIA.

We brought our teardrop trailer, and when booking, I was told I had to book an full RV site. Wanting a theoretically quieter campground, opted for Deep Ford campground, site 5, as the majority of the sites in here are tent sites.

The campground itself was clean, with about half on the east bank of the Fourche Maline creek. If you stay near the entrance, around sites 4, 5, and 16-17, you can hear the rushing water over the ford (and see it from your spot at 16-17). Single stall restrooms and hot push-button showers are located at the entrance to the campground, as was our site, so while we had easy access, we also got lots of traffic.

4 and 5 are VERY close together, with the picnic tables and fire pits sharing the same small patch of grass. We had a neighbor with a bumper-pull RV in 4 our last night, and ended up eating at the same table because we were sharing the rest of the space, so might as well! Our little trailer and jeep had plenty of room on the pavement, but I can’t imagine cramming two full-size RVs in each spot.

Personally, we’d try a tent spot next time - teardrop is fully self-contained and doesn’t need hookups (we did plug in, since we were paying for it), and there were several other folks parking their small trailers on tent sites. Would stay at Deep Ford again, but it is definitely popular. Younger Campground also looked nice and quiet, but does not have their own set of restroom/showers.

We did take a turn around the Pine Trails(?) - I think, couldn’t get Pine Needles out of my head - RV campground at the south end of the park, on the east side of the highway. Lots of trees and shade, but all of the spots except the ADA spots were gravel. There were several trailheads into the ATV area.

Driving through this part of Arkansas you can quickly get taken aback by the winding roads the ample beauty, but until you visit the campground and park you will only have a portion of the beauty of the region. High atop the mountain, with a near perfect view, you can see for miles and miles. 

I visited this park arriving late in the evening, in perfect timing for a sunset which painted the sky with colors that filtered down onto the mountainside below. A dense fog began to roll in and it seemed magical. 

Typically I am not as taken aback as I was by this park but its views and shaded campsites complimented each other so well it made for the perfect evening. 

Not needing for electricity I opted for one of the tent sites, which includes a large tent pad, large parking space and standard amenities such as picnic table, lantern hook, fire ring and grill. However unlike many primitive sites, this site did also include water. Site pricing was about $20. 

Bear warnings abound, but there are no bear boxes, and upon checking in the desk attendant mentioned that they don’t often see them but to proceed with caution in regards to food. She also noted that in her lifetime she had never encountered a bear on the trails and would instead be aware of snakes. 

The campground is only one of the many features with others including a lodge with a restaurant open each evening until 9 p.m. A narrow gauge train, large enough for the entire family to ride on the 2 mile track and mini golf are available seasonally. Plenty of hiking is available both in park, where there are 3 trails, and just outside where you can find the much larger trail system which runs for some 200 miles through Oklahoma and Arkansas. 

Cell Signal With AT&T- 1 Bar at campsites but 2 bars in lobby area if you are in need of making a call in case of an emergency. 

All in all I would put this campground on the top of my Arkansas list for the beauty of drive and sunset location, however the sites themselves despite being very nice were average for a state park in the region.

I visited Greenleaf for a short trip in the fall with my oldest son. It was a short overnight excursion so I would add a caveat that we didn’t get to do much in the park. With that said, it’s a solid little park. There’s a miniature golf course, though it isn’t well kept. The sites at the entry to the park are pretty large with water and power. Some have sewer as well. The nicer camping area is near the lake, which is very nice and the views are great. I reserved my spot at the last minute so I was not able to get a spot by the lake. It’s a great park for anyone wanting to do a lot of fishing or boating. There are two playgrounds; the one at the front of the park where we stayed is dated and frankly not very good. However, the one near the lake is much better. The bathhouses were better than most in Oklahoma and they are a single large bathroom with a toilet and shower head. This was perfect for us bc it was easy to bath my son without worrying he would be encroaching on anyone’s space. There is also a kid fishing pond which my son did well in. There’s a lot of catfish in the pond. The only negative I could add, if it is negative, would be that this is a heavily trafficked hunting campground. The woodlands surrounding the park are used by hunters all fall. While we were camping almost every site was occupied by hunters. They would all leave early in the morning which was kind of annoying, but it made the park virtually empty from the time we woke up until late in the afternoon when they all start to return. Don’t be surprised if you visit in the fall and you’re the only one not wearing camo and hunter’s orange. Also, for anyone wanting to group camp at Greenleaf, there’s a great building available to reserve at the back of the loop in the entrance to the park that is across from the bathhouse and playground. It is completely enclosed, has a/c, large fridge, sink and microwave. While we were there, several groups of hunters had reserved this to muse as sort of a home base where they kept food and other things of that nature. They had set up several folding tables and chairs and I assume they used it as a place to gather for meals. It’s a great spot for anyone wanting to camp with a large family, church group or just a multi family trip. And to that end, the sites at Greenleaf are arranged in such a way that it is a great park for multiple families to camp together, with lots of shared/communal green space for activities. That’s particular true in the loop closest to the entrance where we stayed. Lastly, during our trip, there was a lot of construction going on as they are completely remodeling the visitor center, which looked like it will be quite big. I don’t know what will be included in the new building, but whatever it is will likely enhance your experience. I would add though that it was clearly in the early stages of construction so you may want to call ahead and check the status, as the construction work and equipment was really loud. Overall, it’s a nice, tranquil park with some great views. There isn’t a ton to do at the park beyond typical campground activities unless your planning to use the lake for fishing and boating. Hiking trails are short and easy in difficulty. I enjoyed our stay and will probably go back bc my son loved the kid fishing pond and miniature golf course on site. I’m giving it 3 stars bc they need to update the playground and generally give the park a bit of a facelift.

Pretty fun, lots of areas to do some bouldering, rappelling, rock climbing

Went camping with my 7 year old son. Camp site was right in the river. New restrooms/showers were under construction but they had a portable comfort station in our campground.

We stayed at Bob Cat crossing, and it was fine for the most part. There’s a campfire ring, a table, and a double lamp pole at each site. The campground is close to a pavilion with lots of tables and grills, and some pretty clean bathrooms with hot showers. It really was beautiful out there and there were a million things to do that were close by; we really enjoyed our stay for the most part. There is firewood for sale at the office, but word to the wise, bring your own wood because they charge $6 for 4 really pathetic twigs.

The biggest problem I had was with #004. It’s on a horrible slope, and so is the picnic table, which caused our food to continually roll off our plates. There is no flat ground for a tent, so we would wake up in the night from sliding off our sleeping mats. It’s also really close to the road and the RV campground, so we would get woken up by cars and golf carts going up and down the road at night. Other than that, we had a pretty good time.

Tent camping had no facilities and is by a busy road. All camp sites were nothing but lose dirt. It didn’t help that a biker gang was staying in the cabins right next to our camp ground. Guess it was just bad timing.

Whispering pines had newer bathrooms, but Old Circle was a little more spread out. The Bell Star Loop trail was accessible from the campground, I recommend hiking that. The lodge was under construction and there’s a new Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen going in by Lake Carlton. Both should be open next year. We came early November, the trees were all changing and the weather was perfect.