Seems like these sites are quite popular. However, I went during the middle of the week, on a slightly rainy day, at the end of August and was the only person there. 

If you're like me and not from Washington, remember to get a discovery pass (~$10 per day) if you're parking at the Baker Lake Trailhead. The hike in to Maple Grove is approx. three and a half miles. Don't be surprised if you run into some folks on horseback. 

The trail is relatively flat and goes through some beautiful old growth forest. We got a spot right by the lake that was flat and soft. All of the sites had fire pits and seemed pretty dispersed. There were also bear boxes.  The vault toilets were some of the cleanest I'd seen. 

As you can see from some of the photos, there's a dock that you could boat up to that doubles as a great place see Mt. baker.

This campsite is a great jumping off point for a number of hikes throughout Dolly Sods. The campgrounds is open April-December and then the roads close from December to April. The road on the way up is gravel, but has its share of potholes and bumps. 

The cost to camp is $11 and there are no reservations. I stayed two nights at site 2 which is tucked away from most of the other sites, save for one close by. This particular site is tucked back from the parking spot by about 15 yds, but is located near the water pipe which is essentially just a small stream. My site had a picnic table, fire ring, and tent pad and there were vault toilets nearby. The only potential downside about this site, that I didn't experience, was that it's pretty close to Blackbird Knob Trail's starting point from FR 75 which means hikers will be passing near your site. 

If you do choose to stay the night here, it's worth a drive down the road to check out the sunrise from Bear Rocks.

A quick note: I rated this 4 stars because I prefer back country/dispersed camping over campgrounds. Given the potential difficulty of the hike and other factors, some might rate this much lower. 

First and foremost, I had a black bear encounter at this location. Make sure that you remain bear aware and are taking the appropriate safety measures. You're required to have a bear-proof container when camping in this area and you can find some for rent on your drive in. 

There are a couple of ways to get to Lake Colden but I parked at the Upper Works Trailhead and took Calamity Brook Trail past the flowed lands, across the dam, and to the campground. All said, it was approx. 6 miles in.

You've got a couple of options when camping in this area. There are lean-tos available, but if you hike in expecting to get one you're at the mercy of your own luck--they might already be occupied. Otherwise, there are sites near Lake Colden with a short walk to a river to collect water or relax in nearby. 

The sites are primitive to say the least, but are near a ranger station. The rangers I met were nice, friendly and willing to provide recommendations of hikes to take in the area. They also dispensed up to date information about local bear sightings.  The sites are dispersed and there are toilets located in the area; however, they're in the middle of nowhere so don't expect the nicest bathroom you've ever been in. Speaking of the middle of nowhere, there's no cell service. Fires are prohibited so you'll have to rely on a camp stove for cooking, and you'll need to be wary of weather that has a habit of changing quickly. 

A major benefit of camping here sets you up for a couple of potential day hikes if you'd like, and willingness or ability to accomplish most will be based on your own personal comfort or fitness. From Lake Colden, if you'd like to bag some peaks you can hike Mt. Colden, Mt. Skyline, the backside of Mt. Marcy, or Algonquin Peak. A word of caution, I'm in relatively good shape and I found some of these hikes quite strenuous.

There are only two downsides to this campground--bugs during the summer and prohibitions on fires at Watson Lakes. If you can overcome those issues, the views alone make the camping at the second of the Watson lakes well-worth it. You'll also need a discover pass (Day ~$10, Annual ~$30) to keep in the dash of your vehicle while its parked. 

As the other reviewer stated, it's a slow drive up the pot-hole filled gravel road, but once you reach the parking lot it's approximately 2.5 miles down to Watson lakes. There were delicious berries along the trail leading up to the lakes and plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the view on the hike down. We stayed along the second Watson lake during the middle of the week and saw few people and even fewer campers. There are numerous rock outcroppings with flat ground for camping all along the lake. You'll have to treat all of your water (the lake is right there and there's a stream nearby) and there's a mountain toilet down by the lakes.

I've only visited this campground once during the height of summer on the way to the Adirondacks for some backcountry camping. I had site #22, and I'm assuming that it's one of the best sites at the campground because someone tried to buy my reservation off of me for twice it's value. That said, site 22 was located up on a hill and did seem to be one of the best sites.

Personally, I'm not a fan of crowded campgrounds and tend to prefer dispersed camping. We were surrounded by families with small children who were noisy throughout the day (I don't mind), but also throughout the night. If you're trying to get to bed early and get an early start, you might want to have some ear plugs. The noise is primarily the reason for my three star rating, but this is still a very good campground for the right crowd looking for plush amenities and recreational opportunities. 

You can boat, fish (make sure you have a license), and swim (no lifeguard) in the lake right next to the campground. The site has hot showers and toilets that flush, and each site appears to have a fire ring and picnic table. Site 22 was on some soft flat ground (up on a hill) and afforded me space to put up a 2 person REI tent and for my buddy to hang is hammock from some nearby trees. There was also a path behind our site (a bit steep, but manageable) down to the lake. I don't recall firewood being offered at the site, but we had brought our own from a store nearby.

I stayed at this campground during a visit from the east coast, and I have to say it's hands down one of the finest places I've ever stayed. My cousin and I stayed two nights and used Marble Creek as a jumping off point for a couple of day hikes that I'd absolutely recommend (assuming no wild fires to impact visibility and a healthy appetite for switchbacks). If you stay here and you haven't considered it already, take look at hiking Hidden Lake or Cascade Pass. 

Now, for the campground. I stayed at site 003, which had direct access to Marble Creek. I spent one morning just sitting in the creek (which was still cold in August) sipping a local brew. The site was flat with a tent pad, fire ring, picnic table, and parking space to accommodate an F-150 King Ranch edition. Located further down the road from our site was a vault toilet (very clean, and not close enough to smell) and dumpsters for trash. I'd also note that I typically avoid campgrounds because I don't enjoy a lot of noise. It was pretty quiet here and there seemed to be a decent amount of space between each site.

Of note, and this might impact how others feel about the campground, but there's no potable water on site (bring your own). We saw plenty of fire wood for sale on the side of the road on the way in.

You can reach this shelter a number of ways, but I usually com in from the Veach Gap Trailhead parking area. Before I get to the shelter, a couple of notes. First, don't be confused by the drive down to the parking area. You'll go from asphalt to gravel road alongside private property. You're in the right place. Second, this is an active hunting area during the season so be aware of local laws related to the display of blaze orange. Finally, this shelter might be considered a bit tricky to find but I'll provide some rough directions below. More can be found online. 

This shelter is a personal favorite of mine. It's far enough in that it's secluded, but the hike's short enough and easy enough to make it a little more luxurious than a regular backpacking trip. The fire ring is in great condition, there are 4 bunks within the shelter that could accommodate 2 people each, there's a vault toilet approx. 50 yds away, and a pole to hang anything that wildlife might find interesting. Water can be collected from the stream nearby.

Hiking in: Once you've parked, the trail begins off of the left side of the parking lot. As you begin walking, you'll quickly find your first yellow-dotted i. This indicator marks the trail. The trail is relatively flat and easy to follow as it's rumored to have been a road prepared for a potential Continental Army retreat (just in case). There's only one tricky spot where the trail crosses a stream. If you remain vigilant, you'll be able to find the crossing a that most hikers take. Once you've crossed continue along the trail, where you'll come to an intersection. Take a right onto Massanutten Trail for about .25 miles and you'll find Little Crease Shelter.

Fun fact about the Swain's Lock Hiker-Biker Overnight Campsite--there's parking close by with space for approximately 8 vehicles. 

The walk to the sites is manageable and allows someone like myself, who prefers hiking miles in for some backcountry camping, to also appreciate the pleasures that come along with car camping. 

The sites are flat and dispersed with most located adjacent to the river (which you can't swim in--too dangerous). Each site comes with a picnic table, fire ring and grill. 

One thing to note, the sites are right off of the C&O tow path, which is busy during the day with runners, walkers, bikers, and other folks getting away from DC to enjoy the great outdoors.