Agua Caliente

[jendak760]

Has anybody camped here? Would like your opinion on this campground.

[endless horizons]

yes we have camped there. It is a great place to camp and has some partial hookup sites. The last time we went was the last weekend before they are closed for the summer. Well it was in the 95 to 101 and the kids had a blast with the squirt guns but the adults were hot. We are actually planning a trip there the weekend of 2/18.  The weather will be nice during the day but could be cool at night.
There are great trails and the facilities are nice.  

I'm sure you will have a great time

[DK&3kids]

We were just at the camp ground on the weekend of 12-28-04. It is nice if you like desert camping and hiking trails but kids could not use the inside hot springs and were not able to go to the nature talks "adults only". The playground was decrepit also. We just recommend that you make sure the weather is going to be nice, the second night we were there the wind and rain started and we ended up sleeping in the truck at 2 am because of 40 mph wind gust that actually started lifting the TT off it stands.

[GeorgeHR]

We just went there Jan 15th and Jan 16th.   We had a good time and went with some friends, our kids 5 and 3 and half, and our friends 4 kids ranging in age from 7 to 12 loved it - there are some rock formations that the kids had a blast climbing on.  The playground I didn't think was decrepit, but was the old metal playground equipment you use to see back when I was little in the 70's.  The pools were not that impressive with us - but the kids had a great time swimming in January.  There  seems to be some interesting hiking trails - and we hiked up one and went geocaching.

Other than the drive to the campground seemed to be a long haul to get out there,  the campground was O.K - we prefer the mountains and the beach, but for camping in January for $18 dollars a night for partial hookups - I would recommend this campground.

[Sue Hardee]

We used to camp there almost every Easter Weekend when kids were little in a PU.  The weather is nice that time of year in the desert.  We used the indoor spa and the kids swam outside in the pool.  The outdoor pool isn't great but kids don't seem to mind.  The kids climbed the rock formations and rode bikes..they loved it there.  Once it was really windy and I was scared all night in the PU...I would be willing to try it again.  Where the hook ups are is mostly a parkinglot.  We always stayed in partial hook ups and it was nice. One thing it is cheap...In the desert there is another campground we used to camp at and its called Butterfield Ranch...does anyone know if its still there?  It was a nice campgound not so far out and had two pools and full hookups..and a little petting zoo.  But that was about 20 years ago.

[OC Campers]

We used to camp there almost every Easter Weekend when kids were little in a PU. The weather is nice that time of year in the desert. We used the indoor spa and the kids swam outside in the pool. The outdoor pool isn't great but kids don't seem to mind. The kids climbed the rock formations and rode bikes..they loved it there. Once it was really windy and I was scared all night in the PU...I would be willing to try it again. Where the hook ups are is mostly a parkinglot. We always stayed in partial hook ups and it was nice. One thing it is cheap...In the desert there is another campground we used to camp at and its called Butterfield Ranch...does anyone know if its still there? It was a nice campgound not so far out and had two pools and full hookups..and a little petting zoo. But that was about 20 years ago.

Isn't Vail Lake the old Butterfield Ranch?
 
Jacqui

[jendak760]

Its nice to know these things ahead of time. Especially with so many nicer places to camp, its a bummer when you go somewhere for the first time and ats not what you expected. I was checking out the San Diego County parks site and found it and wanted some insite before we planned a trip there.

I guess I'll look at the other parks or somewhere else.

[Sue Hardee]

Isn't Vail Lake the old Butterfield Ranch?
 
Jacqui

No that is in Temecula and it was Butterfield Country...Butterfield Ranch was off the S2 highway in the anza Borego desert.  We always passed it on our way to Aqua Caliente.

[endless horizons]

Sorry you feel like you don't want to go to Agua Caliente but there are many other great camp grounds. Try green valley falls or paso picacho parks in the cuyamaca mountains. With all the rain and snow we had the creek in greenvalley falls should be nice.

[Camping Coxes]

No that is in Temecula and it was Butterfield Country...Butterfield Ranch was off the S2 highway in the anza Borego desert. We always passed it on our way to Aqua Caliente.

IIRC, Butterfield Ranch became a "membership" type campground a few years ago. I think we got a mailer from them.  I only remember them because we'd pass them on the wayy to where we usually stay in Julian (which burned down in the Cedar Fire).