Palo Duro

[spicetrader]

We spent a week last year (Thanksgiving week) in Palo Duro canyon and just loved it.
Now I do have to say by the last day I was so ready to get out of the dirt, but the trip was great.  Falling asleep and hearing the coyotes howl as they ran the canyon, and waking up to it in the early dawn was great.

The trail system was very nice and the long hike to the lighthouse very rewarding views at the end.

We stayed in the Mesquite camping area and loved it.

[spicetrader]

Anyone else have great experiences/recommendations for campcrounds in the area of TX, OK, AR, NM and LA

[Dunnfamily4]

Anyone else have great experiences/recommendations for campcrounds in the area of TX, OK, AR, NM and LA

We have camped around at a lot of the Texas State Parks:  Davis Mountains SP, Balmorhea SP (gotta love desert, but a great swimming hole), Pedernales Falls SP, Guadalupe River SP, South Llano River SP, Inks Lake SP, Palmetto SP, Palo Duro (awesome), Garner SP, Lost Maples SP, Bastrop SP, Buescher SP, and just last weekend spent a few days at the Blanco River SP.  I would recommend everyone.

In Colorado, we have stayed at Castlelake Campground in Lake City and at Lone Duck CG outside of Colorado Springs.  Both are owned by families and keep a very clean, family CG.

I have been thinking about making a trip to Lake Whitney SP outside of Hillsboro, Texas.  Have you been there?  I saw that you are in the DFW area.

[spicetrader]

We have been to Lake Whitney, but it was over 6 years ago...I remember it being nice, treed and the lake it self very pretty.  The stand out memory is when the park ranger came by and said 60mph straight line winds were headed our way!  I think the trees helped us stay safe, and not sure the winds got that strong :-)


I am very interested in the parks near Fredericksburg...Llano, Pendernales etc.  Which would you say is the best to stay at if we intend to visit Fredericksburg?

We are also dying to spend a week in CO camping, thanks for those recommendations!!

[Dunnfamily4]

Camping near Fredericksburg?  There is a city campground in Fredericksburg.  I think it is called Lady Bird Park.  I drove through there earlier this year when I was in town for a training class.  The CG is in a pecan grove near a swimming pool and small river/creek.  Very nicely maintained and clean bathrooms/showers.  The sites are not secluded, but are nice and you are very close to town.  If you are going there to see town and shop, this would make a good base to work from that is close to everything.

Further out is Enchanted Rock SP.  They have tent and primitive camping sites.  No water/electric sites.  I haven't camped there, but have done a day trip there for the hiking.  This is a beautiful park and hiking to the top of the rock is lots of fun and quite a view.  The drive out to the park is great, but be careful after dark since there are a lot of twists, turns, and deer.

We really like Pedernales Falls SP.  Have stayed there several times and really enjoy the water and hiking.  This would be a further drive to Fredericksburg.  About 7-10 miles to Johnson City and then about 30 - 40 to Fredericksburg.  Not bad, especially if you want to stop in at the numerous wineries (I counted nine the last time we were out that way) or fruit stands along the way!

Just another word on the CO campgrounds that we have visited.  We have found that quite a few of the close in CG's have small sites and you are close to your neighbor.  We used the Lone Duck CG outside of Colorado Springs as a base camp to do a lot of sightseeing in the Pike's Peak area.  We looked at a lot of the CG's in the area while we were there and they were very tight on the sites with a lot of concrete and asphalt.  Lone Duck has small sites, but it is well arranged with grass and trees.  They are located on a mountain stream, have a heated pool, game room, and trout pond.  Great owners.  I did a review after our trip in July.  You might be able to find it on this site for CO.  

There is another CG outside of Colorado Springs and I think it is called Evergreen.  They are definitely more remote, had fewer activities for kids directly on-site, but looks from the website to be a very beautiful area to camp.  It was recommended by another PUP camper.  I will try to find their website and send it your way.

The Castlelake CG is a little further out of town (Lake City) and the sites were further away from your neighbor.  This was one of our most relaxing trips.  The area is just plain breathtaking.  The CG has three trout lakes on site and they rent jeeps if you want to take a trip on Cinnamon Pass to Silverton or on Engineer Pass (Engineer pass was a little scary for this flatlander, but the sights were incredible!).  There is a lodge with a pool table and a couple of games.  Great owners here too.

Thanks for the info. on Lake Whitney.  We are planning a trip there in 2008.  Sorry for being so long winded, but I appreciate details from other campers on areas they have been.  They can certainly help in making a decision before making a big mistake at the end of a very long drive.  

We have been to Lake Whitney, but it was over 6 years ago...I remember it being nice, treed and the lake it self very pretty.  The stand out memory is when the park ranger came by and said 60mph straight line winds were headed our way!  I think the trees helped us stay safe, and not sure the winds got that strong :-)


I am very interested in the parks near Fredericksburg...Llano, Pendernales etc.  Which would you say is the best to stay at if we intend to visit Fredericksburg?

We are also dying to spend a week in CO camping, thanks for those recommendations!!

[Dunnfamily4]

Found the two other recommended campgrounds in Colorado Springs area that you may be interested in checking out.  They look to be more out and larger sites.  Check out:  mountaindalecampground.com and diamondcampground.com

Both have pictures of their CG's.

We have been to Lake Whitney, but it was over 6 years ago...I remember it being nice, treed and the lake it self very pretty.  The stand out memory is when the park ranger came by and said 60mph straight line winds were headed our way!  I think the trees helped us stay safe, and not sure the winds got that strong :-)


I am very interested in the parks near Fredericksburg...Llano, Pendernales etc.  Which would you say is the best to stay at if we intend to visit Fredericksburg?

We are also dying to spend a week in CO camping, thanks for those recommendations!!

[mouse]

We love Cedar hill State Park on the Joe Pool Resovoir as being we are ACERS(American Coaster Enthusiasts)the park is only 6 miles from SIX FLAGS OVER TEXAS!!!!, when you come in from a hot day at the park, you can take a dip in the resovoir as they have a great marina there!!!

[spicetrader]

Found the two other recommended campgrounds in Colorado Springs area that you may be interested in checking out.  They look to be more out and larger sites.  Check out:  mountaindalecampground.com and diamondcampground.com

Both have pictures of their CG's.

From the looks of some other threads, I really need to pick your brain on Geocaching, I am a complete novice, no equipment nothing, but I really want to start, jump in with both feet :-)

[Dunnfamily4]

I have posted a few notes on the geocaching thread, if you care to check out postings over the past year.  That won't be to many since only a few posts are made every few months.  We have lots of fun geocaching.  I sometimes go alone, with one or both kids, and sometimes a pack of kids (mine and their friends).  I have found that most cachers are really interested in promoting safe, fun, and eco-friendly activities.  I was introduced to geocaching by a friend that said it was hiking with a purpose.  Since I love games, outdoors and hiking, it is a perfect fit.  I don't get caught up in doing as many as I possibly can in a day since I want to take in the whole experience of being outdoors.

If you can borrow a gps check it out.  They are getting cheaper.  I bought ours for under $100 two Christmas' ago.  I have dropped it and fallen with it (I can be a clutz sometimes) and it keeps on ticking!

Also, visit the website:  geocaching.com to get more information.  Have fun!

From the looks of some other threads, I really need to pick your brain on Geocaching, I am a complete novice, no equipment nothing, but I really want to start, jump in with both feet :-)

[Nitty Gritty]

Anyone else have great experiences/recommendations for campcrounds in the area of TX, OK, AR, NM and LA

I have two campgrounds to suggest. The first being Beaver's Bend State Park, OK. It has Mountain Fork River where you can do a some trout fishing, and Broken Bow Lake where you can use your watercraft.

Another place I've been to is MarVal Trout Camping Resort, Gore, OK. It is near Tenkiller State Park and Lake Tenkiller. This is a great place for a family. Many amenities in the campground itself. I hope this helps! Also, the Illinois River floats are close by.

[spicetrader]

Trout fishing, now that is a draw for us, thanks!

[butanol]

We spent a week last year (Thanksgiving week) in Palo Duro canyon and just loved it.
Now I do have to say by the last day I was so ready to get out of the dirt, but the trip was great.  Falling asleep and hearing the coyotes howl as they ran the canyon, and waking up to it in the early dawn was great.

The trail system was very nice and the long hike to the lighthouse very rewarding views at the end.

We stayed in the Mesquite camping area and loved it.

Hey Spicetrader,

We have been to Palo Duro the past 2 Junes and just love it! You know it is the headwaters of the Red RIver.

My hiker wife had us hike to the lighthouse from every trail in the park that leads in that direction. She is a real trooper.

The best hike we took began at the Gift Shop wound around the inside rim of the canyon and eventually ended up above the amphitheater at a large outcropping of rock. This is the same place the rider is positioned during the play.

We have been to most of the Tx State Parks in the hill country corridor and were roused out of our PU at midnight during '07 spring break because of a nearby tornado. (Guadalupe SP).

We consider Mineral Wells our home park for weekends. It is one hour away and has some of the best staff we have met. Plus it is easy to book with no real pressure from campers. It is best viewed on the Tx Parks and Wildlife website. There is now a video narrative that gives a good overveiw of the park. (there is also a superwalmart about 10 mins away though you wouldn't know it).

Regards David and Patti

[Between Trips]

For those who've been to Palo Duro..........

How was the drive in and out of the canyon?

[butanol]

For those who've been to Palo Duro..........

How was the drive in and out of the canyon?

Not bad. First time with a 2000 lb pup and Kia Sorento 5 speed stick. Several switchbacks and fairly easy grade. 2nd time with a 07 Silverado was a breeze. There are lots of long trailers in and out of the park and unless someone os overloaded, getting in and out is a non issue.

[spicetrader]

For those who've been to Palo Duro..........

How was the drive in and out of the canyon?

Not bad at all, we hauled our Jeep and Taos NO problem, and my brother and his wife have a crew cab titian and a 17ft Casita, and it worked for them just fine.

In our campground there were ENOURMOUS 5th wheels, so I'd say anything can make it in, it's just curvy and hilly.  
Now there are some areas of BIG BEND that limit camper size because of the drive in, but us Pop Up owners are lucky, we fit anywhere :-)