Thread: State Parks Rants & Raves

Burn Bans - stop the nonsense and improve the burn rings, place hoses at the sites (or inform campers they must have them), have education classes or online classes for campers who wish to have a fire.

Since my last camping experience was terrible I can add to this.

1. Loud and obnoxious people - kids and adults. Kid should not be running around screaming at the top of their lungs unsupervised. Adults shouldn't be cursing so loudly the next campsite can hear. And if the adults can't keep a handle on their children they shouldn't take them in public.

2. People cutting through my campsite. Walk AROUND the site NOT thru it.

Honestly those are the only two issues I have ever had.

Ya know what is sad ?? The people that need to read these lines are not looking in. I have had the same problems as everyone else; people walking thru camp, loud and trashy neighbors, little heathons running and screaming everywhere, etc.. It has happened at state and private campgrounds. For the most part, the state sites have been great.
If you have problems with people cutting through your camp, Stretch a clothes line by or across the path that is causing a problem. Most people will respect it and go around.

"Less than pleasant experiences" are also NOT the norm, but we have had our share...

1) Inks Lake SP - One multi-site group that kept walking through our campsite to get to the water. We left for a while to drive through the park. When we got back, we found that they had driven to the water and had completely taken up our parking spots.

2) Lake Livingston SP - Being jolted awake at 1AM by some idiots blasting their music. And they were half-way across the loop, not next door.

3) Bastrop SP - People who think the rules don't apply to them. We were there in February during the burn ban. We sadly left all of our campfire gear at home. But that didn't stop our neighbors from lighting up both nights. I kept wondering where were the rangers were who had patrolled all afternoon and evening. These same people had 4 kids who were early risers (I'm not) and they didn't know how to play without yelling. It was technically after quiet hours were over so I guess it was my problem, not theirs.

I forgot a rant. One should be able to instantly use the campsite coupons upon buying the annual passes. I bought two passes ($75) and had to pay full price for three nights of camping.

Dont feed the animals. The raccoons at one SP were so beligerent and not afraid of us whatsoever. Had to be fed by other campers.

Last camping trip I didnt realize how close we were to the sites. Why are sites so close together.

I agree with the post about fire burn bans
I bring a shovel and a 5 gallon bucket. Bucket is filled with water, both are kept near the fire ring. If you have the sitew with water and electricity bring the hose and a spray nozzle.

Oh fire rings just quit putting the flip top grills or any grill at all. It always looks like someone beat the grill part to death and it bent beyond recognition. Nice 10-12 inch tall iron ring would do the job nicely thanks

We have generally always had good visits to the state parks and I have thought about this particular thread off and on but nothing never came to mind. As I was talking about our upcoming trip to the Frio I was reminded of something that has happened at Garner. We have a park pass and when we were entering Garner on our trip the line to enter the park in the day use lane was very long. When we finally got to the front of the line we showed them our park pass. The park host looked in the truck to see just how many people there was. Just two adults and two very small yorkies. He asked us questions about just being in the park for just the day and then he wanted to see my ID. He made us feel like we were doing something wrong. I think we were lucky to get in without a strip search. The incident left us feeling very unwanted. It happened two more times during our visit. Most times on summer visits you can expect a little more of a wait time but 15 minutes for ten cars to enter is a little bit too long. I have a great admiration for Park Hosts but at times they can be a little over zealous. We have used our pass at several parks and have never been treated like that anywhere else. That was two years ago and although we go back often, we still remember the incident.
Sandy

Originally Posted by Motorman355

I forgot a rant. One should be able to instantly use the campsite coupons upon buying the annual passes. I bought two passes ($75) and had to pay full price for three nights of camping.

Copper Breaks State Park will give you a free night of camping if you buy your pass there. That was a pleasant surprise for us.

I really think the day use fees should be waived if you pay for a camping site. The day use fees could add $12-20 per day to camp for a family. I went to Arkansas for Memorial Day weekend and found out that all of their State Parks are free for day use. You only pay to camp. I hate to say this but I'm actually looking forward to leaving the state and camping there again soon.

As a new camper, I was bummed that on two of three camping trips this year, we could hear loud music playing from nearby campsites. (at Garner and Davis Mountains.) The music went on all afternoon and evening. I was unsure whether it's ok to ask them to turn it down or tell a ranger, but since then I've read the official rules that music shouldn't be heard from other sites at any time.

People have said this is something you have to put up with unless you go to primitive sites, which we're going to try but don't want to give up car camping for good. Anyone have any advice or relatively quiet sites they can recommend?