The campground reviews:
How I review the campgrounds are a reflection of what kind of experience I prefer, so here’s a little info about that. I love water—splashing, swimming, anything. So, my first choice is a campground that has a creek or lake. The lack of one is an automatic deduction of points in the rating scale (just like when you decide not to do that triple axle in your ice skating routine—it just doesn’t matter how good the rest of it is…).
Above photo: my daughter offering me a bowl of her “soup”, made with all organic, locally grown ingredients: dirt, leaves, sticks. (taken at Knoll Lake Campground) click on photo to enlarge it
We do tent camping and I don’t like to be surrounded by RVs. So, my preference is for small campgrounds that do not have RV hook ups or dumping (so there will be fewer RVs). I also lean toward campgrounds with fewer amenities (no showers, for example), with the idea that these will be smaller, with fewer people around. I don’t like a lot of buildings or traffic or motors or lights, etc. So, that’s my 411.
Campground descriptions:
Let’s define what I am defining.
Rating scale: 1 is the worst, 10 is the best
note: To give you an idea of what would make a perfect 10 for me, or “what the judges are looking for”, I like the following characteristics: 1) a lake, river or stream that you can get into (doesn’t have to be deep, just that swimming is not prohibited) AND that is within eyesight of the camp site; 2) quiet (not much traffic noise); 3) diverse natural beauty–not just surrounded by forest; 4) intimate–not a huge campground, no huge RVs; 5) not very developed–tables, firerings, pit toilets are good, but no big meeting structures, buildings, etc.
What I like most: something special and unique about a campground (i.e. not how many stars there are at night).
Shortcomings: what turned me off – again, something particular to the campground (i.e. not the hot weather).
Getting there: this section is written from the perspective of driving from Tempe, near ASU. Travel times do not include stops. Also, I have a regular car—not a 4WD or high clearance vehicle. It’s a humble, but sturdy, Volvo wagon, circa 1993. (I’ll be applying for historic vehicle license plates soon.) I also include unusual or unexpected things to consider (i.e. “you don’t need a high clearance vehicle for that dirt road…”)
