Where We Are Now

We landed this afternoon at Ely KOA Journey, pretty much right in the middle of Nevada, elevation, 6500 ft. This is just a stop-over for a night, but it really is a nice campground. We plan to drive around this after and check out the town.

   Ely KOA our site

Where We Are on the Map

Where to Next

From here we're heading north to Idaho. Our first stop is a place called Anderson Camp. We plan to spend a couple of days there so we can check out Shoshone Falls and what's left of Twin Falls

 Anderson Camp Stock Photo

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Wednesday, 25 December 2024

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Sam Houston Jones State Park, Lake Charles, LA

Our Visit

      Sam Houston Jones State Park, was just a one night stay over, but after going there, I wish we would have stayed longer. The park is beautiful with swamps and a river, cabins, RV, and tent camping. The campground is wooded with mostly paved sites.

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Sam Houston on the map blue burned

Most are a bit tight for bigger rigs, but we managed to fit. Walking around the park we saw that the swamp directly across from the campground had been drained. (to restore some of the forests)  As we followed the road we found a large picnic area with plenty of tables along the river bank. There is a boat ramp and we saw someone out in a kayak paddling up and down the river. There is a boat ramp with a warning sign not to swim and a possibility of alligators. Further along, the road was several very nice cabins to rent. There was a second swamp, this one not drained with a large wooden bridge crossing it. In the middle of the bridge was an amphitheater. From the bridge looking down into the swamp, we saw dozens of turtles swimming about. (I took pictures, but you need to zoom in to see their heads poking out of the water and their bodies under the surface) As we passed the cabins along our walk around the park we discovered a full 18-hole disc golf course. Had we more time, we would have grabbed our discs and tried it out. Alongside the road, we could see that water had recently receded from there and discovered what we later found to be mounds of mud with holes in them made by crawfish digging into the ground as the water evaporated. Being from the Northwest, this was new. Later we searched You-tube and watched a video of someone pushing his arm (up to his shoulder) in a hole and pulling out a crawfish. A second video showed him using a trap in a creek using dry dog food as bait and catching them by the dozen.

     Overall, we really liked the park, we met some great people there and would recommend two nights if you’re using it as a stopover on your way down the road.

Campground number eighty-six. 

  • April 18, 2018 -  1 day
  1. Campground Information
  2. Their Description
  3. Amenities
  4. Policies .
Website:
  crt.state.la.us
Type: State Park
Address: Sam Houston Jones State Park, 
       107 Sutherland Rd,
        Lake Charles, LA 70611
Phone: (337) 855-2665

Originally named for the Texas folk hero who traveled extensively in the western reaches of Louisiana, Sam Houston Jones was given its current name in honor of the state's 46th governor, who was instrumental in setting aside this tract of land for the public to enjoy for both day-use and overnight visitors.
Because the caretakers of this 1,087-acre park have worked to keep the land in its natural state, abundant wildlife inhabits the area. Tree-filled lagoons and mixed pine and hardwood forest combine to create a unique natural environment. The park is located just north of the most productive birding region of Louisiana. The bird watching is always excellent, but at certain times of the year, nearly 200 species of birds can be seen at or within 30 miles of the site.

The Office of State Parks has partnered with Sasol in Lake Charles on the Longleaf Legacy Project,  to preserve the iconic tree's rich history, restore the splendor of local forests, and ensure the resiliency of such habitats for generations to come.  The project includes the restoration of over 70 acres of longleaf forest in the park and companion educational programs for local teachers and families.

Sam Houston Jones State Park is home to more than 70 acres of longleaf pines, the oldest living southern pine species. They were once one of the most abundant tree species in the United States, stretching across 90 million acres from Virginia to Texas. Over time, land-use practices such as logging, farming, development, urban encroachment, and fire exclusion have diminished the longleaf pine, leaving less than 4 million acres of longleaf forest and less than 10 percent of their original presence in Louisiana.

The numerous waterways in this area make water sports a natural highlight at the park. Two boat launches are conveniently located on the West Fork of the Calcasieu River, providing access to Calcasieu Lake, about 20 miles away. (No-Wake Zone Advisory )

The three hiking trails winding through this beautiful park make strolling or serious hiking, pleasurable. Particularly interesting is the old stagecoach road, which hikers may travel to explore the park and the banks of the various tributaries to the Calcasieu River.

 

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Hours of Operation:
Site is open daily.

Gate Opening Times:
Sunday through Thursday

  • open at 6 a.m.
  • close at 9 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and days preceding holidays.

  • open at 6 a.m.
  • close at 10 p.m.

Entrance Station Hours:
Sunday through Thursday

  • 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, Saturday and days preceding holidays.

  • 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Entrance Fees

  • $3 per person
  • Free for seniors (62 & older)
  • Free for children (3 & under)

Camping
A $6 non-refundable fee will be assessed on each reservation transaction made online, via phone, or as a walk-in.
( map of sites 23-43)  ( map of sites 44-62)

9 Premium Campsites (pull-through sites with water and electrical hookups) $33/night plus tax, Fri-Sat
$30/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Apr-Sept
$25/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Oct-Mar
26 Improved Campsites (water and electrical hookup) $28/night plus tax, Fri-Sat
$25/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Apr-Sept
$20/night plus tax, Sun-Thurs, Oct-Mar
Backcountry campsites (maximum capacity of 6), 5 available on a first-come, first-served basis $9 per person/night, plus tax
Primitive camping area (maximum capacity of 20) $20/night plus tax
America the Beautiful Senior and Access Passes (formerly Golden Age & Golden Access Passports) (Available through the National Park Service. Click here for more information)
Holders of the Passes, whose state of residence also honors the America the Beautiful pass, are entitled to a 50% reduction on camping fees at Louisiana State Parks. (Passport holders are allowed one site per passport).

Additional Information About Overnight Facilities

Monday, 20 May 2019 19:58

Grandy Creek RV Campground

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Grandy Creek 1000 Trails/KOA Campground, Concrete, Washington

       Grandy Creek is a combined Thousand Trails / KOA campground.  Half the sites have a blue electrical connection for TT and the other half yellow for KOA.  I stopped to put diesel in the motorhome and Jackie drove ahead and got to the campground to find a site before I got there.  This actually worked well.  It was a Saturday morning and the campground was pretty full.  Being that it was a beautiful sunny summer weekend, we expected it to be full and to be full of kids, it was.  The park was perfect for that with a huge inflated play area and lots to keep kids busy.

 

     Our site had a full hookup, but not all the Thousand Trails sites did.  The campground had just a small rec-room for kids and a store, but no other clubhouse or lodge like a lot of the Thousand Trails campgrounds have.  The pool was nice, it had an adults only hot tub and an hour a day for adults only.  Most of the campsites are wooded but there a couple of very large fields.  Kite flying seemed to be very popular when we were there.
      Another big plus to the campground is its location.  Just to the east is the Northern Cascade National Park.  We drove up to Baker Lake one day and Diablo Lake the next.  Both lakes are a beautiful aqua blue color from glaciers.  This is one of the most beautiful and scenic areas in the state.  It is worth the short drive up to check out the mountains and lakes so close by.  Stop at the Visitor’s Center in Concrete to get a map of the area and then stop at the North Cascades Visitor Center in Newhalem for complete information about the area.  
      On a side note, we saw three different campsites that had mesh cat "tents" at La Conner and so we thought we'd get one for Abbott because he wants to be outside with us but refuses to go on a leash.  It's working fine for him now, but at first, he didn't care for it much.  However, the dogs love to be in it.  We might need a second one.  
 

     Enjoy a beautiful natural setting at the base of Mount Baker with easy access to North Cascades National Park, Baker Lake and of course our very own Grandy Creek running along the edge of the campground.   Take a day trip to Bellingham, the San Juan Islands or British Columbia -  the beautiful Northwest is at your disposal.

     This campground features long Pull-Thru RV Sites (up to 90 feet) as well as Tent Sites and Camping Cabins. Enjoy a game of mini golf, volleyball or basketball, swimming, a hayride and the Jumping Pillow. Hike the campground trails and make new friends in the Family Center or at a pancake breakfast or an ice cream social.

 

      Located at the base of Mount Baker, Grandy Creek RV Campground offers a gorgeous natural setting just a short distance from North Cascades National Park. Complete with planned activities, hiking trails and super, friendly staff, we're confident you will feel right at home at this Puget Sound RV campground. Saturdays are especially enjoyable for the kids - as we offer all-day activities including the popular Jumping Pillow!
      Off-site adventures are at your fingertips! Take a day trip to Bellingham, the San Juan Islands or British Columbia. Don't wait! Book your stay at Grandy Creek RV Campground. We offer a variety of accommodations, including long pull-thru RV site, as well as tent sites, and two-room cabins.  Thousand Trails
Read 5121 times Last modified on Friday, 24 May 2019 03:58
Published in Washington
Rick

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