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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Tuesday, 24 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

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Maryland

Maryland (1)

Tuesday, 21 May 2019 04:18

Tuckahoe State Park

Written by

Tuckahoe State Park, Queen Anne, Maryland

      On our way from Virginia to Tuckahoe, our fresh water pump died.  Not really a big deal, we haven't hit a campground without water for over a year.  Come to find out, this park doesn't have a water hookup at the campsites.  However, there was fresh water within 100 feet of the site and bathrooms with showers just a short walk through the woods.  Tuckahoe is one of the nicest campgrounds that we've visited.  All the sites in the "electric loop" have 50 amps and can comfortably fit big rigs.  We honestly couldn't find a site that wasn't great.  From the camping area, we walked to a large day-use picnic area and then followed a trail that led to the lake.  At the lake was a youth camp going on with all sorts of activities for kids.  The campground is heavily wooded and was absolutely beautiful.  There are a few nice cabins to rent as well.  We visited during the last week in June and there were only four other campers in the park.  I don't understand why.  

Maryland.gov

Tuckahoe Creek, a quiet country stream bordered for most of its length by wooded marshlands, runs through the length of the park. A 60-acre lake offers boating and fishing. The park offers 20 miles of scenic hiking, biking and equestrian trails, flat water canoeing, hunting, picnicking, as well as a recycled tire playground for children. The park offers activities and special events on a seasonal basis. Activities include day camps, canoe trips, Scales & Tales presentations and displays, and Challenge Course programs. Each weekend, Memorial Day through Labor Day, park staff offer a number of free family activities.

Features:

  • Camping: The park offers a family camping area with 54 sites, 33 with electric hookups, and a central bathhouse with showers and toilet facilities. Each site is equipped with a camping pad, picnic table, and fire ring. No water hook-ups are available, but potable water is conveniently located around each loop. A dump station is available for trailer use. Pets are allowed in the campground but must remain on a leash at all times. Click here for camping season beginning and ending dates, and camping and shelter service charges.
  • Youth Group Camping: The park also offers a youth group camping area with four sites, each site accommodating up to 30 people.
  • Cabins: Eight camper cabins are available for rent through the statewide reservation system. Four cabins sleep four and four sleep six; all equipped with ceiling fan, electricity, air conditioning, grill, fire ring, and table.
  • Picnicking/Shelters: The park has two picnic areas, each offering shaded sites with picnic tables, charcoal grills, playground equipment and horseshoe pits. The Lake and Cherry Lane Area Pavilions, with a capacity of 80 persons, can be rented through the statewide reservation system.
  • Arboretum: The Adkins Arboretum encompasses 500 acres of park land and almost three miles of surfaced walkways leading through the tagged native species of trees and shrubs.
  • Fishing and Boating: The park has a 60-acre lake with fishing and boating opportunities on 20 acres of open water. The remaining acres are flooded woodland. A launch ramp is available for boaters. Gasoline motor use is prohibited. Canoeing at Tuckahoe is a popular activity on both the lake and the creek because of the park's abundant wildlife. It is common for visitors to enjoy watching bald eagles, ospreys and great blue herons. Beavers and muskrats have surprised visitors by swimming past their canoes. Tuckahoe is full of pockets of secluded beauty, some only accessible by canoe. Canoes, single kayaks and tandem kayaks are available to rent on a first-come, first-serve basis. During the week, come by the park office to rent. The lakefront boathouse is open most weekends for rentals (hours based on staff availability and weather conditions). Canoes/kayaks are $10/hour.
  • Multi-use Trails: Tuckahoe State Park boasts excellent hiking, biking, and equestrian opportunities. Trails that wander through the park include the Tuckahoe Valley Trail, a self-guided Natural Trail, the Physical Fitness Trail and the Lake Trail. The Maryland Park Service does not rent horses and only provides the trails as a means of recreation.
    View and download the Tuckahoe State Park Trail Map

    Purchase copies of the Tuckahoe State Park Trail Guide through our online store.

    To purchase copies of the Tuckahoe State Park Trail Guide with a check, please click on this link to print an order form.

    Purchase copies of the Tuckahoe State Park Bandana Map through our online store.

  • Disc Golf: An 18-hole disc golf course is located in the Cherry Lane section of the park. Free scorecards are available at the bulletin board near the ball field.
  • Mountain Bike, Kayak, and Canoe Rentals
    Tuckahoe offers mountain bikes, kayaks, and canoes for rent at the park during the spring, summer, and fall. Contact the park for current service charges, available days and times.

 

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