Mckinney Falls State Park

The Upper Falls on Onion Creek

This park was our last stop on our way home. It’s at the SE corner of Austin, TX.

If you’re looking for some nature while visiting the state capital, this would be your place. Just be aware the park is still recovering from the widespread flooding experienced by the state of Texas in 2016. The campgrounds and bathrooms are fine. But the visitor’s center is still being repaired, and a trail below the upper falls was washed out. You can still visit the falls on Onion Creek, though. There are also several other trails, including one to the horse trainer’s cabin. The park is named after an early Texas settler who originally owned the land where it’s located. Since we were at the end of a two-month trip, our explorations were kept closer to the campsite. From what we saw, it’s a pretty park. We’re certainly willing to return at a later date.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/mckinney-falls

Pool below the Upper Falls

Cypress trees

Remains of the Horse Trainer’s Cabin

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Monarch Migration

This beauty was photographed in our yard Jan. 2016.

Even in Texas it’s rather unusual to see butterflies in the winter.

This might seem like a bit of a cheat, to combine three camping sites in one post. Especially since they aren’t located near each other. Bear with us. They have one thing in common - Monarch Butterflies.

We’re going to begin with Kaw Lake, sitting on the border of Kansas and Oklahoma. It’s east of Ponca City and west of Food Network’s Pioneer Woman home turf. This is a Corp project with a few campgrounds located around the lake. We stayed at Coon Creek on the west side. The roads which take you into the various campgrounds can be a bit rough. They’re not necessarily an indication of campground condition, though. We were there in early Oct., shortly after the main camping season had closed. The campground was still open. A volunteer host wasn’t available to assign a site and check us in. There were envelopes available for self-check in. Which we strongly recommend you do, along with hanging your America the Beautiful Pass, if you have one. The campground was still being supervised and maintained.

The storm and cold front which followed us.

The butterflies had disappeared for the day by this point.

Kristal wished she could get photos of them.

They were mostly staying under the trees where the light was not so great.

Her cold wasn’t helping with photographic endeavors either.

This is the first location where we’ve experienced Monarch Butterfly migration, ever. Shortly after we set up camp we started noticing groups of them flying thru our campsite. At first, we weren’t quite sure what we were seeing. Fall had arrived in northern OK, too. There were leaves which were falling. The butterflies were flying anywhere from 4-5 feet above ground to several feet above our heads. They kind of blended in with the leaves, until we realized they weren’t landing on the ground at all. We arrived around 3 PM to our campsite and noticed our visitors as we were setting up camp. Several groups flew over for about 2 hours. The next day, there were a few in the morning after the sun was up. We didn’t see any more after that. We think we arrived at the tail end of migration for the area. It’s also possible weather had an effect. It was 84° when we arrived. A thunderstorm with a cold front followed us in. While it remained mostly on the east side of the lake, the cold didn’t. And the rest of our stay was chilly. Still, it’s the most butterflies we’ve ever seen in one place. We didn’t choose this campground with the expectation of seeing them either, since we didn’t see any while further north. It was an unexpected blessing after a rather difficult day of travel. (Kristal’s cold was settling in.) Which illustrates the best blessings are always the ones you don’t expect to receive.

Lake Arrowhead SP, approximately seven miles south of Wichita Falls, TX was our second butterfly encounter. We actually stayed at this park twice, while leaving Texas and on our return. We don’t think there is a campsite here which isn’t level. Heard of mesquite? Perhaps as BBQ wood? There is plenty of it here. Along with cactus, prairie grass and some wildflowers. Some sages were still blooming in October. There was the occasional Monarch along with some other species flitting thru the park. The main attraction for Kristal was the discovery of a butterfly garden on the park’s map. It’s by the ranger station/park entrance. We stopped as we were leaving, for a photo op & to ask questions. A Monarch did visit, but Kristal wasn’t yet in the habit of wearing her new glasses while using her camera. Which gives her trouble when zooming for close-ups. The photo came out fuzzy. Pooh! Oh well, she learned something new while inquiring about the garden. The previous week the park employees had been tagging migrating Monarchs. We didn’t know such a thing was possible.

One of the official Texas State Longhorns.

Note the yellow flowers at the bottom of the photo.

They attracted butterflies at both state parks.

Kristal tried to take photos. The butterflies were just really skittish.

And her patience was a bit short.

San Angelo SP was Monarch stop number 3. The weekend we were there, the park was hosting a Monarch themed BYOH (bring your own horse) trail ride. San Angelo is referred to as the Gateway to West Texas. It bridges prairie and desert, with the desert becoming more prominent, than it is up by Wichita Falls. The state park is located just north of the city. We were actually in the area to see if we might like to live there, and looked at some real estate in a town 30 miles north. The real estate hunt wasn’t so successful, but we did take note of large bushes in peoples’ yards. Those bushes attracted a lot of butterfly activity, of varying species. (Sometimes called Texas Sage. See the wildflower.org link.) Unfortunately, the cold weather found us in San Angelo the last two days we were there, when we had more time to explore and take pics at the SP. There are several Texas Sage bushes at the south entrance. But the butterflies had skedaddled.

Now, what does any of this info mean to you, the RV traveler? Monarch migration is a major miracle, in our opinion. Such fragile beings, and yet the last generation of summer/fall makes the trip to their special place in Mexico, to ensure the survival of their species into another year. If you want to witness this event, you have to be in the right places at the right times. And you need to be observant. Or you may miss them. In our case, our butterfly encounters at each of these campgrounds was a total fluke. None of them were planned ahead of time. For those who are interested in tagging, we definitely recommend visiting the following butterfly websites. It’s a very interesting study which gets a lot of its help from citizen scientist volunteers. Earlier summer Monarchs don’t migrate. However, it’s not a bad idea to practice your butterfly netting skills, identifying genders, proper handling of the subject, and documentation. (You never know. Data you collect on summer butterflies might be valuable to another study.) When migration begins, you will hopefully feel confident in your abilities to return a healthy specimen to the skies. Once you run out of tags, submit your documentation, then a few months later you can check to see if any of your butterflies arrived in Mexico. This is an activity for people of most ages, as long as they can be patient and very gentle. RVers who are traveling thru a large geographical area have the potential to provide a lot of interesting data on one report. It could also be a way to volunteer at state parks.

http://www.kawlake.com/

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/lake-arrowhead

https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/san-angelo

https://www.monarchwatch.org/

https://texasbutterflyranch.com/2012/09/04/butterfly-faq-how-to-tag-a-monarch-butterfly-in-six-easy-steps/

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LEFR3

Victorian Acres RV Park

This private RV park, just to the SE of Nebraska City, NE, deserves to be mentioned as a nice place to stay. Unfortunately, we don’t have photos from our visit. Kristal was developing a cold while we were there. But their website does a nice job of showcasing their facilities.

It’s within reasonable distance from I-29 on Hwy 2. Not far from the interstate are some fuel centers on the hwy. Depending where you’re going when leaving the park, you can either top off the tanks on the way back to the interstate, or fill up before arriving if you’re heading for Hwy. 75.

Besides being an easy place to reach, there are some reasons you might enjoy visiting the Nebraska City Area. It was the home of the Arbor Day founder. His house is a state park. The Arbor Day Foundation still resides there and has all kinds of education and interactive activities. We would like to visit during apple season. To discover tourism opportunities, visit the links below.

We do need to give a shout-out to some fellow Airstream owners/Wally Byam Caravan Club members who happened to be there during our stay. They were a Nebraska chapter who was having a rally and swearing in new officers. We enjoyed having the opportunity to visit with some of them.

http://www.victorianacresrvpark.com/

https://www.arborday.org/

http://gonebraskacity.com/

http://outdoornebraska.gov/riverviewmarina/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g45722-Activities-Nebraska_City_Nebraska.html

http://visitsoutheastnebraska.org/

Maka-Oicu County Park

We stayed at this campground for 3 nights while we visited some friends who live just a couple miles away. It’s about 19 miles North of I-90 and Worthington, MN. It’s location in southern Minnesota does mean it’s surrounded by farmland, which really isn’t uncommon for rural campgrounds in the Midwest. (The same is also true for Lake Pahoja.)

For now, we’re giving it an honorable mention. It’s a work-in-progress, with a new county employee, who’s in the process of upgrading the facility. Besides a face lift, he’s also planning to extend its usable seasons. One of the completed projects includes new power posts. The work was completed by our friends, who are licensed electricians. The bathrooms aren’t fancy, but are cleaned and had hot water in October. Future improvements are making the campsites better defined, and addressing water quality. The campground’s water has a mineral odor due to some excess iron. For now, we definitely recommend using an inline water filter, if you fill your fresh water tank there. Besides smell, you won’t want any sediment making its way into your hot water heater.

Catfish a jumpin’?

Or maybe wall-eyed pike?

Kristal’s camera isn’t set up yet for high-speed photography.

She wasn’t quite quick enough to catch the fish out of water.

The ripples they left behind weren’t too difficult, though.

This campground, with its neighbor around the corner, are on two small lakes. They are natural spring-fed, rather than damned reservoirs. A joy-killer for us, it rained 2 out of the 3 days we were there. We were getting tired of cold, wet weather. (The weather wasn’t the campground’s fault.) Still, Kristal went out with her camera and explored a bit between storms. There are trees and shrubbery on the shores of most of the lake, which limits the campground view a bit. She wanted a closer look. While she was down at the dock/boat launching area, the fish were quite active, jumping at the surface. The population appears to be healthy and some were decent sized. She forgot to ask our friends what species live there, but that info is available from Minnesota’s DNR, along with information for obtaining the necessary fishing license. If you enjoy fishing, staying here for a few days may be worth it. We certainly would have enjoyed spending more time down by the lake, had the weather been more cooperative. The county website below lists the other activities available here. We had the place to ourselves due to the timing of our visit. Our friends confirmed it’s a popular destination for locals during summer weekends and holidays.

Do be aware of coyotes if you’re staying here with small pets or young children. Just use some common sense, and everyone will be fine. They probably aren’t as active in the immediate campground areas during the busy summer months, while more people are around and staying up late. When there are groups of these critters, they do sing. But you can’t count on absence of vocalization as a sign they aren’t around. Solitary animals, or while they’re hunting, aren’t going to make much noise. You need to be observant, or you may not see them until it’s too late. We caught a few glimpses of a howler or two sneaking from one soybean field to another, mostly at dusk. They’re also active at dawn. Encourage your kids to stay in sight and out of neighboring fields or tall prairie grass. Don’t ignore campground leash rules for pets. You should take wildlife safety seriously, especially as the weather begins cooling. Small animals start going to ground, making a meal harder to find. Retractable leashes are a bad idea, and are often against the rules anyway. A pet kept close to you is far less likely to become the target of a hungry predator. Staying in areas where there is decent lighting, when Pookie needs to take a bedtime “walk”, is also a good idea.

Farm country does attract other wildlife too. Sightings might include white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and pheasants. And it can be a great place to get some peace and quiet for a few days. Exceptions would be during planting or harvest, when a lot of large, noisy equipment is out & about. Including being on the roads while the farmers are traveling between their homesteads and fields. For those who have never seen farming in action, you might find it fascinating. Farm equipment runs the gamut from practically antique to mega machines equipped with GPS and other tech goodies.

While on your travels, keep an open mind when looking for places to stay. Occasionally, they may be a diamond-in-the-rough. Then again, you might just find a true gem.

http://www.co.nobles.mn.us/departments/public-works/parks/nobles-county-parks/

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/windom/lakes/topfishinglakes.html

Insiders’ Guide to NW Iowa

Our daughters during Orange City’s Tulip Festival, in the late 1990s.

They’re all grown up now.

We’re aware the Midwest states are often considered pass-thrus while people are on their way to more “interesting” places. We’ve been Texans for almost 18 yrs. now, and it’s probably safe to say our state is in a class of its own. Still, we have a soft spot for our former home. We enjoyed a few local specialties and businesses as a part of daily life, and still miss them. One is relatively new to the area, developed several years after we moved. Most of them are on our list when we visit, and you might enjoy trying them too.

Starting near Lake Pahoja, Grand Falls Casino/Golf Resort is on Hwy 9 just a few miles SE of Larchwood, IA. It does have a 14-site RV park next to the golf course (link below). We haven’t stopped there, but Karl’s brother & sister-in-law enjoy the casino occasionally. It’s a just few years old, and looks very nice. Gambling isn’t our thing quite so much (Kristal thinks she sucks at it.) But there is also dining and entertainment. We might be tempted to visit in the future.

Our Rock Island post provided some info on Rock Rapids in 2016. So, we’re going to travel south on Hwy 75 from there.

Take a little side trip to the small town of Hull, IA.  It’s home to the Foreign Candy Co. (E on Hwy 18. to the town. FCC is at SW corner of town.) Their core business is school foreign language teachers, but the public can purchase goodies at the Warehouse Outlet. In researching this attraction to determine what they’re up to these days, I came across a reviewer who was underwhelmed by the outlet’s selections. They complained that the inventory was found just about everywhere. Which is actually true, but I don’t think this individual knew Foreign Candy Company was one of the importers responsible for bringing gummy bears from Germany to the US in the 1970s. (Were marketed to high school German language teachers). Haribo is a German brand. To be fair, anyone who is the same age or younger than our daughters, probably believe these candies have always been in the US.  When our kids were young, in the 1990s, FCC was the place to get interesting candies and other goodies for birthday parties. Kristal took the girls there once, as a special treat for a streak of good behavior she really appreciated.

Return to Hwy. 75. Your next stop is Sioux Center and Casey’s Bakery. It’s in the Centre Mall, located in the middle of town on Hwy.75. Kristal used to treat herself to an occasional lunch at the bakery deli, when she worked in Sioux Center 20 years ago. Can’t think of anything we wouldn’t recommend there, but if you’re looking for a regional specialty try the almond patties or soft rusk buns (6 in pkg.) They also have a gift shop stocked with kitchen items and Dutch imports such as Delft pottery. If you’re passing thru Sioux Center in the summer, keep your eye out for folks selling sweet corn at the city park (north side of downtown, also on 75.) The town’s summer festival is coming up at the end of May.

Of course, we almost always go to our home town of Orange City when in the area. The Dutch fronted downtown is popular with visitors. No surprise it’s the setting for the Tulip Festival, which is coming up very shortly. (Usually the third weekend in May.) Difficult to say if the tulips will be blooming in time due to the cold spring. But they can be surprisingly hardy plants, often coming up under the snow. Our favorite store, Woudstra Meat Market is a must-stop to stock up on cured smoked beef, brats and Saucijsjes (sa-saw-shees - AKA pigs-in-a-blanket.) If you ever do attend the Tulip Festival, yes, it is worth it to stand in line for the brats. Fresh meats can be ordered at the meat counter if you’re looking for something to cook right away. However, if you’re like us and don’t live close by, we recommend buying from their storefront freezers. Kind of handy to put already-frozen items in the RV freezer. The ready-to-bake Saucijsjes are only available frozen. (Can’t speak for anyone else from the area, but one of our favorite meals is still Woudstra’s cured beef in cream sauce on sliced rusk buns from Casey’s.) Orange City does also have a small bakery downtown, on the block just to the north of Woudstra’s. If we happen to be there with either of our daughters, we get cream filled long-johns and Care Bear cookies.

It is possible to get small pumpkins and winter squash as edible souvenirs.

These beauties made it all the way back to our house,

even though we traveled for a month after their purchase.

Just make sure there is no damage to their hard skins.

Otherwise, they should fit in an RV oven or Dutch Oven, if you enjoy campfire cooking.

Planning a late summer/fall trip? Be sure to visit Pumpkinland, just north of Orange City. They started in the 1990s with an assortment of pumpkins and squashes, including several heirlooms; at a time when many people were just starting to rediscover the almost lost diversity of our ancestors’ gardens. Now, they not only have the pumpkins, but a community craft fair; Alpaca products from a nearby farm; a variety of treats including preserves, caramel corn and whole pies; a corn maze and farm animals to visit. Kristal and Kristen stopped by while we stayed at Lake Pahoja. If it works with your travel plans, we definitely recommend going on a weekday. They’re very popular on the weekends.

http://www.grandfallscasinoresort.com/hotel/rvpark.html

http://foreigncandy.com/index.html

http://www.caseysbakery.com/

http://www.siouxcenterchamber.com/events--calendar.html

https://orangecityiowa.com/

http://www.woudstrameatmarket.com/

http://www.pumpkinlandiowa.com/

http://siouxcountyparks.org/

The last website is for the Sioux County Conservation Board, in case you’re looking for more camping and rec options.

Lake Pahoja Recreation Area

Lake Pahoja was our home base for the last 2 weeks of Sept., while we visited with Karl’s family in NW Iowa. Autumn was also making its appearance there; with leaves changing color, waterfowl beginning to migrate, corn field harvests and mercurial weather.

The rec area is about 13 miles W/SW of Rock Rapids, IA. It’s a Lyon County Conservation Board project. We chose to stay there, rather than the park in town, because it was quieter during the week. For the most part. West Lyon Community School is just a couple of miles to the E of the rec area. There were some school related activities, such as a picnic lunch for elementary students and a high-school cross-country meet. During the 2 weekends, a surprising number of campsites filled up, even though it was after Labor Day. (West Lyon School is on Hwy 182. Lake Pahoja is off 180^th street which runs on the S side of the school.)

Would we stay there again? Most definitely, though like most campgrounds we’ve stayed at, there were positives and negatives. Campsites 1 – 42 have a lot more shade, are a bit shorter in length, and some aren’t level. We stayed in #19. While we had a view of the lake from that site, it went downhill a bit. We also had to get creative when parking the van to keep it out of the road. The shade on those sites would be nice in the middle of summer. But as the weather was cooling and days getting shorter, the ground just wasn’t drying out much between thunderstorms. We were rained on about half the time we were there. Cleanliness/stocking of the bathrooms isn’t exactly a complaint. County employees took care of the bathrooms every morning. Our main issue was night-time use. If campers left the interior lights on all night, bugs invaded in droves. The creepy-crawlies were “not quite dead yet.” There hadn’t been enough freezing weather at that point.

Lake Pahoja is an ADA compliant facility. The main roads in the park had recently been resurfaced. Gravel areas are also kept maintained. The paved path around the lake is easy to access. It was one of our favorite features, nice for walking the dogs, especially when there was plenty of wet weather. There aren’t any specific campsites labeled handicapped, but those with mobility issues would definitely find campsites 43 – 71 suitable, and sites 64 – 71 have water hook-ups. This section’s sites are generally longer and more level. The lake isn’t within sight, but it’s not very far away. There are also seasonal sites. 1 – 8 are paved with concrete. The seasonal sites were all occupied by RVs, most likely owned by locals. We weren’t there for the season, so we don’t know how often those sites become available. (Don’t own an RV? There are cabins to rent.)

This rec area can be a destination in its own right. There is more to do there than just camping; such as disc golf, swimming, no-power boating, fishing and archery. You can get a history lesson at the museum site just north of the lake dam. There are also signs along the path identifying different trees and plants. Kristal enjoyed the photography opportunities which were provided by the transition of seasons. Besides changing leaves, there were purple asters still blooming and bushes with ripening berries. As an overnight stop from I-29 or I-90, it’s probably not as practical, though it is less than an hour from I-90. But if you’re looking for a nice little detour for a few days’ rest, Lake Pahoja might suit you. There is an entrance fee on top of campsite fees. Pay by the day, or a season pass can be purchased. Our visit was long enough the season pass actually made more sense for us.

Find more information and directions at the following website.

http://www.lyoncountyiowa.com/lake_pahoja

Sioux Falls, SD is the closest large community. It’s about 45 minutes away. Need to take care of “household” matters while in the area? There are newer shopping areas E of I-229 & off Hwy 11/42 (Arrowhead Pkwy). Target (Dawley Farm Village) and Walmart are around the corner from each other. A Hy-vee grocery store is a bit further to the west on the pkwy. Take Hwy 9 thru Larchwood. It becomes Hwy 11/42 in SD. Restock on any supplies you need & head to northbound I-229. From I-229 you can reach I-90. Heading to southbound I-29? From the east side of Sioux Falls, travel S/SW on I-229 to the interstate. If you need to do laundry while in the area, there is an Uptown Laundry on 26^th street. The laundromat is almost new and well-maintained. The owner was on the premises both times we were there. (She’s very friendly and does offer laundry services. Why not drop off your items? Then go have a nice lunch, check-out downtown, or do your shopping?) We were there on weekdays, so it wasn’t a problem to use multiple machines at one time. Even with the 45 min. drive, we found it faster & easier to do laundry there than at the relatives’ house, whose laundry room is in the basement. From the pwky, turn south on 11. (Dawley Farm entrance is on this road.) The next light is 26^th. Turn right, heading west. Uptown Laundry is on the south side of the street. A gas station is on the corner just to the east of it.

So you know… many counties in Iowa have a conservation board. If you find yourself traveling thru any part of the state, visit the site below to find and learn more about CCB camprounds. You might find a campground in an area where there aren’t many other options to stay with an RV.

https://www.mycountyparks.com/default.aspx

Red Willow Recreation Area

We think Prairie sunsets are just as spectacular as any at an exotic beach.

However, the most colorful shows usually occur when there are clouds in the sky.

On this particular evening, thunderstorms were developing

to the north and west of us.

When observed in the wide-open skies of the Great Plains,

it’s much easier to see and appreciate their awesome power.

And a big relief when they go storm elsewhere.

This rec area has a nicely maintained little campground. It’s a few miles north of McCook, NE (SW corner of the state) and easy to reach from Hwy 83. The roads into the campground and down to the reservoir are gravel. Most of the campsites are graveled, with two exceptions. The handicap sites are concrete. They are placed next to the bathrooms, a handy option for those who need or prefer to use the campground’s facilities. We used the site closest to the campground entrance. (Karl is a permanently disabled veteran.) The handicap accessible bathroom next to it doesn’t have his/hers sides. Each unisex restroom has one flush toilet and coin-operated shower. The bathroom near the other handicap site, placed in the middle of the campground, might have vault toilets instead. (Our stay was in August. Memory is getting a bit fuzzy.) It’s easy to identify vault toilets by their (usually) taller ventilation pipes, handy knowledge if you don’t want to be camped next to, or like to use them.

Wherever you stay in the campground, it looks like Red Willow is either a new recreation area or has been recently updated. The gravel, concrete-paved handicap sites, bathrooms and power posts don’t appear very old. Since decent facilities are not always a given at any price range, including more expensive private RV parks, it’s always a nice surprise when you find them. Our only complaint here would be the coin-operated showers. Karl took a shower there and wasn’t certain he got the amount of time he initially paid for. He had to use more quarters in order to rinse off. We’ve now stayed at three NE state-run modern campgrounds. (Platte River SP, Fort Kearney & Red Willow Rec Areas) Each one of them had coin-operated showers, which may be standard for all of their developed campgrounds. So, come prepared with plenty of quarters if you need to use the showers.

In Nebraska, you will find two kinds of state-operated outdoor opportunities; state parks and recreation areas. Like many states, some of the state parks are historical sites and may not offer camping of any kind. The recreation areas offer camping, but when deciding which facilities (park or rec) you wish to visit, you will want to pay close attention to available amenities. In both cases, some are more developed than others.

For those who have never visited Nebraska, there is a reservation system for a certain number of state campsites. Some of the rec areas are first come, first served for all sites. If you don’t find a facility in the online reservation system, it’s because reservations aren’t taken for that location. Both SPs and rec areas require payment of a daily entrance free, but some of the rec areas do not have a manned entrance where your payment is taken and a campsite is assigned. They are self-serve, and at some locations it’s required that guests have the state’s annual recreation pass before using the facility. Red Willow is self-serve and has this requirement. Some other campgrounds may allow you to add the entrance fee to the envelope with your campsite payment. Contact Outdoor Nebraska if you need to verify which rec areas require the annual entrance pass and where at those locations it can be obtained. Otherwise, just make it easy on yourself and purchase the pass online, far enough ahead of a trip so it has enough time to reach you by mail. The pass does cost more for out-of-state visitors. However, daily entrance fees can add up when you’re spending more than a day or two at any of the campgrounds. At the very least, you could break even. Camp long enough, or use the parks/rec areas frequently for other activities, and the pass will actually save money. By the way, the self-service rec areas aren’t unsupervised. They still have state employees who keep things tidy and check up on campers.

The following is the official website for Nebraska’s parks and rec areas. This link is specifically for Red Willow. However, it’s not difficult to navigate if you’re looking for facilities in another area of the state. The official state and McCook tourism sites have lots of useful information, too. There are more camping opportunities in the McCook area, including 3 other rec areas also on reservoirs. Red Willow worked out best for us, since we took Hwy. 83 all the way from Childress, TX to I-80 at Ogallala, NE, while on our way to the Black Hills. Just so you are aware, it’s on a hill above the lake. Some of the sites at the back of the campground have a lake view. If you want a lakeside site, you may be able to find one at the other rec areas.

http://outdoornebraska.gov/redwillow/

https://visitnebraska.com/

https://visitmccook.com/  or http://www.gotomccook.com/

From a Colorado native and former mountain snob (Kristal), if you’re wondering why anyone would deliberately visit a “boring” mid-western state now that the Great American Eclipse is over, ponder this quote by Willa Cather found on the Visit McCook tourism home page. “Anybody can love the mountains, but it takes a soul to love the Prairie.”

Big Bend Park, Canton Lake

We saw one of the prettiest sunrises during our trip at Canton Lake.

Though to be fair we had a lot of overcast and rainy mornings

while we were away from home.

As you will see from the web pages included at the end of this post, Canton Lake (Canton, OK) is another USACE project. It has five different campsites around the lake, all managed by the Corp.

We stayed in Big Bend Park for two nights, and got lucky enough to snag a site on the shore. (It was the closest site to the bathrooms, too. Sweet!) That’s one of the nice parts about camping during the week before travel season really heats up. There can be more availability in desirable campsites. Our only complaint? More shade would have been nice. We’re not griping too much, though. Sometimes, you can’t have everything.

For those who are asking, “Would you stay here again?” the answer is, “Yes.” The facilities around Canton Lake include paved roads, and Big Bend has paved RV sites. Despite our site lacking a bit in shade, there are trees around the lake, and we made note of other campsites we liked. (Campground maps don’t show you where the shade is.)  Besides checking in campers, the hosts patrol the campground a few times a day, and campground maintenance employees keep everything tidy.

Are there things you should know before you go? Yes, indeed. First of all, you will reach Canton Lake from 2-lane highways. There are no interstates in the area. Road maintenance can vary depending on the government agencies responsible for them, so you won’t always encounter highways as smooth as glass. This lake is situated in the NW quadrant of Oklahoma, an area where semi-arid farming and ranching is practiced. We saw a lot of winter wheat farms, many of whom were harvesting in early June.  Traveling in rural areas when farm work is underway? Be prepared to encounter slow-moving equipment on the roads. This part of the country will also be hot and dry during the summer. The temps were getting into the 90s while we were there.

Like many rural areas in the US, most of the communities in this part of Oklahoma are small. Don’t expect to find lots of provisions, though many of the little towns you might pass thru may have a Dollar General or Subway Restaurant. Sometimes they even have both. We did pass thru one community large enough to have a Wal-Mart, but we had restocked before starting the return trip home. You might find a convenience store along a highway, or in some towns. Otherwise keep an eye out for the farmer’s co-ops if you need to refuel. (All the above info is true for rural travel in most Mid-western states, not just Oklahoma.)

In case anyone is wondering, neither of the Corp lakes we visited, are near our usual route when we’re traveling between Texas and our relatives in Iowa and South Dakota. It’s our belief that the joy of RV travel comes from slowing down and getting off the beaten path. As former small town/rural residents, we have to admit big-city living started losing its thrill for us a few years ago. Rural travel, and escaping the crowds, is a pleasant change of pace for us. While we enjoyed our visits to the Badlands and Mt. Rushmore during our last trip, our favorite parts were being on highways where you might see another vehicle and campgrounds which were almost empty. Try it yourself sometime and see if you don’t agree.

http://www.recreation.gov/camping/big-bend-ok/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73081

http://www.cantonlakeoklahoma.com/

http://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.1057

Take lots of photos when you have a spectacular sunrise or sunset.

From beginning to end, they keep changing.

For this post, Kristal chose 2 of her photos, but it wasn’t easy to pick her favorites.

Lucas Park, Wilson Lake

This photo was taken in the morning, shortly before we left for Oklahoma.

There was nice shade on this site early in the day,

but it was going to disappear by noon.

When we’re not in a terrific hurry to get anywhere, we like nightly stops a bit off the beaten path. Since we’re usually only staying a night or two, it’s a great way to check out different campgrounds and locations.  The facilities we like, along with our favorite campsites, get added to our list of places we would enjoy visiting again. Not to mention staying longer the next time.

Wilson Lake isn’t too far north of I-70 in central Kansas. We got there by traveling on two-lane highways from Nebraska. While it may be true in other states too, we’ve noticed that reservoirs which are Kansas Army Corp of Engineers projects have both state parks and Corp campgrounds. Wilson Lake has both. (3 USACE, 2 state)

We haven’t stayed in any Kansas state parks yet, but especially while we’re traveling, the Corp campgrounds are emerging as our favorites. Generally, Corp properties have a day use fee or camping fees. Campers usually aren’t charged the day use fee. They also seem to be pretty consistent in keeping everything maintained. If you qualify for one of the various passes offered by the Federal Government, you might even get a discount. There are links to some PDF brochures at the end of this post, including one explaining the different Federal access passes. When looking for campsites, do a fee comparison between Corp campgrounds and nearby state parks to determine which is the best value for you.

Just so you know, during the week there might be a day or two when the hosts are off. This was our experience at Wilson Lake and was the first time we encountered it. The hosts were off on Tues. and Wed. At Lucas Park, where we stayed, they did provide envelopes for self-check in. There are three sections in Lucas Park, and since it was mostly empty on the Tues. we arrived, driving thru each section helped us decide on a site. Lucas wasn’t our original destination, but there wasn’t a self-check in option at the campground below the dam where we were planning to stay. If you’ve made a reservation before arrival, a host’s day off probably won’t matter to you. But for us, reservations don’t always make sense, because we need some flexibility while on the road. The USACE and Recreation.gov websites might not inform if campground hosts have certain days off. The only way we knew Lucas Park was USACE was by exploring it. (Corp campgrounds will have the castle logo on the entrance signs.) Moral of the story? Look at the map for an entire Corp project (usually reservoirs) when making your plans. It will show you all the campgrounds which utilize the project. Call the numbers provided for each and verify the hosts will be there when you arrive. If not, just make sure there is a contingency for people who want to use those sites when the hosts aren’t present.

Lucas Park is a nicely maintained campground with a modern section (hook-ups/bathroom facility), and we would stay there again. If our self-containment work had been completed, the undeveloped section interested us too. Now, here’s what you need to know before visiting.

The roads and campsites are gravel. You will travel a bit from the paved highway before you reach the campground. Just follow the signs. Wilson Lake is a reservoir on the prairie grasslands of the Great Plains. There aren’t a lot of trees in the campgrounds. The sites that do have shade go fast when the weather warms up. Naturally, sites on the lake shore are popular, too. While the campgrounds are mowed, don’t expect to find fancy, civilized grass. Native just makes more sense in a place where the grass isn’t watered by man. Those natives include cockle burs (or stickers, depending on where you’re from). Take a short-cut to the bathroom? Check your shoelaces. If you get them in your socks, you’ll feel them. For those who own a dog with a long silky coat, keep your grooming tools, including scissors handy. Check their coat immediately after a potty break. Any cockle bur not removed right away will work its way to the skin eventually, not to mention creating a big knot. Regardless of breed or coat type, all dogs can get cockle burs between the pads of their feet. It’s a good idea to check feet after each trip into the grass.

While native prairie plants might include cockle burs,

there could also be wildflowers if you’re visiting in the spring.

We stayed at Lucas Park during our trip home to Texas during the first week of June.

Despite summer heat and sun, you may not be able to open your awning. Like most of the Plains states, Kansas is windy. A few trees in Lucas Park means there isn’t much protection from the wind. In case you do use your awning, keep a close eye on it, especially if you don’t have an electric one with a wind sensor. No need to let the wind spoil your fun, though. Spend a little time studying your campsite, and you’ll have a decent idea where you want to position things like your grill and camp chairs. The wind is often the strongest from mid-morning to early evening, so you might find it more enjoyable to do your outdoor activities earlier or later. Use the hottest, windiest part of the day for napping. (That’s our preference, but then, we’re old people.) Secure long hair and keep some lip balm handy. It’s also a good idea to protect your skin and eyes from wind/sun burn.

Some people might find the conditions on the Plains not to their liking. Not to worry. The USACE has 450+ projects and campgrounds in many states. Between our trip last year, and the trip we took in May/June, we’ve stayed at 5 different Corp campgrounds in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Since they’ve met our definition of “value” so far, it’s pretty safe to say we’ll keep seeking Corp campgrounds during our travels.

Want to do some comparisons between Kansas state parks and Corp facitilities? Besides camping, you’ll find the lake’s various rec. opportunities at both sites, too.

http://ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Wilson

http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes/Wilson-Lake/

These PDF documents can be found through the above site. But we’ve made the links available here in case you prefer to go straight to them.

http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Portals/29/docs/lakesites/wilson/Wilson-Lakemap.pdf

http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Portals/29/docs/lakesites/wilson/73266-%20Lucas%20park.pdf

This is the 2016 fee discount chart. Planning to travel in 2017? Check in January for updates or changes.

http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/pdfs/discount-chart.pdf

To make reservations at any Federal facility, go to recreation.gov. The following link is specifically for Lucas Park.

http://www.recreation.gov/camping/lucas-park/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73266

This site also gives info about the Corp campgrounds and making reservations through Reserve America.

http://www.rv-camping.org/coecampgrounds/