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If getting completely away from it all and experiencing the outdoors for all it has to offer is your camping ideal then plan your camping vacation in the Big Lake Recreation Area. Big Lake itself is 575 acres, and makes a convenient base for other local lakes like Crescent Lake, Lee Valley Lake and the East and West Forks of the Black River. Choose your site from one of nine campgrounds and experience exceptional hiking and mountain biking trails, wildlife viewing, and trout fishing. Campers have the convenience of paved roads, a dump station and showers, but no electric hookups. Apache Trout, the largest campground can accomodate RVs (max 45 feet) as well as in sections of Grayling Campground. Two campgrounds give tent campers the entire campground all to themselves. A visitor center and naturalist programs offer plenty of knowledge about the area.
Expect lots of rain and possibly hail during monsoon season. We were hit twice with hail during a 4 hour storm during the day. Rained most nights except our last one there (of course). Cutthroat is more wooded than pictures show because most people focus on the beautiful lake. This site is up the hill side looking down and west at the lake. Great sunsets but can be buggy with flies that look like mosquitoes but don't bite. Caught many rainbow trout from the bank using nightcrawlers, only two using power bait for trout. Be prepared that breathing is not easy when physically exerting one's self, especially climbing back up hill from lake to campsite. Oxygen is thin and I would not recommend this trip for someone with limited lung capacity.
Did some rent camping here. Caught a trout and was cooking it up on the grill and I noticed some movement nearby. It was skunks. 3 of them. They were cute I could see them smelling the sir ssi slowly cooked my trout which was very very yummy. I fried it in butter with salt pepper and some honey. Woooo it was yummy. Great place to tent camp.
We camped here for the first time over Memorial Day weekend. Aside from the idiots that were camped below us that ran a generator until 1:30 am the first night, it was such a beautiful and unexpectedly quiet stay for aholiday weekend. I mentioned the noise to the the campground hosts Bob and Pam the following morning, in which they immediately took care of it by informing the party that generators were not allowed and explained the quiet hours. Bob was very friendly and informative upon check in as well, great hosts all around. The facility bathrooms/roads/amenities are all very well maintained. Our site (#4, highly recommend) was tucked back in the trees. It was really windy, but because we had a site up away from the lake a bit, we weren't affected. There were plenty of people, but not on top of each other as some dedicated camp grounds can feel.
Beautiful quiet camping spot. Fire pit right at the tent site, buy your wood at the lake or bring cash to buy at the caretakers spot. We rented a tandem kayak at the lake for the day and saw some wildlife. Fyi parking is not right at the tent spot, it's located up on the road. It's not far, but plan accordingly for hauling gear. The bathrooms are clean and well maintained, one has running water. There are also spigots of water around the campsite for use. We didn't have a phone signal with Verizon, which was great to unplug, just plan ahead for hiking trails. Definitely a spot to visit.
