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Is your family thinking about camping over a warm summer weekend? Green’s Canoe Rental can supply you with just about everything your family will need to enjoy your weekend. From the boat to the tent to the firewood… Green’s has it covered. It really will turn out to be a fantastic weekend. Before you leave, if you do some online research you will find the following tips very helpful with your children and will want to pass them along. Camping is a family activity. Camping is just about the only affordable vacation you can take as a family of four. It’s great fun but could also be a huge hassle. Try these 6 ideas to reduce the hassle and increase the fun.

1. Get the children’s input. What do they like to do? What do they want to see? What would they like to eat? Use this information in preparation for your family time outdoors.

2. Have an activity box for each child. Fill an old shoe box with things, such as:

* scrap paper crayons, water color paint, colored pencils
* round tipped scissors
* coloring book
* glue stick
* small game like a tic-tac-toe board
* a favorite doll or toy car
* some same craft project
* maybe a talking book or music CD (the library is a great source)

3. For exploring, have a knapsack for each child with:

* sunblock and lip protection
* a hat, wide-brim all the way around is best
* a whistle on a neck cord
* one or two favorite snacks
* water bottle
* plastic collection jar (great for bug collectors)
* notepad and pencil
* flashlight on a cord
* a small compass on a string
* kid-safe bug repellent

4. Involve the children in the planning or preparing of meals. Even the youngest children can make a batch of “gorp” by mixing a box of raisins with a bag of nuts, and maybe some chocolate candy like M&Ms tossed in.

5. Make the child’s sleeping mat a game board. Use a permanent marking pen to draw a checker board, tic-tac-toe grid, race track or whatever on the sleeping mat. Collect the, playing pieces from material around campground.

6. Take patience and gather memories, children grow very quickly. Don’t forget the smores!

Joe Camarda loves camping, fishing, boating, canoeing and rafting with his family.
His favorite spot is the Meramac River.
His favorite camping source: http://www.greenscanoerental.com

If you have an RV and are looking for a campground with beautiful views of an ocean bay and snow capped mountains, try Homer Alaska - Heritage RV Park, Oceanview RV Park and Desert Inn and RV Park are three campgrounds that should fit the bill, all having beautiful views of Kachemak Bay with the Kenai Mountains in the background.

The town of Homer is a scenic, small seaside community that has about 4,000 residents and another 8,000 beyond the city limits. In addition to the downtown area of Homer, a unique attraction is Homer Spit. The “Spit” is a long, narrow finger of land jutting 4.5 miles into Kachemak Bay.

Heritage RV Park located along Homer Spit in Homer Alaska is a full-service waterfront RV park located right next to the famous salmon stocked “Fishing Hole” offering great salmon fishing during the summer. The “Spit” is a very popular tourist area. All of the camp sites at this RV park have beautiful views of the bay and/or the mountains and have 20/30/50 amp power and septic and water hookups. Telephone and satellite TV are also available. For beachcombers, hikers, bikers and fishing enthusiasts, Heritage RV Park has its own private 1/2 mile beach and is adjacent to the Homer Spit bike path and pedestrian walkway and is within walking distance of fishing charter offices, shops and restaurants.

If you’re looking for a less “touristy” area away from the “Spit”, try Oceanview RV Park located within walking distance of downtown Homer. The 85 RV sites in the park are terraced with spectacular views of the bay and mountains and offering similar amenities as Heritage RV Park including 20/30/50 amp power, cable television and Wi-Fi internet. This campground sponsors chartered fishing trips, specializing in Halibut fishing. Homer is considered by many to be the halibut fishing capital of the world.

For an even more quiet area, try Driftwood Inn and RV Park, also located in Homer close to the downtown area. This Park is smaller in comparison with only 22 RV sites. It’s located on Bishop’s Beach in a secluded area of downtown Homer. The front row of sites looks down onto Bishop Beach and across Cook Inlet to the mountains. Restaurants and the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center are within walking distance. All sites have 20/30/50 amp power and cable TV and Wi-Fi internet are available.

If you like birding, combine bird watching and camping. Bald Eagles are numerous on the Spit, and if you’re in Homer in early May, you’ll want to take part in the Annual Shorebird Festival which draws visitors and experts from around the world. Each year, hundreds of thousands of migrating shorebirds land on the mud flats of Kachemak Bay to rest and feed in preparation for their continued journey north. The Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival is a 3-day event filled with birding workshops, observation stations, art fairs, keynote speakers and more. During the festival, you should be able to view up to 25 species of shorebirds, including Western Sandpipers, Surfbirds, Black Turnstones, Dunlins, Shortbilled Dowitchers, Whimbrels and many others.

In addition to Bald Eagles and shorebirds, you may also see moose grazing, a black bear crossing the road, puffins, seabirds, sea otters, porpoises, whales, porcupine, harbor seal and other wild life. Wild life is abundant in the area.

Camping with beautiful ocean and mountain views, abundant wild life, hiking, biking, boating and fishing, shops and restaurants, Homer, Alaska has it all.

Carl Zimmerman is owner and webmaster of Camping With A View, dedicated to finding campgrounds with beautiful views. Visit Alaska Campground Reviews - Alaska Campground Reviews for more information on these campgrounds.

I am an avid lover of camping under the stars. I guess it’s the outdoors that seem to make the problems and stresses of the world fade away into a distant memory. To enhance this even more, I continuously research, experiment and upgrade my camp fire cooking abilities every opportunity that I get.

One of my more favored unique camp fire meals is fajitas. The first step in a good fajita roast is finding good fajitas. You should explore your grocery store meat market in search of beef skirt steak and some chicken breasts.

The skirt steak can be a bit on the tough side if you fail to marinate the heck out of it. So, with that in mind, grab yourself a nice sized zip lock bag that will hold your skirt steak and the marinade. You may need to do this with a couple of zip lock bags.

My little home brew marinade is a can of any beer, some white vinegar, salt, pepper and I like to throw in some jalapenos to spice it up a bit. Let that sit in the refrigerator or cooler over night, two is better, so it is thoroughly saturated.

The chicken breasts really do not need any marinade. A simple rub will suffice in whatever flavor you would like. I prefer Cajun spice myself.

Now, the trick is getting that fire going just right. You will have to find my camp fire building article for more information on this. But, I will give you the brief break down. What you will need to do is get your coals or wood down to a nice hot layer of coals. This should be hot enough that it would prevent you from holding your hand within five to six inches of it for more than five seconds.

Now, you spread out your coals evenly. Then, place your camp grill over the fire. Let me give you a quick tip on cleaning your grill. There is nothing better than slicing an onion in half, poking a fork into it and then running it up and down your grill. This is even better when the fire is going. The fluids and acids in the onion will sure clean that grill off quickly and you do not have to worry about left over chemicals.

Once you get the grill in place over the fire, you should go ahead and place your chicken breasts onto the center of the grill; which is the hottest part. You chicken will go first because it will take the longest to cook.

Let the chicken roast for a bit, about ten minutes should do it, and then flip it over. Again, leave the chicken center grill for about another five minutes or so. At that point, you should move the chicken to the outside of the grill. By now, the inside of the chicken should be cooking in its own juices. The chicken will continue to cook, just not as rapidly.

The reason you moved the chicken to the outside of the grill is to make a spot for your beef skirt steaks. These will take up quite a bit of room. You will want to remove your skirt steak from the zip lock bags. Do not slice up the flank of skirt steak. You should just lay this right onto the grill. Now, this is a thin piece of meat, so it will cook rather quickly. It should not take more than five minutes on one side and flipping it over for another ten minutes on the other side.

The beef skirt steak will cause some flare up from your coals. I personally like my fajitas to be a bit charred. That is just me though, you may not. So, to control this, keep yourself a spray bottle full of water handy. Or you can rough it, and just splash some beer over the coals every now and then to control the flames.

The beef skirt steak will begin to shrink down slightly and curl a bit as it cooks. After fifteen minutes or so, it should be pretty much ready. If you like yours well done, cook it another five or ten minutes.

Remove the beef from the grill. Now, ensure that you slice against the grain of the beef when cutting your fajita strips. This will keep your beef tender.

Use a toothpick to poke a deep hole into the chicken breasts. The fluids should be clear, if not, let it cook another ten minutes or so. You can even cut into the breast and check for doneness. It does not hurt the meat to leave it on after cutting into it. You just do not want to do that too often.

Now, cut up all of your meat and place it in tin foil to keep it warm. Throw some tortillas onto the grill and allow the grates to brown them slightly. Remove these from the grill when browned to your preference and the stack of tortillas in foil to keep them warm.

All that’s left is to load your tortilla with beef, chicken, salsa, and guacamole and squeeze some lime onto it and you are ready to go. Enjoy.

William “Cole” Doggett is an expert in knives and owns a successful Internet based website, Knife & Supply Company, LLC at www.KnifeSupplyCompany.com. His website is devoted to all things tactical law enforcement, military, outdoors and of course, Knives.

Once you have decided which items you need for your outdoor adventures, reading camping gear reviews is a great way to compare different product features and prices. There are a number of excellent outdoor review sites on the Web and you can find out the details on almost any product with the click of a mouse.

Camping gear reviews are available for all the well known brands and even some more obscure ones. You can read up on a diverse range of products including tents and tarps, backpacks, clothes, sleeping bags, camping stoves, pocket knives, first aid supplies, lanterns, GPS systems, 2-way radios and other high-tech gadgets suitable for the outdoor enthusiast.

Camping gear reviews enable you to compare the features of several different products in different price ranges with very little fuss. This means that you can browse items in the comfort of your own home and take your time making up your mind about the items that best suit you. There is no danger of being pressurized in-store when you take the time to review each item before you leave your home.

Several web sites offer camping gear reviews written by consumers. This is a great way to explore the pros and cons of a product. There are also sites that offer independent reviews written by experts in the field. These are reviews that are not paid for by the manufacturer of the product.

This is a great way to uncover the truth about the advantages and disadvantages of a product. When consulting reviews for different products don not search based on price alone. There are often products that are only slightly more expensive but provide superior quality and features which enhance your camping experience. Do not be tempted to buy the cheapest items.

Even if you are working within a budget search items that are in a tier above what you think you are willing to pay. You may be surprised at how you can actually save money buying a better quality product. Use the camping gear reviews to find out what the positives and negatives of each product are and weigh them against each other to choose the one that best suits you.

Camping can be a great experience for the whole family. There is nothing quite like traveling into the wilderness and communing with the natural world. If you are a first time camper you will probably need around $600 for basic camping gear. Use camping gear reviews to determine how much of the budget should be allocated to each item.

Use online camping gear reviews to work out how much you should set aside for your tent, rainfly and tarp, bedding, kitchen utensils, stove, lantern etc. This makes buying your first camping equipment easier and much more cost effective. Try to avoid manufacturer reviews as these might not tell you the whole story. Rather choose independent and consumer reviews but bear in mind that these might also be subject to bias.

Visit us at http://www.pier55.com for more information concerning all aspects of camping and other sports and outdoor activities.

The ski camper’s water problem is much the same as that of the Ancient Mariner, which caused him to lament, “Water, water everywhere, Nor any drop to drink…”

The need for water varies greatly. It averages about two quarts per day, but is more than doubled by excessive perspiration or by the extreme drying effect of air at high altitudes. Unless this physiological demand of the skier for water is fully satisfied, his efficiency and even his health may be impaired.

This does not mean that it is harmful to be thirsty. Since a gallon of water can be taken from the body without harm, a skier can travel a day without drinking, but at the end of the day the water should be replaced. Of course, if water can be obtained from normal sources during the day, it will save fuel required for melting snow, and, at supper time, will save space for more solid food. It should always be remembered that thirst is the best indication of need for water.

To this general rule there is one exception: when one is approaching exhaustion, thirst should not be satisfied. Under such circumstances a half cup of water each quarter hour should be the maximum allowed. Salt should be added freely if the skier has perspired excessively.

Snow may be eaten safely as a source of water, provided it is eaten slowly; otherwise the stomach will be chilled. It is best to allow the snow to melt in the mouth before swallowing. A fruit drop or piece of fruit candy adds both flavor and sugar and dissolving it in the mouth with snow while traveling is a popular habit among experienced ski tourers.

Full advantage should be taken of all open streams as a source of drinking water. If water is sipped slowly, a pint or even more may be drunk without ill effects except a temporary slowing of pace which continues until the stomach has had an opportunity to warm the water to body temperature. Since the ski mountaineer will consume about four million small calories of food a day, it will be seen that the very small number of calories required to warm the water may be disregarded. Hot tea, however, is naturally more pleasant.

Usually, open water holes are found in the center of deep pools and if the snow pack is thick, it is a long way down to the water. Water can, however, be easily secured by tying the cup or cook pot onto a ski or ski pole. Precautions should also be taken against slipping into the pool by breaking off an insecure snow lip. It is best for the “water boy” to stay on his skis and have the basket end of one of his ski poles held firmly by a companion. These simple precautions will decrease his chances of a cold bath.

The most convenient source of running water is a small waterfall, such as is found frequently on the side walls of canyons. The water runs free except in subzero weather, and even under such conditions a small free flow may be found under the ice glaze. The only way to find water is by paying attention so remain resourceful as you go.

Free Power-Packed Information Book Detailing Everything There Is To Know About Ski Mountaineering And Ski Vactions

Click here for FREE online ebook!

http://www.vermontskivacation.net/

Buying a used travel trailer can be a scary prospect indeed. But, armed with a little information and the attitude that the right trailer is out there for you, you can get through the buying process and come out on the other end with a fantastic used travel trailer!

First, you must know how much trailer you need to suit your situation and how much you can handle in terms of price and towing capability. I can’t help you much with price–you’ll have to decide beforehand what you range is, but you can research what trailers are available for what prices on the internet. As far as towing capability is concerned, you need to be concerned with two numbers–GTW (gross trailer weight),which is the maximum weight your vehicle is designed to pull, and TW (tongue weight); that’s the downward force (measured in pounds) your hitch ball can support. Both of these figures can be found in your vehicle’s owner’s manual and should be topmost in your mind when considering which trailer you can tow.

Now to the fun part; once you have decided some of your basic needs, you can start shopping! You may have used RV dealerships in your area. That’s great news since you will have a wider selection and a salesperson to offer suggestions and recommendations. Of course if you don’t, you can find plenty of used trailers for sale through your local classifieds and online. Don’t be shy–see a lot of trailers; it’s the only way to find the one that’s just right for you!

Once you do find a trailer to consider, there are a lot of things to keep in mind; I suggest making a checklist to remind yourself what you are looking for and to take notes about the features and condition of each model you see.

Starting with the exterior, look for dents and dings, rusted spots, rusty or loose screws. Check if the exterior compartments are clean and dry. Inspect the roof; are the rubber seals cracking or discolored from water/sun damage? Are the vent covers secure? Is there a roof rack? Check any awnings and pullouts to see if they operate smoothly and look to be in good repair. Is the awning discolored or mildewed? Is it large enough?

Moving inside, check the doors; do they close securely? Check the hinges and handles and locks. Is there a pull out step? Does it work well and store securely? Are the windows in good condition? Do they operate smoothly and lock securely? Are all the screens in place? Are they in good repair?

Consider the interior walls and flooring. Are there signs of water damage, including discoloration and soft spots? Do you like the colors? Are the walls or flooring marked with stains?

What is the condition of the furniture? Are all the appliances in working order? Turn everything on and check it’s performance. The refrigerator and freezer will take a few hours to fully cool, but if this trailer is on your “short list,” be sure to check them. Turn on all faucets to check for leaks; check the water heater and all holding tanks for leaks by filling them with water. Check if the bathroom is big enough. Lay down on the bed; do you feel comfortable in the sleeping space? Are the closets big enough? Can you see your family vacationing happily in this space?

If so, then you know all your hard work has paid off, and you have found the perfect travel trailer for your family! If not, you know your checklist has weeded out another poor choice, and you are that much closer to finding your trailer. So, get out there and get to work; your next family vacation could be in your very own perfectly used travel trailer.

Emily Sandberg is a camping enthusiast who spent many a happy weekend camping in her family’s used travel trailer. When she’s not towing anything, she covers her hitch with a hitch cover from Trailer Hitch Universe.

For many people camping in the great outdoors is a fantastic and uplifting experience. For some it is plain hell. This Article takes a look at some reasons why - and what to do to put things right!

Some years ago a friend suggested we go on a camping trip. He’d just bought a new tent and was bursting to ‘christen’ it somewhere. At that time I’d never been camping in my life so I agreed and off we went.

Just to show the depth of our lack of know-how, we chose to go to the English Lake District in February. I’ll say no more - ask anyone who’s been there at the tail end of winter! Suffice it to say we arrived pretty wet and cold (we both rode motorcycles back then) and hurriedly pitched the tent then scurried off to the nearest pub to thaw out.

We got back and what followed was probably one of the worst nights I have ever spent. I was freezing and the thin sleeping bag I had was useless. I think I managed to get to sleep at about 5a.m. - sheer exhaustion claiming me.

When I woke I glanced at the radium dial on my watch. It was 9.30a.m. - and still pitch black. I couldn’t figure this out so opened the tent flap to discover about four inches of snow were covering us!

My friend woke up, teeth chattering. We ‘discovered’ quite quickly that we had -

No stove
No matches
No food worth a damn
No drinks
No dry clothes

All I can say in our defence is that we a were very young!

We packed up the tent as fast as we could and headed home, blue with cold and swearing never to go camping again. It was in fact some time before I did - but it was with someone this time who knew what they were doing. What a difference!

My first two times camping taught me a very important thing. It brought home the fact that, being accustomed to a cosy home and a nice warm bed, I hadn’t the first clue how to stay comfortable in the great outdoors. Why should I? As a product of modern civilization My habits were ingrained by a lifetime of relative ease.

And yet it’s just as easy to stay dry and warm when camping, except in the severest of weather - and even then you can get by. It’s all down to knowhow. I’m not talking about being a ‘wilderness expert’ or having the survival skills of a member of the SAS either. It’s just knowing a few points on living outdoors and applying them.

So how do you learn these points? Well, you can either do as I did (no please don’t do that!) or you can read up on it or join an outdoor centre or group. A lot if it lies in the ability to ‘think outside the box’ of modern urban living - the creature comforts we all take pretty much for granted. Manage to do this and you won’t be wet, cold and muddy!

So don’t let my first experience put you off. Choose a nice summer night, stay somewhere not too far from habitation and assimilate the necessary know-how before you leave. I’m sure that then you will enjoy your camping experience and it will become for you, as it has for so many, a lifelong passion.

Steve Dempster writes articles such as the one above as part of his working day. Learn more about how to enjoy camping or visit his walking website for tips on walking generally.

Lets face it, if you have ever been camping in the dead of the summer, in a tent, then you know how hot it can be to sleep at night. Yes camping is great fun but, when it is 90 degrees outside at night, it can be hard to sleep with the humidity and the heat. Thankfully there is an alternative to the sweltering sleepless nights. Now you can get air conditioning for camping in a tent.

There are many tents that offer great ventilation, where the tent has many windows; to allow the air to flow freely through the unit. This works well if there is a breeze to cool things off but, what if the air is still and it is humid? Cooling the tent, to make the night comfortable is a breeze. There are many compact air conditioners that can cool the tent for hours, allowing you to have a relaxing nights sleep.

Many have an attractive compact design, which offers a whisper quiet fan with low power usage for an economical alternative to many portable air conditioners; that can cost hundreds of dollars. Some brands are portable such as the KoolerAire, with its 12-volt air conditioner that is not tied down with hoses, pumps or pads. This type of air conditioning for tent camping is very inexpensive making it affordable for most any camper.

When challenged with the task to beat the heat while tent camping, you have two options: evaporating cooling systems and air conditioning units. Most air conditioners for tent camping, remove moisture which is a common choice in the areas of the country that have a high humidity. A refrigerant model will cool room temperature in a tent by 30 to 40 degrees. When cooling a tent, you will want to follow a common rule of thumb: one ton of cooling (or 12,000 BTU) for every 25 to 150 square feet of space.

Here are some other factors that you may want to consider when making your choice for a tent camping air conditioner, in addition to the square footage of the tent to be cooled: where will the tent be placed, what time of year will you be camping and what time of the day will you be spending in the tent. For example, if you are camping in the middle of August on an asphalt parking lot, in between two buildings, you will need more cooling units then if you were camping on a grassy clearing in the evening in May. Full stand up tents can make a difference, as well as there is more room to cool, verses the tents that are shorter.

The second option for air conditioners for tent camping is the Evaporative cooling systems, which blow out a cool mist that will evaporate when it hits hot skin. These type of cooling units use ice to cool the air and they can put out more air then the typical air conditioners at a distance of 60 to 80 feet. This alone makes this a very cost effective unit to have. They are very inexpensive to use as they require less units to cool an area. These types of air conditioners can lower the room temperature, at best, down 10 to 15 degrees.

Camping in tent is a great way to get back to basics, but you dont have to suffer in the heat as well. Investing in an inexpensive air conditioner can make a world of difference for you and your family when camping. Just imagine being able to go back to the nice cooled off tent after a day of hiking and playing in the great out doors. You will feel more refreshed after a good night sleep and be ready to take on the next adventure.

Warren L. Smith offers a fountain of information on such tents as: popup tents and campers, family tents, party tents, and even trailer tents. For the best up to date information on all essential tents for camping, go to http://www.tentsandmoreonline.com/

If you’re looking for that profoundly serene and peaceful feeling that a “back to nature” camping experience can give, visit Ojo Redondo campground, located in Cibola Natioinal Forest, near the eastern end of the Zuni Mountains in New Mexico. The campground is approximately 25 miles south of Thoreau, New Mexico, but takes about an hour to drive on the sometimes rough, narrow (one lane) and winding roads. The location is very remote and the landscape is absolutely pristine and beautiful.

My wife and I explored Ojo Redondo in November, 2006. We were awestruck by the beauty and variety of landscapes of the area on the way to the campground (from Throeau). Mountains, valleys, canyons, meadows, desert-like/arid vegetation and lush pine forests — it was all there on the way to the campground. It was one of those trips that you want to get out of the car every few minutes to take a picture or just look in amazement at the beautiful views and wonder how life could be so good. The hour long journey to the campground (no stops, we had to be in Alpine, AZ that afternoon) was filled with awe and delight. It seemed like the whole way there, each of us were saying “look at that!,” “isn’t that gorgeous,” “I can’t believe how beautiful this place is,” etc. etc. The trip to the campground was thoroughly enjoyable.

A word of caution, the roads in some places can be rough and wind around sharply in places. We don’t recommend large RVs on this road. But if you do have a large vehicle, call the National Forest office (505-287-8833) and get their recommendation. I can often be overly cautious.

Once at the campground, the scenery is every bit as beautiful as the trip to it. The scenery isn’t as varied, but the landscape is just as pristine and beautiful. Ojo Redondo only has 15 camp sites - most of which look out onto a gorgeous open meadow with a forest of tall majestic pine trees in the background. The campground is strewn with pine needles, pine cones, and small pinkish white quartz rocks and black lava rocks.

Because of the remoteness of the location, the silence here is deep and pervasive and greatly enhances the beauty of the scenery. I had a slight sense of isolation and you should go prepared for an emergency since there are no people anywhere near the campground other than other campers (on the day we went there weren’t any campers); but the pristine beauty of the area made the experience totally enjoyable. We could have stayed for several days. For campers, there is a tradeoff for being so far away from civilization - there are no amenities other than vault toilets. If a beautiful view is one of your most important criteria for selecting a campground, the tradeoff of hookup and hot showers for remote, pristine beautiful views is worth it.

As we left the campground returning back to Interstate 40, we took a different route that was equally spectacular in its views of the surrounding landscape. As you are leaving the campground, retracing your steps coming in, at a Y intersection that will take you back to Highway 612, instead of turning northwest, turn east toward Milan, New Mexico. The distance is a little shorter this way to Interstate 40.

Camping at or taking a day trip to Ojo Redondo campground is well worth the effort in getting there. I’m sure you will enjoy it. We did.

Happy camping!

Carl Zimmerman is owner and webmaster of Camping with a View, dedicated to finding campgrounds with beautiful views. Visit the New Mexico Campgrounds - Cibola National Forest Campground Reviews page for photos, reviews and more information on Ojo Redondo campground.

There are six campgrounds in Apache National Forest along the East Fork of the Black River - all within a few miles of each other. We visited these campgrounds in late November, 2006. The Black River is more of a stream than a river - but it’s beautiful, remote and pristine. If you’re coming from Alpine, AZ, as you head south on Forest Route 276, the campgrounds are in the following order: Diamond Rock, Aspen, Deer Creek, Raccoon, Horse Springs and Buffalo Crossing.

All six of these campgrounds are in a canyon that starts off narrow with beautiful steep canyon walls. As you pass the fourth campground (Raccoon), the canyon starts to spread out and the canyon walls become less steep. The canyon continues to spread out and the canyon walls continue to taper off and become very shallow at Buffalo Crossing campground with views of an open expansive meadow and the river.

The views from the first four of these campgrounds are very similar. Each of these four campgrounds is small with less than 12 camp sites. As the sun hits the canyon walls, the views are gorgeous and the tall ponderosa pine trees that spread out along the canyon walls are majestic. As you look out between the canyon walls, you’ll see beautiful views of the narrow canyon floor, often dotted with small meadow-like areas and beautiful tall ponderosa pine. Some of the camp sites overlook the river, but river views are obstructed from most of the sites by surrounding trees and vegetation along the river banks.

Most of the camp sites are well separated. Even though many of the camp sites don’t have views of the river, you can still hear the sound of the moving water which enhances the sense of beauty of the area. The overall feeling of the campgrounds is rustic, pristine and beautiful. The only downside to these first four campgrounds is that because the canyon is narrow with steep walls, direct sun light is limited to late morning thru early afternoon. If you prefer more sunlight, try Horse Springs or Buffalo Crossing campgrounds.

Horse Springs is the largest campground of the six with two loops (Polecat and Porcupine). Each loop has several rows of camp sites with one of the rows situated along the river. Camp sites in this campground are a little less secluded and private than those in the other five. Views of the canyon walls are very pretty and several sites have excellent views of the river.

The canyon walls at Buffalo Crossing campground are shallow and the area between the walls is much wider than the other five campgrounds in this area. Some of the sites are in a beautiful open meadow between the canyon walls and some hug the edges of one of the canyon walls forested by tall majestic ponderosa pine. Several of the sites in the meadow have views of the Black River. Because of the open meadow, this campground has lots of sun.

If you like shade, pick a camp site that is along the shallow canyon wall — you’ll still have a view of the meadow. The sites located in the meadow have no shade but are closest to the river. We thought that each of the six campgrounds in this area had beautiful views; but our favorite was Buffalo Crossing because of the wide-open expanse of the beautiful meadow between the canyon walls that allows a lot of sunshine.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Since all six campgrounds are so close together, I recommend that if you visit this area for camping, look at all six. I’m sure you’ll find a camp site that you will think has a beautiful view. We really liked this area and I’m sure you will too.

Happy camping!

Carl Zimmerman is owner and webmaster of Camping with a View, dedicated to finding campgrounds with beautiful views. Visit the section of the site for photos, reviews and more information on campgrounds discussed in this article.