We rented kayaks on Mira Lake. It was one of the most beautiful kayaking trips we've taken. We did it an early fall, and it was absolutely perfect. The scenery is beautiful. The water was calm. And there weren't a lot of other people kayaking at the time. Highly recommend if you're in the Dells area. read more

See all

Wonderful State Park! Memorable experience! Would certainly plan to return! Our big annual camping trip with the family recently took us to Mirror Lake, a spot that was new to all of us. It's an easy distance from where we live in Milwaukee, as it's in close proximity to the Wisconsin Dells. That said, even though we were deep in the woods camping, there was plenty of civilization close by should we have needed to restock on anything. Since we had quite a big group, we booked a double-site and boy did we luck out. I think we had the largest double that was available. It fit two large RV/campers and five tents, leaving ample room for tons of chairs around the fire pit and the big picnic tables provided. Oh and they are *electric campsites* which can be hard to find! No water hook up though. Not too far down from our site was the big shower houses/bathrooms. And let me just say, these are NICE! Like very nice. And very clean. Probably the best campsite bathrooms I've ever seen. I feel as though the building was very new / freshly redone. Other pros: plenty of lake activities (we rented both kayaks and pontoon boats), great walking paths (freshly laid wood chips and clear signage), lakeside beaches, and various playgrounds for the kiddos. Oh and fun planned experiences by the park - it was "Smokey Bear's birthday" when we were there and they had a firetruck on-site, water games, bday treats, prizes, and a meet and greet with the bear himself. A hit with our kids. Even if you're not camping, this state park would be wonderful for a day trip! read more

See all

I finally got to hiked at Mirror Lake State Park last year in July and I absolutely love this state park. The trails that I hiked on were both Bluff Canyon Trail/ Lake View Ridge Trail and Echo Rock Trail/ Ishnala Trail. Definitely would love to go back to this park in Autumn read more

See all

Love the park but roadway repair makes many areas inaccessible at this time. Will be great once work is completed.

Close to Lake Delton and Wisconsin Dells. Lots of nice campsites with lot of nice trails for exploring. Trails and some campsites available for snowshoeing and cross country skiing in winter. Lake is a little murky near the shore but looks good for paddling. Kayaks, canoes, stand up paddle boards, and pontoon boats available for rent. Firewood available to purchase. Campground is only about a mile from the highway so you can hear the vehicles. This park has a cabin designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that you can actually rent. They also do tours of the cabin a couple times a month. read more

Mirror Lake State Park - Playground, volleyball court, and beach. - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

See all

We stopped here to hike, while staying in the area, as we really needed some outdoor time. This was in October of 2023 & we had a fantastic, short hike. The weather was warm, but not hot. The bugs weren't out & we were able to thoroughly enjoy romping about & taking pictures. Hiking trails were relatively level, without a lot of elevation changes- which was just what we needed, at the time, as I was still nursing a sprained ankle in healing phase. We didn't use other services, aside from the restrooms, which were clean. read more

Love, love, love this state park nestled on the shores of Mirror Lake in close proximity to the Dells. We've been here a few times to kayak Mirror Lake. The lake is lovely and makes for a wonderful afternoon of kayaking. We knew once we got our pop-up trailer that a camp visit here was a must. We made this wish a reality recently and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The sites are in the woods (my favorite kind), wonderfully leveled and beautifully spaced out. The drive into our site (#10) was a good length so that between the trees and undergrowth, our site felt secluded. Each site has a fire ring, picnic table, and a hook to hang your garbage away from your camp. Each loop has a bathroom and then there were showers a short walk away (individual with locks and for those from other states--no quarters required!). For being so close to the lake, the mosquitos were practically non-existent this year, which was lovely. You need to reserve your site online (they book up a year in advance) but well worth it. Get to it! read more

Spent the weekend in the Dells mid-November, and were lucky enough to have good weather. We stopped here for a hike, to give our livers a break, and had a great time. Despite the fact we were there during hunting season, parts of the trails were still open, and we enjoyed our still lengthy self guided hike. The trails were well maintained and the scenery absolutely beautiful. The Dells has a lot to offer, but it was nice to take a break and enjoy nature for a bit. read more

See all

This review is based only on our visit to Mirror Lake State Park to do some hiking in May, 2023. The park also has campgrounds, an amphitheater, and boating, that we did not use. There are also large sections of the park that we have yet to visit. Admission. Wisconsin State Parks require a daily or annual admission sticker for admission to all state parks and forests. The daily fee for this park for vehicles with WI license plates is $8 or $11 fir out-of-state plates. Annual is $28 or $38 respectively. You can purchase either at the state park. Hiking. Per the website of the Wisconsin Dept of Natural Resources, there are over 19 miles of hiking trails at the Park. (In winter snow season, these are groomed for cross-country skiing and hiking is not allowed). We created our own 3.3 mile-ish loop trail by combining established trails. We started at the parking lot near the park office, taking the Newport Trail (1.0 mile) which travels next to the lake and by the beach picnic area. We particularly liked this segment as the view was picturesque, there were occasional benches and picnic tables. and there were parts where the trail was comfy wood chips. We then walked along the short Lakeview Trail (0.2 miles) and walked over to see the boat launch/boat rental area*, and the accessible fishing pier. From the parking lot there (which is also close to the Sandstone Ridge Campground and the Cliffwood Campground), we picked up the Echo Rock Trail (0.6 mi total of which 0.4 mi is accessible). On this trail, you can walk around the Echo Rock for a view of the Ishnala Supper Club. From here, we started heading back. We veered right near the bridge, picking up the Clifford Coulee Trail (0.8 miles. Easy but a lot of roots), and finally part of the Pioneer Trail (0.7 mi of 1.6 mi) to return to our car. Overall, we characterize this loop as "easy". We always wear hiking boots for traction when hiking, and I had hiking poles, but neither was necessary. The trails on the water side are better maintained and easier walking (wider, fewer roots) but all are in good shape. *We were disappointed that there weren't kayak rentals on a Wednesday in mid-May. However, there was a telephone number "for mid-week rentals" on a sign. Observations. Pros: easily accessible from the Wisconsin Dells area. Nicely-maintained trails, with occasional benches, picnic tables, etc (especially in the lake side). Easy to create shorter or longer hikes depending on interests and abilities of your group. Good trails map given at office. Mostly good trail markings (see 'cons' below). Availability of restrooms (including in the campgrounds). Many miles of easy (and a bit of moderate) walking of hiking. Appropriate for kids. Plentiful free parking. The park also felt safe. We saw a fair number of other hikers on the trails. Cons: steady traffic noise from I90/94. There a few intersections on our hike wherein we were a bit confused by the signs, and there were no blazes on the trees. read more

See all

We had always wanted to visit this park to either hike or cross country ski. The last two years did not cooperate on the skiing part so we came here to do some late winter hiking on the trails in the north half of the park. Despite the lingering snow and ice we were impressed by the trails which can be pretty hilly. We liked the enchanted rock trail it is so scenic and with a good view of the lake and the Ishnala Supper Club. I am guessing in summer this trail is very popular and it's paved. I would like to come back in both summer and fall to see the trees reflecting in the lake. read more

Mirror lake camp ground is very clean and there are plenty of trails to keep busy. Camp sites- electric campsites for RVs available, no water hookup. Noise- very accessible from the main highway, but unfortunately you can't escape the highway noise. Restrooms- are clean and hot showers are available, no coins needed RV Dump station- 2 dump stations, one was completely full and was leaking out ... so gross. Trails- very well maintained with signs and maps available at ranger station. Lake Activities- you can rent kayaks which is pretty cool and there is also a little beach for kids. Lakeside benches, picnic tables and grills are also available. My favorite activities here are to go hiking with the dogs and sit on the benches lakefront. This park is abundant with trees and plants, a great escape from the city. Less than a mile you will also find restaurants and hotels if camping isn't your thing. read more

Mirror Lake State Park - Pups allowed! - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

This was a beautiful park with adequate parking and nicely cleared past for walking and hiking. It was quite cold that day when we went but it did not deter us. The sight of the beautiful snow covered lake with one solo fisherman in the middle was something to behold. Just strikingly beautiful - what nature can do to calm us. read more

Camp Here If You Love Highway Traffic Noise Pros: nice trails, Echo Rock, Amphitheater, camp host's hummingbirds, kayaking is easy, bathrooms are clean, interesting birds. Cons: Pit toilets are the worst, heavy traffic noise, Hag's Crag is closed, screaming kids, wild parsnip burns, Ishnala Supper Club. Depends: sites are a bit close together, beach is small. Details: There are some paved trails and some dirt trails, so you get to take your pick, they were all nicely wooded. Echo Trail and rock were very beautiful. The Amphitheater is something you can tell they spent A LOT of money on and the polka band that played there Saturday night was terrific. The camp host had three hummingbird feeders set up and it was fun to watch them compete for the nectar. Kayaking is easy on this lake/river and it's got some pretty scenery, but unfortunately the highway noise kind of ruins it. The main, big bathrooms are wonderful - clean and well lit. However, we nicknamed the pit toilets Hell's Maw because they stank really, really badly, and there were hundreds of flies down in the pit and when you sat down, they flew upwards and landed on your butt and from between your legs. So disgusting, I took one look and never used them. My friends gave me that description. Why don't they put lids on the toilets??? We saw many interesting birds, as we are avid birdwatchers, so that was nice. I'm not a huge beach fan, but my friends told me they considered this beach small and when you waded in, it was very mucky. They took us to Castle Rock beach instead. The campsites are pretty nice and level, I thought. My friends said they were not as level as they would have liked. We had 28 and 30. Number 30 was a little gravelly, so we chose to stay on 28. But number 30 has a trail leading directly to the nice bathroom (the others don't have a trail), and it's the furthest away from the traffic noise. I've stayed in parks where the campsites are too close to each other, and some where you're far away from other campers. This was in the middle. Close enough to hear and see screaming children, but you aren't literally right next to them as you would be in say, an RV park. The Ishnala Supper Club is nearby and looks great from the lake, but when you get on the grounds, you kind of wish you hadn't come, for a wide variety of reasons. Hag's Crag is listed on the trail maps, but not on the map they give you when you arrive. Turns out it's been closed for three years and no one knows why--we asked. Avoid touching wild parsnip as it can give you a blistering chemical burn. All in all, I'm glad I visited here, we did have fun, but I see no reason to return. There are lots of other state parks and I'd like to visit as many as I can. read more

See all

Only complaint I have is the lack of a doggie bubbler. The price was fair. No extra charge for dogs. 6' leash (at all times). Hey are allowed in the trails. Trails are clean. Some are handicapped accessible l read more

Great area and tons to do. 11 dollars to enter If you are out of state. Lots of Kayaking, rentals, and campgrounds. Also passed by a beach with plenty of cabanas and charcoal grills! read more

A Beautiful natural reprieve from the tourist glitz & chintz of the Wisconsin Dells. The many trails lead through tranquil pine forests and near clear fresh lakes. read more

Mirror Lake State Park - The pond. - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

See all

I visited for a day hike on a warm day in December and was truly impressed with the scenery! The icy lake was a surreal shade of blue and contrasted nicely with the orange hue of the fallen pine needles. It was an awesome place to take pictures and hike around! The trails I explored were well-maintained and easy to find. Other than the nearby Ishnala Supper Club, the waterfront feels like wilderness. If you're a fan of good outlooks like I am, take the Echo Rock Trail. The first part of the trail and outlook is paved to ensure explorers with wheelchairs or strollers have a great place to take in the view! For those able to wander onto the dirt path, you'll be greeted with another outlook at the end. read more

Perfect base camp for Wi Dells and Baraboo Rec Areas Most recent stay was 7/17/16 thru 7/22/16 - I'm "late" in posting my review The layout of the campground is such that the restroom/shower buildings are easily accessible from your campsite, but not immediately adjacent. One restroom/shower building serves about 15 campsites. They have 2 each 2 shower stalls, sinks, and toilets. Push button/auto shut off showers so- you gotta keep pushing to get more water. We've camped here 8 seasons now [family reunion getaway occupying 7 sites] and sad this this year they removed the paper towels [only air dryers] as we used them to clean up our area around the sinks when done. Now they stay messy longer as they're cleaned only once per day. Each stall is private with locking door and large enough to use to dry off. There is 1 hook on the inside of door but now where else [wish there were more] also there is a long bench just outside of the shower stalls which is handy but no shelves for your stuff. Reasonably priced park considering it's near the tourist vacation destination area.. All campsites have gravel pads but the interior roadways are paved. Sites are very roomy with lots of vegetation between sites for privacy and all among many trees for welcomed shade during hot summer months. Some sites are dry camp others are electric only no sewer hookups, but there is a dump and potable water fill station near park entrance. Also water spigots are in every loop and is no problem getting water. Lot's to do all around and Wi Dells is only minutes away - Google Wisconsin Dells and you'll see it truly is a vacation destination - boasts to have more waterslide parks than anywhere else in the USA. read more

See all

My husband and I were pleasantly surprised at how clean and tidy this campground was. Our Camp Host was very welcoming and did frequent drives through camp. We stayed in the Blue Bay Area (seemed to be the nicest too). Flush toilets and showers were some of the cleanest I'd ever seen compared other State parks we've stayed at. 4/5 because the water stopped working! There was a few hours where the flush toilets and showers were out of service due to no water!! read more

Mirror Lake State Park - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

I love Mirror Lake State park. My family and I have been camping here most summers for several years now. It's our favorite in the area. The campsites are great. They offer electrical as well as non-electrical, and cabins. We have always (except once) done the electrical sites. The one time we didn't wasn't by choice - we hadn't booked early enough in the season, oops! There are boat rentals available at the lake, and a small beach area if it's warm enough to swim. Lots of trails throughout the park to hike or bike. I really like that the sites are not all on top of each other. Obviously you can see/hear your neighbors, but there is a pretty decent separation between the sites and they do feel rather private. Love bringing my dog up here as well! read more

Overall, fantastic time at Mirror Lake State Park. Check in was painless, easy to navigate to the sites and even though it was pretty full capacity wise, did not have any issues with noisy neighbors. Dog friendly and the dogs loved it. The tent sites were nice and spacious secluded at site 130! The only downside was no electricity at this particular site, but it was close to the bathroom which was nice. Also, bathrooms were not heated so quite chilly this time of year, but easy to warm up once you jump back in your tent. There are hardly ANY lights so definitely bring your lanterns and flashlights for walking on the roads. Good price for firewood and even though a WalMart is 5 min away, still felt secluded away from the city. Would camp here again! read more

Mirror Lake State Park - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

See all

I came here with a huge group for camping at one of their group sites. The site was very large but all of the group sites were very close together. You could hear all your neighbors. At night that can either be a good or bad thing depending on how loud they are. The bathrooms and showers were absolutely disgusting. I have been to about 10-15 different state parks and have never been grossed out. I know what camping is all about but this was a little much. They have a great swimming area with plenty of sandy beach and also grass. Also they have bathrooms and changing areas close by. They have fire wood that you can purchase by the sites and also a great grass area for playing sports along with a play place. One downside is there is no where to purchase ice close by. But Wisconsin Dells is about 10 minutes away. Over all it was a lot of fun! read more

Okay, I am impressed! I was planning a camping trip to the Dells, and my first choice of campground was already booked up, so I stumbled upon this one. Glad I did. I made the reservations online for a Group campsite as it was the most efficient way for all of us to camp together. Check in was a breeze. Gotta buy your wood on site to avoid spreading Emerald Ash Borer bugs, but the main ranger station sells wood, and there's a group campsite host who also sells wood right at that parking lot. The group site was in a nice pine grove and had 5 or 6 sand pads for the tents and a fire circle with 4 really nice park benches set around it. It was very roomy with plenty of picnic tables. The group sites were spread out, so we could see others, but there wasn't much noise from the other campers. Our site (#304) happened to be right next to the privys and water fountain/water faucet. The only downside is that there's a light on them that is on all night. (Next time we'll choose a different site, I think.) Otherwise it is great! Be aware that the group sites have no electricity and one has to park in a seperate lot and use the provided carts to bring in your gear. Bring bug spray. Those Dells 'skeeters are stealthy and I didn't know I was being bitten till it was too late. I will TOTALLY be back to this campground next time I visit the Dells. read more

We made our first visit to Mirror Lake for an early spring trip, and left wondering why it took us nearly 20 years to make it here! This closely held secret gem of a park is literally under the nose of Wisconsin Dells, a quick 5 minute drive over I-94 to Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari. But, unlike Rocky Arbor, there is plenty to do within the park. The scenery is a nice surprise, and the extensive trail system covers a wide range of terrain. You can rent canoes, paddle boats, or even pontoons (which is unusual). The famous Ishnala Supper Club occupies a small corner of the park, and the campgrounds are far enough away from the interstate so noise is not a factor. Given that is was early in the season, I would expect more activity during the summer, but Mirror Lake is small enough so the crowds shouldn't be anywhere near as bad as what you would find at Devil's Lake. Plenty of Geocaches, too! But a word to our Illinois friend who thought it was perfectly OK to play music and sing at 1 in the morning: you were visited by the park rangers because enough people complained about your inconsiderate behavior that something had to be done. There are clearly defined quiet hours for a reason. Just because you're living outdoors doesn't give you permission to act like animals. For those of us who are considerate campers, we thank you for never wanting to return. You are not welcome here. read more

Pretty tight park. It is kind of like, overflow for devil's lake which is obviously more popular. Lots of lousy dbags from Illinois tho, that's prob the worst part. read more

Camped at Mirror Lake State Park over 4th of the July weekend and it was great! Perfect place to stay when heading to the Wisconsin Dells...it was literally 5 minutes away! Plenty of parking very close to the campsites (didn't have to haul the gear very far at all). The entire campground was very quiet, even on a busy weekend like the 4th, sites were far enough apart from one another that we felt like we had plenty of privacy, and we didn't hear anyone else all night. Very clean campsites with tons of shade and plenty of clear, level spaces to pitch tents. We only had one tent, but could have easily pitched 4 or 5 on one campsite. Water fountains were very close to all campsites. The main bathroom and shower building (with running water) was very clean and well stocked. Decent hiking trails and areas to canoe/kayak. Only downsides - firewood purchased there was a little damp, but probably from all of the recent rain. Not a great swimming lake because of algae. Had to walk up to the front of the park to throw away trash and recycling. Other than that, Mirror Lake was a wonderful place to camp! read more

We've been here twice. Once for kayaking and another to take our nephews swimming at the beach. If you are kayaking we recommend exploring both ends of the lake and trying out Ishnala supper club, a bit hidden in the tree line on the water. The bathrooms in the campground areas were very clean and we'll maintained. The beach was perfect. For their busiest day of the year it was very well spaced out. Our best move was to come here, as it is not as crowded as Devils Lake. There were a ton of families grilling out and enjoying the weather! No life guards are on duty at this park and floats are allowed. read more

Mirror Lake State Park - Merboy! - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

One of the better camping sites I have been too! Unlike a lot of campgrounds I have been to, this one actually FELT like a campground and not just a big RV park that allows tents. And unlike a lot of campgrounds, there was actually SPACE between the lots and not just lots side by side crammed together. For the group camping spots, you park at a nearby lot and carry your stuff over to the camp site (they have carts available). Reservations and check in was easy and the price, ESPECIALLY for it's close proximity to the Dells, is incredible! You have to buy firewood locally (ash bore risk), but the Ranger station and a camp near the campgrounds sold firewood for $5 a bundle (although it was a bit damp... they need to store it in a dryer location to keep it from getting damp in the rain... but it was also fairly humid the week before so *shrug* can't really hold that against them). The group sites were pretty good. They had 5 sand lots to set up your tent on. The good part being that the floor of your tent is nice and soft after you get the tent up. The bad part being you are sweeping sand out of your tent for days afterwards. They do have a beach and other amenities, but we didn't get a chance to check them out this trip, but they did look nice. So all in all, an incredible bargain if you want to save some money and go camping in the Dells! Good sites, good location, decent space and amenities, and a very nice "feel" about the place. The one complaint I would make is that they don't have enough carts for the group camp sites. They only have 2 carts, and if 5 sites are trying to pack up on a Sunday morning, there aren't enough to go around. read more

We thoroughly enjoyed or stay at Mirror Lake! We arrived late on a Friday, about 9:15 or so, and were pleased to find a ranger still on duty and available to check us in. He was very helpful, and funny as well. We spent the weekend hiking and relaxing around or campsite. We also took short trips to both the Dells and Baraboo. We will definitely be back. Nice Rangers, nice bathrooms (both the pit and flush bathrooms were decently well kept for such a hot and busy weekend), nice trails and a pretty lake. read more

Mirror Lake State Park - Mirror lake. - Parks Near Me - Baraboo, Wisconsin

See all

The park itself is probably around 3.5 4 stars. The campsites are large, the trails are nice and numerous. The lake isn't clean, but if you don't mind driving, devil's lake is nearby. The detracting factor? The rangers. They are not only very serious about all of the rules (which is understandable, if not ideal) they are VERY rude about it. Our family was singing by a campfire with a guitar and around 1 am the ranger came and told us to keep it down. Understandable. We went to sleep after that. What was NOT acceptable was that the next afternoon 2 rangers came by and yelled (not talked to, YELLED) at us and threatened us with expulsion from the park. When we (calmly) tried to explain the situation, the rangers THREATENED us with 3 tickets, tried to blame us for other things that had happened overnight in the park (of which we had no idea!) And told us to "shut our mouths". Completely unacceptable. Will not be returning. With Devil's lake nearby, there is no reason to deal with that type of attitude. read more

Loud and poison ivy infested campgrounds. Campsites are cramped and crowded with self absorbed dullards who think 1am is the perfect time to regale their neighbors with song. The pros are that the campgrounds are clean and relatively secluded from the roads. read more

My family and I stayed at Mirror Lake for four days. The campground and facilities were very well maintained. Thought the sites were perhaps a little too small, but we were able to fit everyone. The trails were well marked and beautiful. The swimming beach was a wonderful amenity! A few of us rented canoes & kayaks. There is a 25% discount on boat rentals if you are camping at the park, make sure you mention it! The camp sites were quiet for the most part (a few ding dongs felt it necessary to have their car alarm on). We would happily return! read more

First trip here to hike and really enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Would love to come back and kayak in the calm waters. The only downside is that it is close to the interstate and traffic noise can be heard in many places in the park. Would love to come back and camp. We drove through the campgrounds and many sites looked wooded and private. read more

This is a state park, so there is a fee. $7 regular or $3 seniors. Looks like a big operation, lots of camping and a beach with kayak/canoe rental. Friendly ranger, nice facility when you pull in, with a bathroom indoors. We were there in winter because the trails we supposedly groomed....well, snow covered and not marked well, so it wasn't the greatest, but probably really nice in summer! read more

Great customer service at the Canoe and kayak rentals. I seriously haven't met anyone so happy to do their job, this was was crazy awesome! We had a blast going up and find the river, my brother jumped off two big cliffs and we stopped to play at the little sandy spot near the dam. We all got dollar Popsicles when we were done, Best afternoon stop for the whole family. read more

Mirror lake? More like swamp lake. This place is a mosquito nest. The trails look like they've never been stepped on and got lost numerous times even with the signs. We have a mission of stopping to every single Wisconsin known state park and this by far has been the worst one yet. read more

This place is amazing. Beautiful scenery and spacious campsites. Trails are well maintained with some areas paved. Boat, canoe, and kayak rentals are reasonable and so worth the extra cash spent. Had a great time with my family here for 5 days. If you haven't been here, put it on your list!! read more

Came across this gem when we were booted from another camp site for being too loud one night. The people at the front desk were friendly & informative. We got a nice camp site that was large & surrounded by trees. We were able to set up three large tents & a hammock. We were able to talk at night & since the camp sites were so far apart we got no complaints from other campers. The lake is beautiful & really is a MIRROR. The pictures I captured were stunning. Echo Rock Trail is a nice hike with beautiful scenery. The lake was kind of hard to swim in due to the algae but we did not mind. The location is a few miles from the highway which is also nice. The only reason I am giving this place 4 stars is because one of the nights we were there someone came on to our camp site & stole items from our car & a gallon of Rum. Nothing we couldn't replace but a turn off for sure. The ranger or security was very kind & apologetic of the actions of this perp. Other than that the place is very nice for singles, couples, groups or families & is decently priced. read more

Last year I discovered just how beautiful the Baraboo area is. Among other parks, I discovered Mirror Lake. I've only been there once thus far for hiking. It is an absolutely beautiful area. We hiked the Echo Rock/Ishnala trail area. Definitely going back and i'm looking forward to exploring some of the other trails this year! read more

First let me start by saying that I have never camped there - so if you are looking for a campsite review this is not it! This review is for the use of their new amphitheater. The amphitheater and the area around it is beautiful, it was my first choice for my wedding ceremony. I was in contact with the state park for several months getting the needed information about using the amphitheater and making sure it was still available. Every time I would ask the answer was always yes. They told me that I could not make the reservation until 11 months prior to the event (11months to the day not just months). My dad made sure that the deposit was in on time, and before sending in the contract and payment he made sure the date was available (just in case someone snuck in and got their stuff in first). He was assured that the date was till available and that everything was good and I should be receiving a confirmation email that they received the payment. Almost 3 weeks past and I still had not received that email, so I emailed them and 4-5 days after I sent that email they responded saying sorry but there where a few other couples intrested in that date as well and that they DID A DRAWING (yes, you read right a drawing - like a raffle) to see who got the date and I had lost! I immediately called my Dad and Step-Mom and told them what had happened. My step mom called and was told that the manager would call her back, which she never did, my step mom had to call her back. The manager went on to tell her that it is their policy that they just take all the names of interested parties for that date and do a drawing to decide who gets it (very unprofessional!) and that it was the couple who won's second spot so we had to wait to see what they decided. Meanwhile I have EVERYTYHING ELSE planned: officiant, reception venue, caterer, dj etc... planned for that date.They said that I should just push mine back, which clearly is not an option. I was NOT TOLD of the "policy"" in the beginning and was lead to believe that when I got my deposit in that that meant that we had reserved the amphitheater. I understand that double bookings happen, however, they are settled in a much more professional manner, such as who got their deposit in first. Be cautious if you are planning to use their amphitheater - for ANY event and make sure you ask about this "policy" of theirs because I do not want anyone in the same situation that I am experiencing right now. read more