Considering Cottonwood Campground Near Laketown, UT: A Look at Recent Camper Experiences

Cottonwood Campground Introduce

When searching for "camping near me" in the Laketown, Utah area, Cottonwood Campground, located at 1220 N Bear Lake Blvd, Laketown, UT 84038, USA, might appear as a potential option due to its proximity to Bear Lake. However, recent reviews from campers paint a concerning picture regarding the accuracy of online representations, the behavior of campground staff, the cleanliness of facilities and the campground itself, and the overall camping experience.

Several reviewers expressed significant dissatisfaction with the discrepancy between the campsites advertised online and the reality upon arrival. One pair of motorcycle travelers booked site CW04 based on website photos, only to find it was "the absolute worst paid campsite we had ever seen," described as an extension of the parking lot with a buzzing power transformer in the middle, a firepit inside a bush, and views limited to the group site and parking lot. They felt the website needed immediate updating or the misleading site removed from reservations. Despite being an ADA site, its unkept and terrible condition was noted.

Adding to the negative experience were the interactions with the "Camp Hosts," whom one reviewer sarcastically suggested should be called "Camp Wardens" due to their perceived "campground police mentality" and lack of customer service. This reviewer attributed this to the campground being a state-run operation rather than a private setup, describing their experience as the "absolute worst" of their 12-day motorcycle trip. Another encounter involved being abruptly told to move their motorcycles to the parking lot upon arrival, with no apology for the inaccurate website information.

Further interactions with the camp hosts, identified as a couple, escalated into highly negative experiences. One reviewer recounted being yelled at by both the female and male camp warden (who was also identified as a park ranger) for minor rule infractions, feeling treated like "misbehaved children." A subsequent attempt to express their disappointment to the male camp warden resulted in being "berrated" and yelled over, leading the reviewer to walk away from the hostile encounter. The overall impression of the camp hosts was one of extreme unhelpfulness and a complete lack of customer service orientation.

Beyond the issues with campsite accuracy and staff behavior, the cleanliness and upkeep of the campground facilities also drew criticism. One reviewer described the bathrooms as "bug infested with mud all over the floor," suggesting a lack of adequate cleaning. Another reviewer who found the bathrooms "tidy and stocked" still doubted the level of actual cleaning and disinfection, noting they were "pretty dirty" with no apparent extra cleaning measures in place due to COVID-19. The girls' bathroom had one of the two showers closed, potentially leading to wait times.

The overall environment of the campground, particularly for those not directly on the beach, was described as an "open area with tons of other people," implying a lack of privacy. Even the lakefront sites, while convenient for beach access, suffered from constant foot traffic of people and children passing through. Furthermore, the campground and the lakefront were reported to be "so dirty" with litter left by visitors, making walks unpleasant. The water quality was also a concern, with one reviewer noting "a lot of oil and gas" present, possibly due to inadequate pollution control from local rental places.

One specific financial grievance was an additional $10 charge for an extra vehicle, despite the reviewers being on two motorcycles that easily fit into a single parking spot, which they perceived as a "cash grab."

Considering these numerous negative reviews, Cottonwood Campground appears to have significant shortcomings in several key areas that are crucial for a positive camping experience. The inaccuracies in online advertising led to disappointment and wasted time for at least one group. The reported behavior of the camp hosts suggests a hostile and unwelcoming atmosphere. The cleanliness of the bathrooms and the overall campground environment, including the lake, are major concerns raised by multiple reviewers. Additionally, the lack of privacy due to overcrowding and the potential for unexpected extra charges detract from the appeal.

Given the overwhelmingly negative feedback regarding the campsite conditions, the attitude of the campground staff, the cleanliness of the facilities and grounds, and the potential for overcrowding and pollution, it is difficult to recommend Cottonwood Campground based solely on this recent information. While its location on Bear Lake might seem attractive for those seeking "camping near me" with water access, the numerous issues reported by multiple independent reviewers should give potential campers serious pause.

No promotional information was mentioned in the provided reviews. Given the focus on negative aspects of the campground, it is unlikely that current promotions would outweigh the reported problems. Individuals considering camping in the Laketown, UT area would be well-advised to thoroughly research other "camping near me" options and read more reviews for Cottonwood Campground from various sources to get a broader perspective, or perhaps consider alternative accommodations altogether, as suggested by one of the dissatisfied campers.

In conclusion, while Cottonwood Campground benefits from its location on Bear Lake, the recent experiences shared by campers highlight significant issues with campsite representation, campground management, cleanliness, and overall environment. Potential users searching for "camping near me" should carefully weigh these negative reports against the desire for lakefront access and consider if the potential downsides outweigh the location's appeal. It would be prudent to explore other campgrounds in the Laketown area that may offer a more reliable, clean, and welcoming camping experience.

Cottonwood Campground Photos

Cottonwood Campground Location

Cottonwood Campground

1220, N Bear Lake Blvd, Laketown, UT 84038, USA

Cottonwood Campground

1220

Cottonwood Campground

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Cottonwood Campground Reviews

Myself and my friend arrived on motorcycles late in the day only to be put in a site that looked absolutely nothing like the site advertised on the website. This site was the absolute worst paid campsite we had ever seen. It is an extension of the parking lot with a large green buzzing power transformer in the middle of it. The firepit was basically inside of a bush. The only view of this site was the group site beside and the parking lot. The site is an ADA site but that doesn't mean it has to look as unkept and terrible as it does. The website needs to be updated with actual pictures of the site or be removed from available sites to reserve."Camp Hosts" should be called "Camp Wardens" because of their campground police mentality. You can tell its a state run operation and not a private setup. The "Camp Wardens" have no understanding or concept of customer service whatsoever. Absolute worst experience on our 12 day motorcycle trip.Despite the poor campsite we had booked due to advertising inaccuracies, we were able to be moved to a slightly better site -thankfully. This mixup ended up costing us atleast an hour and we were running short on daylight. We drove our bikes to our site in efforts to offload our gear to get set up quickly before it was completely dark.One of "camp wardens" Camp Warden #1) quickly came over to tell us we were breaking the rules and needed to get our bikes into the parking lot. No apology or anything for the website inaccuracy and the grief it had cost us. Her approach was purely accusatory and mean. Just threatened to call the park ranger to issue us a citation for breaking the rules.We got setup and put our bikes in the parking lot as promised. Soon after, the park ranger AKA camp warden #2 (husband of camp warden #1) came over and treated us like misbehaved children. The guy absolutely lost his cool and yelled at us like the prison warden he is.The next day I went over to the camp wardens to express our dissapointment with our experience at the campground and how things could be improved. Again, camp warden #2 (husband) absolutely berrated me by doing nothing other than just yelling over anything I would say. An absolute complete a$$hole. I ended up just walking away while the yelling was still going on.Not only were the camp wardens absolutely terrible to deal with, the bathrooms were bug infested with mud all over the floor. A bit more attention to upkeep would do this state park Campground some improvement. Getting rid of the current camp host couple would make the best improvement though. Do yourself a favour and avoid staying at this campground. Beautiful lake but would definitely not recommend. Lots of other accommodation options available.Should also mention that we were charged an additional $10 for an extra vehicle despite being on two motorcycles that easily fit into one regular parking spot. Definitely a cash grab.Pictures attached of screen shots of advertised site CW04 (cottonwood Site# 4) and actual pictures of this dumpy site.
Jul 23, 2024 · Andrew Dawe
The campground is pretty minimal & although there are bathrooms and they are tidy and stocked, I doubt the toilets or anyting have actually been cleaned or disinfected as they were pretty dirty and definitely no extra cleanings due to covid. There are two showers in each bathroom but one was closed in the girls bathroom, so expect a line to take a shower. If you aren't camping right on the beach you are camping in an open area with tons of other people. The spots that are on the beach are convenient because you have lakefront camping, but people and children are constantly running through your campground to get to the beach. Definitely no privacy at this campground. The campground and especially the lakefront are so dirty. People leave their trash and things everywhere! Going for a walk was like going to the local dump, so sad. The water also has a lot of oil and gas in it, it doesn't seem like the local rental places do much to control polluting water. If all you're looking for is something on the water & you don't mind crowds then it's not bad.
Aug 23, 2020 · Jennifer Hutch
Would definitely recommend this campground! Stayed for 2 nights.- The bathrooms and showers are decently clean and have running water.- The staff are super chill and helpful.- The ground is sandy and flat, so setting up a tent is easy.- Each tent site is really close to its neighboors, so there isn't a lot of privacy, but we didn't have any problems with anyone who stayed by us.- You are right on the water, which was so fun. We loved being able to just hop right in, but there were SOO many bugs. We used Mosquito repellent every 2 hrs, had citronella candles, and a bug zapper lantern and still got eaten alive, so just be prepared for that.Other than that, it was an amazing stay!
Jul 16, 2024 · Ashlee Drennan
Great campground! Nice showers and bathrooms available. Our spot was very close walking distance to the water. From the car to the campground however that was a bit of a track and weaving through other campgrounds but worth it to be as close to the water as we were. Bear lake is absolutely beautiful we love coming up whether it’s camping or just spending a day on the water.
Jul 22, 2024 · jackie Shi
This is part of a Utah State park so you can only enter and exit via a reservation. A park ranger upon arrival will ask for your name and issue a parking pass (upto 2 cars, a $20 fee). The parking slot issued is an oversize one that accommodates 2 vehicles (we had 2 mini-vans in the slot). The bathrooms and showers are very nice, look to be very well kept and close to all the camping lots. The water level was very low so even having a lot right next to the water we were still 100 yards away from the shoreline. Each lot has a metal picnic table, fire pit, and space for two 12x12 tents (according to the website, our lot however we found it difficult to setup a 10x14 tent with the level ground available). The campground is setup so most of the lots are fairly spread-out but you will be fairly close to one other lot (the fire-pits were probably 15 feet to each-other). My biggest complaint was the ground between the camping lots and the parking lot was very rough. Lots of potholes from rock chucks and no paths to any campsite from the parking lot or bathroom so you are walking through brush to each site. If you get a lot next to the water the sunset is amazing to take in at night, some lots the view is covered by trees so you can’t get a direct view of the lake from your campsite. We stayed in lot #20 that had an unobstructed view of the lake.
Jun 07, 2022 · Tristan Rodeback