CRS - Wishon

We visited Wishon Campground last August and I immediately fell in love. Sadly, we're not going to be able to visit again this year, but, thanks to a detailed blog entry, I'll still be able to rate it. (Admit it. You love my Campground Rating System.)

Accessibility: 3
While I understand that rating the Accessibility so low is going to lower Wishon's overall score, I have to be honest. It was a three hour drive, the last half hour of which was on a one-lane dirt road full of switchbacks. For those like Joseph and myself who get car sick, it was a bit torturous. For those who are like Chad with iron stomachs, it was fun. The upside was the gorgeous scenery that surrounded us.

Campground: 5
The campground was nestled amongst trees and wild blackberries with the Tule River (more of a creek at this juncture) bubbling merrily through it. It was quiet and peaceful with very little traffic and lots of space between camp sites. The actual sites were clean and maintained, but, in August at least, dirt sites. During the spring and early summer, they're grass. The sites under the trees (closer to the creek) were covered with pine needles.

Amenities: 2
No showers, no hot water, no nearby store, but there were vault toilets. Depending upon how important real bathrooms are to you, this could be a deal breaker. For us, vault toilets aren't that big of a deal.

Activities: 5
I wish the CRS allowed me to give this a 10. Wishon is a little boy's paradise. Hiking trails that are lined with ripe, sweet blackberries. A creek (sorry...river) filled with fish and crawdads just waiting for a line and a wiggling worm. And, best of all, natural water slides just a few miles down the road. We spent an entire afternoon sliding over slippery rocks into great pools of crystal clear water. Surrounding the large pools were smaller, sandy-bottomed wading areas that were perfect for a two-year-old Joseph. The water was teeth-achingly cold when we first got in, but blessedly refreshing in the heat of the day.

For me, the creek, the blackberries, the fishing, the hiking, the water slides more than made up for the drive and the minimum amenitites. After all...you can always bring a solar shower. You can't always create the type of wilderness paradise that is Wishon.

Overall Rating: 3