Campground Review:
Although this was not my first time at this campground I have not had a chance to stay over night here previously so I was excited about being able to wake up and climb right at our campground. It is privately run and targeted primarily towards climbers so this made for an amazing setup. The fee is around $10 per car/night (we got the car fee and not the RV fee) which is around what most places cost these days and when you arrive you drive around and can set up your site anywhere there is a firepit. We chose to sleep back in the bouldering area where you are in the shade and surrounded by rocks but you can also camp out near the ledge giving you a view from your tent. Even if all of those sites are taken up there is still some dispersed camping in the center of the road loop where you are free to set up a hammock or tent and sleep.
Since we had the chance to camp in the incredible Escape Campervan we opted for more privacy and easy climbing access. It was not too hard to find an open level spot and we got right to putting up the hammocks and building a fire. Camping in the van made the whole process a lot easier so we were able to get right to cooking dinner (tempeh tacos) and hanging out/relaxing. Although it was one of the busy times of year for camping in this area and most of the nicest campgrounds were taken the atmosphere at the campground was very relaxed and we didn’t have an issue with other groups being too loud or feeling cramped. The rocks really make it feel super secluded. After dinner my wife and I scrambled our way up the rock that bordered our campground and had an open view of the sky to look at the stars. I am not sure if we were just lucky or if there was a meteor shower but I swear I saw at least 5 shooting stars. (I don’t know if we paid extra for this or if it was included)
Our first day we spent the morning climbing around our site both top rope and bouldering while enjoying our fresh coffee and shakshuka for breakfast. Most of the walls around the park are either bolted for sport climbing or at least have bolts and biners for top rope. You still need to make sure and have someone experience do any set up since you are climbing at your own risk. After tiring out we hopped in the van and headed to a nearby river, the Little River Canyon Mouth Park, where we made lunch with leftovers from dinner since our kitchen came with us. We then put our kayaks in and paddled up river. This was a great area to hang out and cool off in the water and it was cool to see such a diverse group of Alabamians enjoying the space. The only downside is that it doesn’t have any camping but luckily the drive from the campground was pretty quick.
We finished off the day with Ethiopian food for dinner including injera, lentils, and a cabbage and potato dish. After sleeping in our final morning and enjoying our breezy shaded rooftop sleeper we explored more of the park and did some climbing at a different area. Since the camping fee includes day use and since there is no site reservation you can hang out as long as you want the day you leave.
Overall, if you have any interest in climbing or just want a laid back campground where you can get an amazing view and do some hiking I highly suggest checking out this little known gem. You can also turn it into a weekend adventure and head up to little river canyon while you are in the area.
Pros:
- Less well known and less crowded than other camping or climbing areas
- Multiple campground options even if the best ones are full
- Amazing views
- Private and well maintained including clean bathrooms and a covered picnic area
- Free coffee on the weekends
Cons:
- No site reservation options
- Some sites are very close together
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Product Review:
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products from unique brands from time to time. At this campground, I got to take an Escape Maverick Campervan our on a test drive. My wife and I do a lot of camping but generally sleep in a tent or hammock and cook our meals on a small camping stove so we were very excited to get an upgrade for the weekend. Make sure to read above about how the Maverick really enhanced our weekend and made so much of the adventure possible. Some of the things that I really loved about the Escape campervans are:
- Adventure possibilities: First off these guys are set up all over the country so you can pick one up and hit the road anywhere that you want to explore without worrying about traveling/flying with pounds of camping gear then also renting a car. They make the whole pickup process super easy and you are then mobile to go anywhere you want. Another major advantage is that you aren’t limited to locations that allow RVs and you also have the freedom to park and sleep in all kinds of places. We took advantage of this by camping right at our climbing site with the luxuries of a bed and kitchen.
- Kitchen for expanding you camp cooking potential: If you read above you heard a little about the ambitious menu we had on this trip but Ill summarize here for those who missed it. We had tempeh tacos with Mexican rice, Shakshuka with vegan sausage, an Ethiopian feast, and finished off the weekend with magnificent morning mush a delicious combination of our leftovers from the weekend. The kitchen made all this possible with its built in stove, pump sink (make sure to park on flat ground), and solar powered fridge (which actually gets really cold). Since one of the challenges of cooking in the back of a van can be that everything is higher up than usual we figured out a trick where you sit on the edge of the bed facing the back and can do all your cutting on the top kitchen counter.
- Best sleep I have ever had while camping: GET THE ROOFTOP SLEEPER!!! It is breezy and wonderful and we are now debating how to go about getting one for our car at home. You have the privacy of being high up but can open up all the windows so you get a nice view and a good airflow. The only thing to be aware of is the rooftop sleepers are somewhat short so my 5’9” length just made it without having to curl up. If you are on the taller side the bed inside the van might be a better bet which our friends said was also wonderfully comfortable.
- I mean look at how cool the paint job is: We made so many new friends on this trip just because everyone wanted to stop and tell us how cool they thought our van looked. Each one is hang painted and they are so unique that its worth asking when you make the reservation which designs are available.
Overall, there were a few minor things that could be improved such as the sink pump mechanism and the addition of plugs for charging but they are such small things in relation to how much fun it is to drive and camp in this van. I can guarantee that it would make any camping trip feel infinitely easier and open up new possibilities of where you can go.
