Azalea Campground

When we arrived, our reserved campsite was already occupied. We could not find a Camp Host, so we went to the Grant Visitor Center (5 minutes before they closed!) & they told us they were short handed and could not do anything about the mix up. They directed us to an "admin" camp site that they hold for situations like ours. It was not very desirable...we were surrounded by large trailers, and the bathrooms were .05 mile away. The Camp Host stopped by late the next day, and we explained the situation. He checked our originally reserved camp site & found it to be clear, but we were already set up & not interested in moving then. We have never ever arrived at a campground to find out site occupied. I did a lot of research on the Azalea Campground & the individual sites, so to be relegated to a less than idea site was really disappointing. No one really helped us, except for the ranger at the Visitor Center...at least he got us a site. I feel we should be reimbursed for at least one night due to the fact that we could not occupy our reserved site that I booked 7 months earlier.

The route to the camp was not ideal for anything over 25 ft long, as there are many switchbacks and steep roads
Total off-grid with no nearby amenities, about a 15-minute walk to the visitor centre. The camp was super clean, and the NP is well-maintained. It is definitely worth a trip as the trees are beautiful. The rangers were helpful and gave us information about brown bears that were nearby by showed us where to store our food etc, and each plot had a metal storage cabinet, fire pit/BBQ and table and bench seat.

When we arrived, our reserved campsite was already occupied. We could not find a Camp Host, so we went to the Grant Visitor Center (5 minutes before they closed!) & they told us they were short handed and could not do anything about the mix up. They directed us to an "admin" camp site that they hold for situations like ours. It was not very desirable...we were surrounded by large trailers, and the bathrooms were .05 mile away. The Camp Host stopped by late the next day, and we explained the situation. He checked our originally reserved camp site & found it to be clear, but we were already set up & not interested in moving then. We have never ever arrived at a campground to find out site occupied. I did a lot of research on the Azalea Campground & the individual sites, so to be relegated to a less than idea site was really disappointing. No one really helped us, except for the ranger at the Visitor Center...at least he got us a site. I feel we should be reimbursed for at least one night due to the fact that we could not occupy our reserved site that I booked 7 months earlier.

The route to the camp was not ideal for anything over 25 ft long, as there are many switchbacks and steep roads
Total off-grid with no nearby amenities, about a 15-minute walk to the visitor centre. The camp was super clean, and the NP is well-maintained. It is definitely worth a trip as the trees are beautiful. The rangers were helpful and gave us information about brown bears that were nearby by showed us where to store our food etc, and each plot had a metal storage cabinet, fire pit/BBQ and table and bench seat.

A very good and comfortable campground in NP system.

Our campsite was on a steep incline (something I could not have anticipated ahead of time). In addition, the campers in the site adjoining ours were spilled over into our space. We essentially had no privacy and no level ground. There was no ranger patrolling the campsite that I could get help from. The rangers at Grant Grove tried to help me , but I was told I had to figure it out on my own AND do so online. This proved difficult as the internet was spotty.
It took me two hours to officially switch campsites and even then, the only option online I was given was to cancel and rebook. This incurred a cancellation fee, of course, and a very unfair one.
The whole booking system is set up to fail the campers. The whole idea of camping is "to get off the grid" not be forced to use it and in a place where there is limited connectivity anyway.
Other issues:
- There are few park rangers that patrol the campsite and they cannot help you with any reservation hiccups.
- Unless a camper is familiar with a campground, they have no insight to the individual sites, which are more private, which are on inclines, etc.
- Campers' FULL NAMES and their campsite #s are displayed every day - a clear violation of confidentiality.
- The Azalea campsite entrance sign read "FULL" when in fact, there were several open site, many of them in prime locations, that remained empty for my entire stay.

Beautiful!

Beautiful location and nice spots. Easy access to scenic and trail paths. bathrooms are neat.

A very good and comfortable campground in NP system.

Our campsite was on a steep incline (something I could not have anticipated ahead of time). In addition, the campers in the site adjoining ours were spilled over into our space. We essentially had no privacy and no level ground. There was no ranger patrolling the campsite that I could get help from. The rangers at Grant Grove tried to help me , but I was told I had to figure it out on my own AND do so online. This proved difficult as the internet was spotty.
It took me two hours to officially switch campsites and even then, the only option online I was given was to cancel and rebook. This incurred a cancellation fee, of course, and a very unfair one.
The whole booking system is set up to fail the campers. The whole idea of camping is "to get off the grid" not be forced to use it and in a place where there is limited connectivity anyway.
Other issues:
- There are few park rangers that patrol the campsite and they cannot help you with any reservation hiccups.
- Unless a camper is familiar with a campground, they have no insight to the individual sites, which are more private, which are on inclines, etc.
- Campers' FULL NAMES and their campsite #s are displayed every day - a clear violation of confidentiality.
- The Azalea campsite entrance sign read "FULL" when in fact, there were several open site, many of them in prime locations, that remained empty for my entire stay.