Bob Shetler Recreation Area is located in the tailwater area below the 26,000-acre Saylorville Lake Project, which stretches more than 50 mi up the Des Moines River Valley.
The lake provides a wide variety of recreational activities, including boating, swimming, fishing, hiking and hunting.
Operating hours and availability for the current season.
Upcoming seasons
Planned operating dates for future seasons to help you plan ahead.
Past seasons
Historical operating dates from previous years for reference.
Closed periods
View dates when this campground is temporarily closed during the season.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Pet friendly
River Access
RV Utilities and Hookups
Dump station on site
Water and Hygiene
Potable Water
Water Access
River Access
Pets and Policies
Pet friendly
Missing information?
Rates, Sites & Availability
Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.
60
Sites Available
🚐02, Loop: BSHW
RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐04, Loop: BSHW
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Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
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Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐06, Loop: BSHW
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Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐07, Loop: BSHW
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Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐08, Loop: BSHW
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Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐09, Loop: BSHW
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Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐10, Loop: BSHW
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Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐12, Loop: BSHE
RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐13, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐14, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐15, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐16, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐17, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐18, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐19, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐20, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐27, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐28, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐29, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐30, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Paved
🚐31, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐32, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐33, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐34, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐35, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐36, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐37, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐38, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐39, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐40, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐41, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐42, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐43, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐44, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐45, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐46, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐47, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐48, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐49, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐50, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐51, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐52, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐53, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐54, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐55, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐56, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐57, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐58, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐59, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐60, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐61, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐62, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐63, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐64, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐65, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐66, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐67, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐68, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐69, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
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Site Details
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60
Sites Available
Site
Price
🚐02, Loop: BSHW
RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐04, Loop: BSHW
RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐05, Loop: BSHW
RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐06, Loop: BSHW
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Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐07, Loop: BSHW
RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐08, Loop: BSHW
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Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐09, Loop: BSHW
RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐10, Loop: BSHW
RV
Pet Friendly · Full hookups · 30 amp
🚐12, Loop: BSHE
RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Gravel
🚐13, Loop: BSHE
RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐14, Loop: BSHE
RV
Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐15, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐16, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐17, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐18, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐19, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐20, Loop: BSHE
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Pet Friendly · 50 amp · Paved
🚐27, Loop: BSHM
RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐28, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐29, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐30, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Paved
🚐31, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐32, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐33, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐34, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐35, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐36, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐37, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐38, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐39, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐40, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐41, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐42, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐43, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐44, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐45, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐46, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐47, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐48, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐49, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐50, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐51, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐52, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐53, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐54, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐55, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐56, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐57, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐58, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐59, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐60, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐61, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐62, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐63, Loop: BSHM
RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐64, Loop: BSHM
RV
Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐65, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐66, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐67, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐68, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
🚐69, Loop: BSHM
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Pet Friendly · 30 amp · Gravel
No available sites
All sites are booked for your selected dates. Try showing all sites to see booked options, create an alert to be notified when something opens up, or adjust your dates.
Reviews
792 reviews
Summary
AI generated
Bob Shetler Recreation Area is praised for its clean facilities, friendly staff, and spacious campsites, making it a great choice for campers seeking a peaceful retreat. The campground offers easy access to outdoor activities like biking and fishing, and the location near the dam adds to its charm. However, some visitors noted noise from nearby traffic and the need for updates in certain facilities, particularly the shower house.
The campground is run by the Army Corp of Engineers and is at the spillway of the dam. Johnston seems to be a quiet town with quite a bit to do. The campground was easy to find and was super quiet. We were there from Sat-Wed, so there were not many campers after Sunday. We were in the main campground; the sites are larger than other places we have been, mostly level and shade at most sites. There are 2 clean shower houses with free showers and flush toilets. We were at site 34 by the playground and shower house. There is a water spicket to fill your tank if needed, but there is no water at each site. We really enjoyed the quiet and will definitely return to this campground.
Bob Shetler is a cozy stopover not far from I-80. This was our second stay here. No frills, but nice facilities at very reasonable cost. We were treated to a multiple fireworks displays on July 4, official and otherwise.
Beautiful location and well kept grounds. A shame visiting fishers leave so much litter on the rocks and back areas. Restrooms and showers clean and well maintained. Level sites. Only drawback was check in absent or scattered which causes worry wort spouse consternation.
Friendly camp staff. Beautiful location. It was the perfect place for us to shelter for a storm on our trip across country. Clean bathrooms and good water temperature and pressure in the showers.
I hardly ever grow out when I’m camping. I always take TV dinners but this time it was my birthday weekend and I thought I would grill out well your girl would not come over the fire. It was stuck. It would’ve been nice if I could grilled out.
Nice campground. It's below and next to Saylorville dam. This site requires only minor leveling. Roads are paved and decent. Campground is easy to navigate. Restrooms are maintained and kept clean. Water pressure in the shower was strong.
From I-35, take exit 90 to Ankeny/Oralabor Road and go west for 4.8 mi. The road turns into Highway 415. Turn left onto 37th Street, then turn right onto Horseshoe Road. Turn right and drive across the Saylorville Lake Dam to the campground.
The campground is accessible from I-35 via exit 90, approximately 4.8 miles to the west on Highway 415.
Policies & Rules
Arrival & departure
Check in time
2PM
Check out time
12PM
Cancellation policy
Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
General
Click here for more information
Click here for a virtual tour of the Saylorville Lake area.
Safety & rules
Quiet hours are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and only registered campers are allowed during this time.
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