Ashton Wildwood Park

We needed a place to stay for the night and stumbled upon this County campground. This is dry camping at it’s best, no water or hook ups at all but for $7 a night is a deal! They do lock the gate from 10:30pm - 5am so no In or Out during those hours. It’s a bit off the beaten path and can be hard to find, but once inside the park look for camping sign which will lead down a road and there are 12 sites waiting for you. Self pay tube at entrance of campground. There are pit toilets but we didn’t check them out at all.

Yesterday I did a recon of this park in my car. I'll post an update in a week or so after I've camped there.

The park is located in northwest Jasper county Iowa about 20 miles from Newton and about 7 miles from the small town of Baxter This puts the park a comfortable distance away from towns and all that goes with them while also being close enough to major highways (i.e. I-80 and US-65) to be convenient.

Access to the park is by paved roads which are in reasonably good condition. Once in the park, roads are gravel. The half mile road into the camping area is in bad need of re-graveling, but is otherwise in good shape and is without deep ruts. One should use caution if there have been several days of hard rain, but otherwise the road shouldn't present problems except for the largest of rigs (Greater than 40 feet) which might have trouble with some of the tighter turns n the road. But careful driving should see one through even in large rigs.

Once in the camp ground area, there are about a dozen campsites. Two thirds of these are suitable for campers/RVs with the rest being a little too sloped and more appropriate for tent camping. There is a plumbed toilet/shower facility and a small playground in the center of the camping area.

Campsites are large and spaced well apart from each other. They are grass and packed dirt. There are no hookups and there is not a dump station. Potable water is available from a pump near the park entrance. (Well away from the camping area.) The campsites are shaded, so your solar probably won't be of much use.

A group camping site for scout troupes and etc... is located near the park entrance and well away from the general camping area.

The park officer told me that the campground is rarely full and that Memorial Day and Labor Day are the busiest times.

The park is home to an astronomical observatory which hosts weekly public programs. There is also an orienteering course with 12 target points. Get out your hiking boots and your compass and have some fun. There is a half mile walking trail with a self-guided tour pamphlet. which describes various trees and plants in the wooded area which is mostly hickory and oak.

I'm looking forward to spending a few days here and I'll update the review after I have done so.