Kearny Lake Campground

This free camping area is the first one we have experienced that had flush toilets, dumping, water, picnic table and a garbage can at your site. The small man made lake has a nice half mile or so walking trail surrounding it. Although the tables are weathered and the bathrooms could be a tad cleaner, we were very satisfied. The sites are large and our site was flat not needing any risers. It is walking distance into town should you want to go to a restaurant or grocery store. There is also a laundry mat. It is just off the road with little traffic noise. A train travels by a few times a day.
Site two is the only full hookup site at $25. There is no sign posted to inform people the fee or where to pay. A patrol car comes by once a day although we only saw the vehicle once. The signal was great.

Frist off I grew up in Kearny this is my home town. We were having a birthday party in town to attend and just purchased a new trailer and thought it would be nice to try it out at the Kearny Lake campground. We found the first one left when you turn into the campground open we took it it was #2. It has water (on the wrong side of the camp spot) and electric which we couldn't use the meter wasn't installed on the panel so the outlets were dead. It has a dump spot also but it sits in the middle of the camp spot not able to use. All in all nice clean and quiet. We walked around the lake area didn't see any rules or paybox. On Sunday morning while I was at my parent's house having coffee with them my wife sends me a text that the KPD came (8:30a) and didn't knock on the door with his hand he used his MAG flashlight. Wife had to get her robe on and get out of bed so it was a few seconds to respond but it was too long for the cop he gave it another bang with his light till my wife answered the door. The cop was very rude young kid and explains to my wife we need to pay $25 a night for this spot because of the water and electric. My wife told them the electric doesn't work we'll
pay only half and because she didn't have cash he told her we have to go to the town hall and pay. We were leaving that morning. He called in the license plate so I guess I'll get a ticket or bill in the mail. NEVER AGIAN
Hayden Golf course has camp spots and full hookup that easily accessible . We have stayed there before and will probably stay there next time.

This campground has 12 sites. any sized rig could fit in these sites. No rules are posted except for the 14 day limit. These types of places usually make me nervous, however with 10 sites occupied (10 different state license plates) everyone is being polite.

The campground sits below a small man made lake that has a walking path around it. It sits off the 2 lane highway, so there is some road noise. It looks a bit tired, but hard to complain for the price. There has been quite a bit of rain lately which means there were a lot of green weeds and wildflowers. There is no shade, dirt level sites, tables, grills, trash cans and rock fire rings. Site #2 has full hookups, perhaps a camp host site. A friendly police officer drove though and told us about it. (You have to pay $20 in town somewhere). A railroad track is near by but currently there is a strike going on at the mine, so the train was not running.

Bathrooms were stocked with paper products but could use a good sweep. Lots of dead bugs on the walls, windows and floor. There are two individual rooms that lock. Stainless steel toilets and sinks, they could use a good scrubbing.

Note: Site 2 is not free. It is the only site with water and electric hookups (water is on wrong side and 30/50 is at the rear, so you may need some clever positioning). There’s no posted fee indication, and as I was the only camper, I naturally chose it for the water, but didn’t plug in power since I run solar. A police officer informed me the next morning it’s $25 a night for that spot and I’d need to register and pay in town. He kindly asked that I move to a different site, which I did.

Pros: on a large duck pond so the dogs enjoyed getting to wade in the water after a day in the sun. Clean restroom facilities. A few water taps around the site. Trash cans at every site. 3 bars Verizon 4G.

Cons: lots of road noise. Lots of foot traffic since the pond has a paved trail around it that seems popular with the locals. Otherwise, not much activity at night. There was one car full of teens that parked next to me around 8-9 and it was hard to make out but it sounded like they were yelling for me to come out. Equipped my arms but decided against responding to taunts, writing it off as dumb kids, and they left after 15-20 min. No other surprise visits.

I wouldn’t avoid this camp, but wouldn’t target it either unless I needed to refill water. Better than the other options I scouted within an hour drive. I prefer more solitude than what I got, even as the sole tenant.

We stay here periodically for OHV play in Mescal area. The town picks up trash and keeps the flush toilets clean. Drinking water available and a Nice little pond with a walking path. Verizon service is good here. There are about 12 back in spaces here.

There is a rail line and the Copper Railway train comes by a few times during the day. While we were there it did not run at night.