Lock 21 Campground

There were only a couple other campers in the whole campground. It was very quiet at night. I will say during the day there were lots of motorcycles driving by on the road next to the campground. We heard a couple trains in the distance. Overall we had a good experience. The ranger came by around 7pm to collect money. The bathrooms didn’t look like they get much attention.

Easy enough to find and plenty of places to park for the night. We stayed near the bathroom and it seemed like a lot of people stopped by just to use them. Otherwise was not busy and only one other person camping in the area that night. No one came by to collected a fee so it was free for us but as other mentioned there could be an $8/night fee.

We enjoyed the number of birds we got to see and the walking path along the canal.

Ok. My first stop was the main visitor center/ main Canal complex. No place to stay overnight. So I asked a Ranger where I could camp for a night. He looked at my rig, (32 foot horse trailer) and suggested Lock 21. Because he said at Lock 22 they just cut down all the shade. I’m like OK. So off I go fallowing his directions from the main visitor information area that had ZERO information. Nor did it have an equestrian area like the signs said. And I never did find a boat ramp as the signs said.
I find Lock 21 and head in. There was no self checkin station to pay for camping. So it must be free. Heading down the narrow road there are several areas with a picnic table and fire ring but no real wide spots or flat spots. I guess you’re just supposed to drive onto the grassy areas. I have no clue, and again no signs saying not to.
Then I see a sign that said equestrian area straight a head. Sweet, I think to myself. There is always a good place to turn around where you horse camp. Then comes a sign that says no trailer exit ahead. I’m like what the ????. So I keep going to find that the end / beginning of the loop has a rickety ass bridge. Luckily there was nobody parked along the roads or in the area to a farm field access or I would have been screwed. I maneuver around doing a 300 point U turn and backing up into the field. Because there is no way to use the bridge. Oh and it has a 4 ton limit. So an 8000 pound limit. I’m 25,000 pounds and 13.6 tall. That’s not happening.
I get turned around and just park on the widest spot at the end next to the lock on the grass. Once again no signs. The signs that are up are pretty much useless, irrelevant, or missing any form of information.

Although the road sign for Lock 21 says day use, there are several campsites with picnic tables and fire rings. We stopped there to get off I80 for the night, and were happy to find it so quiet. No services, but very peaceful setting on the canal. It was clean, and felt safe that night with just a couple other campers there. No one was there to collect the fee, but we had heard it's usually $8.

Nice spot on one of the many locks in the area. Seems to be a hot spot for fishing during the summer. Came during early March though. The sign says there's a camp manager that'll come by and collect fees. I was as surprised as him to see each other, he came by checking the area and the bathrooms. Didn't have his book with him because it's the off season, didn't charge me. An officer swung by later in the night as well. Really clean area, and felt very comfortable and safe knowing it's kept an eye on. There is some noise from traffic, but it's not excesive at all.