I was pleased to find a modern restroom with a shower because, well, it had been a while.
Over 30 campsites are available. The 10 reservable water and electric sites are pretty close together but have a nifty grassy area behind them.
Near those 10 sites is the ADA spot and a "mystery" electric site hidden in the trees.
Several parts of the park were mown, which made Freddy happy.
He even found an old cattle watering trough.
The rest of the sites are spread throughout the park. There are two more reservable sites on a culdesac for tents or small trailers. Would be good for a small group.
There are three first come first served sites with water and power, numbers 18, 19, and 20.
You can find more rustic camping on the Encino Loop above the creek.
Freddy liked the site at the end of the loop. Lots of privacy for puppy shenanigans.
If all those sites are full there is an overflow area.
Coyote Creek is famous for fishing.
I heard there are more trout per mile here than in any other river. With the water level being low, they are even more concentrated. Freddy counted 13 trout in the picture below.
Enjoy a few more creek pics.
There is one other camping option. The group shelter. Freddy took me to check it out.
Wait a minute, I hear a voice in my my head, all the way from Santa Fe.
OK Beth, I will add some people.
They loved Freddy.
As the campground is so spread out, you can enjoy a nice walk just rambling through it. But if you want something a tad more strenuous, there is a one way trail that climbs the mountainside. I would suggest starting at the group shelter and finishing up by the overflow camping area. That way you climb up a steep set of switchbacks first and then enjoy an easy downhill stroll.
Freddy likes signs, especially ones with words. His comprehension is growing.
He asked me about this one.
"Why would someone fish on a bridge? There are no fish there. They are down in the water."
"Freddy, you are correct. The signs usually say 'No Fishing From Bridge' I guess someone got confused."
"Ha! Humans get confused all the time. They think we are their dogs when in reality they are our humans."
He has a point.
"OK WonderPup, tell me what this sign means."
I dredged up a pic from Pinecrest Lake in California.
"Umm, I guess when the lake is dry and the docks are not floating you can fish. That is as silly as fishing on a bridge."
He is a very smart pup.
Our last evening at Coyote Creek finds us sitting by the water. Freddy points something out to me. An empty PowerBait container.
"Greg, why do people leave trash behind?"
"I really don't know, Freddy. My motto is take only pictures, leave only footprints."
"Is that why you pick up my poop when we go on walks? And carry a trash bag?"
"Yeah. Speaking of which, it's time you learned to pick up your own poop."
"Sorry, no thumbs."
I was about to respond when a strange sucking noise erupted to our left. Sounded like a stick being pulled out of mud.
A new voice joined our conversation.
"Thank you for caring."
We both turned our heads. Something was clawing it's way out of the creek bank.
"Put down your camera and listen," it said.
No problem. Freddy was frozen, just staring.
"Mother Nature is getting pissed off. On a global level, she is going to deal with it. On a local level, she has enlisted creatures like myself."
"So you are like, umm, a tree zombie?"
"Call me what you wish."
Cool. A tree zombie.
"So what can I do to help?"
"Educate the ignorant. Let them know that trash has it's place. And it is not on the ground. Momma Nature ain't gonna take it anymore."
As the creature absorbed itself back into the creek bank, Freddy and I slowly walked back to our campsite.
He turned to me and whispered, "I am NOT going to chew on any more sticks."
Regards,
Greg and Freddy
