Cloudland Canyon Pioneer Camping

Pioneer Camp 4 Specs (this appears to be the furthest camp):
–One Adirondack Shelter.
–One fire ring (Poorly structured, I might add. We had someone in our group fix it up.)
–Two picnic benches near the fire ring. We were able to fit eight people facing the fire, so they can probably fit around 18 people.
–One water pump, which was about halfway between Camp 4 and Camp 3. There is no running water, however.
–Two Pit Privies about a 5 minute walk from us. They were shared between at least one other camp, if not more. They’re located about halfway between Camp 2 and Camp 4.
–The camp was about a 15 minute walk from the parking lot.
We ended up reserving Pioneer Camping spot 4 for our trip to the park, and it’s a different experience than typical tent camping. The Adirondack Shelter shelter consists of a wooden floor, three walls, and a sloped roof. It was big enough to hold two tents, one medium and one small, and a total of 4 people (though it could have fit about 5 – 6). We had additional tents set out around the shelter, too, since about 10 people ended up showing up.
We were here in mid-​February, a week before the unseasonably 70 degree weather hit. We got there late Friday night, right before the gates closed, and we were able to pay the park fee at that time. We had to walk through at least one other camp to get to ours, which is something to note.
PROS:
–You have more privacy than a typical area filled with tents.
–Very spacious. It’s perfect for larger groups, and can accommodate multiple tents, hammocks, etc. I think the max is 25 people, but I can tell you now that the Boy Scout camp seemed to have more than that.
–The Adirondack Shelter is a great place to set up a few tents. We used it to get a little bit of shelter from the cold.
–If you’re staying more than one night, you just pay the initial parking fee of $ 5 for your duration.
–These camps are dog friendly.
–There was a small general store nearby that sold additional blankets and firewood (at a marked up price, of course).
–Biggest Pro for us: It was a large space, and gave us a lot of privacy. I would definitely recommend it for larger groups.
CONS:
–Sound echoes in the area, so if your group happens to get rowdy, the other camps can hear you.
–Not within easy walking distance of any trails. We had to drive around to get to them, which wasn’t a huge issue for us but may be for larger groups with limited transportation.
–Limited trash disposal on site. (Also, there wasn’t a Recycling option.) We thought that the «dump area» on the map meant trash dump, but it was meant for RVs. I think there were two trashcans on site, which were already filled up because the other 3 Pioneer camps had dumped their trash before us.
–No running water, and no showers. Not a huge issue for us, but something to note for other people who wouldn’t be willing to «rough it up» a bit.
–Biggest Con for us: We were drinking our second night and got rowdy, so one of the other camps ended up filing a complaint with a ranger against us, because they could hear that we were using profanity and listening to music loudly. It was like we were in 1955. We weren’t aware we had been that loud, so we quieted down after that.
THE VERDICT:
I loved how large and spacious the camping area was. We weren’t worried about someone riffling through our things, because we were basically in the middle of nowhere with kids on either side of us. The Pit Privies left something to be desired, as they were fairly gross by the second night, but that’s to be expected. All in all, this is a great mid-«roughing it» camping experience. It’s one step above camping in a tent with bathrooms and showers nearby, but a step below backpacking in the middle of nowhere with no water or bathrooms in sight. We utilized it because we wanted privacy and shenanigans, and a few Boy Scout troops used it for bonding or whatever.
TIPS:
–The gates close at 10pm, so make sure to get there by then or you will have to wait until the next day.
–According to the website, you are NOT supposed to take firewood from the surrounding area. You have to bring everything in, and keep the fire stoked with the wood you provide.
–The Pit Privies work on a spring-​loaded mechanism. So when you open the door, it will bounce back into place, same with closing it. This spring mechanism is a great place to squeeze your flashlight or phone, so you can see the bathroom and not place your phone on a dirty surface.
–On that note, don’t leave your TP in the bathrooms, because they are shared, so you’ll likely run out of it if you do leave it.
–If you absolutely must shower, there is a shower you can drive to in the other camps.
THINGS TO BRING:
–Trash bags, more than you think you’ll need.
–Firewood, more than you think you’ll need.
–Toilet Paper.
–Hand sanitizer, since the bathrooms get gross with the 40+ people using them.