Panguitch Lake

When planning a camping trip for our group of eight family members, we were hoping for a peaceful, stress-free weekend. Things started off well—the host was incredibly accommodating a the Panguitch Lake North Campground and even saved us three spots that morning before our arrival when one of my daughters came that morning. We were warmly welcomed and given helpful information. The sites were conv... When planning a camping trip for our group of eight family members, we were hoping for a peaceful, stress-free weekend. Things started off well—the host was incredibly accommodating a the Panguitch Lake North Campground and even saved us three spots that morning before our arrival when one of my daughters came that morning. We were warmly welcomed and given helpful information. The sites were conveniently located near the restrooms and initially seemed perfect. Unfortunately, our experience quickly soured due to a long-term camper in site #9. This individual appeared to take it upon herself to enforce campground rules, often aggressively and without any authority. Early in the day, I witnessed her yelling at a passing truck to “slow down,” despite the vehicle not appearing to be speeding. I brushed it off at the time. Later that evening, around 9:45 PM, my adult daughter and her boyfriend were walking back from the restroom when the camper emerged from her tent and began shouting, “Go to bed, it’s quiet time!” My daughter calmly responded that they were heading to bed, but the camper continued to yell. My son, in site #8, intervened and asked her to mind her own business. She then radioed security. Around 10:20 PM, we heard two kids giggling as they walked by, and once again, the camper yelled at them. Their parents also expressed concern about her aggressive behavior. Security came by, and we explained the situation. As experienced campers, we understand and respect quiet hours, but this felt more like a curfew or mandatory lights-out policy. Strangely, other campers nearby were still enjoying their evening at their tables, yet we were told to retreat to our tents. The next morning, the host approached us and said, “Hopefully tonight will be quiet.” I explained that we weren’t being loud, my daughter was simply walking to the restroom. Another daughter was told the issue was car doors opening and closing, which was happening at multiple sites, not just ours. Feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome, we packed up the night before our scheduled checkout and left by 7:30 AM. The atmosphere felt more like a jail than a relaxing campground. My advice: avoid reserving a spot near site #9 if you’re looking to enjoy the outdoors peacefully. While rules are important, the presence of an overbearing long-term resident negatively impacted our stay. A more balanced and respectful approach would have made all the difference. Also worth noting site #9 is a first-come, first-served spot, which raises questions about the camper’s apparent authority and relationship with the host and security.

Had ~25 people in one of the group sites for a family reunion. Plenty of space for tents and activities. We set up some extra tables for food prep and serving, but the 3 tables in the site would be sufficient for most outings. Lots of good trees for shade and hammocks (we had about 6 up). Nice to have flushing toilets and running water. There is a general store and small restaurant 2 minutes down... Had ~25 people in one of the group sites for a family reunion. Plenty of space for tents and activities. We set up some extra tables for food prep and serving, but the 3 tables in the site would be sufficient for most outings. Lots of good trees for shade and hammocks (we had about 6 up). Nice to have flushing toilets and running water. There is a general store and small restaurant 2 minutes down the road.