Crystal Lake Campground — Hotel in Machin Township

This is our second year visiting Crystal Lake, a large but low volume campground. Large because it is in a parcel of land about 40 acres in size. Low volume because there are only a handful of spaces. Without counting them up, I would guestimate about 25 or less. This provides a spacious, park like feeling.||||This year we called in while trekking back west. We had no reservation until the day before our mid July arrival that also happened to be a Saturday. The wife and co-owner is very helpful and was able to find us a 100’+ level, asphalt, site with 50/30 & 20 amp, water and sewer. We also scored what I would suggest is their best pull-through site, #2. This has a couple of large conifer trees that afford some shade and screening between site #1 & 2 in addition to the strip of grass about 30’ wide. All sites appear to have a fire pit and picnic bench table. ||||I did take a walk around and noticed that some of the back-in sites appeared to be 15/20amp with no water or sewer. Other, more recently developed back-in sites appeared to be 30amp with water, possibly sewer but I didn’t look too hard as most were occupied.||||This husband and wife team were constantly busy, even on a Sunday, mowing the grass, collecting garbage from waste bins placed between sites and generally maintaining the campground. Their high work ethic really shows and this CG is very well presented. ||||The utilities worked perfectly during our stay and are well placed (for my rig) along the site. Wi-fi is included in the cost of the site and worked well enough to open emails and browse web sites. Water is provided from the spring fed lake adjacent to the CG. The owners are confident that it is safe to drink but government regulations mean they have to show a “Boil Water” advisory. We drank the water and suffered no ill effects.||||Behind the office is a soft, sandy beach area providing access to a safe swimming space. A variety of canoes and kyaks are available to rent. The lake is really beautiful and has a short trail the heads from the CG. ||||The washrooms are clean and tidy. Since my first visit the owners have clearly indicated which showers are male and female but I didn’t use them showers because we used our onboard facilities. There is a small laundry for a $2 charge, payable at the office.||||If there is one word of caution, it is within earshot of a railroad line and the trains, although not frequent, do announce their presence – presumably because there is an uncontrolled crossing nearby.|| ||This really is a great little campground and most definitely the best we have stayed at both years while passing through Ontario. Whenever we are back out this way I would most certainly look to stay here again. The peace and quiet is stunning and after several days of driving this is a wonderful place to rest...

I cant really say much about this place. We travelled 6 hours to get there, upon arrival we were greeted by the owner who said sorry folks....we are full for the night. We quickly explained we had a reservation for 5 nights....he responded with an "I don't think so" After going into the office he showed us his reservation book saying we were early not booked til tomorrow. Looking at the reservation we quickly realized it wasn't our reservation. Going back a few pages we found our reservation and showed it to the owner. His response....."ooops looks like I f@#$&*" up. I gave your spot away I've got nothing I'll give you a really low rate and showed us we could park by 2 hills of piled up dirt with no service. He told us he couldn't recommend anywhere else cause it's a busy time of year. It was 630 at night. He didnt seem to care his apology was sheepish at the best and he walked away saying haha good luck I hope you find somewhere to sleep tonight.|Luckily we called a resort that was located 10 min away.....the owner happily welcomed us it was a full service sight great lake for fishing clean resort and camping area. We enjoyed an almost full week of camping fishing wonderful meals in the lodge great helpful very friendly staff, who actually apologized that for how we were treated at Crystal Lake Campground saying he could have at least tried to help us instead of saying good luck. Luckily our vaycay turned out to be a great experience we are going back next year. |As for Crystal Lake Campground I know stuff happens and things screw up but he made it seem like it was our fault and he was totally uninterested in helping us find a solution. Yes as he said he "@#!%&@ up" all I can say thank goodness he did.....we ended up finding a truly fabulous place. We won't be going back to Crystal...

We have been here a few times, but after this experience I will never be going back! The owers are very rude and strict. We booked the group site for a weekend. I made sure dogs are allowed, the website says yes and so we brought our puppy. Well our dog usually sleeps through the night but on first night he barked several times at night but definitely not non stop. It was only a few times. Well in the morning the owner, Liz came charging to our site very angry asking who dog owners were. She said she got complaints from everyone that the dog was barking all night non stop, which was not true at all. She even said a guy wanted to come "shut up our dog himself". (We kind of had a feeling she was making all this up). She demanded we shut him up and put a on a muzzle or we had to leave rught away. Then she started trying to say that dogs are not really allowed in tents! Which is a lie because her website did not say that at all. The male owner started coming around our site more that day, felt like he was spying on us. It was very creepy. The train goes by overnight as well, very loud. Theres also dogs that live close to the property that kept barking throughout the night. So it really makes no sense why she was so upset with ours. I would never recomment this place, no way would I ever stay here again! They need new owners who are respectful of their guests. If they dont want dogs they need to clearly specify that on the website! Stay away from this place. Owners are rude,...