Cougar Park & Campground — Hotel in Battle Ground

Campground is beautiful, and the lake is just the same, and how clean they are, and appreciate the warm showers, The campgrounds are pretty close to each other, you could even say they intersect with each other, unless you have a campground set next to the lake, you have to go through someone’s campground to access it, The firewood is considerably cheap for it being a campground, and they bring it to you, which is a nice bonus. Staff member eron made the beginning of our trip a very inviting experience. We spoke to him before hiking up the Summit at Mount Saint Helens. And when we had told him, we would probably be back after their 9 o’clock gate, shutting rule that we could figure something out.

However… There are a lot of rules, some of them are very reasonable, as to the no cannabis rule because that smell would make the entire campground reek. The alcohol rule is understandable as well, But that and the dogs rule and the noise rule is very rarely acted on.

However, one rule that they are very strict on is their shut gate time. My Party and I hiked up Mount Saint Helens all day, left the campground at around seven and got back from the mountain at about nine pm, our campsite was about 30 minutes away so we didn’t think it would be an issue but our GPS messed us up and we got back at around 11. We were exhausted from the hike And just wanted to meet up with the rest of our group and go to bed, I had to track over the gate and walk all the way down to the campgrounds barefoot with barely any clothing on that was clean, freezing cold with only a beanie and a headlamp and some shorts. Upon arriving to the staff, who were out and about, I asked the staff member who is different from the one that we met on the first day if he would be OK with opening the gate so that we could come in I explained our situation and made it obvious that we were very tired. Upon hearing this, he politely told me to F off And that the gates are closed for a reason and that we could park and walk over in our dirty or no clothes. As we were frustrated, we decided to figure out a way to get over the spike strip and we did, we parked in our campsite and immediately got ready for bed, upon this the same staff member who seemed to give no effort to my plea for him to unlock the gate, seemed to have a whole lot more energy this time as he came over and bombarded us about how we had just drove past him, as we didn’t wanna deal with this, we told him it wasn’t us, and he walked away and came back and started messing with our car, telling us that our exhaust was warm. After we asked him if he had touched our car, he lied, even though we saw him doing it. One of our members who was reasonably tired, told him that we had been there and he needed to leave, he did for the night, In the morning when we had packed up to leave, he was waiting for us on our way out and told us that we could never come back and that we were flagged in their system, to which we said we would happily be fine with that and leave. Overall, pretty nice campground, not a nice way to end the trip. (to that staff member just so you know while you were asking where I was I was in the tent still wearing my headlamp and socks, laughing at your...

So today me and my families got kicked out from cougar campground over in cougar Washington. The camp host named Val and Robert Castro. They both blamed my kids for making a mess in the restroom. Just because a caucasian lady told them it was my kids. I know for a damn fact it wasn’t my kids cuz I walk them there myself. So the lady yelled at my kids and i was doing dishes rite across from the restroom. Me and my husband over heard it and I tried to have a nice and respectful conversation but that didn’t help. She said my kids was rude and disrespectful vandalizing the restroom. I told her maybe it was her kids that was doing it cuz they were in the restroom for hours. I guess she went and told her husband and her husband went and told the host yesterday. The host came and talk to us yesterday saying that if there is going to be anymore issues they were going to kick both of us out. But they had more issues with the restroom yesterday and they still blamed it on us. My girls were with me the whole time and we still got blamed. We were the only brown skin in that whole campgrounds. And the other lady that blamed on us went around telling ppl at all the campsites about it. When I took my girls to the restroom this morning they were looking at us and trying to whisper but they were loud saying I wonder if it was them referring to us. I told them it was not us it’s them other ppl cuz I have my girls with me all the time. So rite now I feel like I was discriminated and violated with our rights. Cuz the camp host only kick us out and not the other family just because they were caucasian and they were the one that causes the issues. To all my Facebook friends and families please help share this so everyone knows that this place have racist ppl...

I can not say enough good things about Cougar campground. The hosts are welcoming, yet stand up to bad behavior. The grounds are immaculate upon arrival, no trash, even the last persons burnt coals are removed from the firepit, giving you that feeling loke no one has been here for a while. The bathroom isn't a far walk, and we always stay at the furthest site. They have water taps a short distance from each site, so quench your fire or kitchen needs. They added an extra wash station to the back of the restrooms, and there were already a few others. The greatest addition this year is the handicap spaces. As an able bodied person, I never knew what was involved, and now they've made accommodations to be even more inclusive. So freaking cool Cougar Campground, good job! The lake access is great, and such a short drive from town, yet it feels like you're a world away. Our family looks forward to our camping trips at Cougar every year❤️💙💜

Ps. I wish I had written down the names of the host's to properly thank them. The gentleman from San Antonio(I hope I got that right) is extremely friendly and kind, driving around on his cart checking on people. Really making you feel like it's your spot and to relax and enjoy. The young couple are just as awesome. I had an issue at check-in and got a little defensive and even whiny. They both had suck great customer service skills, they let me vent, made me feel heard by listening, and didn't get unprofessional or condescending. They really did care about my point of view. It was quite impressive. A+ rating, 10/10, Cougar Campground is like a second home...