On our way back from
nearby Collinsville to refill one of our 30 pound propane tanks, we
take a side trip to the other side of Philpott Lake to visit one of
the other campgrounds run by the Corps of Engineers. The closest
campground to Goose Point is Salthouse Branch, about fifteen or so
very twisty miles by car from Goose Point, but only an easy paddle
across the lake by kayak. The Salthouse Branch campground is about
twelve miles from the town of Bassett. The road to the campground is
almost as twisty as the one to Goose Point, but it is in worse shape.
It is a county road and not mowed or maintained like the roads
inside the Corps of Engineers property. Again, not for big units or
careless drivers. 
We are immediately struck
by the major differences between the two locations. The first loop
of Salthouse Branch looks to us like a commercial type campground.
Sites are laid out in a measured grid at a slight angle to each
other, close with no separation between sites. No trees or
vegetation, just grass and pavement. Not our cup of tea, but if you
want to take advantage of two great swimming areas and an easy access
boat ramp, this may be for you. 
This camping area is close to a
great put-in point for kayaks, but a good hike from the main boat
ramp. This loop is the only one that can accommodate larger trailers
or RVs. The rest of the campground is strictly for small camping
units, this campground is a far tighter park than Goose Point. In
fact, a warning sign posted on one loop warns “No Trailers Over 20
Feet.” They aren't kidding. On the road out from that loop, I
couldn't see the edge of the pavement on my driver's side, while I
was guessing about how close I was to scrapping the right side of the
Toyota on a tree trunk. There isn't even room for two passing
vehicles on most of the narrow access road to the beach area! The
two swimming areas here are the saving grace, and I'm sure the day
user's take full advantage of the facilities. 
NEXT: Philpott - Two More Firsts
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