Battle Ground Lake State Park - Lower Lake Trail — Sunday, Jul. 30, 2023

What a disappointment! I went with a friend and trailered in with my 2 dogs and 2 pack animals. Parking lot for horses had been used by park employees to park passenger-only vehicles like sardines in a can and I was told it was full and to leave and go somewhere else (busy summer weekend) by a teenage rangerette who appeared to derive some joy from this. As I pulled through to leave, a horseman was leaving. He told me he wanted me to take his spot, as he volunteers there, and he’d be gd’ed if they were going to turn away stock users -or he would quit volunteering there. I took his spot with gratitude. We were told we could not go near the lake with livestock  or dogs (two 200 lb llamas, 2 30 lb border collies -all leashed and trained) because it was too crowded and they don’t allow horses near the lake. So, we hiked the outer park ring hike. At one point, the trail -which is flat, wooded, and generally non-descript -connected to the campground, and we walked through, saying hi to the many campers and children who wanted to meet some trained and friendly llamas. We were then again accosted by the unfriendly young lady rangerette who told us horses (again, I have small llamas) were not allowed in the campground. I headed back to my trailer, and vowed to leave a review and never return! A mediocre park made unpleasant by an officious killjoy of a ranger. Children, who are allowed near the lake and in the campground, will undoubtedly enjoy this park in the heat of summer. Equestrians and those with pack animals or dogs would do well to drive 15-30 minutes more toward the north and or east to enjoy our public trails/lands. Bah-humbug!