Where to camp: The Adirondacks in New York?

[jezzy]

We're from Montreal and head down to the Adirondacks every 2 weeks for camping during the summer (we love the USA for camping! 1/2 the price as here in Quebec..)

Our fav spot right now is Rollins Pond, we've purchased a PUP and a tandem kayak just to enjoy RP for longer periods and 90% of the sites are directly on the water!  It's the same spot as fish creek yet mainly PUP's and tents, fish creek's got the RV's with the noisy generators! =) (love ya guys anyway!) 

Our other fav spot is Rogers Rock (beautiful shower facilities), we've enjoy Raquette Lake, Golden Beach..

Further west near darian lake.. we've stayed at Letchworth State park (WOW!) They call it the Grand Canyon of the East, and trust me it's impressive!

[kathy]

We're from Montreal and head down to the Adirondacks every 2 weeks for camping during the summer (we love the USA for camping! 1/2 the price as here in Quebec..)

Our fav spot right now is Rollins Pond, we've purchased a PUP and a tandem kayak just to enjoy RP for longer periods and 90% of the sites are directly on the water!  It's the same spot as fish creek yet mainly PUP's and tents, fish creek's got the RV's with the noisy generators! =) (love ya guys anyway!) 

Our other fav spot is Rogers Rock (beautiful shower facilities), we've enjoy Raquette Lake, Golden Beach..

Further west near darian lake.. we've stayed at Letchworth State park (WOW!) They call it the Grand Canyon of the East, and trust me it's impressive!

We love Letchworth SP as well, but it's considered in the Southern Tier, I believe. About a 6 hour ride from Albany and well worth the trip.

We also loved Buck Pond- very remote and great kayaking. I believe that SP is in the Saranac area.

There are so many great places in the Adirondacks it's hard to pick out a few!

[tommysmo]

We've been going to Lake Eaton SP (Just NW of Long Lake Village on Rte 30) for about 15 years.  It's a dry camp site.  They've got a hot water tank in the recycling center - a great feature for doing dishes.  The showers can be too hot at times - like scalding when you first turn them on.  The lake offers good swimming though the beach is typical Adirondack dirt beach. My kids love it. We rent kayaks from them.  Long Lake offers fireworks on July 4th.

Just went to Scaroon Manor SP on Schroon Lake - also dry.  This is a very new campsite.  The showers and facilities are pristine.  The beach is small but works for my little kids.  If you're a boater, they don't have a launch but there are very nice docks to tie up to.  It is a totally ADA handicap accessible campground.  The sites have longish gravel driveways and I had to keep shaking stones out of my Teva sandals.  Most sites are not well shaded.  the place was had two other families when we arrived on a Wednesday.

Did Lincoln Pond SP last year.  Lousy beach but close to my wife's family.  Wouldn't really recommend.

Tom in Albany, NY

 

Tom

[curryp]

I live in the ADKS and we have been camping for years. You have all kinds of choices for camping and really need to explore on your own. What one might like, you may not like. Everyone raves about Fish Creek. I drove through that CG the other day and would not enjoy staying there. All the sites are on the water which like me many enjoy. However, the sites are very close to one another with no privacy - not for me.

Most state campgrounds in the ADKs do not have hookups but that shouldn't be a problem. My recommendation to you is take a day and just go for a ride. All campgrounds will let you take a drive through to check out the sites. Ask for a map when you get to the booth and make notes. You could head up I-87 through Lake George and check out CGs along the way - Moreau State Park, NASCAR campground in Gannesvort, CG in Lake George, you could continue on to check out the one in Schroon Lake or take Rt.9 into Warrensburg. There is a private CG just past the McDonald's. Continue on to Rt28 and you can go to Blue Mt. Lake, Long Lake, over to Raquette Lake, continue on to Old Forge or back track to Indian Lake. Go down Rt. 30 and you check out Lewey Lake sites on your way to Speculator to look at Moffits Beach. You can continue down Rt. 30 towards Amsterdam and then head back to Albany.

It will make for a nice day and you will see a lot, so be sure to bring something to make notes on so it all makes sense later. You can also go to this site and plan out your day. http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/33154.html

All state campground sites are reserved through www.reserveamerica.com. You can register a site as early as nine months prior to your date of arrival. So, let's say you want to camp starting July 4, 2013. You can make your reservation as early as Oct. 4, 2012. For the best/popular sites at each campground you need to do this to be sure of getting that site.

Good luck!

[Puppuller]

Actually on our way to the adks this weekend I have seen a mention or Moreau lake any thoughts on the cg and activities that are available ther. Sorry to post this here but just curious

[BirdLand]

I agree with curryp about Fish Creek not having much privacy - it would be great if you were camping with family or close friends (or if lack of privacy doesn't bother you).  The sites are right on the water though, a plus if you have a kayak or for swimming. 

We just returned from a week at Rollins Pond (next to Fish Creek; you drive through portions of the Fish Creek CG to get to Rollins).  Some sites aren't on the water at all; some that are on the water don't have privacy/water access is only via a steep slope/too small or steep for a popup (or larger), but there are still several beautiful sites that are a short (and easy) walk to the water, private, and large (we stayed at site 36, I loved it).  The park was very quiet at night, litter-free, clean bathrooms (though constantly out of toilet paper) and consistently hot showers.  No hookups, though there seemed to be plenty of potable water spigots and restrooms.  I can't wait to go back next year.

good luck!