New York Outdoor Guide: Campgrounds, Trails, Beaches & RV Spots
Key Takeaways
- New York’s outdoor scene is genuinely enormous — Adirondacks, Catskills, Finger Lakes, and Long Island all feel like different states, so pick a region rather than trying to cover all of it in one trip
- Book DEC campgrounds the moment your window opens — reservations release exactly 9 months in advance, and waterfront sites go within minutes
- Watkins Glen’s Gorge Trail is worth building an entire day around — 19 waterfalls and 832 hand-carved stone steps in under 2.5 miles
- Cascade Mountain is the easiest of the Adirondack High Peaks, which also means it’s the most crowded — arrive very early or pick an alternative
Four Regions, Four Different Trips
Trying to “do New York” in one trip is a mistake — the Adirondacks, Catskills, Finger Lakes, and Long Island are genuinely distinct experiences. Pick one region and go deep rather than spreading thin across all of them.
Campgrounds
Adirondacks
Nicks Lake — Old Forge
112 sites with real facilities (hot showers, flush toilets), a beach, and no powerboats allowed on the lake — safer water for young swimmers and paddlers. Close to everything Old Forge has to offer.
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Moffitt Beach — Lake Pleasant (Speculator)
261 sites and a large swimming area on Sacandaga Lake. The go-to pick if a big beach is the priority.
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Fish Creek Pond — near Saranac Lake
One of the busiest, most family-friendly DEC campgrounds, with its own beach and boat rentals. Book early — this one fills fast.
Learn moreCatskills
North-South Lake — Haines Falls
The largest and most popular Catskill campground — 200+ sites, two lakes for swimming, and direct access to the Escarpment Trail and Kaaterskill Falls. This is the campground to build a Catskills trip around.
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Kenneth L. Wilson — Mount Tremper
Large, secluded wooded sites with an on-site lake, free canoe/kayak rental days, and ADA-accessible facilities. Reviewers who’ve camped here for decades keep coming back.
Learn moreFinger Lakes
Watkins Glen State Park campground — Watkins Glen
Camp right at the top of the gorge, with pool access and the famous trail out the door.
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Taughannock Falls State Park — Trumansburg
Lakefront camping on Cayuga Lake paired with one of the East Coast’s tallest waterfalls, right there.
Learn moreHiking Trails
Adirondacks
Cascade Mountain — Lake Placid
Roughly 4.8 miles round trip, and the easiest of the 46 High Peaks — which is exactly why it’s the busiest. Real 360-degree summit views, but the Route 73 parking fills early. Go at dawn or expect to wait.
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Bald Mountain (Rondaxe Fire Tower) — Old Forge
An easy-to-moderate 1.8-mile round trip with a huge payoff — a restored, climbable fire tower with views of the Fulton Chain of Lakes. One of the most-visited fire towers in the Adirondacks for good reason.
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Mount Jo — Heart Lake, Lake Placid
A 2-mile loop with real summit views for very little effort. Genuinely one of the best “big view, small hike” options in the region.
Learn moreCatskills
Kaaterskill Falls — Haines Falls
A short but rocky walk to one of New York’s tallest, most photographed waterfalls. Crowded, and parking is limited — arrive early. Never climb the falls; there have been real fatalities from people ignoring that rule.
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Ashokan Rail Trail — near Boiceville
11.5 miles of flat, crushed-stone trail along the Ashokan Reservoir — genuinely accessible, stroller and wheelchair-friendly. Walk any stretch you want; you don’t need the whole thing.
Learn moreFinger Lakes
Watkins Glen Gorge Trail — Watkins Glen
1.5-2.3 miles, moderate, past 19 waterfalls and up 832 hand-carved stone steps — one of the most spectacular short hikes in the Northeast. Take the shuttle up and walk down. $8 vehicle fee, and it’s crowded — go early.
Learn moreBeaches
Jones Beach State Park — Wantagh
6.5 miles of Atlantic shoreline, relatively calm water, and the iconic beach tunnels connecting sections. One $10 vehicle fee moves you between fields. Visit midweek if you can — weekends get genuinely packed.
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Robert Moses State Park — Fire Island
Better surf than Jones and often less crowded — many locals actually prefer it. Field 5 has a playground and a nature trail to the lighthouse.
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Sunken Meadow State Park — Kings Park
Calm, gentle water on Long Island Sound, good for young kids doing their first kayaking or paddleboarding.
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Lake George (Million Dollar Beach) — Lake George Village
Clear water and sandy beach in a classic Adirondack resort town — a good pick if you want beach and mountain scenery in the same visit.
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Green Lakes State Park — Fayetteville
A sandy beach on a stunning green glacial lake, paired with about 20 miles of trails. A strong all-in-one destination.
Learn moreRV Spots
Lake George RV Park — Lake George
400+ pull-through and back-in sites with full hookups and free WiFi — the premier big-rig resort in the region.
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Lake George Riverview Campground — Warrensburg
Full-hookup riverside and beachfront sites, with a sand beach and tubing right on-site.
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Bulwagga Bay Campground — Port Henry
One of the few New York campgrounds with full hookups directly on Lake Champlain.
Learn moreNote: many Adirondack RV parks have narrow access roads — check rig-length limits before booking, especially if you’re headed to the more remote lake campgrounds.
Planning Your Trip
Pick a region and commit — Adirondacks for lake camping and fire-tower hikes, Catskills for waterfalls and North-South Lake as a home base, Finger Lakes for gorge trails you can genuinely build a whole day around. Whatever region you choose, book DEC campgrounds the second your 9-month window opens; waterfront sites really do disappear within minutes.