Pitch a Tent, Rent a Cabin, Hookup an RV - However You Camp, The Lake George Area Has Your Site

Imported Image

 

The word "camp" will likely bring up images of a tent pitched out in the woods, or a compound of cabins where children spend summer vacation paddling canoes and braiding plastic gimp key chains. You might think of a pop-up camper or a 38-foot motorhome. You probably won't picture a three-story mansion with wide piazzas, broad stone fireplaces, numerous outbuildings and landscaped lawns that sweep down to a lake.

That is how the wealthy of the Gilded Age "camped" in the Adirondacks years ago. The history of the Adirondack Great Camps is fascinating, tied to names such as Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, and Durant. Visitors are often amused that the term "camp" is applied to these lavish estates, but camping means different things to different people. That "camp" can mean a wilderness lean-to, a lakefront estate and everything in-between demonstrates how fundamental camping is to the Adirondack experience. Visitors to the Lake George Area have multiple options when it comes to planning an Adirondack camping trip. So, what is your ideal way to camp? Whatever environment you are seeking, whatever shelter you desire, the Lake George Area has a site.


Public Campgrounds

Imported Image

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) operates four public campgrounds in the Lake George Area. Campers can reserve a site online at Reserve America, or by phone at (800)456-CAMP. Reservations may be made up to nine months in advance. Sites do go quickly, so if you have a favorite site in mind make sure you book it ASAP. The DEC campgrounds all have tent and trailer sites, hot showers, flush toilets and dumping stations for RVers. Pets are allowed. Be sure to bring proof of an up-to-date rabies vaccine.

Lake George Battleground State Campground

Located just outside of Lake George Village, this campground allows you to pitch your tent close to the waterfront diningcruise ships, and beaches while the tall pines provide an Adirondack setting. A trail at the back of the campground brings you to Battlefield Park and a short walk to the Lake George Beach. The Charles R. Wood Environmental Park and Festival Commons are right next door. A five-minute walk brings you to all the shopping, restaurants and taverns on the Village's main drag. Greater Glens Falls Transit runs a regular trolley route right past the campground Memorial Day through Labor Day with weekend service through Columbus Day.

Hearthstone Point State Campground

Hearthstone, located in Diamond Point on the western shore of Lake George, offers the best of both worlds when it comes to the Lake George Area camping experience. Nature lovers will relish the forested grounds and the nearby hiking trails. Hearthstone boasts a large, sandy beach for a day of swimming, canoeing, and sunbathing. For those seeking the hustle and bustle of Lake George Village, the shops, restaurants, pubs, video arcades and miniature golf courses are only a two-mile drive away. During the summer, the Greater Glens Falls Transit trolley route makes regular runs from the Village to Bolton Landing, stopping to pick up Hearthstone campers along the way.

Rogers Rock State Campground

Rogers Rock Campground is on the northern end of Lake George in the town of Hague. In addition to regular tent and trailer sites, it has areas for large groups, making it a great choice for a family reunion or company retreat. Boat owners can launch their vessels from the campsite boat launch. Reservations for use of a mooring buoy can be made when reserving a campsite. Rogers Rock is six miles south of historic Fort Ticonderoga. The fort is full of captivating stories of early American history, such as the legend of the unconventional Captain Robert Rogers and how Rogers Rock, also known as Rogers Slide, got its name during the 1758 Second Battle on Snowshoes.

Luzerne State Campground

Yup, you can bring your horse to this campground. It's along the old Dude Ranch Trail in Lake Luzerne, the center of the Adirondack cowboy scene. Nearly two-dozen of its 165 sites are equestrian-friendly, including stalls for your hoofed friend along with barns, corrals, and miles of riding trails. The campground partially surrounds Fourth Lake, a non-motorized body of water about 8 miles west of Lake George Village. Nearby is the site of the oldest weekly rodeo in the country, the Painted Pony Championship Rodeo. Held every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, July through Labor Day Weekend, the rodeo at Painted Pony draws professional cowboys from across the country to compete for cash prizes.


Private Camping Resorts

Imported Image

 

The Lake George Area has more than two dozen private campgrounds to choose from. These campgrounds offer a range of amenities such as RV hookups, cable TV, swimming pools, and recreation programs for children. Several offer cabin rentals with kitchens. Campers going this route need only bring sheets, towels, and groceries.

Camping with Your Dog:

If a vital member of your family is of the four-legged variety, you will want to check out Lake George RV Park. The popular Lake George Area campground features a two-acre, off-leash grass area that is perfect for canines of every type. Charlie's Bark Park is full of things that dogs love, such as shaded walking trails, a synthetic turf play area, agility events, dog spray fountain, an indoor dog wash station, and pet treat vending area. Your pooch isn't going to want to go home.

"Glamping"

Think luxury and camping don't belong in the same sentence? Check out glamping (glamorous camping). It's a new camping concept that harkens back to the Adirondack Great Camp era. Back in those days, canvas tents set up on platforms provided guest housing on the summer estates of the wealthy. In the 21st century, you can reserve the same type of shelter. No need to pack a sleeping bag, these come with real beds made up with linens. A concierge will ensure everything runs smoothly with your vacation. Glamping experiences are offered by Adirondack SafariPosh Primitive, and Camp Orenda.


Island Camping

Imported Image

 

The 32 mile-long Lake George is dotted with more than 100 islands. The DEC maintains 387 campsites across 44 islands offering the ultimate in island camping on Lake George. The islands are divided into three groups: the Narrows Island Group, the Glen Island Group, and the Long Island Group.

"Some of my favorite memories with my family and friends come from camping on the islands."

This sentiment comes from Shelby Jenkins of Queensbury, New York, whose family makes a tradition of renting a site directly on the lake each summer. "It's the most relaxing thing to sit lakeside and drink coffee in the morning," says Shelby. Her family stays up late into the night toasting marshmallows over the campfire, telling stories, and relaxing to the sound of lake waters lapping against the island's shore.

The Jenkins family likes camping on Long Island for its proximity to the public docks on Beach Road in Lake George Village. After a day of swimming, fishing and waterskiing, they can, if the mood strikes, pile into the boat and cruise to the Village for a night on the town.

As you may have guessed, these campsites are only accessible by boat. You may put your own boat in at a public launch site, or rent a boat for the duration of your camping trip. Each DEC site has a picnic table, fireplace, outhouse, and a dock with room for at least one vessel. The sites go quickly. You may reserve yours up to nine months in advance at Reserve America.


Wilderness Camping

Imagine emerging from your tent at dawn to inhale fresh, pine-scented air. Replace the din of traffic with the sounds of bird chatter, the splashing of rainbow trout in a tranquil pond, and the lonely call of a loon at dusk. The Adirondack Forest Preserve has 1,800 miles of marked trails covering 2.6 million acres of land. Most of these lands are open for camping. If shedding civilization is your aim, the Lake George Area is the place to go.

Wilderness camping does require some specialized skills and physical abilities. You will need to carry all your gear on your back, and you may be hiking over rugged terrain that brings you to steep rock faces requiring rock climbing know-how.  It's imperative you select a route that matches your abilities. The weather can change quickly. A warm August day may turn into a frosty evening at sunset. Be prepared. If you are an inexperienced backpacker, your best bet is to hire a local guide.

In the Lake George Area, backcountry campers will find primitive campsites in the Lake George Wild Forest, the Siamese Ponds Wilderness and the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness. These areas are in DEC Region 5. You may contact the regional offices for more information about wilderness camping. The Adirondack Mountain Club is also a great resource for information and guides about hiking and camping in the region. You'll find their Lake George information center on Route 9N just south of exit 21 off I-87 (the Adirondack Northway.)


Important Camping Information

Firewood regulations:

In an effort to protect New York State forests from the Asian Longhorned beetle and other tree-killing insects, untreated wood (wood that has not been heat-processed to kill bugs) may not be brought into the state. Untreated wood may be moved within the state a maximum of 50 miles from its source. What does this mean for campers and their campfires? You will need to purchase treated firewood that is labeled as New York-Approved Treated Firewood/Pest-free or, purchase firewood from producers within 50 miles of where you plan to camp. You can purchase treated firewood at camp stores, convenience stores, and supermarkets in the Lake George Area. Many local residents sell firewood at roadside stands. Be sure to get a bill of sale that includes the address of the wood's source.

If you bring your own boat:

Boats brought by trailer must be inspected for invasive species before being launched into Lake George. The inspection is free and available at Lake George boat inspection stations around the lake. If your boat is carrying some undesirable hitchhikers, boat washing is offered at the inspection sites free of charge.

Fishing license requirements:

Anglers aged 16 or older must have a license to fish in New York. Licenses may be purchased online or from a licensing agent. You may purchase a license that is in effect for an entire year, seven days or just one day.