Lake Waramaug State Park and Bear Creek Campground at Lake Compounce feature luxury outdoor accommodations in Connecticut's northwestern region. Located at elevations between 500-1,000 feet, these camping destinations experience mild summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F with cooler evenings around 55-65°F. Morning fog often settles over Lake Waramaug during spring and fall seasons, creating challenging visibility conditions for early risers.
What to do
Hiking trails: Taconic State Park provides access to Bash Bish Falls via a short trail. "There are plenty of hiking trails nearby and of course, trails to Bash Bish Falls which is beautiful. It was low the first time we visited and we were able to make it to the top of the falls to go swimming and the views were incredible," notes a visitor to Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park.
Lake activities: Lake Taghkanic State Park offers swimming and boating with rental equipment available. "The lake is great for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoes and for fishing. Bring your own gear but kayak and canoe rentals are available. The swim area is marginal- best for little ones," explains a camper at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground.
Amusement park access: Bear Creek Campground connects to Lake Compounce Amusement Park. A reviewer notes, "It is adjacent to an amusement park so there were lots of families here. None of the sites have sewer, but there is a dump station on the way out."
What campers like
Large campsites: Lake Waramaug provides spacious sites for multiple tents. "Pros: 1. You can get a VERY large site that easily fits 3 tents. 2. The area is lovely and the people in the area are really nice too," states a reviewer at Lake Waramaug State Park Campground.
Platform tent sites: Some parks offer raised platforms for tent setup. "Each of the sites had a large platform (enough room for one very large tent or 2-3 smaller tents), a fire pit, and picnic table," mentions a camper from Taconic State Park.
Clean facilities: Many parks maintain well-kept bathrooms and showers. "Restrooms, water, showers are close by. The sites are HUGE," reports a visitor at Mountain Lakes Park, which also offers glamping close to New Preston, Connecticut in the form of yurts.
What you should know
Weather considerations: Lake Taghkanic experiences temperature fluctuations. "Never have we had issues with wildlife besides squirrels and ducks. Leave no trace is important - it keeps the unwelcome wildlife out," advises a reviewer.
Limited cell service: Connectivity issues exist at some parks. "It is possible to get a phone signal up at the 'lookout' of the hike," notes a Lake Taghkanic visitor about finding reception spots.
Seasonal changes: Taconic State Park facilities change with seasons. "The water stayed hot until the last weekend of the season (Oct 12-14, 2018) which was when we were there," reports a camper at Prospect Mountain Campground, showing how utilities can vary with timing.
Tips for camping with families
Activity selection: Family-oriented campgrounds provide scheduled events. "They have a event just about every weekend with kid activity," mentions a camper at Jellystone Park Gardiner, offering luxury glamping options within driving distance of New Preston.
Swimming options: Several parks feature swimming areas with varying depths. "Nice pool that is shallow so you can relax and let the little ones go in the water park section alone or they have a 3 ft pool also," notes a Jellystone Park visitor.
Early noise level: Campgrounds have variable morning sounds. "Monday apparently is trash day in the area for all the homes around the lake. They start collecting very early and the sound really carries over the lake," reports a Lake Taghkanic camper.
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Bear Creek offers limited utilities. "It does not have sewer hookups, but we couldn't find much else along our route, but this wasn't too bad. The sites were long enough that our door wasn't directly across from our neighbor."
Site positioning: Some campgrounds have unusual layouts. "You will face your neighbor door to door but enough room between you don't feel invaded. Restrooms are clean and spacious. Showers are great. Whoever planned this campground is/was a camper."
Dump station access: Not all sites include full hookups. "No facilities that I can think of, but there are a few lean-to's scattered off the looping road," reports a Mountain Lakes visitor describing the minimal infrastructure for RV camping near New Preston's glamping accommodations.
