Lake Taghkanic State Park offers premium glamping accommodations from May through mid-October near Sherman, Connecticut. Sites are situated on spacious platforms that keep campers dry during rain showers. The region sits at the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains with elevations reaching 1,450 feet at some nearby camping areas, creating cooler summer temperatures than coastal Connecticut. Visitors typically need to reserve glamping sites months in advance during peak season.
What to do
Swimming in natural settings: Lake Taghkanic State Park provides excellent swimming options with a clean, well-maintained beach area. A camper noted, "The lake is beautiful and clean. Expect to pay $15 fee (I think) to use your paddleboards/kayaks etc. Worth every penny." For families seeking alternatives, Mountain Lakes Park offers several small lakes suitable for recreation.
Hiking nearby mountains: The highest point in Westchester County can be accessed via trails at Mountain Lakes Park. One visitor shared, "A gorgeous piece of land that contains lakes, a lookout and Mt. Bailey, the highest point in Westchester County. A dirt road loops through the property with trails off and through it."
Stargazing opportunities: The area's low light pollution makes it ideal for night sky viewing. At Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground, "Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low."
What campers like
Platform tent sites: Raised wooden platforms at Lake Taghkanic provide practical benefits during wet weather. A camper explained, "The platforms kept us off the ground and were helpful in setting up appropriate tarp protection! The lake is gorgeous and there are plenty of nearby hikes for exploring."
Hot showers after outdoor activities: Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park maintains reliable hot water even late in the season. "The bathrooms and showers are clean and the water stayed hot until the last weekend of the season (Oct 12-14, 2018) which was when we were there."
Clean facilities: Many glamping sites maintain high cleanliness standards. At Lake Compounce Campground, "Restrooms are clean and spacious. Showers are great. Whoever planned this campground is/was a camper. They have cabins, teepee and tent sites."
What you should know
Site selection considerations: At White Pines Campsites, "A lot of the sites we drove by were pretty sloped—I would recommend a drive through if you can beforehand." The campground offers yurt glamping options with greater comfort than standard sites.
Seasonal timing impacts: Late spring visits may encounter muddy conditions at Mountain Lakes Park. One visitor reported, "When we were there it was right after a rain storm and everything was a bit muddy and slippery."
Bathroom maintenance varies: Facilities can become overwhelmed during busy periods. At Lake Taghkanic, "The cleanliness of the bathrooms depends on how busy the campground is." Weekday visits typically offer better bathroom conditions than weekends.
Wildlife awareness: Black bears frequent the area around White Pines Campsites. A reviewer warned, "Beware of bears. We and several other neighboring campers spied a pretty big black bear not far enough away in the late morning hours."
Tips for camping with families
Activity scheduling: Jellystone Park Gardiner organizes numerous child-focused events. A parent shared, "This campground has a lot of activities and has kids of all ages galore. I was worried my 12 year old would be too old for it but he enjoyed making friends there."
Swimming options: Multiple depths accommodate different age groups. One review noted, "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."
Noise considerations: Some family campgrounds maintain active environments through early morning. At Jellystone, "Kids were at the playground 8 am or before and the noise woke us up. The kids were around until about 10:30 or so each night."
Convenience factors: Sites closer to bathhouses benefit families with young children. At Lake Waramaug, a visitor recommended, "If you get a site close to the bathhouse you will have water close by and electricity close."
Tips from RVers
Pull-through site options: Lake Compounce offers well-designed RV sites. One camper mentioned, "Easy entry, long pull thrus. You will face your neighbor door to door but enough room between you don't feel invaded."
Hookup limitations: Most glamping areas near Sherman have partial hookups only. At Lake Compounce, "None of the sites have sewer, but there is a dump station on the way out."
Wi-Fi reliability: Internet access varies significantly between campgrounds. A Lake Compounce visitor noted, "Wifi was okay, but we couldn't stream anything from it," while another campground reported more reliable connectivity.
