The Taconic Mountains and Berkshire foothills surrounding West Cornwall, Connecticut feature a diverse landscape of rolling hills, dense forests, and flowing waterways. With an average summer temperature of 75-80°F and elevations ranging from 500-1,200 feet, this area creates ideal conditions for various camping experiences. Tent campers often find the region's well-drained soil particularly accommodating during spring and fall camping seasons.
What to do
Hiking nearby trails: October Mountain State Forest offers extensive trail systems starting right at the campground edge. "The marsh trail is absolutely stunning," says one visitor at October Mountain State Forest, while another notes that "the trails in October Mountain State Forest are very pretty, with some grand vistas to pull over."
Fishing and paddling: Lake Waramaug State Park provides excellent fishing opportunities and calm waters. A camper explains, "Great for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoes and for fishing. Bring your own gear but kayak and canoe rentals are available," while another mentions the lake is "gorgeous and there are very few people there."
Water activities for kids: The water attractions at some campgrounds offer built-in entertainment. At Jellystone Park Gardiner, a visitor notes, "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."
What campers like
Clean swimming options: Lake Taghkanic State Park offers well-maintained swimming facilities. One camper at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground shares, "The lake is beautiful and clean. Expect to pay $15 fee (I think) to use your paddleboards/kyacks etc. Worth every penny."
Stargazing opportunities: The region's low light pollution creates perfect night sky viewing conditions. A visitor noted, "Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low."
Wildlife encounters: The forested campsites often bring nature close. At Lone Oak Camp Sites, a camper mentions, "Stars can be seen well and tons of kind and friendly campers," while another states there are "tons of hikes and waterfalls in the area and the highest point in Connecticut."
What you should know
Site selection matters: Many campgrounds in this region have varying site quality and privacy. At White Pines Campsites, a camper advises, "A lot of the sites we drove by were pretty sloped - I would recommend a drive though if you can beforehand."
Weekend crowds: Proximity to metropolitan areas means weekend congestion. One camper at Taconic State Park notes, "This was a truly great campground, but it's proximity to NYC draws large crowds on weekends."
Bathroom facilities vary: Facility quality can differ significantly between campgrounds. A visitor remarks, "The bathrooms are usually unclean, they run out of tissue, there is only 1 shower for the entire bathroom AND they clean them right when people are waking and need to pee (between 7-8)."
Tips for camping with families
Family-friendly activities: Many area campgrounds schedule regular kid-oriented events. At Prospect Mountain Campground, a visitor shares, "They have activities every weekend such as dances, bingo, hayrides. They also have a great pool, playground and pond for fishing."
Platform tent sites: Several campgrounds offer raised tent platforms ideal for family camping. One camper at Taconic State Park explains, "The platform sites are great it makes it real easy to set up a tent because of the platform that the tent goes on and the lake is ok."
Consider off-peak timing: For a more relaxed glamping experience near West Cornwall, Connecticut, weekdays offer significantly less crowding. A camper advises, "If you go during the week the place is a ghost town," noting a dramatic difference in atmosphere compared to weekends.
Tips from RVers
Hookup considerations: Not all sites offer full RV connections. At Lake Compounce Campground, a camper mentions, "No sewer hookups, but does have a dump station," while another notes, "Easy entry, long pull thrus. You will face your neighbor door to door but enough room between you don't feel invaded."
Site spacing and privacy: RV sites at many campgrounds in the region have minimal separation. One RVer observes, "Sites are close together and on the smaller side," while another mentions, "Sites were large enough for RV. NO privacy, but tent sites were ok."
Utility access: Power requirements can vary between sites. A visitor cautions, "Be careful on the map for what site has what amenities, and make sure to double check power requirements because it's not labeled on the sites and it varies."
