Camping sites near Great Barrington sit at elevations between 600 and 2,600 feet within the Berkshire Mountains region. The area experiences temperature variations of up to 30°F between valleys and mountaintops, with cooler conditions at higher elevations. Campers should prepare for nighttime temperatures that can drop below 50°F even during summer months at the higher elevation sites.
What to do
Hiking Bash Bish Falls: Access multiple trails from Taconic State Park, ranging from easy to moderate difficulty. "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.
Explore Mount Washington State Forest: Hike through pristine wilderness with elevation gains of 800-1,200 feet. "What I liked most about this campground is that it wasn't overcrowded. Each spot is easy to find off the trail. They also have bear boxes at each site! Although we were the only campers at the time the area was emmaculate and not one piece of trash on the ground anywhere," reports a hiker at Alander Trail Camground.
Overnight backpacking: Connect with the Appalachian Trail for challenging multi-day hiking options. "This was one of my favorite all time hiking/camping experiences. We actually started this hike in by Race Brook Falls area... We began by making the hike up Mount Race. No matter where you start, you'll be hiking on some of the steepest parts of the Appalachian Trail in the northwestern Connecticut and southwestern Massachusetts," shares a backpacker at Laurel Ridge.
What campers like
Quiet weekday camping: Midweek visits offer significantly fewer crowds at most campgrounds. "This was a truly great campground, but it's proximity to NYC draws large crowds on weekends. Very nice campground, but I'd avoid weekends," advises a camper at Taconic State Park.
Swimming opportunities: Several campgrounds feature natural water access. "The swimming there felt really clean and I loved the dock. Close to great hiking," notes a visitor at Spacious Skies Woodland Hills, which maintains a swimming pond with fountain that "sounds like a small waterfall at night."
Late-season camping: The area offers extended camping seasons through late October. "The campground was fairly quiet. There are tons of hiking and driving trails around the area to keep yourselves occupied. 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," reports a camper at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground.
What you should know
Early site selection matters: Sites vary dramatically in quality and privacy at most campgrounds. "A lot of complaints that up front the sites were too close together and this was true, but more towards the back was more spacious and private sites," notes a visitor to Taconic State Park.
Varied accessibility: Some campgrounds require significant hiking to reach sites. "You have to park at the entrance and hike in about 1.5-2 miles with everything on your back to get to the spots. Once you get there, theres quite a few sites to choose from and each offer quite a bit of privacy," explains a camper at Alander Trail Camground.
Varying facility standards: Bathrooms and amenities can fluctuate throughout the season. "The cleanliness of the bathrooms depends on how busy the campground is," reports a Lake Taghkanic visitor, while others note some campgrounds have "no showers" or limited facilities.
Tips for camping with families
Platform tent options: Several campgrounds offer tent platforms ideal for families with young children. "We stayed at a platform tent site and were able to park two vehicles on site but the grounds had plenty of parking not too far from the sites. 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," explains a visitor to Copake Falls Area.
Kid-friendly activities: Some campgrounds offer structured recreation. "There was a very large open grassy field for play/sports, a playground and life guarded portion of the lake for swimming. This place is very good for easing on first timers and there were quite a few children," notes a Taconic State Park visitor.
Dog-friendly campground selection: Many campgrounds accommodate pets with specific guidelines. "My dog loved the dog park," reports a visitor to Spacious Skies Woodland Hills, while others mention restrictions, especially in yurts or cabins: "There are 3 yurts available May-October (no dogs allowed in the yurts). There are several tent sits available. Dogs are welcomed here!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection challenges: Many campgrounds have limited level sites for larger rigs. "Terrain is uneven. Hit and miss on how flat or level sights are," reports an RVer at Spacious Skies Woodland Hills, while another notes: "Although sites are squeezed in, it is a nice family campground. However the site I had was steep grade from steps to picnic table. Flat ground area for camper was very narrow."
Parking logistics: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads or parking limitations. "Our site #1A was a quick back in site with full hookups and a perfect view day or night, right on their pond," shares a visitor at Spacious Skies Woodland Hills.
Utility hookup variations: Water and electrical service varies by site and campground. "This is basic dry camping it is fun but there is no electric or water at the sites only in the bathhouse. So if you get a site close the the bathhouse you will have water close by and electricity close. Otherwise it's dry camping," advises a Taconic State Park visitor.
Legend
