The Berkshire Hills region surrounding Hinsdale sits at elevations between 1,000-2,000 feet, creating cooler summer temperatures than nearby lowlands. Fall camping season typically extends through mid-October with average nighttime temperatures dropping into the 40s by late September. Most campgrounds near Hinsdale require advanced reservations during peak summer and fall foliage seasons.
What to do
Hiking to fire towers: 0.6-mile trail at Daughters of the American Revolution State Forest leads to a lookout tower with panoramic views. "The hike from site 44 to the fire tower is only 0.6 miles and gets you a great view. Hike back via the Long Trail and it's 1.6 Miles back," notes a camper at Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) State Forest Campground.
Fishing at Pontoosuc Lake: Located a short walk from Bonnie Brae Cabins and Campsites, the lake offers boat rentals and fishing spots. A visitor to Bonnie Brae Cabins and Campsites reports, "Pontoosuc Lake is a short walk away; there are boat rentals available and I saw a number of people fishing from Pontoosuc Park just above the dam."
Fall foliage tours: The region's hardwood forests typically peak in color during early-mid October. "We went to this campground during fall foliage time. Very peaceful and very great staff. They had hayless rides and fire truck rides," says a visitor to Northampton/Springfield KOA.
Waterfall excursions: Several waterfalls are within driving distance of local campgrounds. A camper at Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground shared, "Went to Tannery Falls, beautiful waterfall. About a 20 minute drive away, worth a visit."
What campers like
Private, spacious sites: Unlike some state parks with close quarters, certain campgrounds offer more space between sites. At Fernwood Forest Campground, "Large sites with trees give lots of privacy. Very clean sites and facilities are cleaned to meet COVID requirements. Very quiet."
Clean bathroom facilities: Many campers note the cleanliness standards at area campgrounds. "The bathrooms were very nice and seemed like they were brand new," reported a visitor to Pittsfield State Forest Campground, while another camper at Fernwood Forest noted it "has to be the cleanest campground I've ever visited!"
Swimming opportunities: Several campgrounds offer swimming areas for cooling off. At Spacious Skies Woodland Hills, one camper enjoyed seeing "kids (and adults) fishing, paddling on the lake, swimming in the designated area and sitting/playing on the nice beach."
Bear boxes at campsites: Many campgrounds provide bear boxes for food storage. A visitor to Mohawk Trail State Forest noted, "Each campsite has a bear box and fire ring, there is easy access to hiking trails." Another camper mentioned that "The sites were huge and spread out... The bear lockers are roomy and clean and could double as storage to keep items out of the rain."
What you should know
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have minimal to no connectivity. At Sperry Road Campground — Mount Greylock State Reservation, visitors appreciate "no phone signal" as a feature, while another notes, "I had a flicking bar of coverage at the high point of the campground on Verizon, but all you MIGHT be able to do is text."
Shower availability varies: Some campgrounds have limited shower facilities. At October Mountain, a camper noted, "Only one shower station which isn't always convenient." At DAR State Forest, a visitor observed, "FREE hot showers! Only two showers for the whole camp, but there's almost no one camping in October, so there was never a wait."
Out-of-state fee differentials: Non-Massachusetts residents often pay significantly higher camping fees. A visitor to DAR State Forest complained, "I don't mind paying a little extra some places because of being out of state, but paying $54 a night for not even any hookups when MA residents pay $17 is insane."
Seasonal restrictions: Most state forests close campgrounds by mid-October. "This state forest campground offers large sites, some of them on a grassy open area or tucked into the woods. They also offer 4 cabins, though under 2020 coronavirus precautions, these are unavailable," reported a visitor to Savoy Mountain State Forest.
Tips for camping with families
Educational opportunities: Some campgrounds offer nature programs for children. At October Mountain State Forest Campground, "The rangers are super friendly and the bathrooms are clean," making for a comfortable family experience.
Playground access: Certain campgrounds include playground equipment for younger visitors. A Bonnie Brae camper noted there is "a pool there is a playground there are games of all ages."
Kid-friendly activities: Some campgrounds organize regular events for children. A visitor to Northampton/Springfield KOA shared, "They had a Halloween/trick or treat night, fire truck rides it's very kid friendly," while another mentioned "weekend fire engine rides, a gem panning center, seemingly well maintained playground/pool."
Dog-friendly trails: Many hiking routes welcome leashed pets. A camper at Mohawk Trail State Forest Campground highlighted that their dog-friendly campsite was "right beside the river" with "a number of hiking trails" easily accessible.
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup options: Most state forests offer electric-only hookups if any. At October Mountain, visitors note that "the lower level has RV sites" while tent sites and yurts occupy the upper areas.
Leveling challenges: Terrain can require leveling equipment at many area campgrounds. A visitor to Savoy Mountain State Forest mentioned, "I could have used leveling blocks because it was hard to find a great spot that was level side to side."
Dump station availability: Several campgrounds offer dump stations at entrance areas rather than at individual sites. At DAR State Forest, "no hookups, but a dumping station" is available for RVers.
Parking space limitations: Some sites have constraints for larger rigs. A camper at Bonnie Brae observed, "We stayed in 12 full hook up with a 27 ft slide travel trailer and it was a good size," suggesting this site worked well for medium-sized units.
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