Glamping options near Sheffield, Massachusetts include several state and private campgrounds offering platform tent sites and yurts. Most glamping accommodations operate from May through mid-October, with varying levels of privacy between sites. The Taconic Mountain range creates a unique microclimate for the area, with summer temperatures typically 5-10 degrees cooler than nearby urban centers.
What to do
Hiking to viewpoints: October Mountain State Forest Campground connects to trails with panoramic vistas. "Beautiful area to hike. Quiet off the beaten path. There are 3 yurts available May-October," notes one visitor who recommends the preserve for its year-round accessibility.
Fishing in local ponds: Prospect Mountain Campground features a fishing pond for campers. "They have a pond for swimming and softball field. They allow late check ins!" reports a satisfied camper who appreciated the flexible arrival times.
Swimming in natural settings: Lone Oak Camp Sites provides multiple water recreation options. "Two big pools, store, bar for adults with live entertainment. Tons of kids activities going on all day," describes one camper, highlighting the range of supervised water activities beyond the natural swimming areas.
Stargazing opportunities: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground offers exceptional night sky viewing. "Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low," explains a visitor who found the combination of lake reflection and dark skies ideal for astronomical observation.
What campers like
Platform tent sites: Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park offers elevated camping surfaces. "There are plenty of hiking trails nearby and of course, trails to Bash Bish Falls which is beautiful... The facilities were just what you needed after a long day of hiking and swimming," mentions a reviewer who appreciated the convenience of platform camping.
Privacy levels: Some sites at October Mountain provide more seclusion than others. "Many, I would say most, sites that you feel very exposed... Look for the sites that go off to the side (not on the loops) like 39-40," advises a camper who found quieter spots away from the main camping areas.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the Sheffield area maintain varying standards. "The campground is large and has a variety of sites to choose from... Privacy is about standard rv campgrounds and they have a PA system to announce camp events which was a bit annoying, though it didn't happen often," notes a visitor at Lone Oak who found the campground well-maintained despite some noise issues.
Hiking accessibility: Spacious Skies Woodland Hills provides immediate trail access. "We rented a rustic campsite for a long weekend and it was way better than expected... there are so many places to hike and the best of the Berkshires so close by," shares a camper who used the site as a base for exploring regional trails.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most glamping sites near Sheffield require advance booking. "The campground has 3 sections, located on different tiers of a hill. The lower level has RV sites, middle has tent sites, and upper has a few yurts," explains a visitor to October Mountain State Forest, noting the limited availability of premium accommodation types.
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds have ambient sounds. "There is a power station that emits a hum constantly. Super annoying and an eyesore. You'll see many vehicles drive-by with boats or ATVs in tow as the state forest also has areas suitable for their use," warns a camper about one location's background noise.
Wildlife encounters: Local wildlife may visit campsites. "Be careful of bears. We and several other neighboring campers spied a pretty big black bear not far enough away in the late morning hours," cautions a visitor to White Pines Campsites, suggesting secure food storage is essential.
Weather variability: The Berkshire region experiences significant temperature fluctuations. "This place, at the end of May is positively swarming with mosquitoes and gnats, even in the 2 rainy and cold-ass nights we spent there," reports a camper who visited during unseasonable weather.
Tips for camping with families
Look for multi-activity sites: Prospect Mountain offers various entertainment options. "They have activities every weekend such as dances, bingo, hayrides. They also have a great pool, playground and pond for fishing," recommends a parent who found the organized activities helpful for keeping children engaged.
Consider age-appropriate swimming areas: Lake Waramaug State Park features graduated swimming areas. "The swimming area is an absolute joke, unless you are 18 months old, and then its probably perfect. (Extremely small, extremely shallow, and some sand to dig in)," notes a visitor who found the limited swimming area ideal for toddlers but disappointing for older children.
Evaluate site privacy: Site selection impacts family comfort. "Our site was T3 and it was spacious and spread out from other tent sites. There was a tiny creek meandering behind the site and the woods just went on for miles. We felt grateful to be separated from the RVers," shares a camper who discovered more secluded family-friendly areas.
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability: Electric access varies between campgrounds. "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. Tricky footing for older folks," explains an RVer at Spacious Skies Woodland Hills who found accessibility challenging despite full hookups.
Site leveling requirements: Lake Waramaug State Park Campground presents terrain challenges. "Every campsite has deep drainage ditches, likely roots, and stumps as well, but not too much pine in the immediate vicinity to make a mess of your gear," shares a visitor who recommends bringing leveling blocks.
Dump station conditions: Facilities may be inconsistently maintained. "We had been Boondocking for a week prior to arriving and needed to dump our tank before pulling into our site. While we were dumping our gray tank, the dump clogged," reports an RVer who encountered maintenance issues at White Pines, suggesting checking station status upon arrival.
