Lake Colden

Lake Colden camping area is a spread out collection of campsites lean-tos surrounding the south side of Lake Colden in the High Peaks Wildnerness in Adirondack Park. This area is open year round and does not require a permit, although during peak season(Jun-September) you may need a reservation if you plan to access it from one of the highly trafficked Adirondack Parks, specifically LOJ.

• Open year round with lean-tos for winter

• No permits needed• first come first serve

• Must have a bear safe food container(available at ADK lodges), some rangers consider the clear blue bear cans unsafe since bears in the area have been known to break into them!

• Limited campsites: you can camp only in designated areas and there is a 5 person limit to each site, try to come early during peak season as these do fill up

• No Amenities: bring your own food, water filter, tent, bedding, etc. There are no amenities

• No fires allowed in High Peaks

• Pit toilets with no TP provided

I have camped at Lake Colden twice, once during the first week of May and once during the first week of September. This campsite is surrounded by 46ers and ideal for those looking to backpack over a few summits so it’s safe to say its highly trafficked, it’s also a beatiful place to camp. When camping in September, arriving at 5pm, we got the last campsite in the area(circled in my photos since it’s a hidden one).

This area is busy and the campsites can be really hard to find so if you plan to camp here in the summer, do come early. Snowpack remains on these trails till at least the end of May and flurries begin as early as October so be prepared for cold and weather if you plan to go during this time.

Access Points:

• Avalanche Lake Via ADK LOJ

• Algonquin Peak Summit via ADK LOJ

• Mt. Colden Summit via ADK LOJ

•(there are many other ways but they will take at least 1 overnight to get there)

FOR THOSE PARKING IN THE ADK LOJ lot, you will need to arrive early during busy days/season. If it is a saturday during peak season the lot fills as early as 6am!

A quick note: I rated this 4 stars because I prefer back country/dispersed camping over campgrounds. Given the potential difficulty of the hike and other factors, some might rate this much lower. 

First and foremost, I had a black bear encounter at this location. Make sure that you remain bear aware and are taking the appropriate safety measures. You're required to have a bear-proof container when camping in this area and you can find some for rent on your drive in. 

There are a couple of ways to get to Lake Colden but I parked at the Upper Works Trailhead and took Calamity Brook Trail past the flowed lands, across the dam, and to the campground. All said, it was approx. 6 miles in.

You've got a couple of options when camping in this area. There are lean-tos available, but if you hike in expecting to get one you're at the mercy of your own luck--they might already be occupied. Otherwise, there are sites near Lake Colden with a short walk to a river to collect water or relax in nearby. 

The sites are primitive to say the least, but are near a ranger station. The rangers I met were nice, friendly and willing to provide recommendations of hikes to take in the area. They also dispensed up to date information about local bear sightings.  The sites are dispersed and there are toilets located in the area; however, they're in the middle of nowhere so don't expect the nicest bathroom you've ever been in. Speaking of the middle of nowhere, there's no cell service. Fires are prohibited so you'll have to rely on a camp stove for cooking, and you'll need to be wary of weather that has a habit of changing quickly. 

A major benefit of camping here sets you up for a couple of potential day hikes if you'd like, and willingness or ability to accomplish most will be based on your own personal comfort or fitness. From Lake Colden, if you'd like to bag some peaks you can hike Mt. Colden, Mt. Skyline, the backside of Mt. Marcy, or Algonquin Peak. A word of caution, I'm in relatively good shape and I found some of these hikes quite strenuous.