Altmar, New York sits at the western edge of the Tug Hill Plateau region, where elevations reach 1,800-2,000 feet. The area experiences significant lake-effect precipitation with winter snowfalls often exceeding 200 inches. Cabins near Altmar provide convenient access to the Salmon River, known for outstanding steelhead and salmon fishing in fall and winter months. Most luxury camping accommodations remain open from April through October with limited year-round options.
What to do
Fishing the Salmon River: Access premier fishing spots along the Little Salmon River from Yogi Bears Jellystone Park. "This is our 4th experience at a Jellystone. For the fisherman, it's located on Salmon River and appears to have quite a lot of large salmon this time of year. I was shocked at the size of the fish that were being cleaned," notes Justin F.
Beach exploration: Walk the shoreline at Southwick Beach State Park Campground, where the natural landscape provides unique views despite recent changes. "Is currently experiencing flooding and dune erosion. The natural beauty still shines through these," reports Zen W. The sandbar extends far into Lake Ontario.
Winter activities: While most luxury accommodations close for winter, Bass Lake Resort maintains year-round operations. The resort's 300 sites include electricity and water hookups, with shower facilities available throughout all seasons.
What campers like
Private bathroom facilities: Several state parks feature upgraded bathroom buildings with individual facilities. At Green Lakes State Park Campground, "the bathrooms have been remodeled and most are private with a toilet, shower and sink which makes this a wonderful family campground," according to Sheri S.
Lakefront views: Sites at Brennan Beach Campground offer direct lake access. "We really enjoyed our stay at Brennan Beach! It was PACKED on the weekend, but they have a really efficient check in process and the staff is super nice," writes Kristen L. The campground features a mix of tent sites and upscale accommodations.
Loop selection: At Selkirk Shores State Park Campground, different camping areas have distinct atmospheres. "This campground is 4 different loops- A loop is like the loop for people here for fishing, B loop is the mellower crowd, and C and D were our nightmares: mass chaos, children running amok, loud groups, no thanks," explains Laura M., suggesting strategic site selection for optimal glamping experiences.
What you should know
Weather considerations: The Altmar region experiences significant lake-effect weather from Lake Ontario. Campers at Sun Outdoors Association Island report: "One HUGE downfall was the amount of BUGS! Millions (not exaggerating) of midges and mayflies swarming the grounds from Lake Ontario. Be prepared to deal with this as we were not and had to vacuum inside the RV every night for about an hour."
Site variations: Many luxury camping sites near Altmar have limited privacy. At Brennan Beach, tent sites are closely spaced. Thomas R. notes, "About 10 yards to the next campsite in either direction, zero privacy, although luckily all the other tent sites were empty."
Off-season limitations: Most glamping in Altmar, New York closes between October and May. Check ahead for shoulder-season visits as amenities may be reduced. "We went late summer so it was becoming offseason. Most amenities close down. Pool, swimming at Lake Ontario beach, etc," reports Robert M.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Yogi Bears Jellystone Park offers structured recreation beyond just glamping. "So much to do here for the little ones, and so much beauty to soak in for us older ones! The staff here is excellent, and are always willing to do what they can to make sure you're having a great stay," shares Michael O.
Child-friendly recreation: State parks near Altmar feature good playground facilities. Colleen S. describes Selkirk Shores: "The beach is good for children and they have a great recreation program for the kids. While we were there they had a reptile exhibit with huge snakes and crocodiles, another day they had tie dyeing t-shirts, other days they had bingo, exercises, and crafty things to make."
Membership considerations: For frequent campers, Bass Lake Resort offers membership options. "This is a membership/timeshare place but if you get a membership you can camp for free at any of 7 of campsites along the east coast. You can get a free weekend to see how it is and they will give you 21 days of free camping," explains Kelly J.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose camping loops carefully at Selkirk Shores. "Sites 66 and 67 are the exception that we saw, they're off together to the side and would be a good choice for two groups camping together," suggests Laura M. Most sites lack privacy buffers.
Hookup availability: Many campgrounds offer electric-only sites. "Nice place to camp all electric no water hook ups bath house clean but could use more," notes Frank W. about Selkirk Shores. Plan water usage accordingly and prepare to fill tanks before arrival.
Dump station access: Green Lakes offers convenient waste disposal. "There's a nice new dump station with several dumps and potable water. Good cell reception for both Verizon and ATT," reports Laura M. Most luxury glamping accommodations near Altmar provide sanitary dumping facilities.
