Camping near Au Sable Forks, New York offers access to the Adirondack Park's eastern section, where elevations range from 500 to 2,000 feet across a mix of hardwood forests and watershed areas. The region experiences significant seasonal temperature variations, with summer highs averaging 75-85°F during peak camping months. Campsites in this area typically receive less crowding than more popular western Adirondack destinations.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Taylor Pond Campground provides access to several nearby trails with water features. "Behind the 100-Acre section are trails that lead to Whiteface Mountain so you don't have to get in the car to start a hike. My dog loved running through the woods and there were a couple of small streams where she could get a drink of water," notes one camper at Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday.
Swimming in natural pools: Find secluded swimming areas throughout the region. A visitor to Wilmington Notch Campground shares, "A mile down the road is flume falls trails, which leads to a great swimming hole and various height choice cliff jumping. This is a very clean and quiet campground, one of the best in the high peaks region for primitive camping."
Kayaking and canoeing: Multiple waterways offer paddling opportunities with rental options. "We rented kayaks and a canoe from down the road Adirondack River rentals and they delivered and picked up from our site," explains a visitor at Ausable Point Campground.
What campers like
Waterfront access: Many campsites offer direct water views or access. "Spent 3 nights at Ausable Point in August 2020. Had site 98 on the river, highly recommend a river site or beach site. Was told getting beach site is nearly impossible, luckily got one on the river," shares one camper at Ausable Point Campground.
Secluded camping options: Some locations offer more private experiences. At Adirondack Acres Trail and Camps, a visitor noted, "This prime location is very private. There is absolutely no one around as far as the eye can see in the area close to the river."
Proximity to attractions: Campgrounds serve as convenient bases for regional exploration. "Since this campground is within Burlington city limits it is a bit cramped and can get crowded. However its location makes it convenient too. Plus it's right on Lake Champlain with great beach access," reports a camper at North Beach Campground.
What you should know
Reservations essential: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer months. "We stayed over Memorial Day weekend and were surprised that the campground was not full. One thing we noticed was that all the campers were clustered together while they could have been spaced out so there was an empty site between us and our neighbors," noted a visitor to Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday.
Shower facilities vary: Quality and availability of showers differs between campgrounds. A camper at Wilmington Notch Campground shares, "Bathroom conditions vary at the campground depending on who the staff is from year to year, but all your basic amenities are provided (clean water, showers, bathrooms) and the campground itself is usually clean and well-kept. There is one shower building with two stalls for each gender, and showers are free."
Visitor fees: Some campgrounds charge for day visitors. "One bad thing about this park is that you have to pay high fees for visitors. Day passes for adults are $12 and $6/kid. Overnight fees are crazy high at $15/adult, $8/kid and $7/car," reports a camper at Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds offer child-friendly amenities. At Grand Isle State Park Campground, a visitor noted, "It was a quiet, family friendly campground with a cute little beach and nature center with youth programs."
Lean-to options: Consider lean-tos for easier camping with kids. "We had a lean-to site that was just far enough from the bathroom that it felt far. I found the site to be well maintained and for the rangers to be kind and help," shares a visitor to Grand Isle State Park Campground.
Beach selection: Not all beaches are equally suited for children. One camper at Grand Isle observed, "Very rocky beach with little to no sand to play in, a bit of a walk to the water. Overall we considered coming back because it was a great stay. Very peaceful and laid back but without a beach for the kids to play when it got hot it was enough for us to look elsewhere."
Tips from RVers
Road conditions: Interior campground roads may present challenges. At AuSable Chasm Campground, an RVer reported, "The 'road' into the campground is more like a goat trail, with numerous washouts and uneven rocks and dirt."
Site leveling: RV sites may require significant adjustment. One camper noted, "RV site 8 is so out of level that we couldn't get our Airstream level unless we put 10" of blocking under both axles."
Hookup reliability: Check utilities upon arrival. A visitor to Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday shared, "The water spigot at our site broke when I was hooking up the water which was then gushing everywhere. Staff were really prompt at coming out and shutting off the water and getting it fixed. Other than that, we didn't have any trouble with the hook-ups."
