Golden Hill State Park Campground offers more than just yurt accommodations on Lake Ontario. The park features tent, RV, and cabin sites with varying levels of privacy. The grounds include a disc golf course and historic lighthouse tours. Campsites in the C loop provide more space between neighbors than those in the A and B loops, which tend to be better suited for RVs.
What to do
Visit the Thirty Mile Lighthouse: Tours available at Golden Hill State Park Campground showcase the historic structure. "Be sure to visit the light house on your visit. With standard sites and a beautiful water for fishing this camp ground is great for a weekend or even for a day hike or a nice game of frisbee golf. Lots of history at this place!" shares Meag F.
Go fishing: Multiple campgrounds offer fishing opportunities. At Niagara County Camping Resort, guests can fish in designated ponds. "Nice secluded place. Quiet surroundings with lots of stuff for kids to do. Swimming, fishing, putt putt, petting zoo. Camp sites are clean and large," notes Nick O.
Play disc golf: Golden Hill State Park Campground maintains a course on site. "Definitely a clean and well maintained campground. The good thing about this site is that there is a great bathroom available and very relaxed environment. There is also a Frisbee gulf course, basketball court, fishing, boat launch available," says Jay B.
What campers like
Lake Ontario views: The lakefront setting provides spectacular scenery. At Daisy Barn Campground, "This was a beautiful campground right on Lake Ontario. You could even see Toronto from the shore," according to Jennifer N.
Clean facilities: Branches of Niagara Campground maintains high standards. "This was the most perfect family campground we've been to. The staff is very nice and they're always outside working and helping. The back sites were perfect and decent sized. They have every amenity you could need and the grounds are pristine," reports L W.
Proximity to Niagara Falls: Many glamping sites near Barker serve as convenient bases for exploring the famous waterfalls. "About 30 minutes from Niagara Falls. Staff inside office were very friendly-gave many trail suggestions and good tips for navigating the city. Comes with state park parking pass to park free and access to town shuttle," mentions a guest at Four Mile Creek State Park Campground.
What you should know
Bathroom locations vary: At Golden Hill, plan accordingly. "There are 2 bathrooms in the campground, one near the A-B loops and one near the entrance. It was quite a hike in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom from our site," warns Leah L.
Site spacing considerations: Campgrounds differ in site layout. "The campground is very small. Some sites are a little bigger than others but most are quite small," reports Karen P. about Niagara Falls North/Lewiston KOA.
Seasonal differences: Most glamping options near Barker operate from spring to fall, with specific dates varying by location. Golden Hill runs from April 29 to October 15, while Four Mile Creek stays open until October 27.
Tips for camping with families
Look for kid-friendly activities: Four Mile Creek State Park Campground offers open areas for recreation. "We camped at site 161 which was fairly shaded and had a large open field with a view of Lake Ontario. Sunsets were beautiful and a lot of campers come to the lake in the evening to watch it," shares Stacia R.
Choose your social environment: Some loops are better for families wanting interaction. "This is a friendly and clean state park campground where you can choose your own environmental experience. Camping with kids and enjoy interacting with other camping families? Then the 100 loop with large playground is for you!" recommends Paula at Four Mile Creek.
Consider insect protection: Some areas have mosquito issues. At Niagara Falls North/Lewiston KOA, one camper noted "the absurd amount of mosquitoes literally all day long. They were relentless!" Be prepared with appropriate repellents.
Tips from RVers
Check power capacity: Some campgrounds experience electrical issues. At Niagara County Camping Resort, one RVer reported "the low voltage power would trip our EMS. Power went to as low as 109 volts that I saw."
Site selection for larger rigs: For RVers with big vehicles, Four Mile Creek offers options. "There is a mix of shaded and wide open sites. Loops A and B were more crowded and more suitable to RV trailers and rigs," notes one camper who stayed in a pop-up camper.
Dump station access: Most glamping destinations near Barker offer sanitary dump facilities, but availability and locations vary. Check campground maps upon arrival to locate these services if traveling in an RV.
