North-South Lake Campground spans across the Catskill Escarpment offering camping at 2,200 feet elevation with access to two connected lakes for recreation. The campground operates seasonally from May through October and features both waterfront and wooded sites. Camping options near Barrytown range from established campgrounds with amenities to more primitive dispersed sites.
What to do
Swimming and boating: North-South Lake Campground provides excellent water recreation options with two connected lakes. "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time," notes visitor Lizz H. The campground maintains designated swimming areas with beach access during summer months.
Hiking trails: Access numerous trails directly from North-South Lake Campground, including connections to the Catskill Escarpment Trail. "This campsite is by far my favorite in the Catskills! Their staff is friendly and knowledgeable, bathrooms & beach areas are always clean, & the hiking nearby is fantastic," writes Jessica W. Kaaterskill Falls, one of the region's most popular natural attractions, sits just minutes away.
Streamside camping: Betty Brook Camp offers primitive camping alongside a creek for those seeking more solitude. "Love to camp here all year long have been coming to the area for a couple of decades now. Remote. Sometimes you never see anyone. Sometimes you see some people. You camp on the stream," explains Robert B. The site accommodates tent and small RV camping with limited facilities.
What campers like
Spacious sites: North-South Lake Campground provides well-spaced campsites throughout the property. "North South lake is one of the larger public camp grounds in New York. The sites are well spaced out. Great for families. The lake is huge," shares Tara L. Sites vary in size with some large enough for group camping.
Clean facilities: Country Campsites maintains regular cleaning schedules for bathrooms and shower facilities. The campground provides drinking water, electric hookups, sewer connections, and trash services. Many sites include fire rings and picnic tables.
Year-round accessibility: Betty Brook Camp remains accessible throughout all seasons for camping. "I live near this campground. I'm about a mile away and I pass it every day. It is rather remote, but it is right along West kill road. There's a stream alongside it, a fire pit, and a town about 8 mi away," notes Peter. Winter camping requires proper cold-weather gear and preparation.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Peak season at North-South Lake Campground requires advance planning. "Always packed, but always beautiful. Awesome access to the Catskill Escaprment trail from here," mentions Maribeth W. For waterfront sites, one camper advises to "Reserve very early for waterfront."
Limited equestrian camping: Equestrian camping near Barrytown, New York remains limited as none of the surveyed campgrounds advertise dedicated horse corrals or equestrian facilities. Horse owners need to contact individual campgrounds directly to inquire about accommodation options for horses.
Size restrictions: Artisan Hill Farm & Studio accommodates tent and small RV camping but lacks facilities for large rigs. Betty Brook Camp similarly warns: "I would not recommend this for large trailers. The site is fairly small, but it's in state park, and there's tons of walking that can be done."
Tips for camping with families
Multi-activity options: North-South Lake Campground offers diverse recreation for all ages. "Camping, swimming, hiking, boating, biking, this place has it all," reports Chris D. "I'm a native of the Catskills and spent many an afternoon with my family enjoying the facilities at North/South Lake. I've recently started going there again with my own family and it's great to see them take the same enjoyment I did."
Kid-friendly hiking: Several trails near North-South Lake Campground accommodate younger hikers. "A lot of the hiking nearby is also relatively easy and includes the newly opened (as of 2016) viewing platform for Kaasterskill falls, which is minutes down the road from the campground," recommends Jessica W.
Avoid holiday crowds: Plan family trips during non-holiday periods for a more relaxed experience. "Avoid holidays to avoid the crowds," suggests Tara L. regarding North-South Lake Campground. Weekdays typically see lower visitation than weekends throughout the summer season.
Tips from RVers
Limited services: Smaller campgrounds in the region offer minimal hookups. Betty Brook Camp provides drinking water but lacks electric, sewer, or water hookups at individual sites. The nearest supplies and services are approximately 8 miles away in the nearest town.
Accessibility challenges: Most horse-friendly camping or equestrian facilities near Barrytown require advance coordination. RVers with horse trailers should contact campgrounds directly to discuss specific needs regarding space, water access, and overnight arrangements for horses.
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