Cabins near Brantingham average 1,800 feet in elevation with wet summer conditions that typically produce 40-50 inches of precipitation annually. The Adirondack region offers year-round camping options with peak season running May through October. Water access varies significantly by campground, with some cabins providing direct waterfront locations while others require short walks to lakes or streams.
What to do
Tubing on West Canada Creek: West Canada Creek Campground offers tubing experiences with an upstream shuttle service. "The river drop/Run is fantastic. Nice sized sites and space for your family to play," notes a regular visitor who has returned for five consecutive years.
Mining for Herkimer diamonds: At Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA, visitors can search for double-terminated quartz crystals. "The mines are so much fun. Some of the sites are crowded but each site has plenty of space. The whole park is well maintained," reports a camper who spent three nights at the facility.
Paddling on Raquette Lake: Golden Beach Campground provides direct lake access for canoes and kayaks. "We rented a canoe from Adirondack river rentals and could launch directly from our site. Everything is clean here and it's a convenient drive to the nearest store," explains a visitor who stayed on site 86.
What campers like
Direct water access: Campers at Old Forge Camping Resort appreciate the waterfront options. "The campground is close to a lot of paddling opportunities and even has a small lake in the campground," notes a visitor who stayed during Moosefest.
Bear viewing opportunities: Wildlife viewing draws many visitors. "Sites are close together and beware of the bear. We had one or two in and around our camp site almost every night. Heed the warnings and lock car doors and don't leave coolers or grills out," advises a frequent visitor.
Winter accessibility: Cold-weather cabin camping offers unique experiences. "Close to skiing. Snowmobiling is the real reason to come here. Dry cabins or cottages with bath and shower are available. Snowmobile trails are accessible from the campground and seasonal rentals are available. The staff will help you with snow removal," writes a winter guest.
What you should know
Power limitations: At HTR Adirondacks in Thendara, electrical capacity can be problematic. "We used a surge protector when plugging in to electric. It wasn't long before our power kept kicking off. We contacted the office and a staff member came and advised us that they do not have enough power for all of the campsites they have," reports one visitor.
Campground layout challenges: Some campgrounds feature difficult navigation. "The roads and lot signs are scarce and other than handing us a very inaccurate map of the property, we were on our own," writes a camper who damaged their RV trying to reach their site.
Varied campsite quality: Sites differ dramatically at most campgrounds. "Site 158 is probably the dopest, but there are some others near the lake that would be sweet. The further back from the lake, the more of a camping-in-the-deep-woods vibe," reports a visitor who stayed at Golden Beach Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: Cranberry Lake Campground offers lake swimming with beach access. "Beach front area is great for families! Sites are fairly secluded!" notes a visitor who considers this campground among their favorites.
Playground facilities: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. "There is a playground and a beach area. The place is very clean and was decorated for the 4th of July festivity. They even had fireworks," reports a visitor to HTR Adirondacks.
Holiday-themed weekends: West Canada Creek Campground hosts special events throughout the season. "Their Halloween weekend is truly a must see, with wagon rides and trick-or-treating! This weekend like many others fill up nearly a year in advance. Return guests reserve their spot the following year before they even check out," explains a long-term visitor.
Tips from RVers
Dump station availability: Cranberry Lake Campground offers updated waste disposal facilities. "Brand new sewer dump area for folks who need it," notes a visitor who appreciated this recent addition to the campground infrastructure.
Site leveling considerations: Sandy or muddy sites can complicate setup. "The sites are not gravel and not level. Ours was dirt and mostly mud and even with our leveling jacks down, we could not level due to the mud and lack of a gravel base," reports an RVer at HTR Adirondacks.
Seasonal site options: For RVers seeking longer stays near Brantingham, Kayuta Lake Campground provides seasonal options. "There are a lot of full timers here, so the grounds can look fuller than they really are as most often the majority of the full time sites are not occupied. But on big weekends, when everyone shows up, it's still not too crowded," explains a repeat visitor.
