Catskill campgrounds accommodate pets with varying rules and facilities. Sites at Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds feature wooded, private spaces situated across 60 acres with creek access. Most properties enforce leash requirements throughout, with designated exercise areas available at specific locations. Sites near trailheads provide easy access for daily dog walks without requiring vehicle transportation.
What to do
Waterfall hiking access: Taconic State Park Campground offers proximity to Bash Bish Falls, requiring a short trek across state lines into Massachusetts. According to a camper, "Located just about a mile from Kaaterskill Falls this campground couldn't be in a better spot. We had a wonderful weekend there. The restrooms were clean and had showers, which we did not expect."
Fishing opportunities: Whip O Will Campsites maintains a 7-acre fishing lake with walkable paths surrounding the water. A visitor notes, "Found this campground solely on Internet. Pleasantly surprised that it was more than expected when I arrived. Full facilities and nice fishing pond. Staff was great."
Swimming options: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground provides a swimming beach with boat rentals and clear water conditions. A camper mentions, "The lake is beautiful and clean. Expect to pay $15 fee (I think) to use your paddleboards / kyacks etc. Worth every penny."
Stargazing sessions: Lake Taghkanic State Park offers low light pollution conditions perfect for night sky viewing. A visitor reports, "Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low."
What campers like
Clean shower facilities: North-South Lake Campground maintains consistently well-serviced bathroom buildings. A camper states, "Clean and well run campground with beautiful lakes and surrounded by trails. perfect Hudson getaway. Reserve very early for waterfront."
Deck site options: Treetopia Campground offers elevated wooden platforms for smaller vehicles. According to a visitor, "We went in late September and stayed on one of their deck sites with our Class B (Winnebago). I LOVED sitting out on the deck every morning for my coffee while taking in the fall air."
Platform tent sites: Taconic State Park features raised wooden platforms that simplify tent setup on uneven terrain. A camper explains, "Each of the sites had a large platform (enough room for one very large tent or 2-3 smaller tents), a fire pit, and picnic table. You are very close to your neighbor in this area but when we were there everyone was very respectful."
Nature observation: Kenneth L Wilson Campground provides wildlife viewing opportunities directly from campsites. One camper reports, "Got chased off by a bear. It was the wildest weekend I ever had, I'm not being sarcastic. The hiking areas are great, the weather is perfect and the bear was very nice for a bear."
What you should know
Reservation timing: North-South Lake fills quickly during peak seasons. A camper advises, "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. Avoid holidays to avoid the crowds."
Site selection strategy: Kenneth L Wilson Campground has varying privacy levels across its loops. According to a camper, "Campsites are fairly close together with a variety of levels of privacy. Ours allowed you to be pretty far back from the road for more privacy, but some of the other sites were literally next to the road."
Cell service limitations: Several Catskill campgrounds lack reliable connectivity. One Kenneth L Wilson visitor notes, "There was no cell service in the campground."
Pet documentation requirements: Campgrounds strictly enforce rabies vaccination documentation. A camper explains, "Check-in was easy, if you bring a pet make sure you have your paperwork with you, they do actually look at it."
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds offers family-oriented programming throughout the season. A visitor notes, "Amazing campground with perfectly spaced large sites. There's a few playgrounds a great pool and a lot of amenities can't wait to go back."
Swimming facilities: Brook N Wood Family Campground maintains heated pool facilities suitable for younger children. According to a visitor, "They have a great heated pool that our little one loved. Lots of space to run around and a cute mini golf area."
Campsite selection for families: Select sites away from main roads at Kenneth L Wilson for increased safety. One camper shares, "Large and heavily wooded! Enjoyed our stay even on a busy weekend. They have a lake on site with swimming. We happened to spend the weekend on a day with free canoe/kayak rentals which was great!"
Quiet time compliance: Most campgrounds enforce noise restrictions after 10pm to ensure family-friendly environments. A visitor at Whip O Will notes, "Good vibes, simple amenities, great camp store and a good location! a good spot for overnight or extended camping especially if you arent planning on doin extra to go into the Natl Park."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling requirements: Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds offers relatively level sites with full hookups. A camper reports, "Very easy to level and setup on #7. Full connections. Pay showers and laundry onsite. Loved having gated security."
Utility placement: Brook N Wood Family Camping arranges hookups efficiently but requires planning. According to a camper, "The C section (30 amp) has some shade trees and all grassy sites. Shared hook ups (two sites on one pole) at the rear of the sites with the exception of sewer."
Seasonal separation: Many campgrounds strategically space seasonal and transient sites. Treetopia visitor notes, "The bathrooms and showers are out of this world! Best of any campground we've ever visited! I highly recommend the deck sites to people small to moderate sized RVs and for large rigs they have some big sites."
Hook-up availability: Multiple campgrounds offer varying levels of utility connections. A visitor at Rip Van Winkle explains, "Wooded and private with full hook ups! Rip Van Winkle is a beautiful campground, it's well run, well maintained, and has a lot to do!"
