Cabin camping near Alpine, New York offers woodland accommodations within the picturesque Finger Lakes region. The area sits at elevations between 800-1,200 feet, with gorge trails featuring stone steps and sloping terrain requiring proper footwear. Summer temperatures typically range from 55-85°F, with sudden weather changes common, particularly during spring and fall seasons.
What to do
Gorge trail hiking: Watkins Glen State Park Campground offers access to the 1.5-mile Gorge Trail with 19 waterfalls and 832 stone steps. "Watkins Glen was absolutely beautiful. The sites are quite wooded with plenty of space in between... The gorge trail is a MUST. Definitely go check this campsite out!" according to Laura L.
Swimming opportunities: Robert H. Treman State Park Campground features a natural swimming hole beneath a waterfall. "Beautiful waterfall swimming pool is very cold, but great on a hot day. The new loop is a large field--we got one of the few shady sites in the new loop. Old loop has plenty of trees, but sites are much smaller," notes reviewer not S.
Fall foliage viewing: Buttermilk Falls State Park Campground offers seasonal beauty during autumn months. "Been here in all the seasons, each is beautiful. Campgrounds are wooded. Pretty basic facilities, nice though. None of the tent sites have exceptional views but you're a short walk from the creek/gorges," says Harry H.
Wine trail exploration: The Seneca Lake Wine Trail runs directly through the region. "Nearby wineries and many wine drinkers camp here along with enjoying beautiful finger Lakes," explains Rob M. about staying at Watkins Glen / Corning KOA.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Most state park campgrounds provide wooded settings with ample space between neighbors. "The sites are good sized, they offer cabins as well. The bathhouses are clean and well lit at night. This is definitely a large family area," reports Deb S. about Watkins Glen State Park Campground.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathroom facilities. "Friendly staff, good patrols at night to keep people from being too noisy, tent sites are nice and shaded. Some of the shower houses are better than others. Wonderful hiking at the gorge and it was beautiful," says Lori F.
Level camping pads: Robert H. Treman State Park Campground offers flat terrain for easy setup. "This was a total surprise when we stayed at this site. We thought we were going to go to another park to camp but this one was so nice we ended up staying... Sites were really flat with some tree coverage for shade," according to Kelly J.
On-site activities: Ferenbaugh Campground provides recreation options right at camp. "They have a well stocked store with grocery necessities, camping necessities, snacks and Hersey ice cream. They have a beautiful in-ground pool, fenced in pond for catch and release fishing and live music one weekend a month," notes Gary V.
What you should know
Water quality varies: Some campgrounds have issues with water quality. "Make sure you use a water filter, there was a lot of sediment in the water when we were there," warns Michael H. about Ferenbaugh Campground.
Seasonal operations: Most cabin facilities close during winter months. Taughannock Falls State Park Campground operates from "April 15 to October 16," while Watkins Glen State Park Campground runs from "May 13 to October 10."
Pet restrictions: Not all hiking trails allow dogs. "Dogs are allowed but they are not allowed on the gorge trail. I'm ok with this I just wish I had known before we got there," mentions Lindsay C.
Limited privacy at some sites: Paradise Park Campground offers a more social camping environment. "Redneck lite I heard someone call it. It's fun and relaxing. Safe and fun for kids. Great little store and arcade. There's a pool. Nice big pool. Sometimes live music," says John L.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly swimming: Taughannock Falls State Park Campground offers supervised water areas. "This is a beautiful campground. The swimming area, which goes to 12 feet deep and has a dock to jump off of. The hiking to the waterfall is very manageable," shares Barbara S.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for younger visitors. "There is a huge new playground for the kids and lots of area to walk around the loops if you don't want to hike the gorge trail," reports Lindsay C.
Structured activities: Paradise Park Campground organizes regular events for children. "Daily activities including hay rides and a bunch of decorated wagons being towed by 4 wheeler for the kids," explains John L.
Educational opportunities: Robert H. Treman State Park has learning stations along trails. "Located in Tompkins County, Ithaca New York has beautiful gorges and hiking trails. Robert Treman is a treat and a gorgeous place to camp in the Ithaca, NY area... The campground has bathrooms, showers, picnic tables, a playground and a dump station," notes Carlyne F.
Tips from RVers
Road conditions: Pinecreek Campground access roads require careful driving. "The campground is cute and quiet. Staff is friendly and helpful. My only complaint is the condition of the roads. They are in dire need of grading and new gravel. Be careful!" warns Mindie C.
Site dimensions: Watkins Glen State Park Campground has some challenges for larger vehicles. "The sites are quite wooded with plenty of space in between. We stayed in a 30 ft. motorhome, and the roads within the campground were kind of tight to get through with trees and curves," shares Laura L.
Hookup placement: Taughannock Falls State Park Campground requires planning for utilities. "Check out which side the hookups are on. Some not situated on the right side so you'll need extra long cords," advises Beth.
Campground layout: Spruce Row Campground has a busy internal road system. "We were on an end spot at an intersection inside the campground. Lots of golf carts after whizzing around and due to our campsite location they unfortunately were able to shine their lights on us every time they turned the corner after dark," explains Jodi.
