Watkins Glen State Park Campground accommodates pets throughout its wooded campsites where dogs remain leashed while exploring the grounds. Ferenbaugh Campground and Camp Bell Campground offer pet-friendly cabins and tent sites with designated pet areas. Most campgrounds enforce standard leash policies, though some provide off-leash opportunities like the dog park at Finger Lakes RV Resort where pets can run freely. Watkins Glen/Corning KOA welcomes pets at their cabin and RV sites with easy access to pet relief areas. Pet policies typically require current vaccination records, and campers should note that while dogs are welcome throughout most park areas, the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen specifically prohibits pets for safety reasons. Sites at Robert H. Treman State Park feature picnic tables and fire rings where pet owners can relax with their animals nearby. Camping photos and user guides for Big Flats, New York are available on The Dyrt.
Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite permits dogs on its hiking trails with proper waste disposal expected, though pet owners should carry sufficient water as drinking facilities are limited. Newtown Battlefield State Park Campground maintains clean facilities with pet-friendly sites that include electric hookups. When exploring the region's trails, campers should be aware that ticks are common in summer months, making regular pet checks essential. Several campgrounds provide direct access to water features where dogs can cool off after hikes, though always under supervision. The region experiences variable weather conditions, so pet owners should prepare accordingly with appropriate shelter for animals during summer thunderstorms or cooler evenings. Clute Park and Campground's proximity to Seneca Lake provides additional water-based recreation for pets who enjoy swimming. Park Station Campground offers spacious sites where dogs have room to stretch while remaining on leash, maintaining a clean environment for all visitors.
$20 - $58 / night
"Watkins Glen boasts one of New York’s most beautiful state parks! I last camped here in 2012 and absolutely loved hiking along the gorges. Also- the camping was next to perfect."
"I absolutely love coming to Watkins Glen Campground, especially when I went to get away from the busy city. This park has gorgeous waterfalls, and great paths to walk and hike on."
"We were looking to spend a couple of nights near Watkins Glen to hit the wineries, waterfalls, and nearby museums around the finger lakes of New York and this park seemed to be in a good location for us"
"The weather was great, so we had a great view of the forest around us & the sky was amazing! KOA does a great job of keeping everything organised & clean.
It was nice & quiet. "
"Near the entrance is the Pull Through Area. Behind a row of trees there are several sites with full hookups including cable TV and Wi-Fi. The sites are open, reasonably level, and a good size."
"Near many attractions close to Watkins Glen. Clean and the staff was a pleasure to deal with"
"We stayed here during an anniversary trip to the Finger Lakes. Easy proximity to Seneca Lake and Watkins Glen State Park. Nice wooded area kept us far enough away from other campers. Great location!"
"Will be returning, I found a lovely spot tucked into a back corner and has the most relaxing weekend."
"Sandy beach, man-made lake with enough space to swim, and boating to explore. Nice trail around the lake to walk or bike with a little difficulty."
"Convenient location to explore the Finger Lakes. 30-40 minutes from Watkins Glen, Ithaca and Corning."
"Short trail with lots of steps to a lovely waterfall in a typical Finger Lakes kind of gorge. Camp sites wooded and short walk from good views."
"Great place for young families sure to the playground, short hike to the falls, bathrooms, pavilions, and very close to Seneca Lake and the Finger Lakes Trail and the Catherine Valley Trail."
"Lots of dogs are here, and they bark all day and start again at 6:30 am. It's under new management and they are very helpful and knowledgeable people. Lots of great activities here!"
"Has plenty of close by attractions. Kids enjoyed the the big playground and mini arcade. Has a large pool for swimming and fun activities"
$20 - $128 / night
"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."
"A waterfall cascades through a gorge here, ending in a beautiful pool for swimming at the base of the falls, with a trout stream flowing out of it towards nearby Cayuga Lake. "
$17 - $81 / night
"Pretty self serve, rangers drive through often but never seems to be anyone at the check-in. You can reserve a site or a cabin, or you can show up after three and see what is open."
"The best thing about this park is location, location, location! Situated on the bottom of Seneca Lake you are just a short walk to downtown and Watkins Glen State Park."
"It was close to town, with a park and swimming beach across the street."
TravelerWonderful location and marvelous hosts. We were welcomed with chocolate chip cookies as we checked in. Bathrooms were beautiful and clean. Two wineries we could walk to and dozens more nearby. Our site was spacious and the dog park gave our pups plenty of time off leash. We definitely plan on returning.
RangerThe park itself is pretty small but it’s in a really cute area with a lot of outdoor recreational activities. Lovely but simple views all around and rolling green hills in the distance. Campground is well-kept and relatively modern but not particularly memorable. Nice little stopover on a road trip. Lots of day use activity. Dog park is kind of annoying with all the barking and owners shouting futile commands, try to camp away from it. Ditto for train noise, stay by the river. It does what it does well, so five stars!
GuidePinecreek is a beautiful park in a great area 10 minutes from downtown Ithica New York and Lake Cayuga. The area has everything you could possibly want or need. Fabulous State Parks with spectacular waterfalls, a farmers market right on the lake front, Cornell University and so much more. That being said it may be the reason the campground doesn't offer any planned activities. They do have a swimming pool and what appears to be a large clubhouse/meeting area that is not or was not used while we were there, nor were any activities publicized. They do have a small arcade but it did not stay open past 8 pm and did not appear to be air-conditioned.
Our campsite was a full hookup with a large grassy area for setting up our outside chairs and picnic table. Although we enjoyed our stay we felt it was a bit overpriced for not having much to offer. They also have a very long list of rules & while they do allow pets there is a list of breed restrictions you need to be aware of before booking a reservation. They also charge for electricity on any stays one week or longer which we had not encountered previously at campgrounds where we have stayed.
Overall we enjoyed our stay but not sure we would stay again.
RangerWatkins Glen boasts one of New York’s most beautiful state parks! I last camped here in 2012 and absolutely loved hiking along the gorges. Also- the camping was next to perfect. Sites are decently sized and well secluded from one another.
in addition, the park is so well situated within the Finger Lakes and all the various wine trails! Made for a perfect girls weekend! Definitely recommend!
GuideIt is a very nice open area to camp in. It is a first come first serve campground. The dog park is a great addition to the park. There is always something going on. Also allows for an easy place right off Route I-86 to rest while driving across MY. Some of the best river access there is to paddle through a great small town.
GuideI absolutely love coming to Watkins Glen Campground, especially when I went to get away from the busy city. This park has gorgeous waterfalls, and great paths to walk and hike on. It's located in Upstate New York, so it's close enough to the city but you feel like you are far away from the city. The campsites are great, clean and well kept. This park does get pretty busy though, because it is open to campers and people who just want to visit for the day to walk the trails. I love that they have trails that lead very close to the waterfalls..lots of rim trails that literally overlook the waterfalls and gorges. In the campground they do offer a pool, which again, does get busy because it's open to everyone regardless if you are camping or not. There also is tours you can take in the summer that will take you along the waterfalls and gorge, they have a playground for kids and an area with picnic tables. I went mid July and it was extremely busy, not sure when a good time to go during the summer when it's not as busy. That was the only downside I would say, is how crowded it was. There is also Seneca Lake nearby that many people go to fish in, however I didn't go on this trip but plan to next time. There are restrooms on site, however I didn't think they were that clean. Toilet paper and seat covers were out in most stalls, so I would advise to bring your own when you go. There is also some gift shops and food stands set up...one food stand has some pretty good hot dogs! The hikes to the gorge and waterfalls is pretty well maintained, however there are quite a bit of stairs. There were some people with kids in strollers that had to turn around because the stairs made it difficult. Not handicap friendly. I would advise to wear a good pair of walking shoes, and not sandals because it is slippery in some spots and again, a lot of stairs! I would highly recommend coming here, even if you don't decide to stay the night!
LegendJust off US 15 at the New York border. All roads and parking pads are paved. The sites are closer together than most other COE parks where we’ve stayed. We stayed in the Bench Loop which is very busy since it is waterfront. Our first week, we were on site 54 (W/E 50A) and waterfront. Our second week, we stayed on site 44 (FHU 50A) right across from the seldom used playground. Quite wooded here but we managed to get satellite TV. No Verizon phone service and very slow internet with a booster. This area is pretty with rolling hills all around so we enjoyed a couple of scenic drives. About an hour away is the Pine Creek Rail Trail in the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.
LegendJake here from the Dyrt! Harpy hollow not only has a great location in northern New York but is veteran owned and operated and ready to host more campers. Check them out and leave a review on the Dyrt when you stay!
GuideDefinitely one of the top places to camp and visit in New York, Watkins Glen State Park never disappoints. Each time I come back, I find something new to discover and have a great time doing that. Pair awesome trails and camping space with world class wineries up the lake, you cannot go wrong.
The Finger Lakes region near Big Flats sits at approximately 850-1,100 feet elevation with mixed hardwood forests dominating the landscape. Summer temperatures typically range from 55-85°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms between June and August. Fall camping season extends through October with nighttime temperatures dropping into the 30s by late season, requiring proper insulation for tent campers.
Hiking at varied elevations: Sugar Hill Fire Tower offers trails with moderate elevation changes suitable for most fitness levels. "Lovely campground in a lush green clearing with plenty of bird life. Good facilities with flushing toilets and trash and recycling on site. The view from the tower is pretty nice too!" according to Cam F. at Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite.
Waterfall swimming: Several parks offer natural swimming opportunities during summer months. At Havana Glen, "This camp ground has a beautiful waterfall you can hike up to and swim in, also the sites are nice and have everything you'd need," notes Sara M. The Eagle Cliff waterfall provides a refreshing swimming spot after hiking.
Wine tasting excursions: The region hosts numerous wineries within 20-30 minutes of most campgrounds. Rob M. at Watkins Glen/Corning KOA mentions, "This campground has everything you need for a safe fun camping experience. Nearby wineries and many wine drinkers camp here along with enjoying beautiful finger Lakes."
Fall foliage viewing: Late September through mid-October offers peak leaf-viewing opportunities. "Watkins Glen State park is a must see for NY campers and hikers. There's the waterfall which is easy for even children to get to, and several beautiful hiking paths in all seasons. The state park campground is like a postcard, especially in fall," reports Erin H.
Well-maintained shower facilities: Clean bathhouses consistently receive positive comments from visitors. At Robert H. Treman State Park Campground, Emma N. notes, "The bathrooms were clean, with multiple free, hot showers. I believe there were separate dishwashing sinks inside the restrooms."
Spacious, level sites: Many campgrounds offer flat, well-defined camping areas. "Site 54 at Robert H Treman is very large, flat, nonelectric and well shaded with areas of sun," says one camper. This feature particularly benefits tent campers needing flat ground for comfortable sleeping.
Proximity to multiple attractions: The central location allows easy access to multiple destinations. At Park Station Campground, Mike C. appreciates the "Convenient location to explore the Finger Lakes. 30-40 minutes from Watkins Glen, Ithaca and Corning."
Pet-friendly policies with clear boundaries: Most campgrounds accommodate dogs with specific guidelines. Lindsay C. observes, "Dogs are allowed but they are not allowed on the gorge trail. I'm ok with this I just wish I had know before we got there. 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."
Seasonal water quality issues: Some campgrounds experience water quality fluctuations. At Ferenbaugh Campground, Gary V. advises, "The only bad comment I would make is there water is very smelly and brown. I actually bought a dual stage water filter and change it every two weeks."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Big Flats, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Big Flats, NY is Watkins Glen State Park Campground with a 4.6-star rating from 90 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Big Flats, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 121 dog-friendly camping locations near Big Flats, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
