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Higley Flow State Park Campground features well-maintained, wooded sites with ample privacy for dogs and their owners. This established campground in Colton accepts pets at all sites with standard leash requirements. Several nearby options also welcome four-legged campers, including Cranberry Lake Campground and Riverside Campground, both offering cabin accommodations alongside traditional tent and RV sites. Riverside provides full hookups with electric, water, and sewer connections for extended stays with pets. Sites at Higley Flow are large, private and easy to back into, making them suitable for RVs with pets needing space to settle. The bathhouses are kept very clean, important for campers returning from outdoor adventures with dogs.
Cranberry Lake's waterfront campsites provide excellent access for dogs who enjoy swimming, with both boat-in and walk-in options available. Most campgrounds in the region maintain basic pet policies requiring leashes and proper waste disposal. Trails at Higley Flow State Park are particularly suitable for dog walking, with cross-country skiing paths that convert to hiking trails in summer months. The Raquette River area offers additional water access for pets who enjoy swimming. Mosquitoes can be particularly intense at some locations like Carry Falls Recreation Area, so pet owners should bring appropriate insect protection for themselves and their animals. Birch's Lakeside Campground and Marina on Cranberry Lake provides a particularly pet-friendly environment with lakefront access and a well-stocked store for any forgotten pet supplies. During winter months, the area offers excellent cross-country skiing opportunities where dogs are welcome on many trails.
"Out of all of the places that I have been in New York this is by far one of my favorite places to go"
"We usually head for the Adirondack lakes further down the road but it's still in the foot hills, close to our home and very pretty especially at sunset."
from $17 - $30 / night
Check Availability"We spent two nights here with our dogs over Labor Day weekend 2017. The site is well maintained, the bathrooms are clean, and we had plenty of privacy from our neighbors."
"this was a nice clean campground with access to restrooms at all sites. there is a very nice hike to the top of Bear Mountain and a beautiful view of the lake. book early and get a site on the lake shore"
from $20 / night
Check Availability"Area, location, etc. Summers are beautiful winter are terrible."
"Square pond is a lovely little lake that connects to a larger lake (Upper Saranac I believe) by passing through a canal. This campground has great facilities."
"This is a gorgeous campground on the banks of Fish Creek Pond and Square pond close to Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake."
from $22 - $40 / night
Check Availability"Birch's Lakeside Campground has all the amenities needed to enjoy a stay in upstate New York, a general store, laundry & propane on site keep everything you need right there! "
"In spot 14 where we were located the wooden platform was a little rickety and the strip under door of the women’s restroom is very loose posing a tripping hazard since I’m disabled."
from $25 - $65 / night
Check Availability"Small and quiet campground, just about 20 miles from the Village of Tupper Lake, along the Raquette River. "
from $16 / night
"As it isn't too far of a drive for us, it quickly became our go-to campgrounds for quite a while due to the mostly flat campground and who doesn't love hearing the slow trickle of water splashing close"
"Saw many dogs. Mine loved our own little beach at the back of our campsite. Perfect for paddleboards, canoes, kayaks (these can also be rented at the boat launch)Bathrooms are so clean!"
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability"We found a site on the edge for good privacy.
Sites are well maintained. Bath facilities need maintenance. ""I love how it has great fishing and nice camp sites even let's you bring a boat nice clean showers and bathroom can easily find firewood near by as well.."
from $17 / night
Check Availability"We love Coles Creek because we have two little ones and they are all about riding their tricycles around the grounds. People drive super slow and watch for kids, so that’s great."
"We visited lot 85 and it was the PERFECT location worth trees and water view. The sunset is amazing. The staff is wonderful and I’m so glad we came."
from $20 - $33 / night
Check Availability"Easy and very pretty trails on site, walk along the shore too. Decent wildlife and great birding. Feels very isolated though easy to get to."
"Near the Eisenhower Locks which is nice to watch the ships come in."
from $20 - $116 / night
Check Availability
LegendJake from the Dyrt here! Birch's Lakeside Campground has all the amenities needed to enjoy a stay in upstate New York, a general store, laundry & propane on site keep everything you need right there! Check them out and leave a review about your stay on the Dyrt!
LegendThis is a very basic campground situated in a small village in the Adirondacks – situated between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Every site has a picnic table and an open fire grill and most of the sites on the outer ring have a lot of privacy as they are lined with trees and shrubs. Lots of spaces for larger RV’s, but we saw mostly tent campers.
Bathrooms are mostly clean and the showers are nice. There is a quality dishwashing sink by the bathrooms. Overall, the campground is ok, but needs a bit of a facelift, repainting, etc. Also, you can hear the sounds of the city (cars, leaf blowers, and other things that remind you that you are not truly in the woods).
The best part about this campground is that it is conveniently located between two awesome places and is relatively inexpensive, so if you don’t plan to spend much time in the campground itself, it’s perfect.
We used this campground as a basecamp to mountain bike on an awesome trail just outside of Saranac Lake, the Bloomingdale Bog trail. The following day, we did a quadrathlon that involved kayaking the length of Lake Placid, hiking to the summit of Whiteface Mountain, kayaking back, and then finished the day at Lake Placid Pub and Brewery for dinner. Highly recommended, but plan on a 9-10 hour day on the lake/trail!
With its central location, this campground is close to everything you may need, most even within walking distance.
ScoutThis campground has the best staff you can find in northern New York. The whole time they are open they have activities planned for the kids all summer long. The staff is always smiling and welcoming you into the campground. Quiet and comfortable place to stay. If your kids like to read. There is place they can find a book and read a book.
RangerLovely State Park in the 1,000 Islands where water activities are the main attraction. Make sure to check out the island too! The park spans the island and a little snaking river-like bay. Really pretty to explore on boat. Easy and very pretty trails on site, walk along the shore too. Decent wildlife and great birding. Feels very isolated though easy to get to. Bring your passport, you can see Canada from some of the picnic grounds. Incredible sunsets!!!
Quality State Park facilities, clean. Camping ranges from tents in shady woods to cabins. Some sites are pretty private, even the ones that aren't are quiet.
Note: Robert Moses apparently did a lot in New York State. This park is near Canada! There is also a Robert Moses beach on Long Island near NYC (Fire Island National Seashore) and Robert Moses parkway near Niagara Falls. These are all 8+ hours from each other! Be careful with your mapping apps and in getting advice for travel.
RangerWhether it's playing in the water or in the playground this place is awesome to bring your children. The showers and restrooms were kept very clean and The Pavilions were wonderful places to have a family picnic. The campsites are also well maintained and it was very simple to just back up a little mobile home into the camping spot the picturesque Landscapes made the sunsets absolutely beautiful. Out of all of the places that I have been in New York this is by far one of my favorite places to go
ScoutI Love it here! Everyone is so friendly, that they become your extended family. Many activities to take part in, especially for the children. Pet friendly as well!!
TravelerI have stayed here many times over the years, usually for a 10-18 day stretch at a time. This is one of my favorite places. Most sites are right on the water. Square pond is a lovely little lake that connects to a larger lake (Upper Saranac I believe) by passing through a canal. This campground has great facilities. There are restrooms located convieniently throughout the park so you never have to walk more than a few sites no matter where you are. There are hot showers located at one end of the park and a dump station for RVs. The restrooms and showers are cleaned daily. There is a great little general store just outside the park that sells pretty much anything you could want. Sites are equipped with a table and fireplace (most have grates). There are vendors that drive through the park daily selling wood, ice cream (from an old fashioned wagon, get the moose tracks!), and ice. There is a boat supplier that travels the lake every morning and evening dropping off and picking up kayak and canoe rentals. If you love water front camping this is for you! The park is pet friendly but you need to show proof of vaccines. There are great things to do nearby like the Adirondack Museum, Lake Placid, and beautiful hiking spots. You can have power boats and jets skis on the lake as well as non motorized boats. Some of the best sunsets I have ever viewed happened right here. Quiet hours are taken very seriously and rangers walk the park at night warning rowdy fireside folks to quiet down. However, as dusk turns to night, you can always count on the chorus of yodels going back and forth across the lake. This is a wonderful spot! Check it out! You won’t be sorry! Oh, but sites go on sale nine months in advance through reserve America and the best spots wind up booked for the season pretty quickly.
LegendWe stayed at Meadowbrook over Memorial Day weekend in 2024. It's an average campground, but has a really good location between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake.
Our site had the standard DEC picnic table and fire pit. There are showers (the hot water was broken the day we were there, but the attendant said we could go to nearby campgrounds to use theirs), toilets, and water spigots. I had decent Verizon signal.
The sites were clean, but the fire pit was showing its age. We stayed in site 37, which was a bit more private and surrounded by trees. The sites in the two loops closest to Rte 86 (#1-13, 27-34, and 51-62) were much closer together, and some didn't have trees between sites. Even at our more "isolated" site, we could still see our neighbors.
The bathroom was actually one of the nicest I've seen in a DEC campsite; it looked like it had recently been rebuilt.
There are positives and negatives about the location. On the plus side, there's ice cream and places to eat within walking distance. We also forgot lunch for our hike the next day and were able to walk to a convenience store to grab supplies. And if you're doing things in Lake Placid and Saranac, the location is tough to beat. On the minus side, there's a bit of road noise and some of the campsites looked like they had great views of a parking lot.
GuideThis is a gorgeous campground on the banks of Fish Creek Pond and Square pond close to Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake.
Very site has water access, and the water is super shallow all along the shoreline. It’s perfect for dogs, kids, and hanging out in the water. The bottom is sandy with some rocks, good to have water shoes but not essential. Sites 65-100 get a great view of the sunset! Our site was level and dry, as were the surrounding sites. There’s not much brush on the sites and there are lots of old, tall trees, so I had tons of places to put up our dogs tie out, my hammock, and the clothes line.
There were clean bath houses everywhere and one shower building on the west side of Square Pond. I was surprised by the number of bathrooms, you’ll never be far from one while camping here.
Over all, one of my favorite camping weekends ever, it was a gorgeous spot for water sports and great for a run or bike ride. Don’t sleep on this spot!
Colton, New York sits within the northwestern foothills of the Adirondack Mountains at approximately 1,450 feet elevation. The area experiences significant seasonal variations with summer temperatures averaging 75-80°F and winter lows frequently below zero. Camping seasons typically run from mid-May through early October, with early and late season campers needing to prepare for potential frost.
Kayaking on interconnected waterways: The Raquette River watershed near Colton features multiple connected ponds and lakes perfect for extended paddling trips. At Fish Creek Pond Campground, "The water is super shallow all along the shoreline. It's perfect for dogs, kids, and hanging out in the water. The bottom is sandy with some rocks, good to have water shoes but not essential," reports Oleńka S.
Stargazing in dark skies: The remote location provides excellent night sky viewing opportunities with minimal light pollution. At Birch's Lakeside Campground and Marina, one camper noted, "We had the best view of the stars at night (we were there during a meteor shower). You can tell the campers truly love this place and had nothing but great things to say about the owners."
Winter recreation: Cross-country skiing trails convert to hiking paths during summer months. Jennifer I. at Higley Flow State Park Campground mentions, "I also cross country ski in the winter and the trails are fabulous!" Many trails remain accessible year-round with proper equipment.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the area maintain well-kept bathrooms and shower facilities, important after outdoor activities. At Cranberry Lake Campground, Pat T. appreciates that "The bathrooms are clean and there is plenty of hot water!"
Large, private sites: Most campgrounds offer spacious sites with natural screening between neighbors. Jennifer I. notes that Higley Flow has "Really nice sites that are private and easy to back into," while Sandy T. describes sites as "large and wooded, most all paved (not always very level!)."
Water access: Direct waterfront access is available at multiple campgrounds. "Every site has water access, and the water is super shallow all along the shoreline," explains Oleńka S. about Fish Creek Pond, making it particularly suitable for families and pets who enjoy swimming.
Variable water levels: The dammed Raquette River can experience significant fluctuations. Sandy T. at Higley Flow State Park observes, "Since this river has many dams and is used for hydro power the water level can go up and down 2-3 feet from one day to the next. It didn't affect our kayaking fun, swimming or fishing and was intriguing."
Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be particularly problematic in certain areas. At Carry Falls Recreation Area, Shari G. warns, "The major problem with this campground is that there are thousands of mosquitos who don't seem to be crepuscular! They are out all day and night and even found ways to get inside our camper."
Limited supplies: Some campgrounds are remote with few nearby services. Shari G. notes about Cranberry Lake, "The Village of Cranberry Lake has some supplies, but not much except the very basics at the general store. You'll need to head to Star Lake or Tupper Lake for anything of significance."
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. Jennifer I. highlights Higley Flow's "Great playground for the kids, hiking trails and more," making it an ideal base for families with younger children.
Bike-friendly environments: Flat terrain and safe roadways make bicycling popular with families. At Rollins Pond Campground, campers mention "We loved riding bikes, ice cream truck every night," providing entertainment for children right in the campground.
Swimming options: Dog friendly campgrounds near Colton often feature shallow water entry points ideal for pets and children alike. Cranberry Lake's "Beach front area is great for families! Sites are fairly secluded!" according to Alison B., combining water access with privacy.
Site levelness varies: Many campgrounds have uneven sites requiring additional preparation. Sandy T. notes sites at Higley Flow are "large and wooded, most all paved (not always very level!)" so bring leveling blocks.
Hookup availability: Riverside Campground offers the most comprehensive services for extended stays. Steven F. notes, "Lots of improvements over the last year they said, and it is really nice and clean! New bathrooms and laundry center," making it particularly suitable for RVers requiring full hookups.
Dump station capacity: During peak season, plan extra time for sanitary services. Fish Creek Pond provides "a three-lane dump station for your convenience if you are in an RV," according to Cyndi B., which helps manage busy checkout periods at this pet-friendly destination near Colton.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Colton, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Colton, NY is Higley Flow State Park Campground with a 5-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Colton, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 43 dog-friendly camping locations near Colton, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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