The Taconic Mountains region surrounding Averill Park, New York features significant elevation changes between 500-2,000 feet, creating microclimates that affect camping conditions throughout the year. Seasonal temperature swings can exceed 30°F between day and night in spring and fall. Campgrounds within 30 miles offer diverse terrain from riverfront sites along the Hudson to mountain settings in western Massachusetts and southern Vermont.
What to do
Hiking at Mount Greylock State Reservation: Access numerous trail systems including portions of the Appalachian Trail from Sperry Road Campground. "Trails also leave here and head to the summit of Greylock or to the Stony Ledge Overlook," notes one camper who found the area "offers a mixture of group and individual campsites as a reward for a short hike from the campers parking lot."
Fishing at Pontoosuc Lake: Located near Bonnie Brae Cabins and Campsites, this lake provides year-round fishing opportunities. "Pontoosuc Lake is a short walk away; there are boat rentals available and I saw a number of people fishing from Pontoosuc Park just above the dam," reports a visitor who appreciated the convenient location.
Water recreation on the Hudson River: Launch kayaks or canoes from Schodack Island State Park Campground boat ramp. "Our favorite feature was the day use and boat ramp on the Hudson River. We saw many larger boats (maybe small yachts?) during the day. The view from the boat ramp area was amazing," writes one camper, who adds a caution: "However, stay away if you see boat going by. The boat ramp dock turns into a death trap when a big wake from a boat hits the river bank!"
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer vegetative barriers between sites. At Schodack Island State Park, "The state did an excellent job designing sites with dense foliage as sound and site barriers creating good privacy for campers." Another camper noted the sites were "SO spacious and felt secluded because of all the nature and greenery."
Clean facilities: Bathrooms and shower buildings receive frequent attention. At Pittsfield State Forest Campground, visitors appreciate "the bath house was great. Four private shower rooms (2 for men, 2 for women). They also had outdoor showers and a dish washing station... Staff cleaned daily."
Diverse wildlife viewing: Morning and evening provide the best wildlife spotting opportunities. At Piebald Mountain, campers report being "greeted by some turkey and visited by some deer." Another camper at Schodack Island mentioned seeing "lots of bunnies, weasels, chipmunks, birds, and butterflies."
What you should know
Uneven terrain at many sites: Leveling equipment is often necessary for campers and RVs. At Spacious Skies Woodland Hills, a camper reported "Terrain is uneven. Hit and miss on how flat or level sites are," while another noted "the site I had was steep grade from steps to picnic table. Flat ground area for camper was very narrow."
Limited cellular connectivity: Prepare for spotty service in many locations. At Schodack Island State Park, one camper reported "ATT and Verizon fluctuate between 1-3 bars. It was enough for me to work - downloading files, sending emails, and conducting non-video zoom calls."
Bear activity requires proper precautions: Many campgrounds provide bear boxes. At Mount Greylock State Reservation, "Sites are large and generally secluded, each offering a bear box set apart from the campsite itself as black bears live in the park." One camper emphasized "There are bears around so use the boxes seriously."
Tips for camping with families
Look for campgrounds with planned activities: Weekend programming enhances family stays. At Mt. Greylock Campsite Park, "There were activities planned for the weekends that we took advantage of... The band on Saturday night was fun and we brought our chairs and a cooler up there after dinner. The kids enjoyed just running around the open field while we enjoyed the band."
Choose sites near amenities: Sites closest to bathrooms and play areas reduce walking for children. At Cherry Plain State Park, families recommend "the loop of sites near the entrance near the water for views but close to the bathroom, ranger station, and trails."
Consider shoulder season for fewer crowds: May and September offer milder weather and less competition for sites. At Pittsfield State Forest, a camper noted "The weekdays seem quieter than the weekends" while another mentioned staying in early May "before the summer crowds."
Tips from RVers
Request specific sites for larger rigs: Some campgrounds have limited level sites suitable for bigger RVs. At Spacious Skies Woodland Hills, one camper explained "We had a back in site and was having problems with my camper, and they were able to change to a pull through at time of check in."
Check site dimensions before booking: Many of the best places to camp near Averill Park have variable site sizes. At Aqua Vista Valley Campgrounds, a camper noted the presence of "Fields of RVs stacked, little privacy," indicating the importance of researching site layout before arrival.
Verify rabies documentation requirements: Some campgrounds require paper records, not just tags. One camper at Schodack Island State Park advised, "Be sure to bring your dogs rabies records!! They don't let you in with just the tag, it has to be the paper records... they are very strict on rabies requirements."
