Bonaparte State Forest has several dog-friendly campgrounds and dispersed sites located 9 miles north of Edwards, New York in the western Adirondack foothills. The area sits at approximately 1,300 feet elevation with mixed hardwood forests and small lakes. Winter temperatures often drop below zero while summer daytime averages reach the mid-70s with cool evenings in the 50s.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Cranberry Lake offers excellent bass and pike fishing with both shoreline and boat access. "Camped for three nights. LOVED this place. The bathrooms are clean and there is plenty of hot water!" notes Pat T. at Cranberry Lake Campground.
Waterfront swimming: Access the Raquette River from Higley Flow State Park for swimming in warmer summer waters. Sandy T. reports, "It's convenient for the locals nearby to group camp there so it can be a little busy and loud during the day if you don't get a more private site which there are plenty of."
Winter recreation: Cross-country skiing trails are maintained at Higley Flow during snow season. "I also cross country ski in the winter and the trails are fabulous!" mentions Jennifer I., highlighting year-round recreational options at Higley Flow State Park Campground.
What campers like
Quiet environment: Many campgrounds in the area provide peaceful settings away from crowds. At Payne Lake Dispersed Site, Mona M. notes, "Beautiful views, peaceful and quiet. Public access boat ramp with limited parking available on both sides."
Dark skies for stargazing: The remote location offers excellent night sky viewing. "Star gazing is FANTASTIC!" according to Paul B. at Birch's Lakeside Campground and Marina, who adds, "This place has it all, especially being as remote as it is."
On-site conveniences: Some established campgrounds provide unexpected amenities despite rural settings. A reviewer at Birch's notes, "This place even has WiFi!!!" while another mentions their "quaint general store for supplies and fuel."
What you should know
Limited cell service: Mobile coverage is spotty throughout the region. Mona M. reports, "I'm getting two bars of Verizon signal with the help of a WeBoost" at Payne Lake Dispersed Site.
Military training noise: Proximity to Fort Drum means occasional training sounds. Sam T. mentions at Green Pond, "Not very well know and really quite however the training range can be a little loud at times."
Variable water levels: Raquette River water levels fluctuate due to dam operations. Sandy T. explains, "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."
Limited supplies: Grocery options are minimal in small towns. Blake S. notes the importance of bringing essentials: "Birches had everything we wanted...all the necessities," but comprehensive shopping requires advance planning.
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Several campgrounds include play areas for children. At Eel Weir State Park Campground, Mary D. mentions "A new playground in 2017" making it suitable for families with young children.
Beach access: Kid-friendly swimming areas provide safer water entry points. Christina B. says Kring Point has "a little beach area and great rock cliffs to jump off and swim!"
Wildlife viewing: Opportunities to spot local animals enhance family trips. Aaron P. shares that his "favorite thing is the family of owls that inhabit the trees that you see every night" at Eel Weir.
Site selection for privacy: Request wooded sites for better separation between neighbors. "We stayed at site Bluejay 3. Very spacious and private," notes Erin B. at Wellesley Island State Park Campground, adding that waterfront sites book quickly.
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: RV campers should check site grading before booking. Rebecca D. notes at Cranberry Lake, "Our site was on the uphill slope so we had some road noise due to that."
Electric hookup availability: Not all loops offer power connections. According to Sheri C., Higley Flow has "3 loops with electric" and she recommends checking availability: "While driving there I took a peak online to find that they had one site that had come available with electric. We immediately called and switched our site."
Advance reservations: Popular RV sites book early in peak season. Alycia M. advises, "We book early so we can get a water front site" at dog-friendly Jacques Cartier State Park Campground.
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