Camping options near Fort Hunter, New York are clustered around the southern Adirondack foothills where elevations range from 600 to 1,400 feet above sea level. The region's diverse terrain encompasses deciduous forest, small lakes, and accessible trails with most campgrounds operating from May through October. Winter camping, including yurt camping near Fort Hunter, New York, is limited to a few year-round facilities due to snowfall averaging 65 inches annually.
What to do
Tubing at creek access points: Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA features a river running through the campground that's perfect for casual floating. As one camper noted, "Tubing was the big hit with the kids... Easy in easy out for the tubing" while another mentioned the "Lazy river flow with some faster spots, truly a perfect way to spend the days in the sun."
Gem hunting excursions: Several campgrounds provide access to nearby mining opportunities within 30 minutes of Fort Hunter. According to a visitor at Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA, "The mines are so much fun... This was part of our gemstone trip which including sluicing, diamond mining, visiting the gemstone museum."
Hiking connected trail systems: Many campsites offer direct access to hiking networks. A visitor to DevilDoc Campsites explained, "Hiking is also available directly from the campgrounds and connects to nearby trails, leading wherever your heart desires, from treks to the lakes nearby to one that even goes all through the Adirondacks."
Swimming in mountain lakes: Several natural swimming options exist within 15-20 minute drives of most campgrounds. One camper reported, "Nine Corners Lake is a must! It has beautiful clear water and we spent two entire days hanging out there."
What campers like
Wildlife viewing opportunities: The forested settings provide ample chances to observe local fauna. A DevilDoc visitor shared, "You'll fall asleep to the sounds of bull frogs, oh and the star gazing is pretty darn nice as well!"
Peaceful waterfront locations: Alpine Lake RV Resort features lakeside camping with fishing access from select sites. As one reviewer noted, "We had a nice spot on the lake and were able to fish from our spot." The waterfront sites are particularly valued for their access.
Spacious, private sites: Many campgrounds in the Fort Hunter region provide well-separated camping areas. A camper at Glimmerglass State Park Campground explained, "The sites are a great size for accommodating two tents and have many people gather at meals."
Proximity to small towns: Most camping areas are within 10-20 minutes of communities with basic services. One visitor to Caroga Lake Campground stated, "It is also conveniently situated for a variety of nearby hikes," highlighting the balance between accessibility and natural settings.
What you should know
Site positioning considerations: When booking specific sites, pay attention to the layout details. A reviewer at Alpine Lake RV Resort cautioned, "Many of these types of sites are parallel to the water, but the map makes them look like back in sites. If your site neighbors are in their spots already when you arrive it will probably be hard to navigate unless you have a 20' rig."
Seasonal facilities: Many campgrounds have limited amenities in shoulder seasons. One camper at Caroga Lake Campground noted, "The campsite connects to the beach area and there is boat rental, but no pets allowed in the beach area."
Winter yurt camping options: Fort Hunter area yurt camping is available at select locations during colder months. At DevilDoc Campsites, a visitor shared, "Slept great each night!! Lots of trails near by for biking or hiking. Highly recommend. Property has an abundance of free firewood you can collect."
Water access variations: Different campgrounds offer varying types of water recreation. A Moreau Lake visitor explained, "The beach is nice, large picnic facilities, and the campgrounds are well maintained with nice bathroom/shower buildings. The park has a large number of hiking trails for every level of outdoorsman."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Schedule campground-organized events into your trip. At Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA, a visitor mentioned it offers "all the amenities we wanted, a river for tubing, and easy drive from home... Very clean cabins, store disc golf course. Across the road from a do it yourself quartz mine."
Beach access considerations: Beaches can get crowded during peak periods. A visitor to Moreau Lake State Park Campground observed, "Campground and swimming area becomes very crowded, especially on holiday weekend due to proximity to I-87 and number of downstate tourists that frequent the park."
Safety planning for water features: Some lakefront sites have terrain features to consider. At Alpine Lake RV Resort, a camper warned, "Our site had a steep drop off to the lake, not all are like this, but be cautious about this if you have young kids."
Playground and recreation options: Look for campgrounds with built-in entertainment. A visitor to Max V. Shaul State Park Campground noted, "There is a children's playground and pavilion. Firewood is available to purchase. The bathrooms and showers are clean and well-kept."
Tips from RVers
Hookup availability varies: Many campgrounds offer limited hookup options. At DevilDoc Campsites, a reviewer mentioned, "We used his power source so we were near his home and site was level for the travel trailer... only con was that they were limited on water so could not dump tanks during our stay."
Site navigation challenges: Several campgrounds have tight access roads. An Alpine Lake RV Resort visitor cautioned, "The roads are narrow and many should be one way, but are not. It would have been impossible many places in the grounds to pass a rig on the road due to the amount of other's vehicles."
Water pressure fluctuations: Be prepared for utility variations. One camper reported, "Had an issue with water pressure on Saturday around 10am... The situation improved so we think it was just a high demand time of day."
Loop selection for larger rigs: Choose camping areas based on your vehicle size. At Moreau Lake State Park Campground, a visitor advised, "Loop A seems to be the best for big-rigs... Our campsite was spacious but required some maneuvering to avoid scraping trees with our RV."
