Camping opportunities near Hermon, New York include sites along the St. Lawrence River and within forested areas of the western Adirondack foothills. Winter temperatures typically drop below freezing with summer averages around 70°F, creating distinct camping seasons. Most campgrounds in the region operate from May through early October, with closures during the cold winter months.
What to do
Paddle the St. Lawrence River: The river provides excellent kayaking opportunities at locations like Jacques Cartier State Park Campground. "Jacques Cartier State Park is a model which most parks should follow. The park is unbelievably well kept. A boat launch in the park makes it easy for boaters," notes Scott F.
Fishing spots: Riverside Campground offers direct access to water for anglers. "Owner's are great the rates low and the place clean and right on the river," according to Lee M. who camps there annually.
Hiking trails: Cranberry Lake Campground features trail access within walking distance of campsites. "The main trailheads were a 2-minute walk from camp, and everything was very well maintained," reports Ally B., who visited with dogs over Labor Day weekend.
What campers like
Spacious waterfront sites: Wellesley Island State Park Campground offers waterfront camping with room to spread out. "We stayed at site Bluejay 3. Very spacious and private. We reserved the site 3 days prior and still found most waterfront campsites already reserved," shares Erin B., who tent camped with family.
Clean facilities: Fort Drum Recreation Area maintains high cleanliness standards. "With my family and pets in tow, we took a weekend and committed it to nature and ourselves. They offer regular camping sites and RV sites, they also have a dog park for the little furry ones," reports Crystal H.
Night sky viewing: Sites without excessive lighting allow for stargazing. "Quite dark at night, but that was a bonus as we were able to see the Milky Way!" notes Dawn L. about her experience at Swan Bay Resort.
What you should know
Seasonal closures: RV sites near Hermon, New York typically close by mid-October. Eel Weir State Park Campground specifically operates from "May 27 to September 4," according to park information, making advance planning essential.
Wildlife awareness: "We did see a coyote checking out the perimeter of camp looking for food, and probably trying to figure out what new animals were nearby (our dogs), but overall we had no issues with animals approaching us," reports a camper at Cranberry Lake Campground.
Site selection considerations: "If you're tent camping and booking through reserve america, I HIGHLY recommend perusing the site map for some time to find a site close to the water and farther from the RV ring," advises Emily S. about Wellesley Island State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: Jacques Cartier State Park Campground offers guarded swimming areas. "There's a great guarded beach if you have young ones with a newer playground right next to it," Alycia M. explains.
Playground facilities: "The playground is awesome and huge with lots of cool features for kids to explore," writes Nancy W. about Swan Bay Resort, making it suitable for families seeking recreation options.
Ice cream treat: "On Saturdays an ice cream truck rolls through after dinner!" mentions Alycia M. about Jacques Cartier State Park Campground, providing a special weekend highlight for children.
Tips from RVers
Level parking pads: Swan Bay Resort provides concrete pads for easy RV setup. "All of their sites are on slabs, neat and clean hook ups. There is riverviews from just about every site which is nice," notes Michael M.
Big rig accessibility: Natural Bridge/Watertown KOA accommodates larger vehicles. "The sites are small, but there are mature trees between them & woodsy areas around the campsites. The campground is clean and well kept," reports Liz M.
Wind considerations: "Our neighbor (who has camped here seasonally for the last four years) mentioned that he lost three awnings to the wind," cautions Nancy W. about conditions at Swan Bay Resort, advising RVers to secure or retract awnings when away from camp.
