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Mills Norrie State Park Campground's pet-friendly sites accommodate tent, RV, and cabin camping options with full electric hookups. Several campgrounds near Highland provide accommodations for campers traveling with pets. Hemlock Ridge MUA Dispersed allows dogs at free primitive camping spots approximately 150 feet from trails with no amenities or facilities. Dogs must be leashed in most established campgrounds, though leash length requirements vary by location. Jellystone Park Gardiner and Thousand Trails Rondout Valley both offer water hookups and trash service for RV campers with pets. The bathrooms and showers at Mills Norrie are cleaned regularly, with campsites described as spacious enough to accommodate multiple vehicles and tents.
Hiking trails at Mills Norrie State Park connect directly to the campground, offering pet owners convenient walking routes along the Hudson River. Many campers with dogs appreciate the trail network for daily exercise opportunities. The Shawangunk Gateway Campground provides access to surrounding state park trails where dogs can explore. Campers should note that while most established campgrounds offer essential facilities like showers and toilets, dispersed options like Hemlock Ridge require proper waste management and provide no amenities whatsoever. During peak summer weekends, pet-friendly campgrounds fill quickly, particularly at Mills Norrie where weekday camping offers more solitude and space. Winter camping options are limited, with most established campgrounds operating seasonally from May through October.
"We got a red carpet site by the Gaga pit and near the water park (Cindy bear lane) and it was a convenient yet noisy site. Kids were at the playground 8 am or before and the noise woke us up."
"With a new check in area, Gardiner has really stepped up. They expanded the pool area to include another pool plus splash area and water slides."
"We stayed in lot 109, which was perfect because going through the really faint trail through the trees you can come to a ledge overlooking the Hudson River."
"There are great hiking trails on the Hudson River right outside your campsite. Amenities are the great outdoors and an ancient bath house built during the New Deal in the 1930's."
from $17 - $102 / night
Check Availability"Small dog park, communal spaces, and a camp store all made the place feel like a little village. They even have a wine store- cab sav was good. WiFi I work remotely and WiFi is always an issue."
"The staff was nice and they were dog friendly!"
"We came here to hike Hudson Highlands State park while we were one 5 week assignment working in NY."
"With Covid/social distancing requirements, many sites are closed so it’s extra quiet and spread out. I stayed at site 6 with my seven year-old daughter from Tue-Thur."
from $17 / night
Check Availability"I definitely recommend trying to get the walk-in (meaning you can't drive to them) sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed"
"There are drive-up sites and also walk-in sites. No fire pits at individual campsites, though. Only a group fire pit."
"Great place situated in a great area with lots to do all within an hour's drive. Even camping during a pandemic was peaceful & fun!"
"This is a Thousand trails campground so it was free. I think the regular price is $64. Full hookups, tents and cabins to rent. Pleanty to do in and around campground."
"Less then 10 min drive from town, but hiking in and finding a suitable place to make camp has the feeling of the wild, with the safety of having full cell service."
"There are absolutely no amenities whatsoever & barely even a signal here, but it’s quiet & off the beaten path. The parking lot only holds about 4-5 cars, 6 if you park real tight."
"We had planned on driving to hiking but there was so much to do around the camp site we just walked around and did the hiking near by. The dog park is wonderful. Our dog loved it."
"Two ponds to play in and a fenced dog park. Some nice hiking in the park."
from $22 / night
Check Availability"Most acidic lake in New York but completely safe."
"It’s got good access to Lake Minnewaska (driving), staff was nice and polite. But I thought the sites were on the smaller side and no fire is allowed."
from $20 - $42 / night
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ScoutWe have enjoyed our stay. Nice campground with lots of activities and things to do. However, we picked this place because it has an enclosed dog park. It does have an enclosed dog park but the fence is only 3 feet high. While this might be fine for some dogs, I have 2 young border collies that will jump that fence like it is not even there.
ScoutThe campsite was great. Big and going after Labor Day means there was tons of space. Well priced. We did have neighbors that had a trailer and used their generator early in the morning and late at night. Beside that it was fantastic. We had planned on driving to hiking but there was so much to do around the camp site we just walked around and did the hiking near by. The dog park is wonderful. Our dog loved it.
GuideLots of room in many sites for my 24 ft RV and 30 ft trailer. Big meadow in middle with new full playground set.
Dry camping but water available and a sewer dump. Gotta haul your own trash.
Two ponds to play in and a fenced dog park.
Some nice hiking in the park.
GuideSuch a clean and well maintained campground. Staff were so nice and friendly. Only one shower area that was a bit of a trek from our site, a bike would have been nice to get around. We had to move our tent as we had set it back too far and was not on the site pad and park ranger Brian who was very lovely came and asked us to move it and we had a nice chat. Lovely big dog park. There are some nice little walks and small hikes on the ground with a lake that you can rent kayaks or canoes. Close to Woodstock which is a cute town. Our site was a little exposed but the sites either side of us were closed for restoration thankfully. There are some more secluded and set back sites too though.
ScoutRecently, we camped here for a week. We don’t ever post negative reviews like this. The last day, we experienced a violent attack by a very large and aggressive Pit Bull. The Pit Bull did not have a collar or a leash and was accidently let out of the RV to roam free and unsupervised. It immediately ran to our site(4 sites away) and attacked our dog that was tied at the time. The incident was unprovoked. While trying to save our dog, my wife and I were also attacked. The wounds were serious enough to require emergency transport to a hospital for treatment including stitches. All we could think of was what might have happened if our granddaughter had been playing with our dog.
To put it mildly, their existing pet policy is grossly lacking. They never checked what breed of dog or ask to see documentation of shots when we were registering. Yogi Bear Jellystone Park needs to better manage their pet policy to address aggressive dog breeds and ensure the safety of campers. We camped there for seven days and saw multiple sites have more than one large dog, which in many places we’ve camped at would have been banned due to breed type or size. We have RV’ed extensively across the US and have never seen such careless enforcement of a pet policy regarding aggressive dog breeds. Seriously, think about avoiding this park if you have pets or small children.
TravelerGood for skinny dipping and other fun things! Most acidic lake in New York but completely safe.
LegendWe were on a 5 state East Coast camping trip. Our first campground was in New York Aug 8th. Unfortunately, Debbie was socking New York hard. North South Lake Campground in the Catskills was our camping home. Thursday & Friday it was Neverending rain & wind. Saturday was the nice day.
North South Lake has no electricity. The sites are almost all beautiful, tucked in under shady trees. Not a good way to try out our solar panel! Some are by a stream. A few are by the lake. This is a tent campers paradise. New York tent campers are hard core camping during Tropical Storm Debbie!
There are 7 loops. We were in loop 2. Site 85. There are some sites with an incline down to the site. That might give some rvs trouble. It did for us & I had to be driven out of the campground to call 911. Thank you Mary!! It all ended well & we got a different site.
There are bears that visit the campground & one came one of the nights & visited our camping neighbor's site. They showed us a picture- it was a large black bear.
Generators are allowed for 5 hours & they tell you when you can use them.
The bathrooms/showers are state park clean- which means not very.
There is NO cell service & just forget about WiFi. You are unplugged.
This is a hiking park & for this middle aged overweight flatlander they are pretty strenuous. Kaaterskill Falls is an exception - short, easy trail, but the parking fills up quickly. Then they close it! You'll have to take a shuttle to get in.
The trail to the Mountain House Site is also pretty easy, with more of an incline.
There's 2 nice lakes with beaches.
The Catskills are very scenic& we enjoyed our time there!
GuideThis campground is nestled in the Catskills, New York, with easy access to New Jersey and Connecticut. With large campsites and most surrounded by trees, you will find just the right mix of privacy and community depending upon what you are looking for. Although the showers aren't top notch, they do have them and a great recycling center for all of your garbage. If hiking is what you enjoy, they have nearly 4 miles of trails within the campground and surrounding areas that circle two nearby ponds and their day use area. If you are looking for something offsite, don't miss the Giant Ledge hike, a 30 min drive and about a 3 mile out and back hike to Giant Ledge for amazing views overlooking the entire area. Head out to watch the sunrise one morning with awesome views looking east. When you need a break from cooking, don't miss the nearby Phoenicia Diner for some great breakfast and coffee! All of the Park Rangers are very helpful and will provide recommendations and maps, just ask!
TravelerNorth South lake is one of the larger public camp grounds in New York. The sites are well spaced out. Great for families. The lake is huge.
Avoid holidays to avoid the crowds.
The Hudson Valley area surrounding Highland, New York offers several pet-friendly camping options at elevations ranging from 100 to 400 feet above sea level. The region experiences distinct seasons with moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping months. Most campgrounds in the area sit among deciduous forests where oak, maple, and hickory trees provide natural shade for campsites during the warmer months.
Rock climbing at Shawangunk Ridge: The area near Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground provides access to world-class climbing routes. "Near world class hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, swimming holes and waterfalls," notes one camper. The Gunks, as locals call them, offer routes for various skill levels across the ridgeline.
Fishing for panfish: Multiple stocked ponds and lakes provide fishing opportunities throughout the camping season. A camper at Kenneth Wilson Campground mentions "great hiking trails and a fishing pond as well." Some anglers report catching "several bass weighing over 3 pounds" in the park's waters.
Seasonal apple picking: Many Highland area campgrounds are within 20-30 minutes of orchards open from late August through October. Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground sits near several orchards, making it a good base for autumn camping. "Lots to do around like New Paltz, Mohonk Preserve, Lake Minnewaska," notes a camper who visits regularly.
Private wooded sites: Many campers appreciate the natural screening between sites at Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground. "This place can book up during camping season in the Northeast so make sure to book early in advance," advises a regular visitor. Site selection matters greatly for privacy as the campground layouts vary significantly.
Family programming: Scheduled activities keep younger campers engaged at New York City North-Newburgh KOA during summer months. "They have counselors who lead activities with kids in the summer and two pools plus a rock climbing tower, manifold, basketball and a bounce pillow and more," writes a satisfied parent. Weekend programming runs more frequently during peak season.
Water features: Lakes and streams enhance the camping experience at several locations. One visitor to Kenneth Wilson noted, "They constructed a really nice fishing pier. They even have boat rentals - or you can bring your own boat to launch!" Swimming options remain available at most locations from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Train noise: Some campgrounds sit within earshot of rail lines. A camper at Mills Norrie observed, "It's situated right across the Hudson River from a highly active nighttime freight train route, and the noise from the horns and then being awake for a few minutes as the train clattered by." Light sleepers might want to bring earplugs.
Limited winter camping: Most pet-friendly sites near Highland operate seasonally. Thousand Trails Rondout Valley runs from "Apr 1 - Nov 1" according to their schedule. Plan accordingly if traveling with pets outside peak season.
Shower systems: Facilities vary widely between campgrounds. At Fahnestock, campers note, "The campground bathhouse really needed more attention... while it had clearly been painted this past year, it was very 'buggy' - and did not appear to have been thoroughly cleaned since spring." Always check recent reviews for current conditions.
Playground accessibility: Choose sites near play areas for convenience but expect noise. At New York City North-Newburgh KOA, one camper notes, "We got a red carpet site by the Gaga pit and near the water park (Cindy bear lane) and it was a convenient yet noisy site. Kids were at the playground 8 am or before and the noise woke us up."
Swimming options: Lake Minnewaska Picnic Area provides unique water experiences. "Most acidic lake in New York but completely safe," reports one visitor. The clear waters make for excellent swimming during summer months when temperatures peak.
Kid-friendly trails: Several campgrounds offer shorter hiking routes suitable for young explorers. "The campground has lots of things to do for the kids and a fishing pond as well. Trips are organized to NYC and it's about a half hours drive to a metro north station if you wanted to take a train South," mentions a visitor to New York City North-Newburgh KOA.
Site leveling challenges: Many Highland area campgrounds sit on uneven terrain. "Some sites are hard to get into and others are in more of a large parking lot," warns a camper about Thousand Trails Rondout Valley. Request specific site recommendations when booking.
Limited hookup availability: Electric and water connections aren't universal at all campgrounds. At Hemlock Ridge MUA Dispersed, a camper notes, "This isn't a fancy campsite and has no amenities. There is a small (10 car) parking lot and a trail that runs thru 80 acres of forest. Camping is allowed anywhere 150ft from the trail." Arrive with tanks full if choosing primitive sites.
Narrow access roads: Larger rigs face navigation challenges at some locations. "The road is narrow with not much turnaround room, I wouldn't recommend for trailers or RVs," advises a visitor to Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park. Always call ahead to confirm access for your specific vehicle length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Highland, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Highland, NY is Jellystone Park™ Gardiner with a 4.3-star rating from 32 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Highland, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 137 dog-friendly camping locations near Highland, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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