Camping near Highmount, New York offers diverse experiences from tent camping to premium glamping accommodations. Located in the western Catskills at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 feet, the region's temperature often runs 5-10 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands. Winter camping opportunities exist with temperatures frequently dropping below freezing from November through March, creating ideal conditions for winter activities.
What to do
Hiking trails: At Alder Lake, visitors can explore multiple trail options. "The hike around the lake is a lovely, easy walk. The hike trail that connects to the far end of the lake is 6+ miles and while there were no real views, it was lovely. We also hiked the balsam lake fire tower which had nice views of the area," shares Erik C.
Snowshoeing: Winter camping provides unique opportunities for snow activities. "You'll have the entire mountain side all to yourself! Snowshoe, cross country ski. Winter campfires," notes a reviewer about winter camping options in the Catskills.
Swimming: During summer months, the lakes and streams provide cooling relief. At Alder Lake, one camper mentioned, "Beautiful hiking and camping area. Loved our first experience here… will visit again!" while another noted they enjoyed "relaxing by the water."
What campers like
Secluded spots: Max V. Shaul State Park Campground offers more privacy than many locations. "The Max V. Shaul State Park is small and quiet - only 30 sites here, which are large, flat and sited well apart from each other," reports Holly R. Another camper adds, "This campground is a secret gem. They have new bathrooms/showers and family bathrooms."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention the well-maintained bathrooms. "Great campsite, cleanest facilities ever! Good adjustable campfire cooking rack. Friendly staff, lots of dogs, all on leash!" writes one reviewer about Max V. Shaul State Park.
Unique accommodations: Alder Lake offers both drive-in and hike-in options. "There are two campsites located right outside of the park where you can park your car next to your tent but we opted to hike in. The first spot is less than 1/2 mile down the path, with the next three in the next mile," explains Nora S.
What you should know
Site accessibility: Road conditions vary greatly. At Alder Lake, one camper noted: "Was not the easiest for my RV van to get up the hill with the ruts, but I have a small lift so it helps, lower clearance vans might not make it."
Campground crowds: During peak seasons, some areas get extremely busy. "We arrived around 11:00 am and the parking lot was already packed and cars were lined up along the road. We grabbed one of the three spots that were left and were amazed at how many large groups were set up," reports Colleen J. about her experience at Alder Lake.
Seasonal considerations: Nickerson Park Campground operates "May 1 to Columbus Day," while Max V. Shaul runs from "May 19 to October 10." Plan accordingly if visiting outside these dates.
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Jellystone Park Gardiner offers excellent water features for children. "Nice pool that is shallow so you can relax and let the little ones go in the water park section alone or they have a 3 ft pool also," notes Amanda S.
Entertainment options: Family-focused campgrounds provide organized activities. "This campground had a lot of activities but some were repetitive. It looks like Saturdays have the best activities," explains Stephanie H. about Jellystone Park.
Space for play: Country Roads Campground offers "Mainly an RV ground, but they have about 10-15 great tent sites back beyond the RV area. There are water spigots near all the tent sites and they are nice and spread out. They have special events in a pavilion near the RVs including bingo," according to William R.
Tips from RVers
Site spacing: Thousand Trails Rondout Valley offers varied experiences depending on site location. "If you are looking for an RV resort-type place, this isn't it. If you are looking for a CAMPground, this is a wonderful place! The grounds are well-kept and the bathrooms are clean," notes Inez W.
Full hookup availability: RV amenities vary between campgrounds. "We had one and a babbling brook was 30 feet behind us. Great spot for morning coffee. Clean restrooms, showers and laundry. Dump stations if need and a service to come to your rig to collect waste if you don't want to move it," shares Robert M. about Thousand Trails Rondout Valley.
Seasonal sites: Many campgrounds cater to seasonal campers. Taylor H. observed at Nickerson Park: "We stayed for two nights mid-week in June and had the entire loop to ourselves. That made the experience a 5/5, but after seeing the site layout, it seems like accessibility could be an issue with high occupancy. Most of the campground is filled with seasonal RVs which makes for a different experience."
