Dog-Friendly Camping near Howes Cave, NY

Dispersed camping options near Howes Cave, New York provide affordable alternatives to established campgrounds. The area features several primitive campsites along streams and in forested areas at elevations between 1,200-1,400 feet. Winter camping is possible at some locations, though access roads may become difficult during wet conditions.

What to do

Hiking at Minekill State Park: Located just 5 minutes from Nickerson Park Campground, this state park offers waterfall views and moderate trails. "There are also a lot of places in the area to visit. Minekill state park is only a 5 minute drive," notes jennifer P.

Swimming at Thompson's Lake: The lake offers a refreshing break during summer months with a designated beach area. According to Clayton H., "Some of the lakeside sites have private foot trails down to the water which was very nice." The campground maintains "a great beach with swimming, kayak and boat rentals," adds Sabrina H.

Winter activities: For cold-weather camping enthusiasts, Burnt Rossman State Forest provides year-round access. "Was a great location for winter camping. Site easily accessible from road," reports felix R. Nearby Frosty Acres offers winter activities where you can "Snowshoe, cross country ski. Winter campfires."

What campers like

Secluded stream-side camping: Betty Brook Camp offers primitive camping directly alongside a flowing stream. "Love to camp here all year long have been coming to the area for a couple of decades now. Remote. Sometimes you never see anyone. Sometimes you see some people. You camp on the stream," shares Robert B.

Spacious sites at established campgrounds: Many campgrounds in the area provide generous spacing between sites. Tom S. mentions that Max V. Shaul has "Lots of space between sites," while Tom R. notes that Country Roads Campground offers "Spacious sites. Super friendly and helpful staff."

Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained bathrooms at several campgrounds. At Thompson's Lake, Dana O. states, "All public areas including the bathrooms are very clean." Similarly, Taylor H. found that Nickerson Park has "a hiking trail. During our visit we drove around the nearby towns."

What you should know

Water quality varies: Some campgrounds have reported water issues. At Nickerson Park, Peter S. advises to "BRING YOUR OWN WATER!!!" noting "It smelled like raw sewage, loaded with sediment and very discolored. Little to no pressure and a couple times no water at all."

Road conditions to dispersed sites: Access to primitive camping areas can be challenging. The L. reports about Duck Pond Campsite: "The road in on old cemetery rd was pretty rough, so we decided to go out the other way, which was way worse." Yae U. adds, "Just be careful driving in the sometimes rough conditions."

Limited services at primitive sites: Dispersed camping areas offer minimal amenities. Peter from Betty Brook Camp mentions, "There's a stream alongside it, a fire pit, and a town about 8 mi away. It's a small town, with just a gas station store."

Tips for camping with families

Playground access: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. Margaret L. mentions that Max V. Shaul has "a playground, a pavilion, they do fireside jams." At Thompson's Lake, Dana O. appreciates that "this campground has always been my go to. Now that I have kids, I appreciate the playground area near the beach more."

Water activities for kids: Glimmerglass State Park offers excellent swimming options. "The beach was gorgeous the campsite was a great size and secluded," says Tanya W. Another camper notes "the beach area here is huge! great for families, the parking lots is huge."

Weekend activities: Some campgrounds schedule special events for families. Paummi S. mentions Nickerson Park has "weekend activities. Super family and dog friendly campground." Rachel B. adds that Frosty Acres hosts "Themed weekends and an annual car show."

Tips from RVers

Full hookup options: Several pet friendly camping options near Howes Cave provide complete RV services. At Hide-A-Way Campsites, Jackie M. found "Gravel unlevel pad full hookups" and notes that "Friendly attendants guided us to site and directed in spot."

Quiet atmosphere for RV camping: Many RVers appreciate the tranquil setting at area campgrounds. Lee H. comments that Hide-A-Way Campsites is "a small campground but very quiet and nice. The people that run it are very nice and accommodating."

RV sites with nature access: Several campgrounds combine RV amenities with natural settings. William R. notes that Country Roads has "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."