Tent camping near Keene, New York provides access to the eastern High Peaks region of the Adirondack Park at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 4,000+ feet. Winter temperatures can drop below -30°F, while summer nights typically cool to 40-50°F even when daytime temperatures reach the 80s. Campgrounds in this area vary from roadside established sites to remote wilderness locations that require hikers to carry bear-resistant food containers and portable water filtration systems.
What to do
Summit Mount Jo: 2.3-mile roundtrip hike from Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake provides panoramic views with moderate difficulty. One visitor noted, "You can sit and chill by the lake, hike a mountain or hike around the lake. You can even head into Lake Placid if you want! One of my favorite places to be!"
Explore the Saranac Lake Chain: 3 interconnected lakes accessible from Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground for paddling and fishing. A camper mentioned, "We rented a motorboat to get to our own private little peninsula on the middle saranac. One of the coolest experiences I've ever had in my life- surrounded by nature- water, woods, birds and fishing for pike, bass and sunfish!"
Photograph alpine environments: Trek to the remote Sno-Bird campsite at 4,000+ feet elevation for rare alpine vegetation and mountain vistas. According to a recent camper, "Snowbird is the only campsite that is above 4000' in the park. The location is awesome for tackling the great range."
Swimming opportunities: Natural pools form in the Lillian Brook near its campground. A camper reported, "You have the Lillian brook flowing right next to it. Clear water with big rock pool to swim in (COLD)."
What campers like
Privacy and seclusion: Island campsites at Saranac Lake offer true isolation. As one camper described, "Huge sites, a lot of privacy (nearest campsite in most cases is not even visible). We kayaked before, and found the biggest drawback was impossible to bring a lot of food and a cooler. Bought a small aluminum boat with a motor and now can bring a lot more gear."
High-elevation base camps: Strategic overnight spots for multi-day hiking expeditions. A visitor to Lake Colden explained, "From Lake Colden, if you'd like to bag some peaks you can hike Mt. Colden, Mt. Skyline, the backside of Mt. Marcy, or Algonquin Peak. A word of caution, I'm in relatively good shape and I found some of these hikes quite strenuous."
Lean-to shelter options: Historic Adirondack shelters available at multiple backcountry sites on first-come basis. One camper at Wilderness Campground stated, "Lean to camping at it's best! The lean to I had was right on the lake and on the edge of the campground. It's a bit of a trek to a bathroom but well worth it."
Dark skies for stargazing: Minimal light pollution in backcountry areas. A Heart Lake visitor reported, "Despite rather high density of sites they are well designed and the campground is quiet and dark at night for good rest!"
What you should know
Seasonal parking constraints: Trailhead lots fill extremely early during peak season. A visitor to Lake Colden warned, "FOR THOSE PARKING IN THE ADK LOJ lot, you will need to arrive early during busy days/season. If it is a saturday during peak season the lot fills as early as 6am!"
Wildlife safety protocols: Bear activity requires proper food storage throughout the region. A Feldspar Lean-to visitor noted, "Bear canisters required" while another camper at Lake Colden shared this experience: "I had a black bear encounter at this location. Make sure that you remain bear aware and are taking the appropriate safety measures."
Fire regulations: No fires allowed in many High Peaks backcountry sites. According to a Lake Colden camper, "Fires are prohibited so you'll have to rely on a camp stove for cooking, and you'll need to be wary of weather that has a habit of changing quickly."
Road conditions: Access roads to trailheads can be rough. One Heart Lake visitor cautioned, "Beware of the roads coming in. 40MPH is too fast for these torn up roads."
Tips for camping with families
Consider established campgrounds: Heart Lake provides amenities that make family camping more comfortable. A camper reported, "I was absolutely impressed with the restrooms, dishwashing station, and beach area. I didn't spend any time inside the Loj by the lake because I was camping with my dog and intentionally stayed off the Wi-Fi the whole trip, but family made use of the connection option."
Start with shorter backpacking trips: Marcy Dam sites are only 2 miles from trailheads. A visitor to Bushnelle Falls Campsite suggested, "Great campsite near the river and falls. Lots of tent sites and 2 lean-to. 2 privy. Near the river and a huge falls too."
Monitor weather forecasts: Temperature swings can be significant year-round. A Saranac Lake Islands camper advised, "Bring warm clothing for nights; temps can drop 30 degrees in hours."
Plan for transport logistics: Island camping requires watercraft. A family reported, "Canoed into our campsite, #15. It took 3 trips to bring in all our gear. Beautiful site. Quite a climb up to the actual site. Great swimming from site."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV options: Heart Lake accommodates smaller recreational vehicles. According to the season-long campers: "We stayed at the Heart Lake Campground for a week and a half utilizing it as our home base for adventures into the High Peaks Wilderness and the greater Adirondack region. Specifically, our site was fairly flat and most were like this but there were some that appeared to have a slope if you happened to be car camping."
Consider rental cabins: Alternative accommodations exist at established campgrounds. One MacIntyre Brook Falls campground visitor mentioned the range of options: "Great campsite going up toward Algonquin peak. Just a bit before the MacIntyre Brook Falls. Easy to collect water at the falls. It's on a side trail (left side)."
Day-use options: Some visitors use RVs as base camps while tent camping in backcountry. A day visitor explained, "Stayed in a campground for one night just so I could hike Mount Marcy in the morning! It was 40 dollars a night and it has a great hot shower and flush toilet."
