North-South Lake Campground sits at approximately 2,000 feet elevation in the Catskill Mountains, 22 miles west of Lake Katrine. The campground operates seasonally from May to late October, with most sites positioned under mature hardwood forest. Water levels at surrounding lakes and creeks vary significantly between spring runoff periods and late summer, affecting swimming and fishing conditions.
What to do
Swimming in natural lakes: North-South Lake Campground features two connected lakes with designated swimming areas and beach access. "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time," notes Lizz H. The swimming areas include shallow sections suitable for younger children and deeper areas for more experienced swimmers.
Hiking to waterfalls: Kaaterskill Falls sits approximately 1 mile from North-South Lake Campground, accessible via moderate hiking trails. "A lot of the hiking nearby is also relatively easy and includes the newly opened (as of 2016) viewing platform for Kaasterskill falls, which is minutes down the road from the campground," shares Jessica W. Trail maps are available at ranger stations.
Creek recreation: Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds offers direct access to Plattekill Creek where visitors can wade or cool off. "The creek on the property (Plattekill) is great, the pond is fun to fish in, the RC track is great for those who are into it," mentions Kathy G. The creek features shallow areas with natural rock formations where campers often set up chairs directly in the water during summer months.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground maintains well-kept restrooms and shower buildings. "The bathrooms were fine. They were clean but sometimes ran out of toilet paper," reports C.R. Many campers note the regular maintenance schedule for bathrooms, with morning cleanings occurring daily.
Private wooded sites: Kenneth L Wilson Campground offers secluded tent camping options set back from main roads. "We had a 3-day weekend tent camping at This site from July 24-26 2020, at site 58 on Loop C... Ours allowed you to be pretty far back from the road for more privacy, but some of the other sites were literally next to the road," explains Katherine P. Sites vary significantly in privacy level.
Gated security: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground provides a secure camping environment with controlled access. "We left our rig to take the train (about 1 hr away in Poukeepsie) into the city for the weekend and we had no problems," shares C.O. The secure environment allows campers to leave equipment while exploring nearby attractions.
What you should know
Bear activity: Bears frequent many Catskill camping areas, requiring proper food storage. "Got chased off by a bear... It was the wildest weekend I ever had, I'm not being sarcastic," reports Kane B. from Kenneth L Wilson Campground. Most campgrounds provide metal food storage lockers or advise hanging food from trees away from sleeping areas.
Limited cell service: Mills Norrie State Park Campground and surrounding areas have minimal or no cell phone reception. "There was no cell service in the campground," notes C.R. Emergency phones are located at ranger stations, and some campgrounds provide wifi near registration buildings.
Shower availability: Devil's Tombstone Campground lacks shower facilities on-site. "For showers you have to head 9 miles to North south lake," explains Phillip L. Several campgrounds in the region operate with limited shower buildings that may be distant from certain camping loops.
Tips for camping with families
Tent platforms: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground provides raised wooden platforms at many tent sites. "This was our second time coming to this campground and our second time getting dumped on by the rain, but have no fear!! The platforms kept us off the ground and were helpful in setting up appropriate tarp protection!" writes Rosie R. These platforms help keep tents dry during wet weather.
Camp store essentials: Jellystone Park Gardiner maintains a well-stocked store for forgotten items. "First trip to ease my way into camping!! Plenty of space, your car is right there next to you, and the camp store has every essential you could ever need if you left anything at home or are just stopping by!!" shares Katie S. The store stocks camping supplies, food basics, and recreational equipment.
Water recreation options: Multiple campgrounds offer swimming and boating options for children of different ages. "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," explains Amanda S. about Jellystone Park. Many locations separate swimming areas by depth for different ability levels.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: When booking at Devil's Tombstone Campground, verify site dimensions for larger vehicles. "We had a VW Westfalia, which we had no trouble pulling into our site. If we had something bigger, it might have been an issue," advises Sam L. Many Catskill campgrounds were designed before larger RVs became common, resulting in some tight access roads and small sites.
Leveling challenges: Several campgrounds in the region feature sloped sites requiring additional leveling equipment. "Site was nice. Was our first shakedown camping trip," notes Daniel L. about Kenneth L Wilson Campground. Most RV sites include a gravel pad, but many require leveling blocks or jacks due to the mountainous terrain.
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