Camping spots near Lyon Mountain, New York primarily cluster around the western Adirondack region where elevations range from 1,000 to 3,800 feet. The area experiences temperature swings that can drop below 50°F even during summer nights. Many primitive camping areas near Lyon Mountain require a bear canister for food storage, as black bears are active throughout the region from April through November.
What to do
Swimming at natural spots: Buck Pond Campground offers a small beach area where campers can cool off during hot summer days. As one camper noted, "It is without a doubt the best campsite I have ever been to. It's perfectly secluded, but still not far from Lake Placid. You do have to travel a little ways (6-10 miles) for a grocery store, but the view is worth it."
Canoeing and kayaking: Taylor Pond provides boat-in camping options with several lean-tos accessible only by water. "Long skinny lake can be windy and rough. Boat launch is rough," warns one visitor, suggesting larger watercraft might struggle during windy conditions.
Hiking direct from campsites: Several campgrounds offer trail access without needing to drive. At Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday, "Behind the 100-Acre section are trails that lead to Whiteface Mountain so you don't have to get in the car to start a hike. My dog loved running through the woods and there were a couple of small streams where she could get a drink of water."
Ice cream outings: Multiple campgrounds are near local ice cream stands that campers consistently rate highly. "There was an ice cream place not far away, with a long line, and it was the best ice cream we had all summer!" mentioned a Buck Pond camper, while others reference Donnelly's Soft Ice Cream where "only one flavor is served each day and standing in line is worth the wait."
What campers like
Separation between sites: Buck Pond Campground offers more private sites than many alternatives. "We camped here with our 3 youngest children. They had a wonderful time exploring, and it was as peaceful as any spot I've been! Our site was tucked back into some trees and you couldn't see any other sites from it. To look around, it was as if we had all of the Adirondacks to ourselves!"
Waterfront views: Grand Isle State Park Campground across Lake Champlain offers excellent viewing opportunities. A visitor noted, "we had a lean-to site that was just far enough from the bathroom that it felt far. I found the site to be well maintained and for the rangers to be kind and help."
Well-maintained facilities: Cumberland Bay State Park Campground receives consistent praise for cleanliness. "This park was very well maintained. The bathrooms by the beach were clean (you don't see that everywhere, especially at a place with a high usage). The sites were large and grassy, and the beach parking is separate from the camping which is great when you have a family with kids."
Proximity to activities: Many campers appreciate the strategic location for exploring multiple destinations. "We had a great time here on a school field trip. The beach is nice even though rocky, the lean to sites are a great way to help keep things dry, and there were great accessible all-gender bathrooms," noted a visitor to Grand Isle State Park.
What you should know
Variable campsite quality: At Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday, there are distinct sections with different experiences. "There are two distinct sections of this campground– the 'Resort' section and the '100-Acre Woods' section. We stayed in site #73 of the 100-Acre section and would highly recommend staying in this area as opposed to the other. This section has tall shad trees and much more space between sites than the resort area."
Traffic noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience road noise despite natural settings. At Cumberland Bay, one camper noted, "It is a nice campground right on the lake but the road next to it is very busy. Just not my kind of place to be honest."
Visitor fees: Some campgrounds charge for day visitors. "One bad thing about this park is that you have to pay high fees for visitors. Day passes for adults are $12 and $6/kid. Overnight fees are crazy high at $15/adult, $8/kid and $7/car," reported a visitor to Lake Placid KOA.
Primitive camping challenges: Taylor Pond offers beautiful primitive camping but requires preparation. "Sites are pretty small and close together but overall the campground is excellent. The camp host is spectacular and it is extremely well maintained for a primitive area."
Tips for camping with families
Look for playgrounds: Multiple campgrounds offer playground equipment for children. At Macomb Reservation State Park Campground, "It's a very cute wooded campground on a nice little pond," making it suitable for families with children who enjoy water activities.
Reserve family-friendly sites: Some campgrounds have sites specifically designed for families. "Multiple different types of sites to accommodate all forms of camping. Family-friendly," noted a Lake Placid KOA visitor, highlighting the range of options available.
Pack for temperature swings: The Adirondack region experiences significant temperature variations. One Buck Pond camper advised, "Is there anything nicer than the Adirondacks in late summer? Buck Pond is a quiet, sublime campground about 20 minutes from Paul Smiths College. The sites are sandy and our site was mostly flat."
Check shower facilities: Shower quality varies widely between campgrounds. "The shower could use an update and definitely bring some shoes to shower in and a mat/towel for the floor as it gets slippery when wet," noted a Buck Pond camper.
Tips from RVers
Choose the right section: At Grand Isle State Park Campground, the layout matters for RV campers. "Beautifully set on Lake Champlain in Vermont! This is a relatively large campground but is well laid out and doesn't feel small even when it's packed to the gills. We spent a long weekend here to enjoy some mid-summer bike riding along the many bike-paths Vermont has to offer."
Check road conditions: Some campgrounds have challenging access roads. "There are lots of tree limbs that needed to be trimmed. Maneuvering through the park was pretty tight for us and we had to take it really slow," noted an RV camper about Lake Placid KOA.
Plan for hookup locations: The position of utilities can affect site selection. "We stayed in a full hook-up site that was plenty long enough for our 45' RV and tow car. The water spigot at our site broke when I was hooking up the water which was then gushing everywhere. Staff were really prompt at coming out and shutting off the water and getting it fixed."
Consider dust issues: At some campgrounds, road conditions affect the camping experience. "Roads in the park are gravel and were very dusty," reported an RV camper at Lake Placid KOA, suggesting site selection away from main roads might be preferable.
