Catskill Mountains campsites near Maplecrest sit at elevations between 1,200 and 2,000 feet, providing cooler summer temperatures than lowland areas. Most campgrounds in this region feature wooded settings with a mix of pine and hardwood trees that create natural shade during hot months. Seasonal considerations include high mosquito activity in June and July, particularly at campgrounds with water features or near creeks.
What to do
Hiking near Kaaterskill Falls: North-South Lake Campground positions visitors just a mile from this popular waterfall. "Located just about a mile from Kaaterskill Falls this campground couldn't be in a better spot. We had a wonderful weekend there. The restrooms were clean and had showers, which we did not expect," notes Brittany W. who visited in November.
Fishing at multiple locations: Kenneth L Wilson Campground provides creek access and proximity to other local fishing spots. One camper recalls: "Got chased off by a bear. It was the wildest weekend I ever had, I'm not being sarcastic. The hiking areas are great, the weather is perfect and the bear was very nice for a bear."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds offer swimming, but Whip O Will Campsites features a seven-acre lake with swimming access and a pool. "Extremely nice staff, even helped us check in late. Campground has lots to do with a rec center, playground, and pool. There's a great view of a lake and surrounding hills," writes Nicholas F.
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Many campgrounds offer wooded privacy, but Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground receives particular praise: "We had a 3-day weekend tent camping at This site from July 24-26 2020, at site 58 on Loop C. Campsite is flat and packed dirt instead of gravel, which was great. There's a standard picnic table and a decent raised fire pit, and a spigot at our site."
Creek access: Woodland Valley Campground offers sites adjacent to a flowing creek. "The campground has everything that you need: public toilets, showers, public phone, picnic tables, grills, firewood (for sale), dump station. The mountain creek is like nature singing a lullaby - sleeping next to it was very relaxing," notes John N.
Clean facilities: Several campgrounds maintain clean bathrooms despite rustic settings. One visitor to Nickerson Park Campground noted: "The sites were very spacious and clean. They had a pool and water slides for the kids. The owner and staff were so friendly and welcoming."
What you should know
Seasonal limitations: Many campgrounds close by early October. Devil's Tombstone Campground operates the shortest season, closing September 4, while North-South Lake remains open until October 22. Kenneth L Wilson and Woodland Valley both close October 9.
Bear activity: Bears are active throughout the region. A Kenneth Wilson camper shared: "Pay showers and laundry onsite. Loved having gated security. My husband went on a work trip and left me alone for a few days and we left our rig to take the train into the city for the weekend and we had no problems."
Cell service varies: Many campgrounds have limited or no cell service. At Woodland Valley Campground, one visitor reports: "No mobile signal, but that's the point, isn't it? You get to disconnect from it all for a while."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and activities: Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds offers structured activities for children. "Rip Van Winkle is a beautiful campground, it's well run, well maintained, and has a lot to do! 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," notes Kathy G.
Swimming options: Blue Mountain Reservation provides a pool for families seeking water recreation. One visitor stated: "The campsites are nothing special here, they come with a picnic table, fire ring, and charcoal grill. I used the charcoal grill every night to cook our meals. They have a camp store at the front of the property stocked with basically anything you could think of needing."
Site selection for privacy: For families wanting more seclusion, consider specific loops at Woodland Valley. One camper reported: "We got rained out but it was still an awesome campground, private and just secluded enough. Everyone was friendly. Water to play in right behind tent."
Tips from RVers
Hook-up availability: Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds provides full hook-ups for RVs. "Very easy to level and setup on #7. Full connections. Pay showers and laundry onsite. Loved having gated security," notes one RVer who stayed for eight nights.
Site size considerations: Devil's Tombstone may not accommodate larger RVs. "In my opinion only good thing about this campground was location near hunter and the devils path trail we wanted to do. Management refused to allow use to change reservation to an open site," reports one dissatisfied visitor.
Leveling challenges: At several campgrounds, uneven terrain requires preparation. At Nickerson Park: "Groups of sites sit on level terraces stepped down toward the river. The center area of each grouping of sites had a common use area with tether ball, playgrounds, privies, or additional parking."
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