Cabin camping near Mount Tremper offers access to Catskill Park's 700,000 acres of preserved forests and mountains with elevations reaching 4,180 feet at Slide Mountain. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing from November through March, while summer nights remain cool at higher elevations. Many cabin facilities operate on seasonal schedules with varying access to utilities depending on location and time of year.
What to do
Creek exploration: 5-10 minute walks from Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds lead to Plattekill Creek where visitors can wade and relax. "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 one camper who appreciated the natural water features.
Historical sites: 20-30 minutes away from Interlake RV Park & Campground is the FDR National Historic Site. A visitor confirms this is "convenient for exploring the Hyde Park area, in particular the FDR National Historic Site and the Walkway over the Hudson."
Fishing opportunities: No license required for children under 16 at many park lakes and streams. At Lake Taghkanic, one visitor mentioned, "The lake is gorgeous and there are plenty of nearby hikes for exploring. Wish I would have brought my fishing pole."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Several campgrounds design layouts with natural barriers. A visitor to Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground praised their "platform and dirt tent sites, all sites come equipped with fire pits. The bathrooms and showers are clean and the water stayed hot until the last weekend of the season."
Child-friendly activities: Daily programs at Jellystone parks include supervised recreation. According to a visitor at Jellystone Park Gardiner, "This place is great for kids. It has an event just about every weekend with kid activity."
Hot showers after outdoor adventures: Most campgrounds maintain bathroom facilities with reliable hot water. A Lake Taghkanic visitor noted, "Showers are hot and there's great water pressure. The cleanliness of the bathrooms depends on how busy the campground is."
What you should know
Limited phone coverage: Cell signal varies throughout the region, especially in valleys. One camper at Thousand Trails Rondout Valley noted "We had one and a babbling brook was 30 feet behind us. Great spot for morning coffee."
Seasonal operation: Most parks close between late October and early May. A visitor to Mills Norrie State Park Campground observed, "Deserted during the week but packed on weekends. Sites are large and spread nicely."
Varying bathroom maintenance: Quality depends on visitation levels and staffing. A recent visitor shared, "Bathroom and water pressure was ok. But one shower location for 50 campsites. Three small showers units and three toilet."
Road conditions: Some access roads require careful navigation with trailers. Elevation changes can be challenging for larger vehicles.
Tips for camping with families
Water activities for hot days: Pools and splash parks at family-oriented campgrounds provide relief from summer heat. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Birchwood Acres a visitor shared, "There's a fun splash park with water slides and 2 pools, restaurant onsite, clean bathrooms and showers."
Reserve golf carts: At larger properties, internal transportation helps with tired children and gear hauling. One family advised, "Make sure you reserve a golf cart if you stay during the weekend- it's a must have to get from place to place and our little guy loved it!"
Early booking for holiday weekends: Reserve 4-6 months ahead for summer holidays. A visitor noted, "Labor Day Weekend stay. A lot of people! Very nice beach but packed. Huge parties at the picnic area."
Camp store backup supplies: Most parks stock essential forgotten items. One first-time camper at Rip Van Winkle shared, "the camp store has every essential you could ever need if you left anything at home or are just stopping by!!"
Tips from RVers
Level sites crucial for setup: Some campgrounds have more even terrain than others. One RVer at Thousand Trails Rondout Valley wrote, "Our site was even and easy to level on. Lots of locals and summer residents."
Sewer connections sometimes run uphill: Check hookup locations before finalizing site selections. A RVer noted, "the sewer connection in 372 ran uphill for me, but my pipe sits very low."
Security considerations: Gated entries provide peace of mind when leaving equipment unattended. An RVer reported, "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."
Varying electric service: Not all campgrounds offer 50-amp connections. Some limit generator use during quiet hours.
