Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Afton, NY

Great family campground, decent sized sites, many lake side sites, very clean bathrooms/ showers. Several playgrounds, heated pool, pet friendly with shots paperwork. Good fishing in pond (cant use live bait or keep fish )

Multi site facility with many activities. Campfires permitted, fishing, row boat rental, bath house, dance hall. Country kitchen has breakfast and lunch on Saturday, breakfast only on Sunday.
Remote, not the place for one night. People friendly and helpful. We were in a back into site. Pets welcome

We tried this campground a few times for short stays and ended up going seasonal last year and will do the same this year. It is a little off the beaten path but is great for families (plenty of activities for kids) and pets (our dog LOVES it there). They have a pool, fishing pond, hiking trails, mini golf, playground, large grassy areas for kids to play, and horseshoe pits. There is a store (stocked with grocery staples/snacks but also TONS of RV specific supplies/parts), laundry and showers (a new and improved bath house is currently being built). There are planned activities almost every weekend during the 'season' but they are open all year with some winter sites available. They have all sites available from tent right up to 50 amp full hook-ups. I can't wait for the new season to begin in April!

We had a great time despite cold wet weather. Our site was probably one of the worst in the place but we were able to scope out others that we would prefer for our next visit. We didn’t have a view of the lake, instead we were in someone’s back yard lol. It wasn’t a big deal. The site was well maintained and flat which were the most important. Most of the sites seem to be on the smaller size when compared to other campgrounds we’ve been too. That said we had plenty of space, it was just very close to the next site. We were on the far side of the lake which is not really within walking distance of the beach, pool and store. We knew this going in and were totally OK with it. I seemed less busy where we were as far as cars and people which is what we were looking for. We hopped in the car and drove the 2 mins to get to the beach. There was always parking. If you stay closer to those things it would be easy to walk & ride bikes to the different activities. The bathrooms were the cleanest we’ve ever experienced at a campground. *The showers are coin operated. The staff were so accommodating and everyone was super nice. There is a lot for younger kids to do and the grounds are pet friendly which was a huge plus for us. My kids really loved having a pool to swim in,in addition to the lake.

My take always:

• Get a site on the lake.

• You won’t have a ton of privacy but you’ll have space for your stuff.

• If you don’t want to drive during your stay, camp on the side w/ the beach and pool.

• The store has a huge selection of necessities, so no need to worry about forgetting things.

• This is a great place to bring an RV.

• Great for families. It would be a great place to camp with extended family.

• Pet friendly. They have a beach for swimming with your dogs

We like Lackawanna State Park.   This is the place we camped when we moved to PA.     It has signts that are very wooded.   Some are a little close to each other, but others offer plenty of space, including our site (52) on this trip.    One of the biggest spots we have ever had.   The site has one potential drawback for some, no electric hookup, however most of the loop we were in and the other pet friendly loop was also electric capable.    The trails are fun for relaxing hikes, we especially like the one right along the lake.    Also their is a huge lakefront area along a different stretch of the lake that offers people a lot of ways to enjoy themselves.   It also has a huge pool area, but that was closed and that was our reason for giving the rating a 4 star.   Can't have your number 1 item closed during the middle of summer and get a 5 star.    We would love to come back in the winter when they have an ice rink with a warming house.

New York State pretty much has abandoned this park. Trees fallen down across the sites. Might be ok for a tent but that’s all.

Jake from the Dyrt here!  Nature Lover's Paradise is new to the Dyrt and they have an awesome spot to share with access to a vast network of trails in upstate New York.  Check them out and make sure to share some pics of your adventure!

This is a small hidden gem of a state park where the only camping available is in camper cabins—and pretty amazing glamping for camper cabins! Although there may be times when there may be people and groups around for day use, the small number of cabins and they way they are spread out will make you feel like you are at your own private retreat. The cabins are beautifully built with lovely settings, and well appointed though you need to bring your own linens. There are a couple of ponds for fishing, but if you want to swim you need to go over to nearby Otsego Lake. The trails wind through mature forest, and you can cross country ski here in winter—in fact, reserve one of the winterized cabins and come for a long weekend of cozy cabin time and quiet time outdoors on the winter trails. There is a beautiful picnic pavilion and playground, so kid friendly. Unfortunately, pets can come for day use but cant stay in the cabins. Reservations must be made in advance for the cabins, and you can be sure they will be filled on special event weekends in nearby Cooperstown, especially for events at the Baseball Hall of Fame or the Farmers Living History Museum. . The park is far enough on the outskirts of town to be away from crowds and noise, but close enough to run to town for activities, get supplies or check out unique cafes and bakeries

Very nice, sites are a good size. Some more secluded then orhers. Allow dogs.

Very well kept and nice. Went on some hiking trails and swam in Gilbert Lake with my dog.

This is a small campground set up on the periphery of Butternut Hill farm which is located on the main Route 20 in Bouckville NY.  At the time I submitted my review, I was not able to make edits on the basic campground listing;   I am not sure why the Dyrt platform wouldnt let me update the important details, but you can get more info and make reservations on the campground webpage which is here: 

https://butternuthill.net/

The campground is in a convenient location in Bouckville,  a small upstate NY village with a concentration of numerous antique shops, which is a draw for collectors in the area. There is also a famous Inn and restaurant, the Landmark Inn, which anchors the town, adjacent to a trailhead for a hiking trail along the historic Chenango Canal, an offshoot of the Erie Canal. 

The meadows and fields of Butternut Hill are the superb festival setting for several regional events, including several Antique shows, the Central New York Fiber Festival, a craft fair and a car show, events that are scheduled a few times a month throughout the summer. 

The campground is adjacent to the festival fields, lining a forest edge with expansive views of the surrounding valley. During special events, vendors and exhibitors have a convenient and inexpensive place to stay that is not far from the exhibit tents and festival fields, but people attending the events can stay there too, or campsites may be reserved at other times through the summer, on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis. 

Many of the sites are for RV's, which have electric and water hookups along with a picnic table and fire pit; rates fro these rang $40-50. There are also primitive tent sites which have a grassy tent area and fire pit but no picnic table and cost  $30 per night. There is a cozy log camper cabin available, at a very inexpensive price of $60 per night (bring your own linens). All camping spots are in close walking distance to the bath house, which has water, showers, and bathrooms. (Additional porta potties are set up during festival events.)  

I was there during the Fiber Festival, and I was impressed at how well organized the programing was, and how clean everything was despite large attendance. In addition, it rained really hard one day of the event, and though the access roads got a little muddy, the campsites seem well drained and did not get muddy. The campsites all back to the woods on the west side, so this serves as a good windbreak too. 

The campground office has some basic camping supplies available, but an advantage of being there during a festival event was a nice food tent and a variety of food trucks offering delicious fare!  If you were coming from a distance to attend one of the local special events, this is a good place to stay, though of course busy during the day. If you wanted to camp here at a non event time, you would find it to be a quiet pastoral location with access to some hiking and fishing spots in close proximity. For staying in the area, the camper cabin would be a great all-weather option if you can get it!

Nice location, near good food and wineries and breweries, owner was very nice and welcoming. We camped with two other couples and the owner was able to accommodate us and put all three of our units together. My main complaints were the pedestals where we were were in the bushes directly behind the campers, and unfortunately for me my hookups are towards the front of my camper so I had to pull in sideways to reach the pedestal. Thankfully we only infringed on our friends site a few feet. The wifi and mobile data were atrocious, which sucked when we were trying to plan out our travels. And, lastly, there were seasonals around us with dogs that barked quite a bit throughout the night and during the day at pretty much anything that moved. We had a good time overall though.

Had a great summer camping weekend at Little Pond.

Pros:

- Near wonderful, little-used hiking trails - challenging ones, too!

- Close to Catskill town options to explore, e.g. Livingston Manor

- picnic table and room to park at your site

- there is a dump station and recycling center.

- Clean bathrooms and shower facilities

- Nice tent sites with well-maintained fire pits (have rack for grilling over coals, very large fire pits, sturdy)

- payphone near entrance/park ranger's office

- firewood for sale at ranger's office

-wildlife: hummingbirds on the path around Little Pond, frogs, deer, birds

- foraging: plaintain, raspberries near camp, blueberries and huckleberries on hike

- views on hike

- ruins on hike

Cons

- no cell service, however, if you hike to a mountain top can have fun joking with those you call about that's what it took to be able to get a signal and be in touch with them :-)

- weekend around the lake is more like a park with day-trippers, as opposed to serene wilderness/lakeside camping. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a high school group (on Satuday?) there that made it feel more like a family/public place than a wilderness getaway. The hiking, however, more than made up for it. The trail we took to get to the top and, at last, have cell phone service and AWESOME views more than made up for that.

The Park Rangers were helpful and unobtrusive. They drove their carts around periodically but not like they were hovering in any one spot or making trouble for anyone. 

We like visiting the nearby towns and breweries. It was a wondrful weekend. They have some tent sites right on the lake for hike-ins. If you drive, you have to carry all your stuff for awhile before you get to yourcamp site. However, these are right on the lake in supreme spots, even with "old school" outhouses a stone's throw away.

I recommend Little Pond for a weekend. If you stay longer, be sure to check  out the surrounding area. We stayed at campsite 2, which was ok, but not on the lake. Go for a site on the lake, even if you have to carry your stuff to set up, it was breathtaking in the morning to see the mist rising off the lake.

From the park: 

Campground Phone:(845) 439-5480 Regional Office Phone:(607) 652-2032 Make Your Camping Reservation: ReserveAmerica

Little Pond is a quiet picturesque campground located in the Catskill Forest Preserve which offers a leisurely hiking trail around a 13-acre pond, and the opportunity to venture along trails leading to the ruins of an old farm or enjoy breathtaking views atop the Touchmenot Mountains.

The campgrounds, beach, boat rental, and Junior Naturalist Program offers fun for all ages; and for the primitive camper, we offer remote sites on the back side of the pond. Little Pond is located minutes from Beaverkill, a world renowned fly fishing stream. Amenities = 67 tent and trailer sites; 8"remote" tent sites; picnic area with tables, grills, or fireplaces; pavilion rental; playground; volleyball; horseshoes; soccer; basketball; ice sales; firewood sales; flush toilets; hot showers; trailer dump station; recycling center; sand beach; boat launch; rowboat, paddle boat, kayak and canoe rentals.

The campground offers accessible campsites with a mile long trail around the pond. A newly constructed ADA fishing platform is at the end of the trail near the day use area. There is also a new ADA path to the beach. Full listing of DEC's Accessible Recreation Destinations. Campsite Restoration Project This campground has sites that have been selected for restoration. While undergoing restoration the chosen sites will be closed. For the list of sites and more information on the project visit the Campsite Restoration Project page. People using the accessible trail at Little Pond Featured Activities boating Boating No motor boats allowed. Rowboats and canoes allowed. Rowboat, paddle boat, kayak and canoe rentals available. fishing Fishing A variety of pan fish.

The Beaverkill, renowned fly fishing stream, is with minutes from the campground. The Pepacton Reservoir is also close by. A special permit is needed to fish in this reservoir and can be obtained from the city of New York Board of Water Supply. Record sized brown trout and smallmouth bass have been caught in the reservoir. Fishing licenses are no longer being sold at any of our campground facilities, but can be conveniently purchased on-line or by phone.

Hiking Trailheads for both the campground trail and Little Pond trail are located within the campground. These trails connect the campground to the 33 miles of foot trails located on the 27,000+ acre Delaware Wild Forest, which boarders the campground to the north. swimming

Wildlife to Watch: White-tailed deer Wild turkeys Bald eagles Bears Coyotes Foxes

Historic Interest: The campground was constructed between 1965 and 1968. It opened for camping in 1968 with 67 sites; the picnic area and the beach in 1968. The 8 remote sites were added at a later date. The shower house was constructed in 1984. In celebration of the 100th year anniversary of the Forest Preserve in July 1985, a time capsule was buried in the campground. This capsule, containing the names of the persons camping in the campground at that time, was entombed in the base of a stone monument located in front of the facility supervisor's office. The capsule is scheduled to be opened on the 200th anniversary of the Forest Preserve.