North Creek's camping areas sit between 1,200 and 3,000 feet elevation in the southern Adirondacks, with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during the day and 45-60°F at night. The region experiences frequent afternoon thunderstorms during July and August, with rainfall averaging 4-5 inches per month during peak camping season.
What to Do
Kayaking and canoeing on Schroon River: Lake George Riverview Campground provides direct river access with rental options for water equipment. "The river is the attraction at this Campground that provides hours of entertainment. My kids really enjoyed fishing& floating in the river," shares a camper.
Island camping and stargazing: Indian Lake Islands Campground offers unique boat-in sites on private islands. "All sites are boat in only and offer beautiful panoramic views of the lake and surrounding forests," writes Tarah W. A late-season visitor noted, "We went the weekend after labor day, and there were hardly any other campers- we were on an island, but the nearest occupied campsite to us was probably 1/2 mile away."
Hiking Crane Mountain: The challenging trail leads to primitive camping sites with sunset views. "After a short hike up steep crane mountain we watched the beautiful sun set. One of the nicest places I've camped at," says one hiker who made the trek.
What Campers Like
Privacy between sites: Scaroon Manor Campground offers well-spaced sites. "There plenty of spaces with HUGE sites. There is a beach, fishing dock, pavilion and plenty to do in the area," notes Tara N. Another camper mentioned, "The spots were relatively spread out."
Outdoor washing stations: Lewey Lake Campground provides practical amenities. "Bath houses are new and have the dishwashing station," reports Laura S. Another camper confirms these facilities are "single occupancy closet type" with "a unisex, single occupancy toilet in the building in addition to the restrooms."
Clean, sandy beaches: Many campgrounds maintain beaches for swimming. At Rogers Rock, "The beach is always clean and well kept with toys for the kids kept there on the beach for all kids to use," according to Sheri C.
What You Should Know
Wildlife encounters are common: While camping at Scaroon Manor Campground, campers report wildlife activity. "Coyotes were howling all night and definitely heard some around our campground," warns Drew H.
Free dispersed sites fill quickly: The Fox Lair campsites along Route 8 offer no-cost camping but require early arrival. "We visited a few sites, and most were small and/or trashy and/or taken. We managed to snag a spot at the very top of a wide open hill," reports Tommy S.
Black flies can be problematic: Bug protection is essential at certain sites. At Fox Lair, "There were many annoying black biting flies, but a little bugspray went a long way against them," notes a camper.
Tips for Camping with Families
Private bathrooms available: Lake George Riverview Campground offers individual bathroom facilities. "The private bathrooms were an unexpected surprise. Each bathroom was large with toilet, sink and shower," notes Jim B., who adds they "were never busy" even on holiday weekends.
Kid-friendly activities: Lake George Escape Campground offers numerous family activities. "This camp ground is very family friendly and has many different activities that are great for families," writes Meag F., who mentions options like "sliding down the water slide, taking a dip in the pools, playing at the arcade."
Beach toys provided: Several dog friendly campgrounds near North Creek maintain beaches with community toys. "Beach is always clean and well kept with toys for the kids kept there on the beach for all kids to use," reports a visitor to Rogers Rock.
Tips from RVers
Site selection is crucial: Eagle Point Campground has limited space for larger vehicles. "This is a very tight place to camp. If you have a camper, good luck on getting in this campsite. Very tight sites and some are very hard to get level," warns Sheri C.
Navigating internal roads: At Lake George Escape Campground, "Roads in the park are confusing because none are parallel or perpendicular so we had to go slow just to make sure we didn't miss a turn in the RV," advises Nancy W., adding that the receptionist "highlighted the route we needed to take to get to our site which was very helpful."
Dust and mud concerns: Certain campgrounds have terrain issues during wet weather. At Lake George Riverview, a camper reports "sandy roads which makes it very dusty" while another complained about "just dust or if it rains it's mud" at the same location.
