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Best Tent Camping near Raquette Lake, NY

484 Reviews

The Adirondack wilderness surrounding Raquette Lake, New York offers diverse tent camping options ranging from established campgrounds to remote backcountry sites. Tioga Point Campground provides boat-in tent sites along the lakeshore, operating from May 19 to September 4, while Cedar River Entrance Camping features waterside tent sites with basic amenities. Seventh Lake Primitive Camping presents free walk-in tent sites for those seeking a more rustic experience. Alger Island Adirondack Preserve, accessible only by boat, offers secluded tent camping with pit toilets and lean-tos available at some sites.

Most tent campsites in the Raquette Lake region feature natural surfaces with minimal grading, requiring campers to select level spots for comfortable sleeping. Bear-proof food containers are essential in many areas, particularly in the High Peaks Wilderness where black bear activity is common. Pit toilets are available at established campgrounds, while primitive tent camping areas require proper waste disposal techniques. Weather conditions can change rapidly, with temperature drops of 30 degrees possible even in summer months. Sites at higher elevations may experience significant wind and colder overnight temperatures compared to lakeside locations.

Tent campers frequently report exceptional privacy at water-access sites. According to reviews, Cedar River Entrance Camping offers "beautiful surroundings" with sites positioned "by the water in the woods," featuring picnic tables, fire rings, and outhouses. North Lake Reservoir Campground provides 32 tent sites around the lake, with some walk-in sites directly on the shoreline. One visitor noted that Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off offers private tent camping despite its proximity to the road, with "plenty of space for multiple tents" and trees suitable for hammocks. Backcountry tent camping areas like Lake Colden require proper preparation, including water filters and camp stoves, as fires are prohibited in some high-elevation zones. Weekday arrivals are recommended during summer months, as popular tent-only sites fill quickly on weekends.

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Best Tent Sites Near Raquette Lake, New York (27)

    1. Tioga Point Campground

    2 Reviews
    Raquette Lake, NY
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 354-4101

    $18 / night

    "Needless to say that it is tough to get the travel trailer across the lake if you go make sure you charcoal up a stick and write your name in the lean to watch out for the neighborly bears"

    "This definitely saves some space in your boat. Pets are allowed!"

    2. Cedar River Entrance Camping

    3 Reviews
    Speculator, NY
    11 miles

    "Stayed at site number 5, I think. It was by the water in the woods just a little bit. Picnic table, fire ring and several outhouses nearby. Beautiful surroundings. "

    "There are many outhouses, a picnic table, and a fire ring close by. beautiful surroundings of geometry dash lite."

    3. Seventh Lake Primitive Camping

    1 Review
    Inlet, NY
    6 miles

    "We happened upon it on our way to the seventh lake campground and ended up staying for two nights. We accessed the sites by water on a canoe trip."

    4. Alger Island Adirondack Preserve

    2 Reviews
    Eagle Bay, NY
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 369-3224

    $18 - $40 / night

    "sites: boat only access. bring water. pack in/ pack out. lean to at sites. secluded. amenities: pit toilets. other attractions: hiking. theme park near (off island). I would go back again."

    "It was a few days before 4th of July so it was a very busy time to be in 4th lake making the lake very choppy. A lot of our stuff got wet due to big waves from boats crashing into our kayaks."

    5. North Lake Reservoir Campground

    2 Reviews
    Otter Lake, NY
    25 miles

    "32 sites all around the lake. Some are walk in right on the lake. Quiet, peaceful, and clean."

    "We got there after dark and it was beautiful to wake up to the view of the lake. Car camped, but there was enough room for a tent."

    6. Francis Lake

    1 Review
    Croghan, NY
    26 miles
    Website

    "Great for swimming, kayaking, and a gorgeous place to wake up next to the water.

    There are two access points to the water, the more hidden point is where you hike in for camping."

    7. Adirondack Mennonite Camping Associates Inc

    1 Review
    Croghan, NY
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 376-2640

    "Beaver Camp (or, officially Adirondack Mennonite Camping Assoc.), is a classic summer youth sleep-away camp on Beaver Lake."

    8. Saranac Lake Islands Adirondack Preserve Campground

    15 Reviews
    Saranac Lake, NY
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 891-2841

    $22 - $40 / night

    "You'll need a boat or canoe (rentals available in Saranac Lake). Sites have tables, fire rings, and outhouses. You'll need a tent, bag, pad, cooking equipment, etc."

    "All campsites have picnic tables, firepits/grills, and privies. Saranac Lake Marina has great rental boats. I even think the dogs look forward to these camping trips."

    9. Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake

    9 Reviews
    Lake Placid, NY
    43 miles
    Website
    +1 (518) 523-3441

    $25 - $55 / night

    "There’s no explaining the views around here. The mountains are beautiful, Lake Placid is beautiful, and this campsite is amazing."

    "Rode in on a motorcycle late at night expecting to not be able to get in, but you can take a parking pass and drop an envelope with your fee at the entrance booth. $15 for a full day $8 after 1PM."

    10. Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off

    2 Reviews
    Bakers Mills, NY
    32 miles

    "This site is campsite 6 and very private (I believe there must be others located close by). The site has it’s own private road. A car is not reccomended."

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Raquette Lake, NY

27 Photos of 27 Raquette Lake Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Raquette Lake, NY

484 Reviews of 27 Raquette Lake Campgrounds

  • M
    Jul. 13, 2018

    Brown Tract Pond Campground

    Just what we needed. Rustic peace.

    Beautiful, peaceful large pond/small lake. Loons. Ducks and ducklings. Beaver. Canoes($20/day) and kayak rentals. Firewood for sale ($9?) or gather downed wood. Fishing. Large sandy Adirondack beach and day use area. Pet friendly. Very friendly staff. Clean, stocked bathrooms/toilet with sink and soap. Well located water spigots. Nearby trails. Dump station. Boat launch (no motorboats allowed).

    No hookups. No onsite showers (can use another Golden Beach Campground showers a few miles away.) No cell or internet. Maybe wifi near entrance?

    Easiest access is from Raquette Lake. From the west you will drive over 5 miles on a dirt road (slow going if towing).

  • Rachel P.
    Sep. 8, 2018

    North Lake Resevoir

    North Lake Reservoir

    Not that they would do this place any justice, but I sincerely wish I had pictures. Unfortunately my last visit here was before smart phones were so commonplace. North Lake Reservoir is one of the Adirondack Park’s best kept secrets. Extremely primitive, you must get off Rte 28, heading toward the old Buffalo Head restaurant and passed there, keep going another 30-40 minutes along a dirt/gravel road until you reach N Lake Rd.

    The DEC-run facility offers about 25 primitive sites along North Lake. There is a campers log where you can sign in at the entrance and the sites are dispersed along a long dirt road. A few are drive-in, while many you must park and walk-in. These sites are primitive-no tables, no facilities or running water. Best of all, no generators or electrical hookups for those of us in it to truly be in nature.

    I don’t recall the site number, but we had about a 1/2-3/4 mile hike along a narrow path to the site. It was completely worth it- the site was large and right on the water, completely surrounded by trees and shade. The only sounds came from the occasional boat across the lake and loon calls in the morning.

    Coming here has absolutely been one of my favorite experiences. If you’re adventurous and up for the challenge and seclusion, I highly recommend checking out North Lake Reservoir!

  • John E.
    Jun. 19, 2018

    Brown Tract Pond Campground

    I fell in love with this place

    As I sat having by my coffee, watching steam rise from the pond, I listened to the distant calls of Loons.

    I’d describe this campground as a hidden gem, but it’s not for everyone. To get here you leave the paved road and take a gravel road a little ways. On our way we spotted a group of Turkeys wandering about. This campground is for the adventurous. No electric or water hook ups (for RVs) and no shower facilities, but there are restrooms.

    Staff was friendly and helpful. Helped me pick out a site and made sure I was good once I set up. Bring or rent a Canoe and you can travel out to an island in the middle of the pond from which families jump from a large rock into the lake.

    As the sun sets and the stars come out, you’ll look up and suddenly realize just how small you are as you stare at the heavens and see the Milky Way.

    Nothing but peace and quiet. When it’s quiet hours, the only thing you here is nature and the occasional crackle of someone’s fire.

    Would I go here again? Brown Tract is one of those places that after you go once, you find yourself going again and again. Our tripped was booked as soon as we could.

  • Matthew D.
    Oct. 10, 2018

    Cedar River Entrance Camping

    Cedar River Campground

    Stayed at site number 5, I think. It was by the water in the woods just a little bit. Picnic table, fire ring and several outhouses nearby. Beautiful surroundings. There is a small landing to launch kayaks or canoes. A dam with some additional sites on the other side. Town is about 20-30 minutes away. Several trails nearby. Would recommend.  

    Also would recommend traveling further in if you are looking for more sites.

  • Elizabeth B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 29, 2020

    Soft Maple Campground

    Small and completely gorgeous! Beach, wooded sites, great for everyone.

    Soft Maple is a truly gorgeous small campground. Only about a dozen sites or so, first come first serve. Level sites for RVs or tent or hammock camping. Each site has a nice space with fire ring and picnic table. The beach is lovely and clean. There’s boat access for canoes and kayaks as this is part of the Beaver River route. 

    The entire campground is accessible, with gravel pack paths, and level sites.  

    Charlie is the caretaker here and everyone says he is the nicest person you’ll meet.  You can’t beat site number 11 for the perfect mix of treelined and water view!

    There is space for RVs and a dump station but the sites do not have power or hookups. 

    If you come in to the campground from “number 4 road” (aka state rt. 26) it’s exactly five miles from the Left turn on to Soft Maple rd. If you have time, stop halfway- the 2.5 mile mark will bring you to the entrance for Eagle falls, a short hike with a fantastic reveal.

  • Rachel P.
    Oct. 26, 2018

    Nicks Lake Campground

    Nicks Lake Campground

    Though just moments away from the heart of Old Forge, Nicks Lake provides a nice balance between the hustle and bustle of Main Street and the tranquility of the Adirondacks.

    The grounds are a wonderful option for families, not only hosting a number of amenities (i.e. campers beach, hiking trails), but providing opportunities to observe the local wildlife. You can catch sight of deer or a bear at any moment. (Just keep in mind to maintain a safe distance and respect their space!)

    The sites were fairly sized and shaded- my family and I reserved sites 38 and 36 for our brief visit. We enjoyed our stay and are likely to return!

  • Maribeth W.
    Aug. 30, 2016

    Lake Harris Campground

    Wet but beautiful!

    We got rained out!! Our site did have good drainage and ample tree cover so that helped. Easy access to buy firewood on the road into the campground.

  • Geoff W.
    Aug. 16, 2017

    Stillwater Reservoir

    Another great trip

    This was my 3rd trip to Stillwater in 3 yrs and it gets better each time!

    Our first trip was an overnight to test some backpacking gear, it was September and the weather was perfect! We hiked into our site, not easy because almost everything is meant to be accessed by boat so we were guessing our course! Cooler weather meant no bugs to contend with

    Next year we took a canoe to our site, it was July, warm weather, warm water and the bugs were not terrible, we were at Site 1, secluded in a cove, not a lot of traffic but there is a hiking trailhead near the site so there is potential for visitors.

    Our latest trip was to site 10, an island site with a large sandy beachfront, we borrowed a motor boat to get there this year and brought plenty of gear for 4 days. Weather was great again, some rain each day but we had time to get setup and get shelters to keep dry.

    Camping if free here but it is first come first serve but with 40+ sites you can almost always get something. There is a small store at the boat launch to get provisions if you need, public restrooms and wifi. Very limited cell service.

    You should bring water or something to filter it from the reservoir. I believe all the site have privy boxes on them.

    There are opportunities for fishing, a few local attractions, a nice restaurant at the launch.

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2023

    Ace of Diamonds Mine & Campground

    Nice enough spot when traveling through

    I called and booked ahead of time knowing I'd arrive late and leave early, which was absolutely no problem, so I'm very thankful for that. I paid over the phone, was given clear instructions on where to park, and was told to enjoy my stay. This location is great if you're in a van or RV and need a quick place to stay for the night in this area of NY in mid- / late-October (because it seems NY closes its state parks quite early) or if you're here for the rock-hunting. From what I could see late at night (which honestly wasn't much) I wouldn't recommend for tent-camping as the sites were quite close to each other and not much soft ground for sleeping.

Guide to Raquette Lake

Nestled in the heart of the Adirondacks, Raquette Lake offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to nature lovers seeking adventure and tranquility.

Tent campers should check out Forked Lake Campground

  • Enjoy primitive camping with spacious sites right on the water at Forked Lake Campground, where canoe rentals are available for exploring the lake.
  • This campground allows campfires, making it perfect for cozy evenings under the stars, though be prepared for some bugs during the summer months.
  • With no drinking water or electric hookups, it's a true back-to-nature experience, ideal for those looking to disconnect.

Local activities for outdoor enthusiasts

  • Experience the beauty of the area by kayaking or canoeing at Cedar River Entrance Camping, which features a small landing for easy access to the water.
  • Hiking trails nearby provide opportunities for exploration and wildlife viewing, making Alger Island Adirondack Preserve a great base for outdoor adventures.
  • Fishing is also a popular activity in the region, especially at Tioga Point Adirondack Preserve, where you can enjoy secluded sites and crystal-clear waters.

Some prices for tent camping range from free to $30

  • Seventh Lake Primitive Camping offers free camping with no permits required, perfect for those looking to save while enjoying nature.
  • For a more developed experience, Fish Creek Pond - DEC provides well-reviewed sites for around $30, complete with amenities like drinking water and showers.
  • If you're seeking a unique experience, Ward Brook Campsite features a lean-to and picnic table, all for free, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious campers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Raquette Lake, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Raquette Lake, NY is Tioga Point Campground with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Raquette Lake, NY?

TheDyrt.com has all 27 tent camping locations near Raquette Lake, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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