Camping cabins near Ray Brook, New York provide shelter amid the wilderness of the Adirondack Park's central region, with elevations around 1,700 feet. Located in Essex County between Saranac Lake and Lake Placid, Ray Brook experiences temperatures that can drop below freezing even in summer months, making cabins particularly valuable for less experienced campers. The region's hardwood forests create a colorful backdrop for fall camping.
What to do
Trail access from campsites: Wilderness Campground at Heart Lake features trailheads directly on the grounds leading to High Peaks. A visitor noted, "You can hike Algonquin, Iriquois, Wright Peak, and Mt. Jo all right from the campground." Another camper explained their experience: "The campsite itself is great. They have cabins, lean-tos, and tent sites. My boyfriend and I braved the 12° nights and pitched a tent."
Water sports on connected lakes: Fish Creek Pond Campground offers connected waterways for extended paddling trips. "Most of the campsites are fairly flat and spacious, and the water is great for swimming and watersports," notes one reviewer. Another camper highlights the interconnected water bodies: "So many of the ponds connect that you could paddle for days and not get bored."
Mountain biking: Many trails near Ray Brook accommodate mountain bikes. "We used this campground as a basecamp to mountain bike on an awesome trail just outside of Saranac Lake, the Bloomingdale Bog trail," reports a visitor to Meadowbrook Campground. For dedicated cyclists, Draper's Acres provides convenient access to local bike networks.
What campers like
Waterfront sites: Cranberry Lake Campground offers water access from nearly every site. A camper shared, "We stayed in site #45, right on the edge of the lake, with great kayak access." Another explained: "The lake is beautiful. We weren't set up for it but if you can plan for the sunset view I think it's worth rescheduling your trip for the right site."
Evening quiet hours: Most campgrounds maintain strict quiet periods after 10pm. One Draper's Acres reviewer specifically noted, "No noisy neighbors even on a Saturday night." At Wilderness Campground, a guest appreciated that "the campground is quiet and dark at night for good rest!"
Clean facilities: Rogers Rock Campground maintains their bathhouses well. "Bathrooms are mostly clean and the showers are nice. There is a quality dishwashing sink by the bathrooms," according to a visitor. At Cranberry Lake, a camper stated: "The bathrooms are kept tidy, the shower house is classic and clean, and there is an extensive recycling facility."
What you should know
Reservation timing: Popular cabin sites book quickly, especially for summer months. A Cranberry Lake visitor advised, "You'll definitely need to plan ahead and make reservations if you plan to be here during the crazy season." Another camper mentioned finding availability midweek: "It did appear that you would be able to drive in without reservation on a weekday and find yourself a site!"
Road proximity: Some campgrounds have traffic noise. A Draper's Acres reviewer noted, "This campground was mediocre in my opinion. It was right off the highway and there was a lot of road noise." Similarly, at Meadowbrook Campground, someone mentioned "you can hear the sounds of the city (cars, leaf blowers, and other things that remind you that you are not truly in the woods)."
Cabin furnishing differences: Cabin amenities vary widely between properties. Some reviewers mention "rustic" cabins requiring all personal items, while others describe more equipped options. A Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA visitor explained their experience: "There are two distinct sections of this campground—the 'Resort' section and the '100-Acre Woods' section. We stayed in site #73 of the 100-Acre section and would highly recommend staying in this area as opposed to the other."
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly beaches: AuSable Chasm Campground offers amenities for children. A visitor reported, "Large and nice-looking playground, pool, volleyball net, disc golf and mountain biking/hiking trails." Another family enjoyed that "this is a clean, well maintained campground. It was a little crowded but surprisingly quiet for the number of people. Lots of kids biking and a nice trail behind the sites to walk or run."
Activities between hikes: Most cabins near Ray Brook offer family programming. At Fish Creek Pond Campground, visitors can access "a nice trail to walk that follows along the shoreline" and "a coffee vendor that came through in the morning, which was kind of fun."
Weather preparation: Nighttime temperatures drop significantly, even in summer. A Wilderness Campground visitor shared, "Despite a rainy week we made the most of the easily accessible mountains and the onsite convenience shop was helpful!" Another warned about temperature variations: "The bathhouse was unheated and the showers were lukewarm at best."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookups: Not all cabins or RV sites have full amenities. At Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday, a visitor explained, "We stayed in a full hook-up site that was plenty long enough for our 45' RV and tow car." However, they warned about access: "One bad thing about this park is that you have to pay high fees for visitors. Day passes for adults are $12 and $6/kid."
Road conditions: Some access roads need careful navigation. A Wilderness Campground visitor cautioned, "Road going in is very rough use extreme caution on a motorcycle with street tires." Another camper at Fish Creek Pond noted, "The bathrooms are well kept, but very basic. There is a central shower house (free) with many stalls so there is rarely a wait."
Site selection strategy: Research site layouts before booking. A Rogers Rock RVer advised, "Look carefully at the map when choosing your site. Many of them are near the main road. Sites aren't particularly level or large." At Draper's Acres, a visitor recommended: "if you tent, try to grab a spot on the outer ring for a quieter time, larger space and better views."
