The Adirondack region surrounding Remsen, New York sits at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,200 feet, creating varied terrain ideal for cabin camping experiences. The area experiences typical northeastern seasonal patterns with warm summers reaching the 80s and cold winters that often drop below freezing. West Canada Creek flows through the region, providing visitors with water recreation options during the summer months when cabin camping is most popular.
What to do
Tubing on West Canada Creek: West Canada Creek Campground offers tubing experiences with an upstream shuttle service. One visitor noted, "The tubing shuttle is $15 per person which seems steep; a discount or free would be nice for campers, as drop off points are just down the road."
Diamond mining adventures: At Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA, guests can hunt for Herkimer diamonds (clear double-terminated quartz). As one camper shared, "The mines are wonderful if you'd want to search for your own Herkimer diamonds. Star gazing, falling asleep to the sound of the creek, lots of fun spaces for kids, inexpensive, etc."
Archery and specialized activities: Some campgrounds offer unique recreational options. At Kayuta Lake Campground and Marina, visitors can enjoy archery targets and laser tag. One visitor commented, "Very fun shooting archery targets. They also have laser tag but we didn't participate. No cable but you can buy 5g wifi."
What campers like
Waterfront cabin sites: Waterfront options provide direct access to lakes or creeks. At Singing Waters RV Park, a reviewer appreciated their location: "We spent 4 nights here in our 27 ft toy hauler with 2 dogs. Sites were roomy and many are seasonal. The lake linked to a river was great for kayaking and fishing."
Winter cabin options: Some cabins remain open year-round for cold-weather recreation. At Old Forge Camping Resort, winter visitors find specialized amenities: "Close to skiing. Snowmobiling is the real reason to come here. Dry cabins or cottages with bath and shower are available. Snowmobile trails are accessible from the campground and seasonal rentals are available."
Clean facilities: Campers frequently mention facility quality. One visitor noted about Herkimer Diamond Mine KOA, "Very beautiful campground with lots of planned activities for the kids. Outdoor pool and clean shower/bathrooms. Lots of grass and shade. Very nice sites that are easy to get in/out of."
What you should know
Reservation timelines: Popular weekends book up extremely early. At West Canada Creek Campground, a reviewer observed their themed weekends "fill up nearly a year in advance. Return guests reserve their spot the following year before they even check out."
Power limitations: Some campgrounds have electricity issues. A Singing Waters visitor warned, "We used a surge protector when plugging in to electric. It wasn't long before our power kept kicking off. We contacted the office and a staff member came and advised us that they do not have enough power for all of the campsites they have."
Wildlife awareness: Bear activity occurs in some areas. At Old Forge, campers advise, "Lots of black bears in area heed the warnings regarding keeping cars and camper locked keep food and cooler secure."
Tips for camping with families
Themed weekends: Family-oriented events create memorable experiences. At West Canada Creek Campground, one visitor described, "Their Halloween weekend is truly a must see, with wagon rides and trick-or-treating! This weekend like many others fill up nearly a year in advance."
Splash amenities: Water features provide kid-friendly entertainment. Verona Beach State Park has added features as mentioned by a visitor: "The kids love to hang out at the splash pad and the state recently revamped some of the playgrounds."
Organized activities: Structured recreation keeps children engaged. A Kayuta Lake visitor reported, "They have a nice pool. It's just a little small. The playground is old and outdated, but my kids didn't seem to mind. The arcade was a bummer. Half of the games did not work. My kids are young enough that they didn't mind."
Tips from RVers
Site layouts and access: Some campgrounds have challenging layouts. At Green Lakes State Park Campground, a visitor noted, "Very nice campground - friendly staff - large spots/mainly bigger setups. Only downside is there is not a hiking/walking path down to the lake from the campground."
Full hookup availability: Water, electric, and sewer connections vary widely. A West Canada Creek visitor mentioned, "This campground has it all. Heated pool, great store, large sites, surrounded by trees, events, soft serve ice cream, tube rentals to float on the creek (river). FHU as well as tent sites and cabins."
Site conditions: Surface types impact setup ease. One Verona Beach camper shared their experience: "We needed a campground not too far off our route from Niagara Falls to NH and this was great. Very windy when we arrived. Our campsite 8 did not have a fire ring but others did. Right on water…can't drive on path in front of the water sites so you are essentially on the water."
