Camping near Schuyler Falls, New York centers around the northeastern Adirondack region with elevations ranging from 500 to 1,200 feet along Lake Champlain's western shore. The region experiences marked seasonal changes with warm summer days averaging 80°F and cooler evenings often dropping to the 50s. Camping options in the area typically provide access to fishing in small ponds and lakes that dot the landscape between the Saranac and Ausable Rivers.
What to do
Hiking on nearby trails: Ausable Chasm Campground connects to several hiking paths including mountain biking trails throughout the property. "We wish I had my bike!!! I didn't know that this was a biking campground and there were SO MANY trails. Made the most of them with running," reports one visitor to Ausable Chasm Campground.
Kayaking access points: Champlain Resort Adult Campground provides direct lake access for kayakers and swimmers, though the shoreline requires preparation. "Lake is good to swim in just a little slippery. Rented bikes from a farm down the road that the owner told us about," notes a camper at Champlain Resort Adult Campground, highlighting both water and land activities.
Cross-state exploration: Multiple campgrounds serve as bases for exploring both New York and Vermont sides of Lake Champlain. North Beach Campground offers "Right on the Burlington bike path and across the beach, there is plenty to do and easy access to town and other attractions. Other than the beach itself, this is not a resort campground but it is in an outdoor paradise with plenty to do in the area."
What campers like
Quiet weekday stays: Cumberland Bay State Park offers reduced crowds Monday through Thursday, providing a more peaceful experience. "Love this state park and it was super quiet during the week. Rained quite a bit, but took advantage of the libraries in North Hero and Worthen on those days," according to one reviewer at Ausable Point Campground.
Accessible swimming options: Many campgrounds feature beaches or swimming areas that vary in quality. At Grand Isle State Park Campground, "What a lovely state park! We had a huge campsite that was comfortable for 3 tents and 6 adults. The restrooms/showers are vintage but clean and functional. Showers are coin operated. It was a quiet, family friendly campground with a cute little beach and nature center with youth programs."
Privacy between sites: Several campgrounds offer wooded sites with natural separation. At Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA, "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. This section has tall shad trees and much more space between sites than the resort area."
What you should know
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds in the Schuyler Falls area close by mid-October. Apple Island Resort runs "May 1 to October 20" with increasingly limited services as the season progresses.
Various shower systems: Be prepared for different shower facilities across campgrounds. "Showers are coin-operated, but $0.50 will get you 5 minutes of hot water!" reports a camper at Grand Isle State Park, while other campgrounds have different systems.
Site terrain differences: Sites vary significantly within each campground. At Apple Island Resort, "The rows are terraced and they do offset sites on each row which is good. Our site was pricey at $94/night that includes taxes. The hook-ups at our site (11AD) were well-placed but the sewer pipe was high off the ground which did not allow it to drain even with a 'slinky.'"
Tips for camping with families
Book lake-view sites early: Lake-adjacent sites book months in advance at most campgrounds. "We had a lean-to site that was just far enough from the bathroom that it felt far. I found the site to be well maintained and for the rangers to be kind and help," notes a visitor at Grand Isle State Park Campground.
Find playgrounds: Several campgrounds feature playground equipment. At Lake Placid/Whiteface Mountain KOA Holiday, visitors appreciate the "Large and nice-looking playground, pool, volleyball net, disc golf and mountain biking/hiking trails."
Consider adult-only options: For families with older children or those traveling without kids, adult-only campgrounds provide quieter alternatives. "It is child free which means it is super quiet and so relaxed. We spent about 11 days in absolute paradise at this campground," writes a guest at Champlain Resort Adult Campground.
Tips from RVers
Site configuration awareness: At some campgrounds, hookup placement requires specific parking configurations. At Apple Island Resort, "Most of the waterfront sites are nose-in and suited well for motorhomes. Sometimes they would park a towable next to them and if they backed in there would be a shared patio which works out great if you want a buddy site but not if you don't know your neighbors."
Electrical service varies: Not all sites offer the same power options. At Iroquois Campground & RV Park, "Sites somewhat small and tight but there are some larger sites. Staff very friendly, under new ownership, lots of seasonal sites and folks, fun activities, campers friendly and welcoming, roadway a little rough but overall ok."
Water access for RVs: Many sites require fill stations rather than direct hookups. At Ausable Point Campground, one RVer noted, "Water was available throughout the campground for filling tank. Public beach in campground is beautiful. Site was spacious and level with trees between other sites."
