Camping options near Selkirk, New York include a mix of state parks and private campgrounds situated along the Hudson River Valley. The region sits at approximately 200 feet elevation with a humid continental climate characterized by warm summers and cold winters. Most campgrounds in the area remain open from May through mid-October due to New York's seasonal weather patterns that bring occasional summer thunderstorms but generally pleasant camping conditions.
What to do
Hiking at Taconic State Park: Rudd Pond Area offers multiple trail options with varying difficulty levels. One visitor noted, "There's a trailhead at the end of the campground that connects to the other trails in Taconic State Park." Another camper mentioned, "There are plenty of hiking trails. Many unmarked."
Fishing at Thompson's Lake Campground: The lake provides good fishing opportunities for families and casual anglers. "Nice bathroom facilities and dish washing station!" reports one visitor. Multiple campers also mentioned private water access points: "Some of the lakeside sites have private foot trails down to the water which was very nice."
Bird watching at Schodack Island State Park Campground: The park features observation blinds specifically for birding. "Best part was hiking out to a couple of different blinds to look for birds. Did see a juv eagle," shared one camper. The park has "an abundance of wildlife" including numerous bird species.
Swimming at Lake Taghkanic: The park has a designated swimming area with lifeguards during summer months. "Best swimming experience ever," reports one camper. Another mentioned, "The lake is beautiful and clean. Expect to pay $15 fee (I think) to use your paddleboards / kayaks etc. Worth every penny."
What campers like
Large camping decks: Treetopia Campground offers unique deck sites for smaller RVs. "We stayed on one of their deck sites with our Class B (Winnebago). I LOVED sitting out on the deck every morning for my coffee while taking in the fall air," shared one visitor.
Clean bathroom facilities: Multiple campgrounds in the area maintain exceptionally clean facilities. At Treetopia, campers reported "the bathrooms and showers are out of this world! Best of any campground we've ever visited!" Lake Taghkanic campers noted, "Showers are hot and there's great water pressure. The cleanliness of the bathrooms depends on how busy the campground is."
Wildlife viewing: The area supports diverse wildlife populations. "Lots of bunnies, weasels, chipmunks, birds, and butterflies," reported one camper at Schodack Island. Another mentioned seeing a juvenile bald eagle during their visit.
Stargazing opportunities: The relatively low light pollution creates good stargazing conditions. "Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low," shared a Lake Taghkanic visitor.
What you should know
Site terrain variations: Mt. Greylock Campsite Park features hilly terrain that can affect site selection. "The camp has a lot of hills and some are pretty steep. We always bring our bikes and love to bike through the campgrounds, but this one is not good for biking," noted one camper.
Rabies documentation requirements: Some parks require official documentation rather than just tags. At Schodack Island, "Be sure to bring your dogs rabies records!! They don't accept just the tag, it has to be the paper records."
Seasonal crowd variations: Weekday visits typically offer more solitude. "We went on weekdays which is not crowded," mentioned a Lake Taghkanic camper. Another visitor noted, "It was a very quiet campground during the week. However, when Friday came and the weekend campers arrived, it got loud and rowdy."
Water activities fees: Lakes in the area often charge fees for non-motorized watercraft use. Lake Taghkanic charges approximately $15 to use personal paddleboards and kayaks on the water.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly facilities: Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground offers several family amenities. "This campground has always been my go to. Now that I have kids, I appreciate the playground area near the beach more," shared one parent. Another mentioned, "Clean facilities, with a rec room for rainy days."
Platform tent sites: Several campgrounds offer raised platforms that help during wet weather. "This was our second time coming to this campground and our second time getting dumped on by the rain, but have no fear!! The platforms kept us off the ground and were helpful in setting up appropriate tarp protection!"
Recreation hall access: Some campgrounds provide indoor recreation options. At Mt. Greylock, "The rec room had some nicely maintained games (pool table, ping pong, air hockey, and more)." Useful for rainy days or evening entertainment.
Proximity to towns: Several campgrounds offer convenient access to supplies. "Wal-Mart was 25 minutes from the campsite which make making meals lots simpler," noted one Lake Taghkanic camper.
Tips from RVers
Site spacing considerations: RV campgrounds near Selkirk feature variable spacing. At Alpine Lake RV Resort, "Booked an 'Elite 50amp' site but had no realistic map to go by. Many of these types of sites are parallel to the water, but the map makes them look like back in sites." Another camper advised, "If your site neighbors are in their spots already when you arrive it will probably be hard to navigate unless you have a 20' rig."
Road challenges: Access roads at some campgrounds present difficulties. "The roads are narrow and many should be one way, but are not. It would have been impossible many places in the grounds to pass a rig on the road due to the amount of other's vehicles."
Weekend planning: RV campgrounds in Selkirk, New York and surrounding areas get considerably busier on weekends. One visitor observed, "It was a very quiet campground during the week. However, when Friday came and the weekend campers arrived, it got loud and rowdy."
Water pressure fluctuations: Prepare for occasional water pressure changes. One camper reported, "Had an issue with water pressure on Saturday around 10am... The situation improved so we think it was just a high demand time of day."
