Best Tent Camping near Sterling, NY

We visited 6 state parks in the Finger Lakes region of New York this past summer. Fillmore Glen State Park was our favorite for hiking, but probably our least favorite for camping. The trails are uncrowded and well maintained. We hiked along the south rim trail and the gorge trail. The gorge trail is especially cool, with 9 foot bridges crisscrossing over the river. There are several gorgeous waterfalls, and the walk was shady and cool, even though it was a hot day. After hiking through the glen, we were hoping to cool off with a swim, but the swimming area was closed. Not sure why, but you can only swim when lifeguards are on duty, and there were No Swimming signs everywhere.

The campground at Fillmore Glen was totally full when we stayed there. The sites offered little privacy and were very close together, plus you could here road noise loud and clear all through the night. The water faucet near our site was out of order, and the bathrooms were only clean in the morning. The sites were all wooded and shaded, with nice flat spots for tents, but I probably wouldn’t stay there again during the busy summer months. If you’re headed out that way, I would definitely recommend Fillmore Glen for a day trip, but I’d camp at either Robert Treman or Buttermilk Falls state park in Ithaca.

This is a great example of what a state park should be. It not only preserves a place of unique biological diversity and geologic interest, it is also well set up and well maintained to maximize low impact outdoor recreation and environmental education. A new state of the art regional environmental education center is being built now that will open in spring, as well as new handicapped access kayaking docks that complement Accessible trails and campsites throughout the park. This is a great destination for families, handicapped campers, and natural history enthusiasts. There are several campgrounds, one is large and open and meant for large RVs, others are drive-in forested tent sites or trailer sites with hookups, and several walkin sites. There is also a colony of rustic camper cabins. The campgrounds have brand new restroom facilities and playgrounds, and the main lake has a new beach house. The lake is a fascinating meromictic lake with clear calcium-rich waters that are not only pristine and beautiful to look at, but also great for swimming and snorkeling as the waters are crystal clear and very deep. There are hiking trails, paved bike trails, a nature preserve for bird watching at Round Lake, a golf course, and great kayaking or canoeing. It is also located right next door to the Erie Canal State Park for those who want to hike or bike the historic Erie Canal. Though you might expect a park like this to be in a remote location, it is actually just a short distance east of the suburbs of the Syracuse metro area, so it is an easy park to get to, plus staying there also provides easy access to stores for supplies, or access to local cultural activities or restaurants for those who want that. One of my favorite state parks in New York!

After meeting up with the owner we went down to the parking area. A dirt trail and park on the side in the grass. You have to walk in about 2 minutes on a trail. The owner has a golf cart with a small wagon and transported our stuff to the campsite and back when we left…he was really nice and very helpful.the trail opened to open grassy areas with surrounding trees where we pitched our tent…a small table and fire ring w grate provided. Also firewood.you get water back up at the barn but the owner was nice and brought us a 5 gal. Jug. Pond stocked with fish…catch and release. We caught some nice bass and bullhead…kids had a blast. Past the pond is the cabin with sitting spots and an open cement fire stove and oven also a fire pit. Theres an outhouse behind the cabin w a seat over a bucket w chemicals…papertowels tp hand sanitizer and disenfectant wipes nicely provided. We did have cellphone signals. Overall a really nice spot to relax and commune w nature.

Gear Review:

As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I am one of the lucky ones that get to review outdoor gear from time to time. My husband, Hutch, and I each got a pair of the OOFOS OOriginal Sport Sandals and spent the last couple weeks hiking, cycling, and camping in them in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. These are not your average pair of flip flops…they are amazing! We may never take them off.

What we love about these shoes:

• Unbelievably comfortable! Designed as a recovery shoe but can be worn for just about everything from the shower to the campground to light hiking and cycling.
• The toe thong is integrated into the sole, making them more durable and less likely to pull through/out. The rubber is so soft that it doesn’t irritate the area between the toes, even after walking in them for many hours.
• Stylish! I wore them with a nice outfit and my feet didn’t feel underdressed.
• They stay on your feet when walking in water. My previous pair of flip flops felt like they were coated in Vaseline when they got wet, but these sandals stay put. They float, which is plus if you lose them in the lake. Lose them in a river and all bets are off though.
• When people ask who makes them, it’s fun to say OOOFOOSS twice (because they never understand you the first time you say it).

What could be improved:

• I can typically find some constructive criticism about the products I review, but these are our new favorite shoes. Maybe a few more color options for men would be a nice addition to the line?

Thoughts and ideas:

• Can OOFOS make insoles for hiking boots? They’d be amazingly comfy.

Video Link: https://youtu.be/C0zOZm9q5qc

Campground Review:

From the gorgeous hike up the gorge to kayaking at sunset on Owasco Lake to enjoying some wine from the grapes grown in the region, the Finger Lakes region is hard to beat for total family entertainment. We came for a couple nights to check it out and stayed for over a week!

This campground is great for families and groups! Each site has a picnic table and fire ring and there are both electric and non-electric sties from which to choose. The sites in the middle section of the campground don’t really have designated boundaries, while those around the edges are more traditionally divided. There is literally no privacy between any of the sites.

We were at site 35 (in the middle section) and there were 2 large groups on either side of us who came for the weekend. The grassy field is great for kiddos to run-amok and there is a playground at the far end of it so parents can keep an eye on the kids while enjoying time with their friends and family.

The bathrooms are modern, kept very clean, and the showers are awesome. There are a couple picnic areas/shelters* and a gorgeous natural pool with lifeguard. *P.S. The picnic shelter up by the gorge is amazing! It’s worth the walk up the stairs.

But, the campground is only the beginning of what this area has to offer! Just a short walk from the campground, you will find the Village of Moravia which has everything you may need, including some great ice cream and pizza. It’s a cute little town filled with many historic homes so take the time to walk or cycle around. Also, Owasco Lake is a short drive from the campground and is great for all types of water sports.

We did our usual reservation-less “pull up and see what they have open” style of camping, but during the main season, this place is nuts! You’ll definitely need to plan ahead and make reservations if you plan to be here on the weekends during the silly season. Bonus: Prices are lower on weekdays and you get a reduced rate for your second night, too.