Tannersville sits at an elevation of 1,900 feet in the northeastern Catskill Mountains, making it one of the higher settlements in the region. The camping season typically runs from mid-May through October, with summer temperatures averaging 10-15 degrees cooler than nearby lowland areas. Most campgrounds close after Columbus Day weekend due to increasing frost risk.
What to Do
Hiking at Kaaterskill Falls: Located just minutes from North-South Lake Campground, this popular two-tiered waterfall is accessible via moderate hiking trails with viewing platforms. "A short drive from the campground is the newly opened (as of 2016) viewing platform for Kaasterskill falls, which is minutes down the road," notes Jessica W.
Swimming in natural lakes: North-South Lake Campground offers swimming beaches with clear mountain water. According to Lizz H., "I go there almost every year to go swimming with my family and friends and it's always a good time."
Tubing on Esopus Creek: The waterway near Phoenicia Black Bear Campground provides refreshing summer recreation. "River access for tubing! Love the owner! 2 minutes walk to town," writes Kendra P., highlighting the convenience for water activities.
Creek wading and fishing: Several campsites offer direct creek access for cooling off. Derek W. reports, "I stayed at one of the creek front campsites and highly recommend doing so. They're slightly more expensive but the view is so worth it. The creek was perfect for dipping your feet and just hanging out."
What Campers Like
Privacy at creekside sites: Many campgrounds offer waterfront options with natural buffers. At Woodland Valley Campground, the running water creates a peaceful atmosphere. As Derek W. describes, "The long, narrow, and winding road from Route 28 to Woodland Valley campground should not keep you from camping there! The campground is located on a nice stream (Woodland creek)."
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness varies by campground, with some offering free hot showers. At Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground, "The bathrooms were fine. They were clean but sometimes ran out of toilet paper," notes one camper, while another mentions, "The showers were free and temperature controlled to perfectly warm!!"
Wildlife encounters: Many campsites offer opportunities to observe native animals. Kane B. from Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson Campground shares an exciting experience: "It was the wildest weekend I ever had, I'm not being sarcastic. The hiking areas are great, the weather is perfect and the bear was very nice for a bear."
Family-friendly programming: Several campgrounds offer organized activities for children. At Brookside Campgrounds, "They offer fun activists for the kids as well," according to one reviewer, while Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds receives praise for its "programming for kids."
What You Should Know
Cell service limitations: Many Catskill campgrounds have minimal to no mobile reception. At Echo Lake, a free dispersed camping area, there's no service, while Sam L. notes about Devil's Tombstone: "There is NO cell service here. You have to drive about 5 minutes towards Hunter to get service."
Pit toilets at primitive sites: Some state campgrounds offer basic facilities only. Devil's Tombstone is described by a camper as offering "just the basics here," with another noting, "The bathrooms are a glorified hole in the ground with a toilet seat, but if you need it, it's there."
Bear awareness requirements: The region has active black bear populations requiring proper food storage. Derek W. reports, "In the morning we woke up to a baby bear walking on our campsite," reinforcing the importance of following food storage protocols.
Advance reservations essential: The most popular dog friendly campgrounds near Tannersville fill quickly, especially during summer weekends. Tara L. advises about North-South Lake, "Avoid holidays to avoid the crowds," while Rachel G. suggests you "Reserve very early for waterfront."
Tips for Camping with Families
Look for campgrounds with playgrounds: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Tannersville include play areas. At Whip O Will Campsites, Nicholas F. notes, "Campground has lots to do with a rec center, playground, and pool. There's a great view of a lake and surrounding hills."
Choose sites away from main roads: Some campgrounds have sites near busy roads. At Devil's Tombstone, "State Route 214 divides the campground in half, and you could hear road noises from our site, but they quieted down by 6:00."
Consider spacing between sites: Privacy varies widely between campgrounds. Katherine P. observes at Catskill/Kenneth L Wilson, "Campsites are fairly close together with a variety of levels of privacy. Ours allowed you to be pretty far back from the road for more privacy, but some of the other sites were literally next to the road."
Farm animals at select campgrounds: Some properties feature small farm areas that children enjoy. At Brookside Campgrounds, one visitor mentions, "Small farm right next to our site, goats, cow chickens, ducks, geese."
Tips from RVers
Limited large rig access: Many Catskill campgrounds have narrow, winding access roads. Rip Van Winkle Campgrounds receives praise from RVers, with C O. noting, "Very easy to level and setup on #7. Full connections. Pay showers and laundry onsite."
Seasonal considerations for larger vehicles: Spring and fall can present challenges for bigger RVs due to muddy conditions. Kathy G. notes about Rip Van Winkle, "I was a little skeptical that we wouldn't get to choose our site, but you can't go wrong, they are all wooded, private and well situated."
Limited hookup availability: Full service sites are concentrated at private campgrounds. A visitor to Rip Van Winkle mentions, "Amazing campground with perfectly spaced large sites," indicating the ample room for setting up equipment.
Weather preparedness essential: Mountain weather changes rapidly, requiring adequate preparation. During one storm at Whip O Will, "After the storm, the staff came out to check on us individually to make sure we were okay! So nice of them."
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