Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground permits dogs throughout its grounds with proper vaccination records required at check-in. Located in Carmel, this established campground accommodates both tent and RV camping with pet-friendly sites available from April through early December. Leashed pets must remain under control at all times while enjoying the park's extensive trail system. Jellystone Park Gardiner also welcomes pets across its diverse accommodation options including tent sites, RV spots, cabins, glamping units, and yurts. Mills Norrie State Park Campground provides similar pet access with multiple accommodation types from May through October. Campers should be aware that some campgrounds have experienced serious dog bite incidents, with one review noting an aggressive off-leash dog attack that resulted in injuries requiring emergency medical treatment.
Hemlock Ridge MUA offers primitive dispersed camping for those seeking a more rustic experience with their dogs. This free camping area allows pets without the amenities of established campgrounds, making it suitable for experienced campers comfortable with pack-in, pack-out principles. Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park provides another dispersed camping option with pet-friendly policies. Most campgrounds in the region feature designated pet exercise areas, with Kenneth L Wilson Campground specifically noted for its "wonderful dog park" that provides ample space for dogs to play off-leash in a controlled environment. Campers should secure food in vehicles rather than tents to prevent wildlife encounters, as bears have been spotted in several campgrounds throughout the area. The region's state parks typically enforce standard pet policies requiring current rabies vaccinations, leashes no longer than six feet, and prompt waste cleanup.
$17 / night
"With Covid/social distancing requirements, many sites are closed so it’s extra quiet and spread out. I stayed at site 6 with my seven year-old daughter from Tue-Thur."
"When you are camping with a large group of friends and don't all have access to a car, this is the perfect spot."
"We got a red carpet site by the Gaga pit and near the water park (Cindy bear lane) and it was a convenient yet noisy site. Kids were at the playground 8 am or before and the noise woke us up."
"With a new check in area, Gardiner has really stepped up. They expanded the pool area to include another pool plus splash area and water slides."
"Small dog park, communal spaces, and a camp store all made the place feel like a little village. They even have a wine store- cab sav was good. WiFi I work remotely and WiFi is always an issue."
"The staff was nice and they were dog friendly!"
$17 - $102 / night
"We stayed in lot 109, which was perfect because going through the really faint trail through the trees you can come to a ledge overlooking the Hudson River."
"There are great hiking trails on the Hudson River right outside your campsite. Amenities are the great outdoors and an ancient bath house built during the New Deal in the 1930's."
$17 - $20 / night
"15 dolares la noche para los que viven en el Estado de New York o New York city .. si es fuera del estado son $5 dolares mas!!"
"Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill."
"There are absolutely no amenities whatsoever & barely even a signal here, but it’s quiet & off the beaten path. The parking lot only holds about 4-5 cars, 6 if you park real tight."
"I definitely recommend trying to get the walk-in (meaning you can't drive to them) sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed"
"There are drive-up sites and also walk-in sites. No fire pits at individual campsites, though. Only a group fire pit."
"Less then 10 min drive from town, but hiking in and finding a suitable place to make camp has the feeling of the wild, with the safety of having full cell service."
$25 - $40 / night
"Love the proximity to NYC - I always look for areas that are not too far, but not too close to NY. Beautiful but small-ish tent sites."
"We are looking forward to stopping by Round Pond again in the near future."
$25 - $30 / night
"We have stayed here multiple times since it’s so close to home. Reservations are needed only for major holidays during camping season; Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day."
"The trails to walk on are perfect to get out of the campsite for a few hours. There are no spots with sewer hookup but they have a dumping area."
ScoutWe have enjoyed our stay. Nice campground with lots of activities and things to do. However, we picked this place because it has an enclosed dog park. It does have an enclosed dog park but the fence is only 3 feet high. While this might be fine for some dogs, I have 2 young border collies that will jump that fence like it is not even there.
ScoutThe campsite was great. Big and going after Labor Day means there was tons of space. Well priced. We did have neighbors that had a trailer and used their generator early in the morning and late at night. Beside that it was fantastic. We had planned on driving to hiking but there was so much to do around the camp site we just walked around and did the hiking near by. The dog park is wonderful. Our dog loved it.
GuideLots of room in many sites for my 24 ft RV and 30 ft trailer. Big meadow in middle with new full playground set.
Dry camping but water available and a sewer dump. Gotta haul your own trash.
Two ponds to play in and a fenced dog park.
Some nice hiking in the park.
GuideSuch a clean and well maintained campground. Staff were so nice and friendly. Only one shower area that was a bit of a trek from our site, a bike would have been nice to get around. We had to move our tent as we had set it back too far and was not on the site pad and park ranger Brian who was very lovely came and asked us to move it and we had a nice chat. Lovely big dog park. There are some nice little walks and small hikes on the ground with a lake that you can rent kayaks or canoes. Close to Woodstock which is a cute town. Our site was a little exposed but the sites either side of us were closed for restoration thankfully. There are some more secluded and set back sites too though.
ScoutRecently, we camped here for a week. We don’t ever post negative reviews like this. The last day, we experienced a violent attack by a very large and aggressive Pit Bull. The Pit Bull did not have a collar or a leash and was accidently let out of the RV to roam free and unsupervised. It immediately ran to our site(4 sites away) and attacked our dog that was tied at the time. The incident was unprovoked. While trying to save our dog, my wife and I were also attacked. The wounds were serious enough to require emergency transport to a hospital for treatment including stitches. All we could think of was what might have happened if our granddaughter had been playing with our dog.
To put it mildly, their existing pet policy is grossly lacking. They never checked what breed of dog or ask to see documentation of shots when we were registering. Yogi Bear Jellystone Park needs to better manage their pet policy to address aggressive dog breeds and ensure the safety of campers. We camped there for seven days and saw multiple sites have more than one large dog, which in many places we’ve camped at would have been banned due to breed type or size. We have RV’ed extensively across the US and have never seen such careless enforcement of a pet policy regarding aggressive dog breeds. Seriously, think about avoiding this park if you have pets or small children.
TravelerGood for skinny dipping and other fun things! Most acidic lake in New York but completely safe.
LegendWe were on a 5 state East Coast camping trip. Our first campground was in New York Aug 8th. Unfortunately, Debbie was socking New York hard. North South Lake Campground in the Catskills was our camping home. Thursday & Friday it was Neverending rain & wind. Saturday was the nice day.
North South Lake has no electricity. The sites are almost all beautiful, tucked in under shady trees. Not a good way to try out our solar panel! Some are by a stream. A few are by the lake. This is a tent campers paradise. New York tent campers are hard core camping during Tropical Storm Debbie!
There are 7 loops. We were in loop 2. Site 85. There are some sites with an incline down to the site. That might give some rvs trouble. It did for us & I had to be driven out of the campground to call 911. Thank you Mary!! It all ended well & we got a different site.
There are bears that visit the campground & one came one of the nights & visited our camping neighbor's site. They showed us a picture- it was a large black bear.
Generators are allowed for 5 hours & they tell you when you can use them.
The bathrooms/showers are state park clean- which means not very.
There is NO cell service & just forget about WiFi. You are unplugged.
This is a hiking park & for this middle aged overweight flatlander they are pretty strenuous. Kaaterskill Falls is an exception - short, easy trail, but the parking fills up quickly. Then they close it! You'll have to take a shuttle to get in.
The trail to the Mountain House Site is also pretty easy, with more of an incline.
There's 2 nice lakes with beaches.
The Catskills are very scenic& we enjoyed our time there!
GuideThis campground is nestled in the Catskills, New York, with easy access to New Jersey and Connecticut. With large campsites and most surrounded by trees, you will find just the right mix of privacy and community depending upon what you are looking for. Although the showers aren't top notch, they do have them and a great recycling center for all of your garbage. If hiking is what you enjoy, they have nearly 4 miles of trails within the campground and surrounding areas that circle two nearby ponds and their day use area. If you are looking for something offsite, don't miss the Giant Ledge hike, a 30 min drive and about a 3 mile out and back hike to Giant Ledge for amazing views overlooking the entire area. Head out to watch the sunrise one morning with awesome views looking east. When you need a break from cooking, don't miss the nearby Phoenicia Diner for some great breakfast and coffee! All of the Park Rangers are very helpful and will provide recommendations and maps, just ask!
TravelerNorth South lake is one of the larger public camp grounds in New York. The sites are well spaced out. Great for families. The lake is huge.
Avoid holidays to avoid the crowds.
Dispersed camping options near Wappingers Falls encompass both established campgrounds and primitive backcountry sites within the Hudson Valley region. The area sits at elevations ranging from 200-1,200 feet with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Fall camping brings cooler temperatures and spectacular foliage viewing opportunities, while spring campers should prepare for variable conditions including frequent rainfall.
Hiking at Mohonk Preserve: Campers staying at Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground can access world-class hiking trails. "Love this campground! Have been here several times and have never had a complaint... Located really close to the Gunks for climbing and also some great hikes around the area," notes Jackie B.
Fishing opportunities: Fish for panfish and bass in multiple water bodies around the region. At Winding Hills Park, "There is a large lake to kayak and fish in. NO SWIMMING. The lake is a nice size and has a trail so you walk the entire length with benches around a good portion to sit and/or fish," reports Amanda B.
Waterfront activities: Many campgrounds offer lake access for swimming during summer months. "The beach is closed after Labor Day to the public, but open to people staying at the campsite. Clean and beautiful," writes Courtney D. about Clarence Fahnestock State Park.
Privacy between campsites: Many campers appreciate secluded spots. At Beaver Pond Campground, "The grounds are just steps away from Welch Lake, offering a lifeguard monitored sandy beach which is open during the summer season for swimming, fishing, and small boat craft further out," according to Steve W.
Natural surroundings: The region's wooded settings create peaceful environments. At Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park, "If you want a quiet piece of beautiful forest to truly rough it and go camping for a few days, then this is what you have been looking for... hiking in and finding a suitable place to make camp has the feeling of the wild," says Doc B.
Reasonable pricing: Several campgrounds offer affordable camping options. "This is an off-grid camping experience. You can use your generator at certain hours. They have a beach. Their staff is friendly. I love going here," Adaly shares about Beaver Pond, mentioning that camping costs just $15.
Site selection matters: Research specific site layouts before booking. "This is one of my favorite campsites I have been to but only because after several visits we have finally found our favorite site," explains Asher K. about Clarence Fahnestock State Park.
Weather considerations: The Hudson Valley experiences variable conditions. At Mills Norrie State Park Campground, "It was situated right across the Hudson River from a highly active nighttime freight train route, and the noise from the horns and then being awake for a few minutes as the train clattered by," notes Rebecca Y.
Bathroom quality varies: Campground facilities receive mixed reviews. "The bathrooms are okay, showers are free. The water smells a bit," reports Nils about Winding Hills Park.
Kid-friendly activities: Many dog friendly campgrounds near Wappingers Falls offer structured children's programs. At Jellystone Park Gardiner, "This place is great for kids. It has a event just about every weekend with kid activity," Jennifer I. reports.
Playground access: Several pet-friendly campgrounds feature play areas. "Short distance from the NYC, very organized, clean pond, has a playground, showers, bathroom. Your phone will have signal," shares Zorina N. about Beaver Pond Campground.
Swimming options: Look for campgrounds with pool facilities. "Nice pool that is shallow so you can relax and let the little ones go in the water park section alone or they have a 3 ft pool also," Amanda S. says about Jellystone Park Gardiner.
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven RV sites. At Mills Norrie State Park, "There are only a handful of sites with electric hookups and only one (site 51) is level. Some have a steep descent off the road, abs there's a lip on the road that can scrape bottom of campers/RVs," warns Kathy L.
Electric hookup availability: Check for power options when booking. Winding Hills Park offers both powered and unpowered sites. "For non-residents the non-electric sites are $40 and the power sites are $45. Residents are $10 less," Laura M. explains.
Dump station access: Not all campgrounds have sewer connections. "Dump and potable water fill available here. Dump is kept locked, but there's a number to call and staff will come unlock for you," notes Laura M. about Winding Hills Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Wappingers Falls, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Wappingers Falls, NY is Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 33 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Wappingers Falls, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 129 dog-friendly camping locations near Wappingers Falls, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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