Dispersed camping is available near Waterford, New York at Ushers Road State Forest, which provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails that transition into low-lying, swampy areas during wet seasons. The forest is situated in the Hudson River Valley region, which features varied terrain from wetlands to forested highlands. Campers can set up anywhere in the woods at least 150 feet from trails, with many potential sites featuring established fire rings from previous use.
What to do
Hiking trails with wildlife viewing: Schodack Island State Park Campground offers excellent birding opportunities along its trails. "Stopped for one night on way from New England to Finger Lakes region... Best part was hiking out to a couple of different blinds to look for birds. Did see a juv eagle," reports Patsy E., who appreciated the park's natural features despite noting that "trees and vines on trails obscured almost all possible river views."
Paddling on nearby lakes: Cherry Plain State Park Campground provides a serene paddling experience on its small lake. "Quiet campgrounds with multiple kinds of sites... It's a steep, short hike uphill," mentions professorthedog P. The park features "hot showers, bathrooms, and dishwashing stations," according to Yoni N., making it convenient to clean up after a day on the water.
Swimming at state park beaches: The beach at Moreau Lake State Park Campground offers a sandy swimming area with lifeguards during scheduled hours. "Nice sandy beach with lifeguard hours," notes Amber A., who found it a "nice stopover or basecamp for this area." The park also features "a nice playground for kids to enjoy," according to Nancy W., providing additional recreation options.
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Schodack Island State Park Campground receives high marks for its site layout. "The sites are amongst the most spacious I've ever seen. RV sites offer 30/50 amp electricity," writes Kara W. Megan S. agrees: "The sites are spaced out enough and have greenery in between so it feels a little more private than some places."
Clean facilities: Thompson's Lake Campground at Thacher State Park maintains excellent facilities. "Nice bathroom facilities and dish washing station!" reports Melissa S. Clayton H. notes the "very friendly and helpful staff, well maintained property," adding that "some of the lakeside sites have private foot trails down to the water which was very nice."
Access to water recreation: Arrowhead Marina & RV Park provides direct river access. "Well maintained, located on the Mohawk River. Shady, grassy areas. Boat launch and pier," writes Coffee&Camping T. Tina adds it was "one of our favorite campgrounds of our cross-country trip... right on the river. We were next to a little fenced in area for dogs that our dog loved."
What you should know
Bear awareness at certain parks: In the region surrounding Waterford, campers should be prepared for wildlife encounters. At Mount Greylock State Reservation, Jean C. explains: "Sites are large and generally secluded, each offering a bear box set apart from the campsite itself as black bears live in the park. The campsite numbers are on the bear boxes."
Seasonal crowds at popular areas: Some parks become extremely busy during peak times. Robert L. notes that Moreau Lake State Park "becomes very crowded, especially on holiday weekend due to proximity to I-87 and number of downstate tourists that frequent the park. Lake is nice for canoeing and kayaking but fish number and sizes are limited due to number of people fishing it on a regular basis."
Varying water conditions: The water quality and access points differ significantly between campgrounds. At Lee's Park Campground, David B. observed that "the lake wasn't worth swimming in and quite dirty," though he noted that "just down the creek is a great place to rent kayaks and paddleboard called the Kayak Shack!"
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and recreation areas: Thompson's Lake Campground offers family-friendly amenities. Dana O. shares: "This campground has always been my go to. Now that I have kids, I appreciate the playground area near the beach more. All public areas including the bathrooms are very clean."
Water attractions for children: Adventure Bound Camping Resort at Deer Run features water-based fun for families. Lauren notes: "Family oriented. The kids loved love water attractions. Our site was large and shaded." However, she cautions about site leveling: "The draw back is where you need to park the camper is about 7 inches out of level."
Educational wildlife viewing: Sperry Road Campground at Mount Greylock offers unique nature experiences. "Lots of bunnies, weasels, chipmunks, birds, and butterflies. Plenty of space to walk the dog," reports Kara W., though she cautions: "Be sure to bring your dogs rabies records!! They don't let you in with just the tag, it has to be the paper records."
Tips from RVers
Electric hook-up availability: Most state parks near Waterford offer electric hookups without full service. At Cherry Plain State Park, Joey M. reports: "There is water and electricity at bathroom," noting that his site was "amazing. No close neighbors. Lots of space. Right near bathroom."
Dump station access: Schodack Island State Park provides sanitary facilities for RVs. Chris D. mentions: "Dump station on the way out. Lots of water fill ups in the campground," making it convenient for those needing to manage tanks during their stay.
Connectivity concerns: Cell service varies throughout the region. At Schodack Island State Park, Kara W. notes: "ATT and Verizon fluctuate between 1-3 bars. It was enough for me to work - downloading files, sending emails, and conducting non-video zoom calls. At night we were able to stream with just a little buffering needed throughout."
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