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Established Camping

Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

New York State Park Campgrounds: Same-day reservations are allowed until 3PM on day of arrival; this applies to campsites only. Reservations can be made online or through the ReserveAmerica Call Center: 1-800-456-2267. Walk-ins are not permitted.

Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground, near Ancram, New York, is a fantastic spot for those looking to enjoy the great outdoors with a touch of comfort. With a beautiful lake for swimming and boating, plus ample hiking trails, it’s a great place to unwind and soak in nature.

The campground offers a mix of tent sites, RV spots, and even cabins for those who prefer a little more shelter. Visitors rave about the cleanliness of the facilities, especially the hot showers and decent water pressure, making it easy to freshen up after a day of activities. One camper noted, “The cleanliness of the facilities at the campsite is influenced by the volume of activity,” which is something to keep in mind during busy weekends.

While some sites are a bit close together, there are options for those seeking a little more privacy. The park's spacious layout allows for picnics and beach fun, though it can get lively during peak times, especially on holidays. As one reviewer put it, “If you’re okay with all that, then it was a great time.”

For those who enjoy stargazing, the low light pollution over the lake provides a stunning backdrop for a night under the stars. Plus, the nearby town of Hudson offers a chance to grab supplies or enjoy a meal out. Whether you're camping with family or friends, Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground has plenty to offer for a memorable outdoor experience.

Description

NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Lake Taghkanic State Park

Lake Taghkanic State Park, nestled next to Lake Taghkanic in the rolling hills and lush forests of Columbia County, offers a wonderful variety of recreational activities. The park has tent and trailer campsites and cabin and cottage camping facilities, two beaches, picnic grounds and a boat launch. In addition, the park has hiking, biking, cross-country ski and snowmobile trails. Ice skating and ice fishing are permitted when conditions are appropriate. Environmental education programs are offered year round.

General Information:

CABINS & COTTAGES:

  • You must be 21 or older to reserve and occupy a cabin or cottage. ID is required.
  • All cabins and cottages are SMOKE and PET FREE.
  • Cabins are 7 or 14-night reservations only from end of June to the end of August. Saturday to Saturday only.
  • Cottages are 7 or 14-night reservations only from the end of June to the end of August. Friday to Friday only.
  • ACCESS PASS AND LIFETIME LIBERTY PASSES ARE NOT ACCEPTED FOR COTTAGES.
  • No tents allowed in cabin or cottage areas.
  • There is a two night minimum stay outside the time frames listed above.
  • Check-in time for cabins and cottages is between 3PM and 9PM.

CAMPSITES:

  • Campsite check-in time is 3PM. Check out time for all sites is 11AM. There is no admission to the park after 9PM.
  • You must be 18 or older to reserve and occupy a site. ID is required.
  • Tent sites allow for 1 large tent or 2 small tents per site.
  • There are hot showers and flush toilets available.
  • Each site allows for 2 vehicles. Additional vehicles will be charged an additional fee.
  • Quiet hours are 10PM to 7AM and is strictly enforced.
  • Firearms, fireworks, tree cutting, and gasoline boat motors are not allowed.
  • A permit is required on all private boats, available at West Beach office. No gasoline motors allowed.

<font color="red"><b>ATTENTION PET OWNERS:</b></font>

  • Current proof of rabies inoculation is required at check-in (metal tags will not be accepted).
  • At any time during your stay, pet owners may be required to provide proof of rabies inoculation upon request. Be sure to have this information available to present to park staff.
  • Where pets are permitted, there is a maximum limit of 2 pets per site.
  • Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6ft and under control at all times.
  • Do not leave pets unattended and always clean up after them.
  • Pet owners/permit holders are liable for any damage, personal injury, or nuisance caused by the pet.
  • Pets are permitted in the East End Camp 1 and East End Camp 2 loops, parking lots, and hiking trails only.
  • NO pets allowed in cabin and cottages.

SWIMMING: Each year the campground makes every effort to provide safe swimming opportunities by testing the water and by keeping the swimming areas staffed with lifeguards. Please be aware that if the safety of our swimmers is compromised due to lack of lifeguard coverage or water quality issues, swimming will be prohibited. Swimming cannot be a guaranteed activity; therefore, we cannot offer refunds on camping stays. We apologize for this inconvenience as it may occur with little advance notice.

Looking to reserve a campsite for just 1 night? If you make your reservation within 3 days of your arrival you can book a 1-night stay online or through the Call Center. *Applies to campsites only.

PRE-REGISTRATION: Have an existing reservation? Don't forget to PRE-REGISTER!! Two days prior to arrival you can sign into Reserve America and pre-register. IT SAVES TIME.

LENGTH OF STAY: A camping party and their equipment may occupy a site for a maximum of 14 continuous nights. After which, the camping party and equipment must leave the site and facility for 48 hours before registering again for another site.

Please Note: To ensure fairness for all NY customers, any reservation with departure dates outside the 9-month Maximum Window cannot be changed or cancelled until 18 days after the reservation was made.

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Location

Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground is located in New York

Detail location of campground

Directions

The park is located 11 miles southeast of Hudson in the town of Gallatin, NY. Passenger cars can access the park from the the Taconic State Parkway, one mile south of the Route 82 Hudson/Ancram exit. Visitors can also access the park from State Route 82, approximately two miles south of the hamlet of West Taghkanic. Large trucks, RV's and campers can enter the park from the State Route 82 entrance. 518-851-3631

Address

1528 State Route 82
Ancram, NY 12502-9731

Coordinates

42.09400088 N
73.708 W

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Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.
  • Hike-In
    Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

  • WiFi
    Unknown
  • Verizon
    Available
  • AT&T
    Good
  • T-Mobile
    Good

Site Types

  • Tent Sites
  • RV Sites
  • Standard (Tent/RV)
  • Group
  • Cabins
  • Tent Cabin

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • WiFi
  • Showers
  • Drinking Water
  • Electric Hookups
  • Toilets
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups

Drive Time


Reviews

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4.5

out of 5

13 Reviews

Reviewed Sep. 8, 2023

Cabin

Labor Day Weekend stay. A lot of people! Very nice beach but packed. Huge parties at the picnic area. If your okey with all that then it was a great time. Cottage was great besides all the bees.

Sitecottage
Month of VisitSeptember
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Jul. 20, 2021

Wide-open state park with cramped campsites

The park is huge with tons of space for picnics, beachgoing and - weirdly - parking. (Someone must've gotten a tasty asphalt contract.)

Unfortunately, all of the campsites are jammed into one quadrant, with very little distance between each. Our site (#17) was quite small and was not clearly marked. It seemed to run into #18. We were told we could spread out into two sites since the adjoining site wasn't taken. (By the way: Site #19 looked to be the best in our neck of the woods.)

The roads to the tent sites are quite rocky and can be difficult to navigate. 

The facilities are a bit warn, but the maintenance staff does a good job of upkeep. Since it was raining during our visit, it was impossible to keep the individual shower/lavatories clean for very long.

Though the camp was mostly filled, noise was not a problem during our stay. 

The lake is quite nice and the swimming area is well-protected.

Reviewed Jul. 6, 2021

Everything we needed

The sites were fairly close together, and there wasn’t a ton of privacy. G1, however, was separated from the rest by its own little drive. We appreciated the privacy, even if it meant being right on the main road. The 10 pm quiet policy was well followed by everyone. Bathrooms weren’t great, and I wondered why the trash cans didn’t seem bear-proof.

The park itself is nice, with a beautiful lake and beach, as well as trails.

SiteG1
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed May. 24, 2021

Superb

Quiet, clean enough and well worth the price. Showers are hot and there’s great water pressure. The cleanliness of the bathrooms depends on how busy the campground is.

SiteP31
Month of VisitMay
  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by Perrin M., May 24, 2021
Reviewed Sep. 4, 2019

Very Nice

This place is very beautiful and rustic at the same time. The employees are all very friendly. Once you get the hang of getting around the area there is so much to do, I can't wait to go back.

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  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by Elisa Q., September 4, 2019
  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by Elisa Q., September 4, 2019
  • (4) View All
Reviewed Aug. 13, 2019

Great Spot!

Big and spacious state park with many camping options. Has options for trailers, tent sites, platforms for tents and even some cabins. Small store in park that sells firewood and ice and a few other things you may need. Big lake with swimming and boating as well as many hiking trails. Bathrooms on site as well as showers. Some sites are close together, but there are a few a little more secluded and set back. Fire pits are great. Can’t wait to camp here again!

  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by Mary-Kate L., August 13, 2019
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Reviewed Oct. 27, 2018

Comfortable, clean, great for stargazing

This campground was one of the best I’ve been to. They have both platform and dirt tent sites, all sites come equipped with fire pits. The bathrooms and showers are clean and the water stayed hot until the last weekend of the season (Oct 12-14, 2018) which was when we were there. The campground has a lake with boat rentals. Late night, stargazing over the lake is a great pastime, because the water is calm and the light pollution is low.

The town of Hudson is also close by if you’re looking to get some of the comforts of a town while you’re out and about.

Month of VisitOctober
Reviewed Aug. 29, 2018

Platforms great for groups and inclement 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! The lake is gorgeous and there are plenty of nearby hikes for exploring. Wish I would have brought my fishing pole.

  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by Rosie R., August 29, 2018
  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by Rosie R., August 29, 2018
  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by Rosie R., August 29, 2018
  • (11) View All
Reviewed Jul. 9, 2018

Good for family car camping

Great beach, 5 minute drive from campgound. Clean facilities, with a rec room for rainy days. A camp store with all the supplies you might have forgotten.

One caveat: beware of site G006. The grill at the fire pit is upside down, so it doesn't hold level above the fire. Impossible to use. I had to MacGuyver it with a large rock and wedge the grill into place, and then level it with a log. We were lucky that I was able to find these things, otherwise we would have been cooking on our single stove that night. Also, this site was downwind, so occasionally was in the cloud of septic stench.

My advice would be to take the sites on the hill, nearest to the bathrooms, as all these sites seemed to be generally very well maintained.

SiteG006
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by Kurt S., July 9, 2018
Reviewed Jun. 2, 2018

clean cabins, cottages, beach

no complaints. everything is perfect every year we've been. the lake is beautiful and clean. expect to pay $15 fee (I think) to use your paddleboards / kyacks etc. Worth every penny.

  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by Mellisa T., June 2, 2018
  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by Mellisa T., June 2, 2018
  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by Mellisa T., June 2, 2018
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Nov. 20, 2017

Camping in our 50s

My school friends decided on a camping trip since 1970's. We decided on Lake Taghkanic. Lake Taghkanic State Park was not a long drive from NYC, maybe 2 hours. The campsite was very clean and maintained. We loved the hot showers after a long day of fishing and swimming in the lake. The park offered many activities or just sit around the campsite drinking beers and reminiscing our youth days. We went on weekdays which is not crowded.  Wal-Mart was 25 minutes from the campsite which make making meals lots simpler and refilling our beers. LOL We will repeat.

Sitep1 and p2. The shower room is a walking distance but heavy traffic at night. The door slamming at night was kind of annoying.
Month of VisitJuly
  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by george L., November 20, 2017
  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by george L., November 20, 2017
  • Review photo of Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground by george L., November 20, 2017
  • (5) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much does it cost to camp at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground?

    Camping at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground can cost between $17.00 and $195.00 depending on the site.

  • Does Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground have RV hookups?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground has 30 amp and 50 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.

  • Are fires allowed at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

  • Does Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground have wifi?

    Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground does have wifi.

  • Is there cell phone reception at Lake Taghkanic State Park Campground?

    According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is available, AT&T is good, and T-Mobile is good.