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Established Camping

Nicks Lake Campground

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

DEC Campgrounds: Same-day reservations will be allowed until 5pm on day of arrival at all DEC campgrounds. Reservations can be made online or through the Reserve America Call Center: 1-800-456-2267. Walk-ins will not be permitted.

Nicks Lake Campground is located near Old Forge, NY, surrounded by forested terrain and a lake. The area experiences temperatures ranging from the 60s to 80s Fahrenheit in summer and can drop to the 20s in winter. Nearby attractions include the Enchanted Forest Water Safari and the scenic McCauley Mountain, offering additional activities for campers.

Description

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Nicks Lake Campground

Nicks Lake Campground, with its lake and bordering forests, gives the camper a sense of remoteness and tranquility. Peace and stillness prevail here, despite the countless activities the campground offers.

CAMPGROUND SPECIFIC INFORMATION

  • Motorized boats are not permitted on the lake

WHEN YOU ARRIVE -You must sign for your own site. Have your equipment with you and be ready to camp when you register. Names of all campers on a site must be listed on the permit at time of registration
CHECK-IN TIME -From 2pm until 9p.m. Campers must register for their campsite by 9:00 p.m. on the first night of their reservation or the campsite will be subject to re-rental and all fees will be forfeited
CHECK-OUT TIME -11:00 a.m. on your departure date
OCCUPANCY -Limited to 6 individuals per campsite and 2 tents or 1 unit of hard wheeled camping equipment and 1 tent. Only 2 vehicles permitted on any campsite. Extra vehicles will be required to park in a designated area (additional fees will apply)
AGE REGULATIONS -Campsites must be registered and occupied by a responsible person 18 years of age or older
LENGTH OF STAY -Your camping permit can be issued for a maximum of 14 nights. From July 1 through Labor Day only 14 cumulative nights will be permitted at any campground.
QUIET HOURS -From 10 p.m. until 7 a.m., and are strictly enforced. Violators of this policy may be evicted
GENERATORS -The use of generators may be limited to no more than 5 hours per day and fall between the hours of 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily. If the use of a generator is deemed unreasonably loud by the facility staff then individual use of a generator may be prohibited/limited
FIRES -Must be built in fireplaces provided. Only dead and down wood may be used for fuel. No chainsaws are allowed in campgrounds, and cutting down trees, alive or dead is prohibited.
FIREARMS -Are not allowed in campgrounds except during the Fall and Spring hunting seasons. Firearms must not be discharged within campground boundaries at any time
ACCESSIBLE SITES -At least one member of the camping party staying on the site must be mobility impaired (i.e. in a wheelchair or uses a walker) or the camping party may be turned away at the campground
SWIMMING -Is allowed at campgrounds with supervised bathing areas during designated hours when a lifeguard is on duty. Please note that there may be times when lifeguards are unavailable, and for the safety of our customers these beaches will not be open and swimming will be prohibited. Not all campground locations offer swimming, to inquire please contact the campground directly
PETS -Are allowed with proof of a currently valid rabies vaccination in the form of a current year's tag or a certificate issued by the veterinarian. Campers can walk dogs on a leash no longer than six feet as long as the animal is under control. Dogs cannot be left unattended and are not allowed in facility structures, on the beach or in day use areas

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Location

Nicks Lake Campground is located in New York

Detail location of campground

Directions

From NYS Thruway: Take Exit 31 at Utica, Route 12 North to Alder Creek, and Rte 28 to Old Forge. Turn right at the Post Office, and follow the Nicks Lake Campground signs 1.5 miles to the campground entrance. From Watertown take Rte. 12 South to Alder Creek, then Rte 28 to Old Forge. Turn right at the Post Office, and follow the Nicks Lake Campground signs 1.5 miles to the campground entrance. From Blue Mountain Lake take Rte. 28 to Old Forge, turn left at the Post Office and follow the Nicks Lake Campground signs 1.5 miles to the campground entrance.

Address

278 BISBY ROAD
Old Forge, NY 13420

Coordinates

43.68805295 N
74.98171736 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.
  • Boat-In
    Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

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

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Showers
  • Electric Hookups
  • Alcohol
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Sanitary Dump
  • Sewer Hookups
  • Water Hookups
  • 30 Amp Hookups
  • 50 Amp Hookups
  • Big Rig Friendly

Drive Time


Reviews

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77%
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4.5

out of 5

17 Reviews

Reviewed Oct. 8, 2022

Big Rig friendly!

We have a 37ft fifth wheel & fit into our site no problem! Good cell reception & tons to do near by. But I highly recommend checking out their beach area- beyond gorgeous! We will 100% be coming back.

Site67
Month of VisitOctober
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Bella S., October 8, 2022
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Bella S., October 8, 2022
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Bella S., October 8, 2022
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Sep. 29, 2022

Nice campsites off Nicks Lake

Good little spot, stayed here 6 nights in late September. Nice color changes, but it does rain a lot here. (Almost every day and night)

Sitesite 28 loop B
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Apr. 27, 2019

Heaven

The campground is on nicks lake and it is the only establishment on the lake. No other camps, houses or businesses. It is too shallow for motors so kayaks and canoes only which makes it very calm and peaceful. It also makes it easier to hear the loon calls. Beautiful sites and new facilities.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Caitie S., April 27, 2019
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Caitie S., April 27, 2019
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Caitie S., April 27, 2019
Reviewed Apr. 14, 2019

Wonderful little campground

Nicks Lake Campground has always been one of my favorites. It has a great little swimming area and close access to a lot of activities for the kids. Motorized boats are also not allowed on Nicks Lake so it is very peaceful.

Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Joe D., April 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Joe D., April 14, 2019
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Joe D., April 14, 2019
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Apr. 14, 2019

Wonderful little campground

Nicks Lke State campground has always been one of my favorites. It’s close to home and there is a lot do do nearby. There is a wonderful swimming area and motorized boats are not allowed on Nicks Lake so it is very peaceful.

Reviewed Oct. 26, 2018

Nicks Lake Campground

Though just moments away from the heart of Old Forge, Nicks Lake provides a nice balance between the hustle and bustle of Main Street and the tranquility of the Adirondacks.

The grounds are a wonderful option for families, not only hosting a number of amenities (i.e. campers beach, hiking trails), but providing opportunities to observe the local wildlife. You can catch sight of deer or a bear at any moment. (Just keep in mind to maintain a safe distance and respect their space!)

The sites were fairly sized and shaded- my family and I reserved sites 38 and 36 for our brief visit. We enjoyed our stay and are likely to return!

Reviewed Jun. 11, 2018

Nice Camp Ground

Great campground with nice sites and access to other areas in the ADK ... easy hikes up Bald Mountain or Rocky Point. Old Forge is nice town that is not to over developed (like Lke George) and water park near by ...

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Mark B., June 11, 2018
Reviewed Oct. 19, 2017

A perfect peice of the ADK

Such a nice place to stay. Being in the heart of the forrest is always enjoyable. The lake is great for swimming and kayaking. The nature trails are a great way to spend time taking in natural beauty.

Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Paully B., October 19, 2017
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Paully B., October 19, 2017
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Paully B., October 19, 2017
  • (7) View All
Reviewed Oct. 1, 2017

ADK campground

Adirondacks kayak and camp. Beachy swimming area (we went when it was too cold for that). All the sites were extremely wooded and private, great fall colors. Get a site on the lake and talk to the ranger/caretaker about the best things to do in the area. Really nice lake site but not the best for peak views.

Reviewed Sep. 30, 2016

Breathtaking scenery. My kind of relaxation

I love camping anywhere where there is a lake. I love kayaking, so normally if there is a lake nearby, then I always bring my kayak. I love getting up early in the morning before everyone else, and kayaking on the lake. I almost feel like I am the only one on the water (and sometimes I am :)). The views on the water are absolutely breathtaking. There are trees that surround the entire lake, and the time I went was late summer/early fall so the trees were changing colors. I could have been out there for hours just taking pictures and taking everything in. Honestly, the pictures don't do it justice. One thing that I love about this campground is how you feel secluded from everything and everyone else. My campsite spot was very private, so my friends and I were able to enjoy the experience that much more. We also appreciated that our campsite had a table and fire pit ring. This made it easy to have lunches and dinners, and the table was nice for seating purposes. My friends and I enjoyed some great hikes, one that took us to the top of a peak and we could see the beautiful lake from above. The campground was very well maintained and clean, had restrooms, a small playground, and a beach area. The people working at the campground were extremely nice and helpful. They were the ones that directed us one which hikes to do. They also have some shops where you can rent some canoes to take out of the lake. I had my kayak, but a few of my friends rented a canoe and joined me on the water one evening. We stayed on loop D and had a great view of the lake, and obviously just walking distance to get into the water. Not sure what the other "loops" are like, but we really liked our location and amenities. Overall, I would recommend others to come and stay here. The campground is within the Adirondack Park so you cant really go wrong with that :). I cant wait to come back with my friends (or family) and enjoy another stay here.

  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Sue T., September 30, 2016
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Sue T., September 30, 2016
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Sue T., September 30, 2016
  • (5) View All
Reviewed Aug. 29, 2016

Quiet Loops

A calm and peaceful campground with multiple driving loops separated by a generous amount of forest.

  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Bryon P., August 29, 2016
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Bryon P., August 29, 2016
Reviewed Aug. 1, 2016

Great basic campground

Near Old Forge, a popular destination in the ADKs. Nice place to stay for 1-2 days on your way into the ADKs from western NY. Lots of trails and water nearby, must be especially beautiful in the fall. Fills up fast, reserve early! Many campsites are right on the lake. All are wooded, many have good privacy. Some more “rustic” than others, ask the rangers about getting one that matches your expectations/needs. Clean and standard state campground sites, also has some sports fields. Rangers were very helpful in suggesting things to do.

Reviewed Jul. 28, 2016

Fantastic Quiet Campground!!!

This campground is awesome. The sites are nice and separate so you have a good amount of privacy. The bathrooms are cleaned daily so they are very family friendly. Showers are available on A, C, and E loops. The beach is manned by a lifeguard until 6pm and is very well maintained. We love brining the kids here without worrying about loud crazy campers up until all hours of the night. There were some pesky bears wandering at night looking for an easy meal. Although if you are careful about your food items they will not even stop at your site.

  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Jeremy H., July 28, 2016
  • Review photo of Nicks Lake Campground by Jeremy H., July 28, 2016
Reviewed Jun. 7, 2016

good

sites: wooded. good privacy. some sites on water. some sites not very flat. amenities: firewood regulations. lake. nature trail. swimming. some loops with no showers. canoe rental. other attractions: Old Forge. I would go back again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Nicks Lake Campground have RV hookups?

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

Are fires allowed at Nicks Lake Campground?

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

Does Nicks Lake Campground have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Nicks Lake Campground does not have wifi.

Is there cell phone reception at Nicks Lake Campground?

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