Woodford State Park offers rustic camping with yurts, cabins, and tent sites at 142 State Park Road, operating from Memorial Day until Columbus Day weekend. The campground features 45 sites spread across three camping loops in a forested setting at an elevation of 2,400 feet. The park grounds include a 23-acre reservoir suitable for swimming, fishing, and non-motorized boating, with boat rentals available on-site during summer months.
What to do
Trail hiking at Molly Stark State Park: Access the 1.7-mile Mount Olga trail directly from Molly Stark State Park Campground. This trail connects to the larger Hogback Mountain Conservation network for extended hikes. "You can continue on the hiking trail to a cute brewery/pizza place or even a distillery. If hiking is not for you it's a 3 minute car ride away," notes one visitor.
Water activities at Emerald Lake: Rent canoes or paddleboats at Emerald Lake State Park Campground, where the clear turquoise waters provide relief from summer heat. "There is a rope swing if you paddle away from the beach. It was great fun for the older kids. Also, exploring the island in the middle of the lake is another option," shares a camper.
Tubing and rafting excursions: Book guided water adventures through Zoar Outdoor in nearby Charlemont. "Overall had a wonderful experience at zoar campsite in charlemont ma. Staff was awesome, went out of their way to take care of our group from camping to rafting," reports a visitor.
What campers like
Secluded waterfront sites: Ashuelot River Campground features riverside camping with options for different preferences. "Some site on the river, some in the woods and some in a field," notes a reviewer. The location allows for both passive and active water recreation: "We took a lazy tube ride from one side of the campground to the other."
Clean, updated facilities: Campground upkeep stands out at many locations. At Molly Stark, campers appreciate "Beautiful grounds, super clean, nice staff. A great escape from the world right now. All staff has masks on and it's spotless here." Another notes it features "new bathrooms/showers" and "well taken care of sites."
Variety of accommodation options: Beyond standard tent sites, many campgrounds offer alternatives. Emerald Lake provides lean-tos that "give you protection from the elements" while Woodford features both cabins and yurts. "Larchmont is our favorite camp site. It is much larger than most sites, a short walk to the showers and a bit tucked away for privacy."
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Cell service is spotty throughout the region's campgrounds. At Savoy Mountain State Forest Campground, "not even a cell signal can get there, if you're looking to unplug this is a great spot!" Some campgrounds have pay phones for emergency use.
Seasonal operation and weather: Most area campgrounds close after Columbus Day weekend. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F with cooler evenings, while September brings colorful foliage but temperatures dropping to 40-50°F at night.
Reservation requirements: Book sites well in advance for peak periods (July-August and fall foliage season). Emerald Lake gets especially busy: "This is a popular camp ground so reserve as early as 11 months before arrival."
Tips for camping with families
Look for level, shaded sites: At Emerald Lake, site selection matters significantly: "Many of them are perched on a steep ledge, making them a bit sketchy for families with kids. If you have little ones, check out the map before you reserve a site and find one on the opposite side of the ledge."
Consider dedicated family activities: Country Aire Campground offers structured entertainment: "This campground is family oriented. They have a pool they have games we even have a hayride pulled by a tractor."
Check swimming areas carefully: Water access varies by campground. At Emerald Lake, "The campground is quite a bit of a walk up the hill from the lake where there is swimming, kayaking, paddle boating and picnicking." Woodford's pond provides a more accessible swimming area with a designated beach.
Tips from RVers
Access challenges: Many Vermont roads have covered bridges with height and weight restrictions. At Ashuelot River, "Follow the website directions to get here as there are covered bridges in the area with low clearance and low weight limits."
Site orientation matters: When reserving, check site layout and approach. "We camp with a pop up and reserved site 11, the orientation of the site did not work and we switched to site 10," explains one RVer at Savoy Mountain.
Limited hookups: Most state parks provide minimal or no hookups. Woodford State Park has no electric, water, or sewer connections at sites, though a sanitary dump station is available near the entrance. Private campgrounds like Ashuelot River offer more services with "hook ups in great condition for power, water, sewer."
