Campground Visitors Encouraged to Make Reservations  

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that DEC’s 56 campgrounds and Day Use areas will be open to the public on May 21. Reservations for the 2021 camping season are at an all-time high as more New Yorkers and visitors from out of state prepare to head outdoors to take advantage of recreational opportunities in the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves. In addition and in preparation for the upcoming camping season, DEC announced improvements at campgrounds across the state to help improve the visitor experience. While two DEC campgrounds opened earlier this spring—Wilmington Notch in Essex County on May 7, and Fish Creek in Franklin County on April 2—most DEC campgrounds open on May 21, the weekend prior to the Memorial Day Holiday.

“DEC is thrilled to see the uptick in reservations for this coming camping season as New Yorkers and visitors start exploring our campgrounds, and we’re proud to announce improvements at Frontier Town and several other campgrounds, undertaken in response to visitor feedback,” Commissioner Seggos said. “I encourage all visitors planning a trip to DEC’s campgrounds this summer to make reservations soon to prevent being turned away if facilities meet capacity.”

To make reservations, visit https://newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com/ and consider additional or alternative locations for recreation https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/permits_ej_operations_pdf/2021guidefull.pdf. For help choosing a location to visit, see DEC’s interactive guide https://read.nxtbook.com/nysparks/camping_guide/2021/cover.html.

DEC has completed improvements at several DEC camping facilities for the 2021 season, including new showers and comfort stations, power and water systems, and equestrian-specific improvements at the Frontier Town campground.

At the Frontier Town Campground, Equestrian and Day Use Area, town of North Hudson, Essex County, on the site of the former Frontier Town theme park in the town of North Hudson, DEC continues to advance modifications to the equestrian camping area in response to feedback received since the facility opened in 2019. The following improvements will provide an enhanced experience for equestrian campers:

• Sites have been widened to provide more room for horse trailers;
• 10x10 planting pits added between sites to provide for young shade trees and other vegetation, along with hitching posts and fencing; 
• A horse care/wash area added near the comfort station in the equestrian area; and
• A manure pit added to the all-season parking area.

The total cost of these improvements was $260,000, which includes repairs to the day-use area following a storm event on Halloween in 2019.

At the Cranberry Lake Campground and Day-Use Area, Cranberry Lake, St. Lawrence County, DEC rebuilt the water distribution system at a cost of $600,000.

DEC rebuilt the main shower building at the Eagle Point Campground, Pottersville, Warren County, at a cost of $100,000.

At the Narrow Island Campground, Lake George, Warren County, DEC completed the redevelopment and construction of a new electrical power system, including solar and back-up generator capacity, at a cost of $50,000.

DEC improved several comfort stations at the Meadowbrook Campground, Ray Brook, Essex County, at a cost of approximately $20,000.

DEC rebuilt the ticket/registration booth at a cost of approximately $20,000 at the Little Sand Point Campground, Piseco, Hamilton County.

At the North South Lake Campground, Haines Falls, DEC rehabilitated a comfort station at a cost of approximately $20,000.

Under Governor Cuomo's Adventure NY initiative, DEC is making strategic investments to expand access to healthy, active outdoor recreation, connect more New Yorkers and visitors to nature and the outdoors, protect natural resources, and boost local economies. Read more about the Adventure NY initiative.