Cooler weather and changing leaves makes autumn a perfect time to go camping. And in New York State, never is that more abundantly clear. From deep in the Adirondacks to the Thousand Islands’ region, you’ll find your ideal spot. Here are five fine places across New York State that invite fall travelers to set up camp.
Tent camping can be done in the Hudson Valley’s gorgeous Minnewaska State Park, which offers plenty of opportunity for adventures all year round. Hikers enjoy dense foliage, lakes, and waterfalls, plus some pretty epic views.
As the second largest state park in New York, Harriman’s scale is impressive. “Group camps” of cabins, tent sites, dining halls, and rec centers allow campers to experience a sense of community between the park’s 200 miles of fall hiking trails and 31 bodies of water.
Fall campers who seek solitude will find it at Cranberry Lake Campground. The trout-filled lake is one of the largest and most remote in the region, and it’s surrounded by 50 miles of hiking trails and 50,000 acres of woodlands. Each of the 73 campsites comes with its own fireplace and water spigot.
Fall campers of all kinds are welcome at the Thousand Islands’ region’s largest campground. The site has plenty of cabins, tent and trailer sites, and larger cottages with all the amenities of a vacation rental. Fishing, hunting, hiking, and golfing can be enjoyed on the island.
Autumn is a wonderful time of year to see the “Grand Canyon of the East.” Hike past vibrant changing leaves covering steep cliffs that line the Genesee River before heading back to one of the park’s 257 campsites or eight rental cabins.