Camping in the Adirondack Hub region of NY
Ok, before we get started let’s address the elephant in the room…
When I say Adirondack Hub, do you even know what area of the Adirondacks I am speaking of?
No? Well, the Adirondack Hub region (just Hub from here on out) is comprised of six beautiful towns in the Adirondack Park. They are: Long lake, Indian Lake, Newcomb, Minerva, North Hudson, and Schroon Lake. They are all centrally located in the Adirondack region and therefore, we call them the Hub as they are truly the center of adventure here in the Park.
So let’s talk about why camping in this region is beyond anything you’ll find anywhere else and why, if you’re an outdoorsy person, this region is RIGHT UP YOUR ALLEY.
Camping in the HUB can range from chilling on a remote island in the middle of nowhere, driving down 20 miles of dirt road to hang in the woods, or simply grabbing a site within a meticulously maintained campground while you plan day trips into society as you wish.
With the fear of making the rest of this surgical, I really want to take an opportunity to address the several types of camping styles, the personas associated with those styles, and then kind of lead somewhere just in case this style fits you.
So here we go. Camping info 101 on the Hub. What type of camper are you? No shame either way, but we’ve created a few archetypes just in case one fits.
The Bushman
Ok so let’s assume it’s you, the Almighty, your beard, a fishing pole, a role of twine, belt knife, and a determined spirit.
You don’t want to see anyone, your best friend is a black bear named Hank, and the local raccoon gang knows you so well they stop by the tent to lull you to sleep at night while they help themselves to your stash of deer jerky or PEAK meals.
Bushman/Person, the places YOU are looking for are:
Indian Lake Islands - Boat access only, so be ready to paddle.
Forked Lake - Again, boat access only.
Moose River Plains - You and your adventure ready, heavily modified (but honestly, really cool) Toyota Tundra can cruise in here and camp, you just need to be aware it’s a first come first serve kind of place and you have to camp where there are signs.
What do all of the above offer? Wilderness, amazingly crisp starry nights, some of the best fishing around, hiking/bushwhacking galore, a chance to use your hand forged hatchet, and oh yeah… SOLITUDE.
The Van Life or Subaru Crew
Dreams do come true! Rambling down the road with your car top tent properly stowed and ready to go while you, your S/O, and your golden retriever (whose name is Waffles by the way) are just blasting out to the Lumineers on your way to paradise.
You have visions of campfires, trendy ways to make the world’s best pour over coffee, a limited edition IPA you’ve been saving for a special occasion, and a cast iron pan you picked up at a thrift store just waiting for its turn to make you the most amazing blueberry pancakes ever created by man because YouTube told you it could.
You probably want to go kayaking, hike a bit, maybe take in a site or two but for some reason your All Trails app couldn’t load because you lost wifi a mile from home…
Well then, the places that best fit you (and Waffles) are:
Lewey Lake Campground - Amazing sunsets for IPA moments, kayak and canoe rentals, short drives to some of the most amazing hikes around.
Lake Harris Campground - Far enough back into the woods to feel off the path but close enough to the town center so you can still grab a meal or two when that thrift store pan decides to check out, plus some amazingly starry nights.
Lake Eaton Campground - Just outside of Long Lake, this campground offers you the ability to chill on the water, explore regional history at Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake (a rainy day plan), and give you access to local shops to restock, grab a bite, or maybe sip another IPA.
The Family Trucksters
Go camping with the kids they said, it’ll be FUN they said… (actually it is kind of fun, and it’s amazing that you are creating these memories, trust me, they’ll remember). But… where do you guys go? Well, look at it this way. Your options are kind of all of the above. We would steer you more towards a decent DEC road access campground if it’s your first time out. Maybe something centrally located near some attractions or possibly some other places to visit (because you know, rain is a thing sometimes).
Best places to take the family:
Lewey Lake Campground - This campground makes an appearance again, and for good reason! With its proxomity to downtown Indian Lake, you and the fam can stop in and see a movie, grab ice cream, or fish at the giant spillway, all just 15 minutes away from camp.
Eagle Point Campground - This campground in Schroon Lake accommodates a wonderful vibe for the family.
Spacious Skies Campground - Offers more of that campy, non-state run feel for those who want a little more amenity that comes with a more established, privately run campground (plus they are close to the Paradox Brewery and Schroon Lake’s downtown).
Lake Durant - If you are looking for a smaller DEC Campground, one that caters to returning families and is also centrally located between a couple town centers, Lake Durant is your spot!
The choices for the Trucksters are really endless, it just depends on how and what you wish your experience to truly be. Key points? Remember to bring the bicycles! That way your amazing kids can go out on adventures leaving you some much deserved nap time by the lake.
The RV PROS
AKA the ones who finally made it after years of tent camping.
First, congratulations, you deserve this. After years of rolling up tarps and wet sleeping bags, you made it! But now you have 40 feet of pure Americana that you have to park and you could use a little help knowing where to put that glorious home on wheels.
Here are a couple of great spots:
Thornbush Acres - A wonderfully managed private campground in Indian Lake complete with RV hookups!
Frontiertown Campground - A DEC-run Campground on the river that also has equestrian access!
*A little disclaimer on the RV size and where to camp. Most of the DEC sites actually have the ability to accommodate larger RVs. However, we highly suggest you just give them a call first to ask them their opinion on what sites to book at their facility.
Information on the campgrounds can be found here. And please connect with them, they’d love to hear from you!
Happy camping!
So that’s it friends, where to camp in the Adirondack Hub (now that you know what the Hub is). Trust me, you won’t be disappointed with this area of the Park, and as I said above, your memories will truly last a lifetime. For more information on camping options within the Adirondack Park by region, visit the Adirondacks, USA page.