Camping with kids in Catskills or nearby

[Daniel]

My wife and I are going to take our kids (ages 2 and 4) camping for the first time. We used to camp a lot in California before our kids- this will be our first time in New York. I am looking at Taconic State Park Rudd Pond area. Does anyone know if this is a nice quiet place? My main concern is getting away from crowds, which my wife and I used to do by backpacking, but now with kids seems harder. Are there any reccomendations for undeveloped, out of the way campsites that are accessible by car (with all-wheel drive)? The southeastern Catskills or anything near the Taconic Parkway would be the perfect location. Swimming for the kids is a big plus.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Daniel

 

[paul ron]

When my kids were that young I took em to the Catskills... Giant Ledge or Bisquit Brook lean-to for overnights. Get the maps at Campmor, EMS or order em from REI.

The views up on the ledges of Giant Ledge are specatular and there is plenty of camping spots. Water is on the way up about 1/8 mile below the ledges. Oh and did I tell you how many stars come out at night?

Bisquit Brook is wonderfull for the freeeeeezing c c c c cold brook right there to cool your head and feet in when the weather is too hot to tolerate in the city.

Both are aprox 2 miles form the trailhead, are an adventure to get to with some, not too much, stiff hiking to keep it interesting but if you do it nice n slow, the kids will have a great time.

 

[askus3]

Reading between the lines, I take it you want an auto campground with just miniamal facilities. Where the LP crosses Peekamoose Road north of Sundown, NY is just such a place. As quiet an auto CG can get in the Ctaskills (as long as there are no wild parties there at the time). It is on a paved road, so 4-wheel drive unnecessary. There is a stream there you can probably find pools to wade in. For hiking in the area, you have a choice of Peekamoose/Table or further north down the road Ashokan High Point.

 

[Jay H]

I'm not convinced I would take my kids to the Sundown campsites that Aaron mentioned, unless perhaps on a weekday or so. It can get a bit rowdy over there and although I don't think it is bad bad. I tend to be the cautious type and it might not exactly be quiet on a summer weekend night.

If it doesn't have to be directly accessed by car, there is a legal campsite about 1/4 mile in on the Kanape Brook trail on the way to Ashoken HP in the catskills. If you have the NYNJTC maps, you should see the trail and a stream. At the crossing, there's a legal campsite there. Easy walk in from the road though it's not "car camping". A bonus is an moderate hike up to Ashoken the next day for great views but bring a kid carrier or a stroller. It might be a bit tough near the summit for a 2 or 4 year old. As far as the catskills goes, it's an easy hike for most adults.

Jay

Jay

 

[Mark Schaefer]

I have not camped at any of the Taconic Parks, however, I have visited all during the day. All three are all well maintained and have swimming areas. Copake Falls has a separate wading pond for young children, and probably has the best easy hike - a fairly level trail from the campground to the Bash Bish Falls. All of the New York State Park campgrounds claim to strictly enforce quiet hours from 10pm to morning.

There are some nice swimming holes in the Rondout Creek at the Sundown primitive campsites mentioned previously. The DEC rangers sometimes stop by during the day to insure no one is camped 150 feet of the stream, but they won't be around at night to keep things quiet. The closest state campgrounds with swimming are North Lake and Mongaup. The swimming area at the Kenneth Wilson campground has been closed for a couple of years due to water quality problems (ducks at the pond). You might find the following ReserveAmerica website useful in reviewing campground facilities.

 

[jbreen]

Taconic can get crowded and some of the sites are in an inner loop which concentrates the sound. There is a parking lot between the campsites and the lake. I don't think I have ever liked being in this park.

Rudd Pond has a minor road running past the far end of it, so you do not get a feeling of being in the woods. As for the water - my kids called it crud pond. Like camping in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Some sites have platforms due to the unlevel ground.

North Lake does have some sites on the lake and the park rangers do patrol, but understand there is a need for them to patrol. I think this is the most active park in the NYS park system. Campsite loops have bathrooms and showers in each loop if that matters. Bottom of the Escarpment trail is here as is Kaaterskill Falls.

Mongaup also has lakeside sites and is not as crowded. Facilities are not as nice as North Lake, showers are centrally located at the beach. Sites are slightly shielded from each other. Hiking is a drive-to affair IIRC.

Little Pond has campsites on the far-end of the lake that you can either walk to or paddle accross the lake to. (about 500 yards - not a great distance to walk). This gives you a better feeling of being alone than the sites on the near side of the lake (especially if a car alarm goes off). Hiking in this area is mostly a drive-to option, but there are good options.

Hope this helps.

Jim

 

[paul ron]

Sorry my kids are all grown up so age is kinda fuzzy. Why did I think a 2yr old could hike a few miles up the mountains... duh!

You should try North/South Lake State Campgrounds. You can camp right on the lake, they have showers, easy trails right in your backyard and play grounds for the kids as well. It's more family oriented. Another decent campground is Woodland Valley.