Camping in VT, NH, ME, NY Looking for suggestions

Lots of good possibilities!

In New York state, I like Watkin's Glen and Letchworth state parks. There's a lot of hiking and exploring opportunities in the Adirondacks as well; I'm just less well versed with specific suggestions there.

In Vermont, there are many nice hiking areas. For mountains, Mt Philo (easy), Camel's Hump (moderately strenuous, with a few different trail options), Mt Mansfield (similar to Camel's Hump), and Ascutney (a little harder hike, or take the auto road and wander around the summit) are all good and popular hikes. Ascutney has a state park campground at the base, too. (Mt Philo also has a little campground, and an auto road up and down, but access for any other than a truck camper or quite small trailer would be well nigh impossible.)

There are several state parks around the Groton state forest, interconnected with a trail system that's a little closer to level. It's a pretty area. Little River state park also has some nice hiking and multi-use trails.

All the Vermont state park campgrounds have no hookups, incidentally.

For biking, there's one nice option is the Burlington bike path that connects to the longer island line rail trail, eventually heading out to South Hero (island).

The White Mountains in New Hampshire have lots of options for hiking and exploring. The Kancamagus Highway is one scenic road there with lots of pull-offs for hiking and exploration (ranging from quick strolls to significant day hikes or longer).

One resource that I find handy for New York public campgrounds is campadk campsite photo database (which is independent of the state).

Thanks for the reply. We've been to Letchworth, great place. Good to know re VT and hookups, or lack there of, were good with some dry camping. The Burlington bike path, Paved? We are Road bikers, not MTN.

In Franconia notch in NH (where the old man in the mountain used to be) there is a paved bike path thru the state park. Because of a 7 or 8 mile down hill the grand kids thought it was fun. We like the bike bath one the erie canal because it is flat.

I suggest this to everyone asking that question: Do a Google search for `________ tourism' and put the city, state, area or whatever in the blank and read the experts suggestions.

Spacejunk63 wrote:
Thanks for the reply. We've been to Letchworth, great place. Good to know re VT and hookups, or lack there of, were good with some dry camping. The Burlington bike path, Paved? We are Road bikers, not MTN.

Are you a fan of baseball? Look into Hartwick Highlands Campground in
Cooperstown, NY. Besides the Hall Of Fame about 50 minutes away you have Catskill Scenic Rail Trail and Erie Canal Cruises, both make great day trips.

In Copake NY you have Copake Camping Resort, down the road is Scenic Harlem Valley rail trail which is a must, while on the rail trail check out Bash Bish Falls and Copake Iron Works Museum.

Both rail trails are extremely scenic, pack a lunch while on the trails :C



Pik from catskill scenic trail

Pik from Harlem Vally rail trail

Mike

Maine: Acadia NP & Bar Harbor (Bar Harbor KOA), Freeport area, southern beaches, Baxter State Park area
NH: White Mountains (Danforth Bay Camping Resort)

Go to Lake Placid/Saranac Lake area, tons of hiking, wide shoulders for road biking, Iron Man is held there. Also paddle sports, tons of great canoeing, we stay at the North Pole Resorts but there are several NYS campgrounds in the area. Have fun.

Spacejunk63 wrote:
Thanks for the reply. We've been to Letchworth, great place. Good to know re VT and hookups, or lack there of, were good with some dry camping. The Burlington bike path, Paved? We are Road bikers, not MTN.

The Burlington part is paved, the rest is (mostly?) nice packed gravel, from what I understand. It's reasonable for (many) road bikes at any rate, at least many of the recreational/city variety as opposed to road racing or similar, relatively fragile bikes.

North Beach campground (operated by the City of Burlington) has hookups and is right on the bike path--it literally cuts through the park though not the campground specifically.

In around the southern beaches in Maine, we liked Ne're Family Beach campground in Old Orchard Beach. We truly enjoyed OOB because of the "old timey" feel of the town. Although there are many large, commercial campgrounds in the area, this one is a bare bones experience, but it is FHU. There are lots of biking in the area, but I can't really give you a specific path. The campground is right across the road from the local lobster pound, so dinner is pretty easy. Make sure you hit the original LL Bean in Freeport.

GeoBoy wrote:
Go to Lake Placid/Saranac Lake area, tons of hiking, wide shoulders for road biking, Iron Man is held there. Also paddle sports, tons of great canoeing, we stay at the North Pole Resorts but there are several NYS campgrounds in the area. Have fun.

Ditto on North Pole. We were seasonal there last summer while I had a retirement gig at one of the local canoe outfitters.