Labor Day doesn't have to mean the end of the camping season.
Many of the state campgrounds in the Adirondacks and Catskils will remain open into the fall, state Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis said this week.
He reported that 31 of DEC’s 52 campgrounds will remain open, most of them into October.
The popular Hearthstone Point, Lake Luzerne and Lake Harris campgrounds will be closing this Saturday, but a number of campgrounds will remain open through Oct. 11 for people who prefer the off-season and foliage for camping.
In the Adirondacks, the campgrounds that will remain open include Moffit Beach, Northampton Beach, Sacandaga, Eight Lake, Indian Lake Islands, Lake Durant, Lewey Lake, Glen Island, Lake George Battleground, Long Island, Narrow Island, Rogers Rock, Ausable Point, Crown Point, Lake Eaton, Meacham Lake, Paradox Lake, Saranac Lake Islands, Wilmington Notch, and Nick’s Lake.
Catskills campgrounds that will remain open include Kenneth L. Wilson, Mongaup Pond, Woodland Valley, Devil’s Tombstone, and Little Pond.
Cranberry Lake Campground in St. Lawrence County will remain open until Oct. 17, and North/South Lake and Fish Creek Ponds Campgrounds will remain open until Oct. 24.
The state agency is talking up the value of autumn nights spent in a pitched tent or in an RV.
“DEC campgrounds offer a unique opportunity to enjoy some of the most beautiful natural resources in New York State,” Grannis said. “New York State Forest Preserve lands offer the opportunity to see spectacular fall foliage, participate in a variety of seasonal outdoor activities, and enjoy festivals and events offered in local host communities.”
For more information on DEC-operated campgrounds, including a list of campgrounds and their schedules, visit DEC’s Web site at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7825.html or call DEC’s Bureau of Recreation at 518-457-2500.
Reservations at any campground can be made up to nine months ahead by calling ReserveAmerica at 1-800-456-CAMP (2267) or visiting newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com.
