Planning a Group Trip

In the cold months I always start thinking about my trips for the following year. Bonding with the family is always wonderful but camping is also a great way to connect with friends and extended family.

Planning a group trip has its rewards and challenges. On one hand, it's great to have extra helpers when camping. Also by dividing the overall costs, it can make for a very inexpensive vacation. It's a huge plus if the other members of your group have children around the same age. On the other hand, there can be logistical challenges, personality clashes, and if a member of the group cancels last minute it can pose a problem for all involved - all of which I have experienced. For those reasons, it is important that you choose your camping mates wisely.

When planning a group camping trip there are many items to consider:

• When is the best time to plan? 
• Where should we go?
• How will we get there?
• How many sites will we need?
• What gear do we need/have?
• How will we feed everyone?

Here are a few tips when planning a group trip:

Who - The first step is to determine exactly how many people will be joining in the group trip. Put some feelers out to your friends and family regarding a group trip. Be careful with whom you choose to join the trip. While seasoned campers can be helpful, don't exclude any novices either. A group camping trip is a great way to introduce newbies to the joys of camping. As a general rule, you should include people who are comfortable with the outdoors and have a common respect for nature.

What - What type of gear does each member of the group have? What is the capacity of the tents & trailers you have available? I have heard of some camping groups who have chipped in and purchased large tents and tables to accommodate the entire group. In many cases though, you may need to have individuals borrow or purchase their own gear. If using tents and/or trailers, keep in mind that some campsites have a limit on how much equipment you can bring to the site.

Where - If all members of the group live in the same general vicinity, then it is only a question of how far everyone is willing to travel. Not every member of the group may have a car, in which case you will need to coordinate carpooling. If the members of your group live far apart, try finding a central camping location which will be easy for all parties to drive to.

When - Many people have different work situations regarding vacation time. Put some feelers out, find the person with the most restrictive schedule and try to work around that. I refer to this as the "herding cats" phase as it can be very difficult. Be prepared for the possibility that not everyone may be able to join.

Who's in Charge?

There are different ways to manage the planning of a trip. Since managing projects is part of my job, I tend to take the reigns as leader when it comes to planning the trip. For some it might be easier to split responsibilities among several people or form committees - one group in charge of food planning, one in charge of gear planning, etc. If you will have multiple campsites, you may want to just let each site group manage their own planning or you may still want to have a group approach to planning. Find whatever method works best for the people in your particular group.

Designating a single leader to plan the trip does not mean one person is doing all the work. When planning a trip, I am typically the gatherer of all information, and I set the menu based on feedback from the group. But then the lists of everything that needs to be bought and packed gets divided up among the group.

If you take the group committee approach, be sure that you all touch base from time to time to make sure everyone is on the same page. Communication is key, no matter which approach you take.

Feed Me!

Food is the biggest challenge when planning a group trip. More people means more mouths to feed. If you will have multiple campsites, you need to decide if each site will be responsible for their own meals or if you will all eat the same meals as a group. I personally find it easier to take the group approach as this means less redundancy of gear. If you take the individual site approach, each site will need their own camp kitchen setup. However, if each site is holding a single family unit, then it may be easier to just let each site do their own cooking. Discuss with the group and come to a consensus to what would work best.

If you take the communal meal approach, be sure to talk with your group about food allergies and preferences before creating a meal plan for the group. Often for logistical reasons, I only plan on bringing enough food for part of the trip, and then schedule a supermarket run during the camping trip to purchase the remaining items.

Money Matters

It can be uncomfortable discussing money matters but it is even more uncomfortable if you are not clear, early on, regarding division of expenses and a member of your group misunderstands what they are expected to pay for. It is best to clarify the financial arrangements before finalizing the trip and get agreement from everyone. You may want to appoint one person as "treasurer" for the trip to simplify the process. Here are some guidelines to managing camping group finances:

BEFORE THE TRIP: 

1.   Create a food plan and estimate the amount of the groceries which would need to be purchased for the trip.

2.   Estimate round trip gas & tolls. If the driver(s) have EZ-Pass, be sure you calculate the actual cost of tolls beforehand as this will not be provided when on the road.

3.   Find out the total fee for the site rental plus estimate the cost of ice, firewood and other on-site supplies you may need.

4.   Add up the cost of each of the above items to get your total trip estimate. 

5.   Figure out how many people will be in your entire group, including children.

6.   Divide the trip estimate by the number in your group and that is your per-person cost.

7.   Multiply the per person cost by the number of people in each group. For instance, the Jones' have 4 people, the Gonzalez' have 3, the Johnson's have 2, etc. 

o    This is what I provide to the group so they can budget accordingly for the trip. Advise everyone to bring adequate cash as ATM's may be hard to find if camping in a remote area.

8.   A few weeks before the trip, divide the shopping lists among the groups. You can try and divide it so each group will spend roughly the same amount. Instruct everyone to save their receipts or keep a record of all expenses.

DURING THE TRIP:

1.   Determine how you wish to handle gas, tolls and on-site expenses like firewood/ice during the trip. You may wish to have everyone contribute to a pool to cover these expenses. You could also have one person responsible for this expense and square everything up at the end.

2.   Payment of any excursions during the camping trip - rafting, theme parks, dining out, etc. - should be managed by each individual or family group.

3.   Keep all receipts and record all expenses.

AT THE END OF THE TRIP

1.   Add up all of the actual expenses.

2.   Divide the actual by the number in your group and that is your per-person cost.

3.   Multiply that number by the number of people in each group.

4.   Have each group provide their total contributions to the trip and subtract that from the trip total.

This is the method I use with one exception: because I provide most of the gear (tents, tables, stove, cookware, etc.), pay for the campsite months in advance, and use my minivan to drive everyone - my twins are excluded from the total person count. I call it my "travel agent fee". So far every group I've traveled with has deemed this as fair and there have been no gripes about the arrangement. You may want to offer some type of perk or discount to those who are providing the cars for carpooling or anyone who contributes more time or supplies to the effort.

Check out the Helpful Tools page for links to a handy spreadsheet that can help with dividing expenses among a group. Planning a group trip may have its challenges but it all seems worth it in the end when you're sitting around a roaring campfire with your friends and family.

Little Sand Point Campground, Adirondaks

Located on Piseco Lake in the central Adirondacks, Little Sand Point Campground is not exactly next door but the natural beauty of this location is well worth the 4.5 hour drive from NYC.

Beautiful Piseco Lake

Piseco lake is a 1 mile wide by 5 mile long lake which is pristine in it's beauty. Dotted with lakefront homes the area is far from being overdeveloped. On the western shore of the lake there are three separate state campgrounds, but Little Sand point is the best in my opinion since the sites are more secluded and wooded than at the other campgrounds.

Our ample campsite fit two tents, a screen house and room to spare

There is a sandy beach area that the family can enjoy, with a boat launch which seemed to be put to use more for diving than actually launching boats. The beauty of this campground is that nearly all sites are lake-front and many of the campers simply dock their boats at their campsite. Some sites even have a sandy beach, while others are rocky or muddy. There is no day use at this facility which means only the campers get to enjoy the beach and facilities. The comfort stations here are basic but clean with flush toilets and sinks. The trash/recycling center is across the road from the campsite and since this is black bear country, taking out the trash nightly is a must. There is also a bathhouse recently added which contains private hot showers with changing rooms and a nice dish washing station. 

Our site had a private beach, with a natural log bench

The ranger station is little more than a booth and there is no ice for sale here though they recently started selling firewood. Luckily, there is a well stocked general store about 10 miles away, there is also a liquor store at the same location. There are no boat rentals at the campground however there were a few signs along the road for rentals and the rangers can direct you to local boat rentals. Update: This campsite now offers boat rentals. Canoes and 1-2 person kayaks are available for rent.

Lovely creek feeds into the lake

The beach is pretty much the only recreation immediately on the campgrounds however just across the road is the start of the popular Echo Cliff trail, 3/4 mile up panther mountain which offer breathtaking views of Piseco lake. There are many other trails in the area within driving distance. We also went white water rafting on the Hudson river with Beaver Brook Outfitters, about an hour and ten minutes away from Piseco, children have to be 8 and older to participate in the summer (12+ in Spring).

White water rafting on the Indian & Hudson rivers

If you drive past the town of Speculator and then south towards the town of Wells, you can stop for a hike to Auger Falls, an amazing waterfall. There are some spots that are level and you can get a great view of the falls and there are some stretches of the path that are along a steep edge so be careful not to let little ones out of control when you get to these points. I'm a big fan of waterfalls. Other waterfall hikes in the area is the Falls on Buckhorn Lake, Christine Falls, Austin Falls and East Jimmy Creek Falls.

Breathtaking Auger Falls

Outside of Lake George/Lake Placid, the Adirondacks always offers rustic at it's very best. The nearest "large" town is charming Speculator, with a population hovering around 350. In Speculator you'll find a supermarket where you can refill on groceries. Also in Speculator is Charlie John's General Store where you can stock up on any supplies or gear you might need. There is a nice public park and beach on Lake Pleasant right on route 30 which has a floating dock that the kids can swim out to and dive from. There is a very charming parade every 4th of July in the town of Speculator which is fun, and there is also fireworks show on Piseco Lake which is visible from the campsite side of the lake.

Public park & beach at Lake Pleasant

So Piseco Lake may not be next door but if you really want to get away from it all and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature you really can't do much better for the price. Little Sand Point is pretty high up on my favorite campground list.

Reserve Little Sand Point Campground

Distance: 4 hours

Age: Child+

Partner: N

Comfort: The Works

Privacy: Moderate

Swimming: Y

Boating: Y

Watch Hill Campgrounds, Fire Island, Long Island

Want to camp but you don't have a car? No Problem! Located on Fire Island, Watch Hill Campground is only accessible by ferry. Luckily the LIRR Patchogue station is about one black away from the ferry terminal. If you have a car, there is a parking lot (free) at the ferry terminal. This is a relatively easy camping destination to get to, provided you have the strength to haul your gear, otherwise you may need at least one other adult. I have done it solo - you can too, if you have children old enough to carry a medium sized backpack with a large wagon/cart to wheel your gear.

*Again a special thanks to Noah for the beautiful photography....and dish washing....and heavy lifting....and beer delivery service.

The campsites are nestled between the sand dunes

There are two types of camping options available; back-country camping or organized campsites. 

For back-country camping, you must acquire a permit at the ranger's station. These are free but limited and issues on a first-come, first-served basis. With permit in hand you must walk about one mile out through the sandy beach and camp in the dunes. There are no facilities and you must pack everything in, like water, and out, including your waste.

The organized campsite offers 26 sites nestled between the dunes. You must reserve these early if you wish to go during any weekend in the summer months. Other than the ranger driven ATV's, there are no vehicles on this part of Fire Island so a red wagon, shopping cart or other type of gear transport is a must, in addition to a wheeled cooler and sturdy backpack. 

As another option, if you're lucky enough to own a boat, you can also rent a slip at the marina. This review is based solely on the organized campsites.

Boardwalks connect everything and protect the delicate vegetation on the dunes.

Whether going by car or LIRR, when you arrive at the Watch Hill ferry building you are not allowed to bring cargo into the building so park your wagon outside as you buy your ticket. You can get a round trip ticket which is good for the season.

The ferry does charge for cargo but the fee is nominal. Bring your gear around the ferry terminal and wait to board. The ferry workers were incredibly nice and helpful in getting everyone's gear on board and positioned with Tetris-like precision. 

You can choose to sit on the open air top but hold on to your hat since the ferry picks up speed pretty suddenly when you exit the marina. There is also seating below but there is a fair chance you will get wet. The total ferry ride time is about 30 minutes.

Breathtaking sunrises on the dunes - what more could you ask for?

When you arrive at the marina, head straight to the general store to get a tag for your campsite. You cannot reserve a specific site but rather you pick from whichever sites are available when you arrive (the sites which aren't tagged).

The campsites start about 1/4 mile from the marina but everything is connected via a boardwalk. Some of the sites require you to walk through other sites to access so there may be some minimal sand hauling. The process of picking a campsite is a bit chaotic as there will most likely be several campers getting off the ferry with you and the race begins to try and grab the "best site" before anyone else. Don't get me wrong - all of the sites are good, but some are better than others.

Site 10 is furthest from the boardwalk and most private but that involves a longer walk to the facilities. Site 2 is closer and private but there is quite a bit of brush so bugs may be a problem. Sites 23, 25 & 26 seems the most private without a lot of brush and pretty close to the restrooms though you do need to walk through sites 22/24 to get to them.

Most of the nature trail is shaded.

Once you set up camp and get settled you can choose to head to the beach, or there is a nature trail via a boardwalk though the salt marshes.

Back at the marina, there is the visitors’ center/ranger station with a few exhibits on display and there are nature books and coloring books for sale. On weekends they sometimes offer canoe rides through the marshes of guided tours through the nature trail so check to see what's available. They have a junior naturalist program which is fun for the little ones.

Also at the marina is a snack bar open for breakfast & lunch, the general store where you can pick up overpriced supplies (hey, it's a seasonal business), and a restaurant, The Pier, which is open for dinner and Sunday brunch. It is a bit pricey but the food is pretty good. I recommend planning and budgeting to eat a meal or two at the snack bar....you know you'll cave in anyway.

There is the Tiki bar and while kids are not allowed to sit at the bar, you will see kids running around the area. They serve all drinks in plastic cups and plenty of parents were taking their cocktails "to-go".

The Tiki Bar will gladly make virgin drinks as well.

You can access the beach easily from the campsite or marina by taking the boardwalk up to the top of the dune. Be prepared to have all your stress release from your body when you get to the top and see the pristine beach stretch for miles and miles. A few steps down to the beach and pick your perfect spot.

Be sure to pack plenty of strong sun block and bug spray.

On the beach is a volleyball court and when we went there was only one lifeguard station. Make sure you stay between the green flags as this entire coastline has notoriously strong rip tides. The waves at Watch Hill tend to break pretty close to shore which makes boogie boarding a bit tough unless you enjoy planting your face in the sand. Still there were lots of kids (and adults) trying anyway.

The currents can be strong here sometimes so check with the Rangers for the latest conditions. There are some pretty strong waves here so most kids stay close to the shore. Body surfing is popular with the little ones so if you own a board, bring it along. Most of the adults were just floating on their backs on the ocean. The sand here is perfect for sandcastle construction. Note that the band of seemingly "dirty" sand is not dirty but in face a different type of sand found on Fire Island which is purple and actually made up from tiny garnets.

Comfort stations offer uncomfortably cold showers.

Taking the boardwalk back towards the campsites you'll pass the comfort stations. The facilities were pretty clean though there is no hot water. The showers and changing stations are open with no doors or shower curtains though it seems some campers put up their own curtains. If you and/or your children are more modest, you may want to bring 1-2 cheap shower curtains with hooks. The hooks should be large in diameter since the poles are rather thick - rope works as well to hang the curtain. The showers have pull handles which you must hold to keep the flow of water going. Parents will most likely have to hold the water poles for their little ones as they are located rather high up. And beware that the showers are cold - really cold. It is not uncommon to hear screams from the bath house as a poor unsuspecting beach-goer is suddenly doused with ice cold water. Also at the comfort stations are two electrical outlets near the sinks though you will often see technology-addicts lounging around the toilets while their phones charge. 

As you venture back towards the campsites, there are potable water spigots throughout, though ironically these seemed to pump out lukewarm water. If you'd like a cold drink, the spigots by the bath house are your best option. There are also two trash stations, one right near site 1 and one further down. There is also a dish washing station further down the boardwalk.

A view of the path to the beach from the comfort stations.

The crowd at the beach, campsite and marina seems to be a good mix of singles, couples, families and groups of friends. There is that lazy, easy-going beach attitude which is just wonderful. I should also point out that Watch Hill is most definitely LGBT friendly and you will often see same-sex couples, singles and families staying and playing here.

We were lucky enough to have a full moon and a clear night.

You must be thinking this is too good to be true - affordable camping accessible via public transportation with a pristine beach (and Tiki bar) in Fire Island? Here's the draw - because this is federally protected land, they cannot spray for bugs and there are lots of mosquitoes - in fact there are so many that the general store sells tourist t-shirts with a picture of mosquitoes and the words "Bite Me! Fire Island, NY".

There are also deer and thus deer ticks so bring matches or a tick remover. Be sure to check on yourself and your children each day though to be safe. Back to the mosquitoes....while backpack camping typically means only the essentials, it is crucial that you bring a screen room tent. Not only will it provide a much needed respite from the bugs, but because there are no tall trees to put up a shade tarp, you will welcome a spot to escape the sun. You can also bring tent poles to set up a shade tarp, especially if you're sensitive to the sun.

Be sure to bring a DEET based insect repellent and re-apply it according to the directions. It really does keep them away if you're diligent about it. This goes against camping instinct, but try and pick a site that is away from trees and shrubbery and the bugs won't be as bad. Most people opt for the nice shaded sites and end up covered in welts and burning off ticks every night.

Watch Hill is fabulous in moderation.

My overall take on Watch Hill is that it is fabulous in moderation. Being on the beach is wonderful but if you burn easily, or if the mosquitoes are oppressive, you may want to limit the length of your trip. I would say 2-4 nights is the maximum any reasonable person can do.

Also because there is no playground, little children may get bored after a few days. If you want a great weekend getaway, I highly recommend Watch Hill. You can also come to Watch Hill for a day trip.

Watch Hill/Davis Park Ferry
LIRR Schedule
Reserve Watch Hill Campground

Distance: 1.5 - 2.5 hours

Age: Child+

Partner: Y

Comfort: The Works

Privacy: Some

Swimming: Y

Boating: BYOB

Loading Gear onto the Roof of your Car

When embarking on a car camping trip, space in your trunk and car may be at a premium, especially if you are going on a long trip and have extra gear (or extra people). If your car has a roof rack, definitely put it to use to hold some gear. If your car does not have a roof rack, there are after market racks you can purchase and install. If you are capable of putting together furniture from Ikea, you can easily manage installing a roof rack on your car. Thule and Yakima are the two most common brands. If, like me, you live in a metropolitan area, be sure to buy cam locks for your rack or one day you may walk to your car and find them gone.

If you have never used your roof rack before, it may seem a bit daunting. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you don't want all of your gear to fall off your roof and onto the highway halfway to your destination. You may also be concerned about damaging the roof of your vehicle with the gear and weight. I have loaded my roof rack many times during trips, I have never lost a load on the highway (though once came close) and have learned how to manage with no damage to your roof and no risk of spillage.

Like a boss! 80 miles and it didn't budge an inch.

The first thing you need (other than a roof rack) are sturdy ratcheting tie downs. These can be purchased online or at many auto or home improvement stores. They typically come in packs of 4 and can be bought for between $15-$25. Here is an example of a set: Ratchet Tie Down on Amazon. You will also need to one tarp to cover your gear and protect it from bugs & rain (I use my tent ground tarp) and another tarp or old quilt to protect the roof of your car - unless you have a basket on your roof rack that keeps the gear off the actual roof.

1. Place the long strap of the tie downs, 2 width-wise and 2 length-wise, securing the s-hook to the bars.

• Step 1: Arrange the long straps of the ratchets on your roof with two going across the width of your car, and two going across the length of your car. Secure the s-hook to the bar of your car. If your vehicle only has side rails or, like mine, only has cross bars, just secure the width-wise or lengthwise straps for now. If the S-hooks at the end of the tie downs don't hook around the bars of your roof rack (mine don't), then loop the tie around the bar, and then wrap the tie several times around the s-hook.

2. Place a tarp or folded quilt to protect your car roof from damage.

• Step 2: Place the tarp or quilt on top of the straps to protect your roof from being scratched.

3. Carefully load your gear to the roof. Make sure weight is evenly distributed.

• Step 3: Next is the tricky part. Load your gear to the roof, being sure to load large items only, and try to make sure that the weight is evenly distributed. My typical roof load consists of the following: Folding table first, then on top two storage bins and in front of the bins, my tent, behind the bins, my grill. Essentially, you want to be sure that anything you load on the roof will be covered by the over tarp you will add later.

4. Cover your gear to protect from weather and bugs and to keep your gear packaged nicely.

• Step 4: Take a tarp and cover your gear. Try to tuck the tarp in under your gear so it is completely protected from the elements and this also helps keep your gear balanced and together during transport.

5. Lash the tie down straps width-wise across your gear and ratchet down loosely.

• Step 5: Now to start tying everything down. Take the width-wise straps and throw them across your gear. Go to where the ends of the straps are and attach the ratchet part of the strap to the side bars as you did with the long strap in step 1. If you do not have side bars, just secure the ratchet S-hook to the long strap S-hook. You can wrap some duct tape around them for extra protection. Carefully begin ratcheting both straps together, following the instructions on the packaging. Do not ratchet them too tightly at this point, just ratchet enough so that the straps lay flat against your load.

6. Lash the tie down straps length-wise across your gear, crossing them in an X and ratchet down loosely.

• Step 6: Take the length wise straps and throw them across your gear, making sure to cross them in an "X". Just like in the previous step, go to where the ends of the straps are and attach the ratchet part of the strap to the cross bars as you did with the long strap in step 1. If you do not have cross bars, just secure the ratchet S-hook to the long strap S-hook. You can wrap some duct tape around them for extra protection. Carefully begin ratcheting both straps together. Again, do not ratchet them too tightly at this point, just ratchet enough so that the straps lay flat against your load.

7. If you don't have cross or side bars, you can hook the s-hooks together.

• Step 7: The last step is to go back to the width-wise straps and ratchet more tightly. Then go to the length-wise straps and ratchet tightly. Repeat this until they are very snug and tight. Test the integrity of your gear by pushing against it. If you've done it right, your car should move but not the load.

• Here is a great video which shows how the ratchet part of the tie downs work. 

If this is your first time, start with a short drive, perhaps to your local gas station and check your gear. Be sure to stop from time to time to make sure everything is secure. If you hear any notice from above, pull over immediately and check. I am always so proud of myself whenever I do this. Also keep in mind this skill can come in handy if taking a road trip and you need to store luggage on the roof. That is how I discovered a cover tarp is essential after a trip to visit family in Erie PA resulted in wet, bug covered luggage. I hope this all makes sense. Feel free to comment with questions.

Little Pond Campground, Catskills

Located in the western Catskills, Little Pond Campground is a great introduction to single Mom camping. *Note that I've camped here several times and the photos used are from multiple trips, hence the age difference in my twins. And I want to give credit to Noah Gilbert for some of the wonderful photos here.

Little Pond

Nestled around Little Pond in the valley of Touchmenot Mountain, the campground contains 8 lakefront drive-to sites, and 7 remote lakefront sites, accessible by boat or by walking about 1/4 mile from the boat launch parking area. The remaining 53 sites are tucked into the woods to the south and southwest of the pond.

 Nice spacious campsites....

....with room to spare

Don't be deceived by the name, Little Pond is more of a small lake than a pond. There is a sandy beach area and with no waves and shallow water, the little ones will love splashing around. For the older kids, they can wade further out or just bask in the sun. Next to the beach is a dock where you can rent rowboats, canoes and paddle boats for a moderate fee. No motor boats are allowed which makes for a quiet experience and there is a boat launch where you can bring your own row boat or canoe. You can fish in the pond but a permit is required for anyone over 16 years of age. There are also volleyball & soccer courts and a horseshoe pit.

Woods behind the campsite

The rangers at Little Pond are very friendly and there is a junior naturalist program available. At the registration booth you can buy firewood and ice. There is a small convenience store a few miles away that sells basic groceries and camping supplies. If you need a supermarket, that's about a 40 minute drive away so be sure to bring enough food and snacks. 

Don't worry, only the primitive walk-in sites have pit toilets

There are several very clean and well maintained restrooms throughout the campground, all with flush toilets, sinks and a dish washing station. There are also drinkable water spigots throughout the campground. The 8 walk-in sites are much more primitive, each with a pit toilet. There is a recycling center and dump station though trailer camping seems to be at a minimum here and most sites will either contain tents or pop-ups.

  Hiking trail starts with the remains of an old fireplace (watch out for cobwebs)

Trail features include an old stone wall and cellar as well as a frog pond.

There's no playground on the campsite but a really lovely nature trail runs from one end of the campsite, up touchmenot mountain, ending down at the opposite end of the campground. The trail is just under 2 miles but the last part involves a very steep decent which is only advisable for children over 7-8 years old. The best way to start the trail is if you start near the boat launch parking area. Follow the yellow blazed trail, starting at a standalone fireplace in the middle of the road from a former farmhouse that was in the area. You'll pass along a creek, and up a steady incline through a very primeval looking pines. Along the way you'll pass an old stone wall and the remains of a cellar. These are fun for the kids to explore and it really makes them feel like they're discovering a lost and forgotten realm.

Primeval looking woods

Tiny frog in the frog pond

As you make your way up through the pines, you will pass near a meadow on your right, and the ground will level off a bit. Eventually, you'll come across an unmarked trail that veers off to the left. If you follow this a few yards you'll come upon a frog pond filled with all sorts of interesting creatures. You may even spot a turtle or two. Then head back to the trail and you will continue to an open field near the top of the mountain. Here you can see out for miles and it's a great photo opportunity. If you're lucky, there may be some ripe blackberries, which are totally edible, along the trail to provide a yummy snack. We were lucky enough to pick some and they made a great addition on top of some cornbread we baked in a dutch oven.

Top of the world!

You can continue along the trail a few more yards into woods however after that point the trail becomes more difficult. If you have little ones, this would be a good point to stop for lunch and walk back down the way you came. If you're up for more of a challenge, you can continue. Hiking downhill can be more strenuous than going uphill as you must position your feet to prevent yourself from sliding, and there are a few rock scrambles along the way which can be tricky, especially if there is moss on the rocks. Older kids would definitely enjoy the challenge, if Mom is up to the challenge as well. There are other hiking trails in the region that you can drive to as well as a few waterfalls and covered bridges.

All in all, Little Pond campground provides the perfect nature experience while still providing a level of comfort that can make the kids (and Mom) very happy. Little Pond has become a special place for me and my family.

Reserve Little Pond Campground

Distance: 3 hours

Age: Toddler+

Partner: N

Comfort: The Works

Privacy: Moderate

Swimming: Y

Boating: Y