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

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

Getting Started

Camping can be a relatively low cost vacation option, once you make the initial investment in basic gear. If you take your children on picnics or trips to the beach, you may be surprised to find that you already have some of the basics needed for camping. Click on the "Getting Started" tab near the top of the page to view a list of gear you will need.


If you're new to camping I suggest starting small. If you have never taken your children on a BBQ, try planning one for the day to see how it goes with the planning, hauling gear, cooking/grilling, etc. There are many locations in NYC where you can barbecue - be it Prospect Park, Flushing Meadows, Randall's Island or Van Cortlandt park. The following link will allow you to search for parks in any borough by feature: NYC Find a Park. 


Next, consider planning a 2-3 night trip relatively close to home so in an emergency you can pack up and leave quickly. If you are in the NYC area, there are a few campsites in Long Island which are close, like Wildwood or Heckscher. 


Cabin camping is a great way to introduce yourself to camping and requires less of an investment in gear since you don't need a tent. Many cabins come equipped with bunk beds or cots and a basic kitchen. Kampgrounds of America (KOA), Sebago cabins in Harriman Park or North-South lake in the Catskills are good places to start. If you have any single parent friends willing to go, it will always make things easier however don't be discouraged if your only option is to go it alone.


My initial camping gear investment was about $400, and that was five years ago. There are some economical ways you can save on gear. Consider finding used items for sale from craigslist or ebay. Some items you should buy new are the tent and the sleeping bag. Backpacks, grills, folding tables, camp chairs and other items can be bought used.


There are few camping outfitters in the New York metro area. Paragon Sporting goods is fairly well stocked with quality camping gear but they can be rather expensive, though you can sometimes find deals. Modell's sporting goods has some camping gear but their selection is severely limited. Target also has a better selection of camping gear than Modell's. If you want to buy gear online, here is a list of sites I often find deals on:

• www.amazon.com - The online superstore. They have nearly everything and offer good prices. If you're a prime member, 2-day shipping on many items is free which is great for the bulkier items. 
• www.sierratradingpost.com - This is a discount store for outdoor gear. Their selection is somewhat limited to discontinued or closeout items but you can get great deals.
• www.campmor.com - A New Jersey based outfitter they have a good selection and you can sometimes find good deals.
• www.cabelas.com - This is not an inexpensive store but they typically sell very good quality items here. If you want to buy something guaranteed to last, this is your store.
• www.rei.com Just like Cabelas, this Washington State based outfitter has been providing quality outdoor gear for decades. Again not inexpensive but high quality and they have an outlet store where you can find deals. Happily they are expected to open a store in NYC (in SoHo) in Fall 2011.

Camping does take careful planning but I have provided checklists on the Camping Checklist tab near the top of the blog. They provide a solid foundation and you can customize these to suit your particular trip.