Information
Landmark: North-South Lake CampgroundCity: Catskills
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
North-South Lake Campground, Catskills, USA New York, North America
Overview
North-South Lake Campground sits in Haines Falls, New York, surrounded by the quiet pines and rolling hills of the Catskill Forest Preserve.Perched at about 2,130 feet, it’s the biggest and busiest state campground in the Catskills, where the air feels crisp even in summer.Tucked between North Lake and South Lake, the campground offers sweeping views, trails that wind through old historic landmarks, and plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors.The campground has 219 sites arranged in seven loops, with space for tents, trailers, and RVs-though you won’t find hookups anywhere.You’ll find everything from cool, shaded nooks beneath the pines to wide, sunlit stretches beside the water.Campers can use flush toilets and take hot showers, with steam curling in the air-simple comforts in the middle of the wild.Picnic spots dot the area, each with sturdy tables and a grill ready for sizzling burgers-just right for a family meal or a relaxed get‑together.Kids can scramble up the jungle gym at the playground, while nearby sports fields host games of volleyball or a round of horseshoes.Water and firewood: you’ll find safe drinking water at several spots, marked with bright blue taps.They sell firewood right here, but it’s better to bring local logs-fresh-cut and familiar-to keep pests from hitching a ride.The campground offers a trailer dump station and a recycling center, making it easy to handle waste responsibly-toss your cans in one bin, empty the tank at the other.North Lake spans roughly 84 acres and drops to about 12 feet at its deepest point, making it a favorite spot for boating, fishing, or diving in for a summer swim.South Lake, a bit smaller, sits right next to North Lake, where people fish off the dock and enjoy many of the same activities.Boating’s limited to non-motorized craft, so the water stays calm and the loons keep calling across the lake.You can rent rowboats, canoes, kayaks, or paddleboats at the campground, and the oars are stacked neatly by the dock.You can swim at the campground’s designated beaches, where lifeguards watch over the water from Memorial Day to Labor Day, making it a safe place for families to splash and play.Fishing here offers a mix of species-you might reel in a largemouth bass, spot the flash of a chain pickerel, or pull up a pumpkinseed sunfish shimmering in the sunlight.You can go ice fishing in the winter, as long as the ice is thick enough to hold you.North-South Lake Campground is your starting point for some of the Catskills’ most celebrated sights and trails, like the Catskill Mountain House site-where a quick walk brings you to the weathered stone remains and a sweeping view of the Hudson Valley framed by blue hills.Alligator Rock juts out in a bold shape, giving you sweeping views of the Hudson Valley, where the river glints silver in the afternoon sun.Kaaterskill Falls towers as one of New York’s tallest, its twin cascades plunging nearly 260 feet in a white roar of spray.You can reach it by hiking the trails that begin just past the campground’s wooden sign.Sunset Rocks and Newman's Ledge are favorite spots to watch the sun sink behind the mountains, painting the sky in deep orange and gold.Boulder Rock and the Laurel House Ruins let you step back into the Catskills’ past, then turn to take in sweeping views where the wind smells faintly of pine.On the far eastern shore of North Lake, you’ll find the day-use area, complete with a hand boat launch, a sturdy wooden dock, and a kayak slide that makes it easy to slip small boats into the water.Visitors without their own gear can rent a boat right on the dock.A picnic pavilion big enough for friends to spread out under its shady roof.Features that make it easier for visitors with disabilities to enjoy the space, like ramps you can roll up without a bump.The campground sits among thick forests that shelter white-tailed deer, black bears, wild turkeys, and a chorus of songbirds drifting through the trees.The forest blends northern hardwoods-maple, birch, beech-with dark-needled conifers that whisper in the wind.Pets are welcome, but you’ve got to keep them on a leash-think of the soft click as it snaps into place-every moment they’re here.Owners must clean up after their pets and make sure they’re not bothering other campers-no barking at midnight, no mess left behind.Fires: You can light a campfire only in the marked fire rings, where the metal rim is cool to the touch before you start.Visitors need to follow the campground’s rules-light fires only in marked pits-to keep the forest safe from flames.Quiet hours run from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., keeping the campground calm enough that you can hear the crickets.Reservations and access are available only during the season, typically from May 16 until October 26, when the air is warm and the trails are clear.You can book a site ahead of time through New York State’s ReserveAmerica system, and it’s smart to do so for busy weekends or holidays when spots fill up fast.You can get there easily by taking County Route 18-North Lake Road-just outside Haines Falls, where the pavement curves past a row of tall pines.There’s plenty of parking, and the loops are clearly marked with bright wooden signs.You can reach them at (518) 589-5058, or visit the New York State DEC’s North-South Lake page for details.At North-South Lake Campground, you’ll find sweeping mountain views, plenty of trails to roam, and a touch of local history-just the right starting point for exploring the Catskills.Camping under tall pines, hiking rocky trails, casting a line into the clear lake, paddling a canoe, or just stretching out beside the water-here, families soak up a vibrant wilderness that feels both welcoming and wild.
