The best camping near Old Forge with campfires

·

Known as “Adirondack Base Camp,” the New York hamlet of Old Forge is the perfect place to set off on adventures around the Central Adirondack region and Adirondack Park. The town boasts easy access to outdoor activities, from skiing and stand-up paddleboarding to hiking to the summit of Bald Mountain and biking or skiing on McCauley Mountain. Those who want to set up camp will find plenty of nearby options. 

96% (1K)

Top-rated campgrounds near Old Forge

1. Tilden Hill Farm

99%
(1161)
49mi from Old Forge · 25 sites · Tents, RVs
Relax at Tilden Hill Farm its a 155 acre farm raising Black Angus Cattle it has been in the Brewer family for seven generations. Founded in 1798 by Josiah Brewer, the farm has served as a grist mill, chicken farm, cheese factory. We offer several types of site selection for your comfort. Choose from our private tent camping to relaxing RV sites. Our tent sites are quiet and scenic, just a quick walk down to the pond. Some of our sites you can park next to, but a few you will have to walk ~100 yards with your belongings. There are 2 bath houses on the campground with hot showers and toilets. All sites include a fire pit and picnic table. We have 10 full hook up sites (water/electric/sewer) and 9 sites with water and electric. There is a dump station and fire wood available to all for a fee. Once settled in, take a meandering walk through our 12 miles of walking trails or find your way down to our pond. Water activities are plentiful: fishing for bass, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, we accommodate it all! We look forward to seeing you at Tilden Hill Farm where you can "Experience a Family Tradition"
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from 
$49
 / night

6. 40 Acre Adirondack Basecamp

14mi from Old Forge · 1 site · Tent, RV
Escape the everyday and launch your Adirondack adventure from our secluded campsite in Forestport, NY! This listing is for a primitive tent or RV camping spot (no hookups) nestled within nearly 40 acres of private, beautiful woods. Please Note: This is a back-to-basics, bring-your-own-gear experience. You must provide your own tent or RV, sleeping equipment, water, and all camping necessities. Pack it in, pack it out – help us keep our woods pristine by practicing Leave No Trace principles. Find your perfect spot among the trees and get ready to explore. Your adventure starts right here with our network of rustic, private trails winding through the property. But that's just the beginning! Our location serves as the perfect basecamp for exploring the region's best: Hiking: You're minutes from trailheads in the Black River Wild Forest, or take a short drive to hike iconic Bald Mountain (Rondaxe Fire Tower) for stunning views of the Fulton Chain of Lakes. McCauley Mountain also offers great trails. Lakes & Rivers: Enjoy paddling, fishing, or swimming in nearby Kayuta Lake, the Forestport Reservoir, or head to Old Forge for access to the vast Fulton Chain of Lakes and the Moose River. Attractions: Get your thrills at Enchanted Forest Water Safari, take a scenic trip on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, or explore the shops and restaurants in the charming village of Old Forge.
Pets
from 
$75
 / night

7. Nature's Heritage Farm

92%
(6)
37mi from Old Forge · 9 sites · Tents
Nature's Heritage Farm is a beautiful wooded farm in the Adirondack foothills. We consider ourselves stewards of our land, and thus draw from permaculture, regenerative agriculture, and other natural farming methods to rebuild soil and ecosystem health, raise delicious food and happy animals. We have a rabbit colony, a couple horses, a flock of chickens, and a family of miniature donkeys too! We're happy to give you a tour and introduction to them. You'll love seeing our historic bank barn, and Momma Donk is guaranteed to win you over with her love of ear scratches. Nature's Heritage Farm is excited to offer DAY TRIPS to the farm!! Come get a tour, learn about all the animals, enjoy lots of snuggles and pets, and then enjoy the property for the day! We have a great play area for the kids, beautiful hiking, and more. Message us to schedule your day trip & tour! We offer primitive tent campsites. No electric or toilets are available at this time. However, we can offer a number of services and rentals, including all of the camping gear you could need. Want the fun of camping without the half day spent setting up? Let us know, we'll have a tent ready and waiting with cots, camp kitchen and supplies ready to go! Most of the property is woods (pine plantation and natural hard wood forest) crisscrossed by park like trails. You can count on finding some peace and solitude if that is what you desire. Also, there are many state parks, preserves, lakes, rivers and other enjoyable attractions nearby. Our hilltop campsite is a dark site, and you can get a wonderful, clear view of the stars! Nearby Attractions include: - Baker Woods Preserve - Turning Point Park - New York Zoo - Numerous Adirondacks parks, hikes and peaks - within day trip distance of the Thousand Islands and the Wild Center! Note that this property is near Fort Drum, so sometimes you can hear their munitions practice in the distance.
Pets
Toilets
Potable water
from 
$16
 / night

8. Mountaineer Campground @Massawepie

98%
(41)
42mi from Old Forge · 18 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Located on a 3,769 acre property with a private, mile-long lake, miles of hiking trails, and endless opportunity for outdoor adventure—Camp Mountaineer is one of the Adirondack’s best-kept secrets. Located at the historic Massawepie Scout Camps in Piercefield, NY, Mountaineer can serve as your vacation spot, home away from home, or gateway to Adirondack exploration. Camp Mountaineer is located at Massawepie Scout Camps, 65 Massawepie Road in Piercefield, NY - just west of Tupper Lake. The campground features a variety of camping options to suit your group’s needs—cabins, RV sites, tent sites, and group campsites are all available. Various amenities are provided to make your stay even more enjoyable. Situated in the North Central Adirondacks, Camp Mountaineer provides an opportunity for great on-site outdoor recreation as well as a jumping off point to adventures throughout the Adirondack Park. The facilities and services available at Camp Mountaineer make this a great choice for your family or groups’ adventure. Camp Mountaineer is owned and operated by the Seneca Waterways Council, Boy Scouts of America headquartered in Rochester, NY. First opened as a Scout camp in 1953, Mountaineer now serves as a campground equipped to suit your group’s needs. Any group can make a reservation. Our 2025 Rental Season runs July 3-August 9
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from 
$20
 / night

9. Weaver Acres

91%
(46)
45mi from Old Forge · 3 sites · Tents, RVs
Enjoy a taste of the Adirondacks with all of the amenities of a town. These spacious wooded lots provide a picturesque landscape that can accommodate almost any camper! This property has been family owned for 3 generations with no plans of that changing. This location used to be home to what the family referred to lovingly as the "Green Camp". The area holds many childhood memories for the family who is hoping to extend that opportunity to all who choose to reserve it. This property is centrally located just a 5minute walk from Tupper Lake Public Beach which contains a full bathhouse. It is also a 5minute drive to the award willing Raquette River Brewery and the Adirondack Rail Trail. Tupper Lake is also home to the #1 Natural History Museum in the Country "The Wild Center". Tupper Lake is part of the tri-lake region in the Adirondacks including Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Lake Placid being home to the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympics.
Pets
Showers
Full hookups
from 
$40
 / night

15. Beaver Camp

100%
(12)
15mi from Old Forge · 7 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Nestled in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, this 87-acre expanse of forest, streams, and lake is the perfect escape from the business of life. Located in the Adirondack State Park directly on Beaver Lake, we have access to the lake and Beaver River flow and the wide expanse of forests and trails of the park. With heated cabins, water and electric RV sites, and outdoor tenting areas, we provide a camping experience that can be tailored to fit the needs of small and large groups. Whether it's cozying up around the fire in one of our indoor lounging areas; pitching a tent at our outpost camp lean-to site in the middle of the woods; sipping complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, or tea as you watch the sunrise over the lake; or hiking through the woods (or across the lake when its frozen over) and watching the wildlife, Beaver Camp offers a great opportunity to unplug and soak in the peace and quiet of nature.
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Showers
from 
$40
 / night

17. The Pines Lakeside Canoe & Camping

100%
(29)
49mi from Old Forge · 1 site · Tent
Enjoy a secluded lakeside campsite with two points of water access. There are no other sites on this 13 acre property, so it's very private. Complimentary canoe and stand up paddle boards for your use. New York State hiking trails just one mile down the road, plus lots of other activities like rail biking and rafting a short drive away. The campsite is just 100 steps down a well-marked trail accessible from the parking spot. Pitch your tent on the elevated platform encircled in pine trees with a view of the lake. Next to the tent area you’ll find a solar shower, picnic table, Cleanwaste toilet in outhouse, fire pit and Adirondack chairs. The site comes equipped ample firewood, fire starters, and many kitchen items including plates, bowls, utensils, cups, frying pan, can opener, wine opener, salt and pepper, cooking tongs, dish wash basin, and dish soap. Please note, that during Mother's Day and Father's Day is black fly season in the Adirondacks. Difficult to predict, but good to be aware of.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$98
 / night

18. Trailside Ranch Cabin Rentals

94%
(35)
11mi from Old Forge · 6 sites · Lodging
YOUR CABIN IS WAITING FOR YOU! TRAILSIDERANCH IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND. This family friendly 10 acre off the grid ranch is located inside the Adirondack Park. We are at the end of Partridgeville Road and the beginning of Paradise in beautiful Brantingham NY Trailside Ranch is surrounded by the pristine 76,000-acre Independence River Wild Forest Preserve. It is linked to 65 miles of Horse trails, hundreds of miles of Snowmobile trails and to the nearly 600 miles of ATV trails. If you are looking for the full wilderness experience, you can hike right from your cabin! We also offer on-site snowmobile rentals in the winter and S x S rentals in the summer. You can hire our local guide to explore the area or if you are comfortable with a map and directions, we can give you details of some amazing scenery to see. Ask us about our rentals if you are interested in this adventure. Your time here will be something your entire family will remember for a lifetime.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$190
 / night

19. Adirondack Waterfall Oasis

99%
(60)
16mi from Old Forge · 1 site · Tent, RV
With cobblestone mill ruins, a 200 year old cemetery at the property entrance and a large dam at the top of some of New York's most beautiful waterfalls, this is the former site of one of the Georgia Pacific's many logging mills dating back to the early 1800's and a part of Adirondack history. Surrounded by bedrock, huge boulders, massive pine trees and miles and miles of trails, the Fowlerville Falls offer days of exploration and/or relaxation. There is a large swimming hole at the top of the falls, just off of the South-facing bedrock bank, where you can swim or lay in the sun. The falls, themselves, are almost 500 ft. across (at the widest point) and approximately 150 ft. in length (from top to bottom), ascending at approximately a 40-45 degree angle, making them navigable by foot. In the drier months (and, of course, depending on rain fall), most of the falls are dry, with only 50 - 100 ft. of water flow, making them navigable by foot. There are many little pools and flowing water across the bedrock to explore, along with the rest of the river, the surrounding woods and adjacent miles and miles of atv/hiking trails. If you are kayaker, there river above the falls is calm and fairly shallow, ranging from .5 - several feet in depth. And if you are white water enthusiast, Fowlerville Falls (and the Moose River) is a nationally rated and renowned spot, boasting a class III-IV under normal release conditions, and a dangerous, cold class V under spring runoff conditions. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. Learn more about this land: A raw, pine forest lining the bedrock banks of Port Leyden's Fowlerville Falls, just inside of the Adirondack park. The former site of one of Georgia Pacific's old logging mills, the property has private access to beautiful water falls, a large swimming hole just off of a large, South-facing rock bank, untamed, clean pine forests, ATV and hiking trails, trout & small mouth bass fishing, many fire pits and areas to camp throughout the property.
Pets
from 
$105
 / night

Known as “Adirondack Base Camp,” the New York hamlet of Old Forge is the perfect place to set off on adventures around the Central Adirondack region and Adirondack Park. The town boasts easy access to outdoor activities, from skiing and stand-up paddleboarding to hiking to the summit of Bald Mountain and biking or skiing on McCauley Mountain. Those who want to set up camp will find plenty of nearby options. 

96% (1K)

Top-rated campgrounds near Old Forge

1. Tilden Hill Farm

99%
(1161)
49mi from Old Forge · 25 sites · Tents, RVs
Relax at Tilden Hill Farm its a 155 acre farm raising Black Angus Cattle it has been in the Brewer family for seven generations. Founded in 1798 by Josiah Brewer, the farm has served as a grist mill, chicken farm, cheese factory. We offer several types of site selection for your comfort. Choose from our private tent camping to relaxing RV sites. Our tent sites are quiet and scenic, just a quick walk down to the pond. Some of our sites you can park next to, but a few you will have to walk ~100 yards with your belongings. There are 2 bath houses on the campground with hot showers and toilets. All sites include a fire pit and picnic table. We have 10 full hook up sites (water/electric/sewer) and 9 sites with water and electric. There is a dump station and fire wood available to all for a fee. Once settled in, take a meandering walk through our 12 miles of walking trails or find your way down to our pond. Water activities are plentiful: fishing for bass, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, we accommodate it all! We look forward to seeing you at Tilden Hill Farm where you can "Experience a Family Tradition"
Pets
Toilets
Full hookups
from 
$49
 / night

6. 40 Acre Adirondack Basecamp

14mi from Old Forge · 1 site · Tent, RV
Escape the everyday and launch your Adirondack adventure from our secluded campsite in Forestport, NY! This listing is for a primitive tent or RV camping spot (no hookups) nestled within nearly 40 acres of private, beautiful woods. Please Note: This is a back-to-basics, bring-your-own-gear experience. You must provide your own tent or RV, sleeping equipment, water, and all camping necessities. Pack it in, pack it out – help us keep our woods pristine by practicing Leave No Trace principles. Find your perfect spot among the trees and get ready to explore. Your adventure starts right here with our network of rustic, private trails winding through the property. But that's just the beginning! Our location serves as the perfect basecamp for exploring the region's best: Hiking: You're minutes from trailheads in the Black River Wild Forest, or take a short drive to hike iconic Bald Mountain (Rondaxe Fire Tower) for stunning views of the Fulton Chain of Lakes. McCauley Mountain also offers great trails. Lakes & Rivers: Enjoy paddling, fishing, or swimming in nearby Kayuta Lake, the Forestport Reservoir, or head to Old Forge for access to the vast Fulton Chain of Lakes and the Moose River. Attractions: Get your thrills at Enchanted Forest Water Safari, take a scenic trip on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, or explore the shops and restaurants in the charming village of Old Forge.
Pets
from 
$75
 / night

7. Nature's Heritage Farm

92%
(6)
37mi from Old Forge · 9 sites · Tents
Nature's Heritage Farm is a beautiful wooded farm in the Adirondack foothills. We consider ourselves stewards of our land, and thus draw from permaculture, regenerative agriculture, and other natural farming methods to rebuild soil and ecosystem health, raise delicious food and happy animals. We have a rabbit colony, a couple horses, a flock of chickens, and a family of miniature donkeys too! We're happy to give you a tour and introduction to them. You'll love seeing our historic bank barn, and Momma Donk is guaranteed to win you over with her love of ear scratches. Nature's Heritage Farm is excited to offer DAY TRIPS to the farm!! Come get a tour, learn about all the animals, enjoy lots of snuggles and pets, and then enjoy the property for the day! We have a great play area for the kids, beautiful hiking, and more. Message us to schedule your day trip & tour! We offer primitive tent campsites. No electric or toilets are available at this time. However, we can offer a number of services and rentals, including all of the camping gear you could need. Want the fun of camping without the half day spent setting up? Let us know, we'll have a tent ready and waiting with cots, camp kitchen and supplies ready to go! Most of the property is woods (pine plantation and natural hard wood forest) crisscrossed by park like trails. You can count on finding some peace and solitude if that is what you desire. Also, there are many state parks, preserves, lakes, rivers and other enjoyable attractions nearby. Our hilltop campsite is a dark site, and you can get a wonderful, clear view of the stars! Nearby Attractions include: - Baker Woods Preserve - Turning Point Park - New York Zoo - Numerous Adirondacks parks, hikes and peaks - within day trip distance of the Thousand Islands and the Wild Center! Note that this property is near Fort Drum, so sometimes you can hear their munitions practice in the distance.
Pets
Toilets
Potable water
from 
$16
 / night

8. Mountaineer Campground @Massawepie

98%
(41)
42mi from Old Forge · 18 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Located on a 3,769 acre property with a private, mile-long lake, miles of hiking trails, and endless opportunity for outdoor adventure—Camp Mountaineer is one of the Adirondack’s best-kept secrets. Located at the historic Massawepie Scout Camps in Piercefield, NY, Mountaineer can serve as your vacation spot, home away from home, or gateway to Adirondack exploration. Camp Mountaineer is located at Massawepie Scout Camps, 65 Massawepie Road in Piercefield, NY - just west of Tupper Lake. The campground features a variety of camping options to suit your group’s needs—cabins, RV sites, tent sites, and group campsites are all available. Various amenities are provided to make your stay even more enjoyable. Situated in the North Central Adirondacks, Camp Mountaineer provides an opportunity for great on-site outdoor recreation as well as a jumping off point to adventures throughout the Adirondack Park. The facilities and services available at Camp Mountaineer make this a great choice for your family or groups’ adventure. Camp Mountaineer is owned and operated by the Seneca Waterways Council, Boy Scouts of America headquartered in Rochester, NY. First opened as a Scout camp in 1953, Mountaineer now serves as a campground equipped to suit your group’s needs. Any group can make a reservation. Our 2025 Rental Season runs July 3-August 9
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
from 
$20
 / night

9. Weaver Acres

91%
(46)
45mi from Old Forge · 3 sites · Tents, RVs
Enjoy a taste of the Adirondacks with all of the amenities of a town. These spacious wooded lots provide a picturesque landscape that can accommodate almost any camper! This property has been family owned for 3 generations with no plans of that changing. This location used to be home to what the family referred to lovingly as the "Green Camp". The area holds many childhood memories for the family who is hoping to extend that opportunity to all who choose to reserve it. This property is centrally located just a 5minute walk from Tupper Lake Public Beach which contains a full bathhouse. It is also a 5minute drive to the award willing Raquette River Brewery and the Adirondack Rail Trail. Tupper Lake is also home to the #1 Natural History Museum in the Country "The Wild Center". Tupper Lake is part of the tri-lake region in the Adirondacks including Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. Lake Placid being home to the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympics.
Pets
Showers
Full hookups
from 
$40
 / night

15. Beaver Camp

100%
(12)
15mi from Old Forge · 7 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Nestled in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, this 87-acre expanse of forest, streams, and lake is the perfect escape from the business of life. Located in the Adirondack State Park directly on Beaver Lake, we have access to the lake and Beaver River flow and the wide expanse of forests and trails of the park. With heated cabins, water and electric RV sites, and outdoor tenting areas, we provide a camping experience that can be tailored to fit the needs of small and large groups. Whether it's cozying up around the fire in one of our indoor lounging areas; pitching a tent at our outpost camp lean-to site in the middle of the woods; sipping complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, or tea as you watch the sunrise over the lake; or hiking through the woods (or across the lake when its frozen over) and watching the wildlife, Beaver Camp offers a great opportunity to unplug and soak in the peace and quiet of nature.
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Showers
from 
$40
 / night

17. The Pines Lakeside Canoe & Camping

100%
(29)
49mi from Old Forge · 1 site · Tent
Enjoy a secluded lakeside campsite with two points of water access. There are no other sites on this 13 acre property, so it's very private. Complimentary canoe and stand up paddle boards for your use. New York State hiking trails just one mile down the road, plus lots of other activities like rail biking and rafting a short drive away. The campsite is just 100 steps down a well-marked trail accessible from the parking spot. Pitch your tent on the elevated platform encircled in pine trees with a view of the lake. Next to the tent area you’ll find a solar shower, picnic table, Cleanwaste toilet in outhouse, fire pit and Adirondack chairs. The site comes equipped ample firewood, fire starters, and many kitchen items including plates, bowls, utensils, cups, frying pan, can opener, wine opener, salt and pepper, cooking tongs, dish wash basin, and dish soap. Please note, that during Mother's Day and Father's Day is black fly season in the Adirondacks. Difficult to predict, but good to be aware of.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$98
 / night

18. Trailside Ranch Cabin Rentals

94%
(35)
11mi from Old Forge · 6 sites · Lodging
YOUR CABIN IS WAITING FOR YOU! TRAILSIDERANCH IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND. This family friendly 10 acre off the grid ranch is located inside the Adirondack Park. We are at the end of Partridgeville Road and the beginning of Paradise in beautiful Brantingham NY Trailside Ranch is surrounded by the pristine 76,000-acre Independence River Wild Forest Preserve. It is linked to 65 miles of Horse trails, hundreds of miles of Snowmobile trails and to the nearly 600 miles of ATV trails. If you are looking for the full wilderness experience, you can hike right from your cabin! We also offer on-site snowmobile rentals in the winter and S x S rentals in the summer. You can hire our local guide to explore the area or if you are comfortable with a map and directions, we can give you details of some amazing scenery to see. Ask us about our rentals if you are interested in this adventure. Your time here will be something your entire family will remember for a lifetime.
Pets
Toilets
Showers
from 
$190
 / night

19. Adirondack Waterfall Oasis

99%
(60)
16mi from Old Forge · 1 site · Tent, RV
With cobblestone mill ruins, a 200 year old cemetery at the property entrance and a large dam at the top of some of New York's most beautiful waterfalls, this is the former site of one of the Georgia Pacific's many logging mills dating back to the early 1800's and a part of Adirondack history. Surrounded by bedrock, huge boulders, massive pine trees and miles and miles of trails, the Fowlerville Falls offer days of exploration and/or relaxation. There is a large swimming hole at the top of the falls, just off of the South-facing bedrock bank, where you can swim or lay in the sun. The falls, themselves, are almost 500 ft. across (at the widest point) and approximately 150 ft. in length (from top to bottom), ascending at approximately a 40-45 degree angle, making them navigable by foot. In the drier months (and, of course, depending on rain fall), most of the falls are dry, with only 50 - 100 ft. of water flow, making them navigable by foot. There are many little pools and flowing water across the bedrock to explore, along with the rest of the river, the surrounding woods and adjacent miles and miles of atv/hiking trails. If you are kayaker, there river above the falls is calm and fairly shallow, ranging from .5 - several feet in depth. And if you are white water enthusiast, Fowlerville Falls (and the Moose River) is a nationally rated and renowned spot, boasting a class III-IV under normal release conditions, and a dangerous, cold class V under spring runoff conditions. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. Learn more about this land: A raw, pine forest lining the bedrock banks of Port Leyden's Fowlerville Falls, just inside of the Adirondack park. The former site of one of Georgia Pacific's old logging mills, the property has private access to beautiful water falls, a large swimming hole just off of a large, South-facing rock bank, untamed, clean pine forests, ATV and hiking trails, trout & small mouth bass fishing, many fire pits and areas to camp throughout the property.
Pets
from 
$105
 / night

Camper favorites near Old Forge

Top-rated campgrounds reviewed by the Hipcamp community.

Public campgrounds near Old Forge

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

More campsites near Old Forge

Value Prop
Value Prop
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field
Happy farmer sitting in a truck in a grassy field

The best camping near Old Forge with campfires guide

Where to go

Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness

Just west of Old Forge, the Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness is perfect for those seeking solitude in a beautiful, wild setting. The area has 35 miles of marked trails as well as five lakes and 16 ponds for fishing. It’s also home to wildlife including moose, black bears, and bald eagles. Just 10 minutes south of Old Forge, Nicks Lake Campground has 112 sites for campers and tents.

Black River Wild Forest

The sprawling Black River Wild Forest offers an array of recreational activities, from hiking some of its 90 miles of trails to paddling, fishing, and snowmobiling on its lakes. Nicks Lake Campground is at the northern end of the forest.

Long Lake

Appropriately named for the expansive lake that flows through it, Long Lake is a quiet and pristine corner of the Adirondacks. Naturally, boating and fishing are top activities but in the winter you can also go snowmobiling and both downhill and cross-country skiing. Around 15 minutes southwest of town, Forked Lake Campground has 80 sites.

West Canada Lake Wilderness

Around 70 miles southeast of Old Forge, West Canada Lake Wilderness is the second largest wilderness area in the Adirondack Forest Preserve. Hiking trails vary in levels of difficulty and maintenance and lead through some of the more remote areas in the Adirondack Park. Backcountry camping is allowed and there are 16 lean-tos and 28 primitive tent sites located along the Northville-Placid Trail and connecting trails.

When to go

The long, sunny days of spring and summer are ideal for enjoying the trails and water activities on offer, making these the most popular seasons to visit Old Forge and the Adirondacks generally. However, the peak summer season can bring crowds and booked-up campsites, so try to make reservations far in advance. September and October can also get busy with visitors arriving to see the vibrant colors of fall foliage while winters are relatively crowd-free and offer skiing and snowshoeing.