New York State Parks

Wilmington Notch (Half-way between Wilmington & Lake Placid on Highway 89)

 

As Ontario residents, this was our first occasion to stay in a New York State park.  As such, we were not sure what to expect and we leave it to New York residents to confirm what one would normally find.  However, we enjoyed our latest R-Pod experience and look forward to returning next year.

 

Wilmington Notch state park is located beside the Ausable River and is situated in a birch and pine grove at the base of Whiteface Mountain on Highway 89.  [NOTE: Both the AAA Triptik and OnStar had difficulty locating it]  It has 49 campsites, hot showers, flush toilets, a trailer dump station, and a recycling center.  No electricity.  Thankfully one of our group was there early to check us all in, because there is a deadline of 9 pm by which to do so.

 

The group we were with has camped at Wilmington Notch for many years now because it offers easy access to many Adirondack High Peak Wilderness trails.  Many hikers are awake between 5 and 7 am to hit the trails.  As novices, we chose to hike the slightly easier and more accessible Cascade Mountain.

 

After checking the online reviews for the campground, which are mixed to say the least, we chose site 41 because it is closer to the Ausable River than the Highway and is in the grove rather than out in the open.  It was good that we booked six weeks in advance because by the time we arrived at the park it was almost full.  Perhaps it was the unseasonably good weather this year which brought everyone out.

 

BTW, we travelled with our golden retriever and had no issues at the border.  (We did have our dog’s rabies vaccination certificate with us in case it was needed at the border or at the campground)

 

[PHOTO:  The view from Cascades Mountain with our newest cross-border traveler and mountain climber - Lily]

Wellesley Island - (Thousand Islands)

We visited this park on the Canadian May long week-end from May 16-19th, which was a week earlier than the U.S. holiday week-end. As the largest camping complex in the Thousand Islands, this is what I would call a “full-service” recreational park to suit every type of camper.    

If you want a view of the St. Lawrence River, there are a few un-serviced sites (such as B44-50) which would suit your R-Pod. However, as soon as you decide to have an electrical site the choices become more limited (not uncommon for any State/Provincial Park).

We stayed at “Blue Jay” B 29, which is in the middle of a row of about 7 side-by-side sites which have partial views of the river. In fact, our neighbours also reserved the site immediately opposite on the river so that their view would not be obstructed, as happened last year when a large motorhome pulled up.

Electrical sites “Coyote” C 69-73 also have nice views. The rest of “Coyote” is what I would call an RV highway with sites at the opposite end 22-32 being low lying and prone to standing water.

Full-service sites on “Fox” were used by 21+ foot RVs.

In addition to a beach and marina, other attractions include the popular Minna Anthony Common Nature Center with a seasonal butterfly house and miles of trails for hiking.

This year the park is adding a new Trailer Dumping Station near the park entrance which will be a welcome addition.

The main reason for us visiting Wellesley Island was to see if we could find a park that would enable us to camp without a lot of bugs at this time of year. We were not disappointed. The breeze from the river kept most away and, even with a little rain on Friday, few bugs emerged before we were ready to leave.

Keewaydin - (Thousand Islands)

Keewaydin State Park is located east of Interstate 81 on Route 12, near Alexandria Bay. It was once a private estate, originally owned by James Wesley Jackson of New York. It has 36 campsites for R-Pods with no utilities but which includes a number of prime sites and two historic gazebos from which one can watch boats pass under the Thousand Islands Bridge and along the St. Lawrence River. Cruises and trips to Boldt Castle can be organized from the nearby town of Alexandria Bay. There is a swimming pool on site. In 2014 the campsite is open from May 23 – August 31, 2014.