Enjoy a classic Adirondack summer by camping in the Tupper Lake area. Relaxing campgrounds surrounded by forests, along with activities like paddling, hiking, and swimming, are complemented by the village's welcoming atmosphere and great, family-friendly activities.

1. Little Wolf Beach Campground

5 minutes from the center of Tupper Lake, Little Wolf Beach and Campground is the ultimate choice for folks looking to bring their family and friends to the center of summer fun. While swimming just steps away from your campsite and launching your boat into Little Wolf Pond for a day of fishing is fantastic, this spot also makes it possible to mosey your way over to all of the activities in Tupper Lake! So after a day of cannonballing from the floating dock, playing some nail-biting beach volleyball games, and picnicking at the pavilion, head over to Timberjaxx Pass for some mini golfing or Lakeview Lanes for bowling and arcade games. You’ll surely create some stories to unpack back by the campfire.

2. Rollins Pond/Fish Creek

While not right in Tupper Lake, we’d be unwise to not mention Rollins Pond and Fish Creek, two campgrounds directly adjacent to each other, and some of the most popular in the entire state too. Many people put reservations in for sites here as soon as they come out, and for good reason. Situated smack in the middle of the St. Regis Canoe Area, access is king here. Motorized access to ponds is available, and route options for classic canoe trips are virtually endless. You’ll instantly fall in love with this place; the little known hiking paths, the spotty cell service, and the sound of the ice cream trailer coming your way. Those who’ve been usually go again, and then again, and then again. You get the idea. 

A unique feature of these campgrounds is the access to canoe, and even pontoon boat, rentals right next door at Hickock's Boat Livery (now Upper Saranac Marina)! Don’t pass this up if you aren’t bringing your own watercraft.

3. Lake Eaton 

If you want a campground with near unparalleled hiking options, especially to the Adirondacks’ historic fire towers, then Lake Eaton Campground is it. South of Tupper Lake, and just north of Long Lake, Lake Eaton is a favorite basecamp for the adventurous. Working on the Tupper Lake Triad, or even the Hamilton County Waterfall and Fire Tower challenges? Lake Eaton is just minutes from places that you’ll be visiting for all of these. Looking out across Lake Eaton is Owl’s Head Mountain fire tower, and just up the road you can bring some lunch up to the bare summit of Coney Mountain. With 135 sites to choose from, many of which have a very secluded feel, you can’t go wrong. Being one of the more rustic and quiet state campgrounds in the area, this is a great option for getting a truly Adirondack camping experience, away from the possibly big summer crowds at other spots.

4. Corey's Road car camping 

Don’t need all the amenities that come with the state campgrounds above? Car camping along Corey’s Road in Tupper Lake at the designated first-come first serve sites is for budget-friendly adventure seekers. Use these sites as a basecamp to hike the four Western High Peaks, or for combining a few of the smaller hikes along Corey’s Road, like Rock and Pickerel Ponds and Raquette Falls. Bring a canoe or boat and get out onto the Raquette River from Axton Landing. You’ll be at the epicenter of some great paddling, which can get you started on your Tupper Lake Paddling Triad. Yes, it’s far from glamping, but the peace and quiet here is quite special, and unlike the experience you’d get at a larger state campground. You’ll be pretty isolated, so grab some craft beer from Raquette River Brewing, a sandwich from Spruce and Hemlock for your hike, and donuts from The Washboard Donut Shoppe before you head to Corey’s Road!

5. Raquette Falls trail

Let’s continue this trend of getting further and further from the front country! Along the section of the Raquette River, right near Corey’s Road, the Raquette River Falls trail holds numerous options for backcountry camping. For those just getting into backcountry camping, the Stony Creek Lean-to sits around a quarter mile from the parking area for Raquette Falls, and taking a trip or two to drop off supplies for a night of camping here is commonly done. But if you’d like to put all of your supplies into a backpacking pack and head deep into the woods, continue further and after a couple miles you reach Hemlock Hill Lean-to. The fun of planning a trip like this is the research; buying a map and compass, planning ahead, and even getting a local Adirondack guide if you are a beginner. Spend a night or two along the trail, connect with the Raquette River, and then go learn about it and the surrounding landscapes you’ve just backpacked through at the Tupper Lake Wild Center, which actually sits further upstream on the Raquette River!

6. Trombley Landing lean-to

Lastly, a lone lean-to sits at the end of a 1.5 mile trail, at Trombley Landing (aka Trombley Clearing), along a bend of the Raquette River. Being a lone lean-to, a healthy reminder that lean-tos are on a first-come first-serve basis, and you could be spending the night with other Adirondack campers! Along the way you’ll pass a wetland with unique plant life, a beautiful hemlock stand, and end up at a great spot for some summer swimming in the Raquette. It’s not the longest hike, making it a chill backcountry option for those looking for solitude, lean-to lounging time, and a truly Adirondack wilderness experience.

Camping in and around Tupper Lake can mean a lot of things! Bring the whole family for a cook-out and activity-filled couple of days right near town, or bring only the essentials for a backpacking trip along the Raquette. Your summer camping options are endless here, and with some of the area's best dining establishments, fun-filled attractions, and spots for shopping, planning a camping trip, and having back-ups for a rainy day, is easy in Tupper Lake.