The Adirondacks has 42 public campgrounds administered by the State of New York. These range from fairly rustic to facilities built during the golden age of public works. Most of these campgrounds lie off the the main roads, and are marked on many road maps. Or you can get a complete list by contacting the Department of Environmental Conservation . Again, contact the DEC for more information on making reservations.
Many hiking trails feature lean-tos and campsites built by the site or by various hiking clubs.
Individual trail descriptions will let you know what's going on. On official Wild Forest land or Wilderness, you can pitch your tent anywhere as long as it's more than 200 feet from a road or trail. The main tourist centers include Lake George, Lake Placid and Luzerne. Weather Even though the Adirondacks are in New York, think northern Vermont not the relatively balmy New York City area or even the Catskills. The hiking and paddling season in the Adirondacks extends from May to October.