Printer-friendlyCranberry Lake
Address:243 Lone Pine Road, Cranberry Lake, NY 12927
Campground Phone: (315)848-2315
Regional Office Phone: (315)265-3090
Camping Fee: $18
Campground Map PDF File (409 KB)
Make a reservation for this campground with ReserveAmerica.
One of the largest remote lakes in the Adirondacks and it's proximity to 50,000 acres of wilderness, intermingled with 50 miles of well developed trails makes Cranberry Lake the outdoor enthusiasts perfect vacation spot. Whether it's fishing, boating or just laying back and enjoying your well deserved vacation, Cranberry Lake is the spot for you. The lake has been stocked with trout in the past and many of the ponds, streams and rivers support excellent trout fishing. The perfectly formed forest canopy in the campground provides excellent shade on hot summer days while the undergrowth provides excellent privacy for campers. From Cranberry Lake to other Adirondack Campgrounds requires only a short trip on a major highway.
Hours of Operation: The campground opens for camping in mid-May and remains open through mid-October. The registration booth is open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The facility supervisor or assistant is on the premises at all times.
Directions: From the West: I-81 take Exit 45 (Route 3) at Watertown. Take Route 3 to Cranberry Lake Village. Turn right on Lone Pine Road, campground is 1 mile south.
From the North: Take Route 56 south from Potsdam. At intersection with Route 3 turn right (west) and follow Route 3 to Cranberry Lake Village. Turn left onto Lone Pine Road, campground is 1 mile south.
From the South: From I-90 (NYS Thruway) west take Exit 27 at Amsterdam to Route 30 north. Take Route 30 north to Tupper Lake Village, turn left onto Route 3 west. Take Route 3 to Cranberry Lake Village, turn left on Lone Pine Road, campground is 1 mile south.
Amenities: 173 campsites; hot showers; flush toilets; trailer dump station; recycling center; boat launch near Cranberry Lake hamlet; pay telephone; sand beach with bathhouse; Picnic area with tables, fireplaces, and grills; Amphitheater; pavilion rental; handicapped accessible camping sites, picnic area, fishing pier.
Nature Recreation Program: From the end of June to Labor Day an organized recreation activity program is offered daily. This includes nature hikes, crafts, games and live entertainment. An activity listing, the "Wilderness Times", is posted and includes complete information on daily events. * Please take note that at facilities that offer the Nature Recreation Program, there may be days when Environmental Educators are unavailable, and no programs will be offered. In addition the length of this program may vary by campground due to staffing issues. For additional information, please contact the Recreation Staff.
Boating: Power boats, rowboats, and canoes allowed. Rowboat and canoe rental available. The Oswegatchie River provides a canoe trip of approximately 16 miles starting at Inlet. For the more adventurous, a canoe carry of 3.5 miles offers the canoeist an additional unique opportunity to enjoy over 14.5 miles of unencumbered scenic waters on the Bog River Flow.
Fishing: Bass, trout, and pan fish.
Hiking: Cranberry Lake Campground offers a great base for hiking the numerous trails in the area. Two foot trails leave the campground. The 2.4 mile Bear Mountain Trail is a loop trail which offers a challenging climb and scenic vistas to the novice hiker. The campground trail provides access to a 17.4 mile loop trail system which is well maintained for casual hiking.
Approximately 2 miles west of the hamlet is the Peavine Swamp Ski Trail System which is used by hikers to view a relatively untouched forest. The Five Ponds Wilderness Area has over 50 miles of foot trails which are generally more challenging.
Day Use Facilities: A picnic area, pavilion rental, and swimming beach available. * Please take note that at facilities that offer swimming beaches, there are days which lifeguards are unavailable. For the safety of our customers, these beaches will not be open and swimming will be prohibited.
Historic Interest: The Cranberry Lake area is one of the largest remote areas remaining in the state. There has been only a minimum of civilized encroachment on the lake itself and just to the south lie thousands of acres of unbroken forest lands.
Originally, the lake was about half its present size, but in 1867 a log crib dam was completed at Cranberry Lake Village to control the flow of the river and improve navigation. The present concrete dam was built in 1916.
Cranberry Lake Campground has developed through several phases of construction. The original 15 sites were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935. The supervisors cabin, bathhouse, and vault latrines were added in 1937. The next expansion was the peninsula loop in the early 1960's. Loops one through five were completed in the late 1960's, more than tripling the capacity of the campground. The latest major building to be built was the shower house in 1979.
