Caroga Lake Campground & Day Use Area
- Dates of Operations:
- Opening Date: May 19
- Closing Date: September 4
- Camping Fee: $20 per night (out of state residents surcharge additional $5 per night)
- Address: 3043 State Highway 29A, Caroga Lake, NY 12078 (directions below)
- County: Fulton
- GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 43 07 30.97830N, 074 28 06.45104W
- Campground Phone: (518) 835-4241
- Regional Office Phone: (518) 863-4545
- Make Your Camping Reservation: ReserveAmerica (leaves DEC website)
Caroga Lake Campground & Day Use Area Map (PDF) || DECinfo Locator
Firewood Restriction Map (PDF) shows the 50-mile radius from which untreated firewood may be moved to this campground. Help prevent the spread of invasive pests and diseases by following New York's firewood regulation.
Support DEC Campgrounds
Members of the public can support DEC lands, facilities, and programs through our charitable partner, the National Heritage trust (NHT). Online giving is simple and secure and fully tax-deductible. Donations to NHT directly support projects and programs that enhance facilities, expand access to outdoor recreation and environmental education, provide public land access, and protect natural resources. Donate here (leaves DEC website).
Caroga Lake Campground offers large, level sites to accommodate the smallest tent to the 40' RVs. A Diversified Exercise course with 18 exercise stations wanders through the campground challenging those who enjoy staying physically fit in an outdoor environment. The sandy beach offers a guarded swimming area from mid-June to Labor Day. The campground offers rowboat, canoe, and kayak rentals to leisurely explore or fish East Caroga Lake. Numerous hiking trails located nearby. The area offers historic interests from the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars.
Amenities
105 campsites (some designated as accessible for the mobility impaired), picnic area with tables and fireplaces (some designated as accessible for the mobility impaired), hot showers/flush toilets (some designated as accessible for the mobility impaired), trailer dump station, recycling center, boat launch (small craft), diversified exercise course with 18 exercise stations, sand beach, bathhouse, guarded swimming area late June till Labor Day, pay telephone.
Campsite Restoration Project
This campground has sites that have been selected for restoration. While undergoing restoration the chosen sites will be closed. For the list of sites and more information on the project visit the Campsite Restoration Project page.
Featured Activities
Motor boats, rowboats, and canoes allowed. Rowboat, canoe and kayak rentals available. A small craft boat launch is available.
Species include: chain pickerel, white fish, smallmouth bass, splake, brown bullhead, yellow bullhead, pumpkinseed, yellow perch, black crappie, white suckers, golden shiners, rock bass, and common shiners. Fishing licenses are no longer being sold at any of our campground facilities, but can be conveniently purchased on-line or by phone.
Hiking opportunities are available within a short drive of the campground. Ferris Lake Wild Forest and Shaker Mountain Wild Forest are located a few miles north and west of the campground. The Morey Road and Glasgow Trail in the Ferris Lake Wild Forest allow hikers access to miles of trails within the 147,000+ acre unit.
Designated swimming areas are available at some DEC facilities. Based on staffing, some of these facilities may have limited swimming hours/days. For the safety of our customers, swimming will only be permitted when a lifeguard is on duty. Beach hours will be posted at facilities with swimming. To inquire, please contact the campground directly.
Directions
From the East (Albany) - Take NYS Thruway (I-90W) to Exit 27/Amsterdam. Go North on Route 30 through Amsterdam and Perth. At the intersection of Routes 29 & 30 turn left onto Route 29 then in 1.5miles turn right onto Route 29A. Stay on Route 29A for about 16 miles and the campground will be on the left. From West (Utica) Take NYS Thruway (I-90E) to Exit 29/Canajoharie. At stop sign turn right and follow Route 10 north to the intersection of Rte. 29A. Turn right on 29A and the campground will be on the right.
Get driving directions from Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
Planning and Management
The Unit Management Plan (UMP) for the campground guides the DEC's land management activities at this facility for a five-year period, although a number of goals and objectives in the plan focus on a much longer time period. The UMP addresses specific objectives and actions for public use at this facility.
A final Caroga Lake UMP (PDF) is now available. Hardcopy or CDs may be requested by mail: NYS DEC Bureau of Recreation, 3rd Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-5253, or by e-mail to: campinfo@dec.ny.gov.
Rules, Regulations and Outdoor Safety
- DEC campground rules and regulations
- Clean your boat and equipment - help prevent the spread of aquatic invasives
- Don't move firewood - help prevent the spread of invasive insects
- Hiking safety tips
Additional Information
Area Attractions
Shopping facilities, restaurants, and Adirondack Animal Land are located only a few minutes travel time at Caroga Lake, Johnstown, and Gloversville. A par-70, 18 hole municipal golf course is located just 2 miles north of the campground. Other attractions within a one hour drive of the campground are: Sharon Springs, Saratoga Springs, Howe Caverns, the Farmers' Museum and the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Historic Interest
Origin of the Indian name, "Caroga" is derived from the once nearby Indian Village known as "Caroga". Development of this campground began by Conservation Department personnel in 1927 and, when opened to the public just after the Fourth of July in 1929, the campground had camping and picnicking facilities for 1,000 persons. The present sea wall was installed in 1929-31 to clear the stones from the shoreline and the area behind it filled with gravel to make the present picnic area. The camping area loops were developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933, thereby freeing the waterfront area for the present swimming and picnic area and increasing the campground capacity. The campground size remained at approximately 100 camping sites until the late 1950's. Shortly thereafter the southern and western sections were constructed, approximately doubling the size of the campground.
Junior Naturalist Program
Our campgrounds become an outdoor classroom for young children (5-13) and their families. Enjoy games and activities to earn a beautiful embroidered patch.
