Rollins Pond Campground
- Dates of Operation:
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- Opening Date: May 19
- Closing Date: September 10
- Camping Fee: $20 per night (out of state residents surcharge additional $5 per night)
- Address: 4523 State Route 30, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 (directions below)
- County: Franklin
- GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 44 18 14.89279N, 074 24 00.65184W
- Campground Phone: (518) 891-3239
- Regional Office Phone: (518) 897-1309
- Make Your Camping Reservation: ReserveAmerica
Check out the virtual tour for this facility! (leaves DEC website)
Rollins Pond 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).
Rollins Pond should be at the top of your list if you like canoes, rowboats, paddle boats or kayaks. All are available for rent at the boat launch livery site, and this long narrow body of water provides the ideal setting for days of fun as you take turns on all of them. Adventurer's can canoe the waterway leading to Fish Creek, or just try their luck fishing in Whey Pond, located adjacent to the livery area, and "stocked" annually with trout. Rollins Pond Campground is located on the eastern shore of 442 acre Rollins Pond. Camping equipment from tents to 40' RVs can be accommodated. Rollins Pond Campground offers a variety of recreational opportunities including: Canoeing and boating, fishing, hiking, and bicycling.
Amenities
287 campsites, accommodating all equipment from tents to 40' RV's, hot showers, flush toilets, trailer dumping station, boat launch (25 HP or under), boat and canoe rentals, hiking trails, and volleyball. There are no day-use facilities. Campers may use the day-use facilities at adjoining Fish Creek Pond Campground. * 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.
Sites 36, 396, 40, 41, 204, 207, 208, 209, 210, Central Comfort Station, Restroom near Site 207. Full listing of DEC's Accessible Recreation Destinations.
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 (25 HP or less), rowboats, and canoes are allowed. The campground also offers rowboat, canoe, and kayak rentals. Boat launches are available at both Rollins Pond and Whey Pond. The Whey Pond site has parking for 16 cars and foot path access to waters edge for hand-carried placement of car top boats. The Rollins Pond site has parking for 10 cars and trailers and a single lane, steel mat launching ramp. This site is important as it provides the only public boat access to the ponds.
Major species in Rollins Pond are: bass, northern pike, yellow perch, brown bullhead, and pan fish. Black and Whey Ponds have brook and rainbow trout. Fishing licenses are no longer being sold at any of our campground facilities, but can be conveniently purchased on-line or by phone.
The campground is surrounded by the 79,000+ acre Saranac Lakes Wild Forest which offers many hiking opportunities. The Otter Hollow trail begins within the campground and provides hikers with access to the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest trail system. In addition, the Otter Hollow trail connects to the Fish Creek Campground.
Directions
From the Northway (I-87) northbound: Exit 30 Route 9 north to Rte. 73 north to Lake Placid. Route 86 north through Saranac Lake to Rte. 186 west to Rte. 30 south. 9 miles to Fish Creek Pond Campground. Rollins Pond Campground is accessed from site 135 in Fish Creek Pond Campground.
From the Northway (I-87) southbound: Exit 38, Rte. 374 west to Rte. 3 west to Saranac Lake. From Saranac Lake follow directions above.
From I-81: Exit 48, Rte. 342 east to Rte. 3 & 30, then Rte. 30 north to Fish Creek Pond.
Get driving directions from Google Maps (leaves DEC website)
Planning and Management
The Final 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.
For more information regarding the UMP for this facility please contact the Bureau of Recreation, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY12233, Telephone 518 457-2500, and email for campground information
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 of spread of invasive insects
Additional Information
Area Attractions
The Adirondack Park Visitors Interpretive Center at Paul Smiths is 18 miles north on NYS Route 30. Lake Placid and the Olympic venues are located 25 miles to the southeast. The Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake is 50 miles south.
Historic Interest
Rollins Pond Campground was first opened to meet the ever increasing demand for campsites at Fish Creek Pond Campground. The original construction plan for Rollins Pond was completed in 1955. In 1958 and 1960 additional expansions were done. This campground is considered by some as an overflow for Fish Creek Pond Campground, but many have discovered it to be a quiet alternative to its bigger neighbor.
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.
