Taylor Pond Campground & Day Use Area
- Dates of Operation:
- Opening Date: May 19
- Closing Date: September 4
- Camping Fee: $16 per night (out of state residents surcharge additional $5 per night)
- Address: 1865 Silver Lake Road, Ausable Forks, NY 12912 (directions below)
- County: Clinton
- GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 44 29 38.92353N, 073 49 26.56606W
- Campground Phone: (518) 647-5250
- Regional Office Phone: (518) 897-1309
- Make Your Camping Reservation: ReserveAmerica
Taylor 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).
Taylor Pond can be found in the back woods, on a dirt road, and miles from the public mainstream. Fishermen and naturalists come from miles to spend vacations in a lean-to, a designated open site on the back part of the pond, or the mainland campground. Canoes and rowboats can be rented at the boat launch site at the caretaker's residence. Taylor Pond Campground is located on the northeast corner of Taylor Pond.
A dam controls the level of this 4 mile long, 813 acre "pond". The dam, campground, and interior campsites represent the only development on the entire primitive pond. The 10 acre developed campground is surrounded by over 8,000 acres of Wild Forest state land. The campground has a remote setting with basic services and limited facilities.
Camping units ranging from small tents to 30' RVs can be accommodated. Recreational opportunities include: Picnicking, boating, fishing, hiking, and nature observation. Loons, Osprey, Eagles, and many other fauna and flora can be observed in the area.
Amenities
30 sites total; 25 "drive-in" sites, and 5 Interior (Boat Access ONLY) sites, 3 of which are lean-to sites, and 2 which are tent sites. This is a primitive campground. There are no flush toilets or other amenities. There are outhouses and water spigots at various locations. Interior sites require a boat for access. There is a small day-use area. No swimming area is provided.
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 and canoe rentals available. The boat launch is located just past the entrance booth and provides the only public access to Taylor Pond.
Lake trout, and landlocked Atlantic salmon. Fishing licenses are no longer being sold at any of our campground facilities, but can be conveniently purchased on-line or by phone.
A 12 mile snowmobile trail goes around the pond, other nearby trails are Catamount Mountain, Silver Lake Mountain, and the High Peaks Region.
Directions
Located on Silver Lake Road, 9 miles northwest of Ausable Falls on Route 9N.
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: Area attractions are found in the Tri-Lakes and the Lake Champlain regions.
Historic Interest: Beginning in the 1974 season, Taylor Pond was operated as an interior facility. Designated camping sites and day-use areas were developed. In 1981, the DEC began charging a basic camping fee for the 25 auto accessible sites. Five water access sites continued to be used as no fee interior sites until 1990, when a basic fee began to be charged.
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.
