Wilmington Notch Campground & Day Use Area
- Dates of Operation:
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- Opening Date: May 5
- Closing Date: October 9
- Camping Fee: $18 per night (out of state residents surcharge additional $5 per night)
- Address: 4953 NYS Route 86, Wilmington, NY 12997 (directions below)
- County: Essex
- GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 44 21 00.42396N, 073 51 39.72175W
- Campground Phone: (518) 946-7172
- Regional Office Phone: (518) 897-1309
- Make Your Camping Reservation: ReserveAmerica
Check out the virtual tour for this facility!
Wilmington Notch 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).
Wilmington Notch is located beside the Ausable River and accommodates fishermen looking to challenge the rapids in search of a great catch.
Olympic Whiteface Mountain is on the other side of the river and offers a gondola ride to the summit with a great view for miles.
Lake Placid Olympic Village is a short 8 miles from this campground offering unlimited attractions.
The campground is situated in a birch and pine grove at the base of Whiteface Mountain.
Amenities
54 campsites, hot showers, flush toilets, trailer dump station, recycling center, picnic area.
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
Trout fishing in the nearby west branch of the Ausable River. Fishing licenses are no longer being sold at any of our campground facilities, but can be conveniently purchased on-line or by phone.
For both the experienced and inexperienced hiker, Wilmington Notch Campground offers easy access to many Adirondack High Peak Wilderness trails. The Sentinel Range Wilderness Area is to the south of the campground and the Wilmington Wild Forest to the north features many maintained mountain bike trails in addition to hiking.
Directions
From the Northway (I-87) northbound: Exit 30 Route 73 north to Lake Placid. Route 86 8 miles east of Village of Lake Placid. Campground is on the left side of the road.
From the Northway (I-87) southbound: Exit 34 route 9N south to Jay; Route 86 south to Wilmington; 4 miles west of the village, right side of the road.
From Tupper Lake: Route 3 east to Saranac Lake, Route 86 through Lake Placid; 8 miles past the village, campground is on left side of the road.
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
For sightseers, Wilmington Notch is the ideal campground. It is five miles from Santa's Workshop, one mile from High Falls Gorge (a series of spectacular falls on the west branch of the Ausable River) and seven miles from the Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway, which winds its way to the summit of the majestic mountain. Also, just minutes away in the Lake Placid vicinity, are the other Olympic venue sites.
Historic Interest
The campground first opened to the public for camping in 1926 with 12 developed camping sites, and it has been expanded to 54 sites.
