Fish Creek Pond Campground
Fish Creek Pond Campground
4523 State Route 30, Saranac Lake, NY 12983-3053
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4523 State Route 30, Saranac Lake, NY 12983-3053
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Out of their 355 campsites, 319 sites are located directly on the water! Doesn't get any better than that! Many have their own small sandy beach with enough room to tie up a boat. Otherwise, it's a typical state campground, with friendly staff, plenty of water taps, flush toilets, and clean coin-op showers. The campground roads are very flat making it ideal for bringing your bikes or roller blades. The ponds are ideal for kayaking but big enough for motor boats, with access to Upper Saranac Lake which is very large and great for fishing, water skiing, and sight seeing. I go every year in July and September and often see the same families camping there year after year. The sites in some areas of the park are closer together than others, and some will easily accommodate large RVs.
Close to the towns of Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, and Lake Placid. The July 4th fireworks in Tupper Lake are really great!
Close to the towns of Tupper Lake, Saranac Lake, and Lake Placid. The July 4th fireworks in Tupper Lake are really great!
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Date of stay: September 2011Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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Room Tip: Check out fishcreekpond.com for info on each campsite.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have been traveling here since we were kids (brothers, sister and parents) and not much has changed except our spouses or significant others go with their kids and more extended friends and family. It's contagious. A great friend of the family has been going for 50+ years. It gets in your blood.
The best part about it is the location. The scenery is beautiful and almost every campsite is on the water. We have a boat so this is ideal as the pond (small lake) is small enough where the water is always calm, but big enough to have fun (tubing or just relaxing). There is a launch in the park although it's shallow under the bridges. There is a small store near by (Trading Post) for essentials. There is a daily wood truck, ice cream truck and another with tasty treats (so you may never need to leave). There is a road with a 15 mph limit and a bike trail outside of the park connecting the two entrances, which allows for a nice 4.5 mile trip. There are plenty of hiking trails (or we mountain biked, posted activities, parking lot basketball court, sand volleyball pit, beach, swings etc. If you go boating, grab a lake map and hit Saranac Lake. Don't miss Chapel Island & Tom's Rock. There are plenty of cool lake front homes to see and nice views of the mountains. There is a small channel you need to navigate to get to the lake which is shallow as well so trim up your motor if boating.
Saranac and Tupper Lake are not far away (15 minutes by car) if you need a small town that offers restaurants, a Rite Aid, Save-A-Lot, Dollar General etc. Most sites are wooded and they are not on top of each other so there is some level of privacy. Lake Placid is about 45 minutes away and makes a great day trip (Olympic Village) and Whiteface Mountain (add 30 more minutes).
a couple items to note are the showers are $.25 for about 5 minutes (one main building near mid park on the way to Rollins Pond which is a connecting campground). There is no electric and water spigots are every 5 sites or so. There are also bathrooms close to every site. They are very dated and I would recommend bringing hand soap and possibly a better grade of TP as what is provided (if folded over about 5 times equals one normal ply). staff is very helpful. It's a fantastic place to visit if you love camping and don't mind roughing it a bit. You won't be disappointed. Copy and paste this link into your browser for actual campsite photos. It's an awesome tool: http://fishcreekpond.com/campsitephotos.php?campground=Fish%20Creek
Enjoy, but beware it's addicting!
The best part about it is the location. The scenery is beautiful and almost every campsite is on the water. We have a boat so this is ideal as the pond (small lake) is small enough where the water is always calm, but big enough to have fun (tubing or just relaxing). There is a launch in the park although it's shallow under the bridges. There is a small store near by (Trading Post) for essentials. There is a daily wood truck, ice cream truck and another with tasty treats (so you may never need to leave). There is a road with a 15 mph limit and a bike trail outside of the park connecting the two entrances, which allows for a nice 4.5 mile trip. There are plenty of hiking trails (or we mountain biked, posted activities, parking lot basketball court, sand volleyball pit, beach, swings etc. If you go boating, grab a lake map and hit Saranac Lake. Don't miss Chapel Island & Tom's Rock. There are plenty of cool lake front homes to see and nice views of the mountains. There is a small channel you need to navigate to get to the lake which is shallow as well so trim up your motor if boating.
Saranac and Tupper Lake are not far away (15 minutes by car) if you need a small town that offers restaurants, a Rite Aid, Save-A-Lot, Dollar General etc. Most sites are wooded and they are not on top of each other so there is some level of privacy. Lake Placid is about 45 minutes away and makes a great day trip (Olympic Village) and Whiteface Mountain (add 30 more minutes).
a couple items to note are the showers are $.25 for about 5 minutes (one main building near mid park on the way to Rollins Pond which is a connecting campground). There is no electric and water spigots are every 5 sites or so. There are also bathrooms close to every site. They are very dated and I would recommend bringing hand soap and possibly a better grade of TP as what is provided (if folded over about 5 times equals one normal ply). staff is very helpful. It's a fantastic place to visit if you love camping and don't mind roughing it a bit. You won't be disappointed. Copy and paste this link into your browser for actual campsite photos. It's an awesome tool: http://fishcreekpond.com/campsitephotos.php?campground=Fish%20Creek
Enjoy, but beware it's addicting!
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Date of stay: August 2013Trip type: Travelled with family
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My family started camping here when it was just a few sites along the road. It is one of those special places for us. Even though the many branches of our family have spread out, most of us make the time camp at Fish Creek to see each other. Most sites are on one of the two connected ponds with access to Upper Saranac through a channel. It is a beautiful setting in the Adirondacks. They can accommodate everything from tents to 40' RV's although the larger sites are limited and usually are reserved pretty quickly. This is boondocking style camping so there are no direct hookups. There are water spigots ro fill your water tank or jugs about every 10 sites(you may need a cheater hose and hose clamp as not all spouts are threaded). There are bathrooms about every 15 sites. Some are nicer than others. There are two shower buildings available( one in the middle of the campground and the other within the adjoining Rollins Pond campground). There is a dump station with 3 spots. There are two garbage and recycling areas. There is no electric but generators are allowed from 9-11am and 4-7 pm. There is a boat launch within the campground and one available for a fee at the Marina just outside the campground for larger boats. It is a very active campground with boats, jet skis, bikes, kids, etc. Staff does enforce quiet pretty well and have gotten friendlier over the last few years. The road around the campground is rather narrow so you need to be cautious especially when towing. There are various planned activities throughout the day from the rec staff. There is a roped off sandy beach area with pavilions and a playground. Outside there is small market with gas, propane, and ice along with other essentials and groceries. There is a pizza restaurant outside as well although depending on the year it may or may not be open. Tipper is about 20 minutes away, Saranac is about 30, and Lake Placid is about 45 minutes away as is Whiteface Mountain. There are vendors that come around during the day selling ice, worms, firewood, and also a canoe rental. The closest laundromat is tupper or saranac. Since it is rather remote, cell service is limited. This is one of the most popular state campgrounds in NY. Reservations can be made up to 10 months in advance and honestly you will need to make that reservation 10 months in advance to get a specific site and you still may not get it. There is also a private website that has pictures and descriptions of all the campsites to help you decide on a site before you choose it. Just Google fish creek campground and you will find it. So in summary, this is a fantastic place to make memories but if you are not used to boondocking style of campgrounds it may take some adjusting.
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Date of stay: July 2014Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The campground itself was nice, it was very clean and the sites are all on the water with a sandy bottom unfortunately, this was just not our idea of camping.
The sites vary in size, ours was large enough for 2 tents (we only had one) but you are right up against your neighbors so if you have lousy neighbors, you will suffer.
The campground didn't make me feel like I was experiencing nature in its truest form, it just felt like it was a parking spot for a whole bunch of people to enjoy the water and was not at all what I would consider to be a peaceful experience.
All the motor boats became annoying when we brought kayaks and paddleboards with us. The best time to go out is early in the morning before everyone starts taking their boats out for the day. We didn't feel like loading the boats up to move somewhere else to paddle so we just dealt with going out on off peak hours.
The bathrooms were very clean, there is no soap (unless another camper was nice enough to leave some) and there is nothing to dry your hands on. The campground was 100% booked during our stay but I never had to wait to use a bathroom. They were almost always empty, maybe because most people had motor homes and weren't using them?
I never came across any of the showers in the three days that we were there. I still have no idea where they were...
There is a little store down the road that sells a little bit of everything including sandwiches etc. but we headed into Saranac Lake instead which took us maybe 20 minutes. They have a Tops grocery, Aldis, Family Dollar, restaurants etc. and we stocked up there.
If you are a real people person, live in an apartment, housing development etc., you may not be bothered by hoards of people but if you already live in the country and want to experience peace and quiet in a beautiful Adirondack setting, I'd try another campground.
The sites vary in size, ours was large enough for 2 tents (we only had one) but you are right up against your neighbors so if you have lousy neighbors, you will suffer.
The campground didn't make me feel like I was experiencing nature in its truest form, it just felt like it was a parking spot for a whole bunch of people to enjoy the water and was not at all what I would consider to be a peaceful experience.
All the motor boats became annoying when we brought kayaks and paddleboards with us. The best time to go out is early in the morning before everyone starts taking their boats out for the day. We didn't feel like loading the boats up to move somewhere else to paddle so we just dealt with going out on off peak hours.
The bathrooms were very clean, there is no soap (unless another camper was nice enough to leave some) and there is nothing to dry your hands on. The campground was 100% booked during our stay but I never had to wait to use a bathroom. They were almost always empty, maybe because most people had motor homes and weren't using them?
I never came across any of the showers in the three days that we were there. I still have no idea where they were...
There is a little store down the road that sells a little bit of everything including sandwiches etc. but we headed into Saranac Lake instead which took us maybe 20 minutes. They have a Tops grocery, Aldis, Family Dollar, restaurants etc. and we stocked up there.
If you are a real people person, live in an apartment, housing development etc., you may not be bothered by hoards of people but if you already live in the country and want to experience peace and quiet in a beautiful Adirondack setting, I'd try another campground.
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Date of stay: July 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This Park charges a $5.00 per day extra charge if you are from Canada - kind of leaves a bad taste in your mouth! Also a one time service charge to register. Other than that - nice park with water access sites.
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Date of stay: May 2013Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Check their web site for photos
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is hands down the best campgrounds I've ever been to. Adirondack beauty aside: the sites are amazing: all the ones we've stayed at are big. 90%+ are right on the water! The ones we have camped at have a little, tiny, sandy beach that my daughter really enjoyed. Comfort stations are close (every 10 campsites I think) and they have water faucets too. Each campsite has a fire pit- some are iron and some are cement block. An ice cream truck, ice truck, wood truck and even canoes for rent come around daily. Also, if you have a boat... you can dock it right at your site. Close to Lake Placid, Tupper Lake & Saranac Lake. We like to visit the Wild Center in Tupper Lake and explore shops in Saranac and Lake Placid. Fish Creek Pond ruined all other Campgrounds for me. Thanks a lot!
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Date of stay: August 2012
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was so excited to actually get 2 spots in this camp. Then my 5 night stay turned into 2. Can we say bugs! This is definitely where the campers go to get in touch with the wild! I gave it 3 stars because it had remarkably clean bathrooms and I love the access to the water right from the site. Campsites are really close to each other. Bugs, mosquitos, black flies, little bumble bee things all over. And yes there are needles from the trees all over the site. So make sure to bring a broom. (Not a complaint, it is the in the woods) We had 2 sites different sides of the camp similar issues. We had neighbors who were so loud and no one but me to tell them nicely to be quiet at 2am. Someone across the pond thought it was great to go swimming at 3am and talk about their razor bumps, I wanted to thank her for sharing that with the world. This lasted about a half an hour at least 4-5 people yelling. Kids were riding bikes with no helmets in the middle of the road which was pretty busy. I had to honk a couple of times. Camp is for me to relax and let my kids run wild, family bonding, not without supervision. This is not a relaxing campground more like a party place for older people. We all left our sites early myself after my sons eye swelled up from some bite. While our friends also left early due to lack of sleep. Please, don’t get me wrong, we all like a nice drink around the fire but this was just disappointing.
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Date of stay: July 2018Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Over 300 sites right ON the water.... This cannot be topped !!
We have camped all over the USA and Canada and, this place is among the best ANYWHERE !
This is a N.Y. State D.E.C. campground so they do NOT have any hookups
No electric, no sewer and, no water for your individual use. There is water available about every 10 sites, there is a dump station and, you can have LIMITED USE of your own generator. I sincerely wish DEC would at least consider putting in electric on some sites but, That's government....
The campsite itself is wonderful. An excellent FAMILY campground ... It is quiet, peaceful and they have large sites. The staff are all very friendly and, helpful. However, you MUST reserve ahead if you want a really special site.
You can actually VIEW the sites by Googling- Fish Creek Ponds photo database and choosing the Camp ADK selection. This is very helpful.
We especially recommend sites 139 - 159 they are all super !
We have camped all over the USA and Canada and, this place is among the best ANYWHERE !
This is a N.Y. State D.E.C. campground so they do NOT have any hookups
No electric, no sewer and, no water for your individual use. There is water available about every 10 sites, there is a dump station and, you can have LIMITED USE of your own generator. I sincerely wish DEC would at least consider putting in electric on some sites but, That's government....
The campsite itself is wonderful. An excellent FAMILY campground ... It is quiet, peaceful and they have large sites. The staff are all very friendly and, helpful. However, you MUST reserve ahead if you want a really special site.
You can actually VIEW the sites by Googling- Fish Creek Ponds photo database and choosing the Camp ADK selection. This is very helpful.
We especially recommend sites 139 - 159 they are all super !
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Date of stay: July 2015Trip type: Travelled with family
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Room Tip: Reserve WAY in advance. 6 MONTHS if possible !
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yes, the setting is beautiful and most the sites have lake view. However there are 2 things I do not like.
1. The campground is noisier than most other state campgrounds I have stayed in. Some sites have no privacy.
2. There is only one central location for shower, and it is practically outside of the main camp area, which means you have to drive there to take a shower. From where I stayed, I had to drive about 5 minutes. So inconvenient.
1. The campground is noisier than most other state campgrounds I have stayed in. Some sites have no privacy.
2. There is only one central location for shower, and it is practically outside of the main camp area, which means you have to drive there to take a shower. From where I stayed, I had to drive about 5 minutes. So inconvenient.
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Date of stay: August 2013Trip type: Travelled with family
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beautiful pond with access from every camping lot. Mostly 5th wheel and tents. Friendly group. Dogs welcome. Local IGA is about 15 minutes away. Public showers and toilets available. Fire pits at every lot. Wood, ice, ice cream, and bakery trucks make this a very enjoyable place.
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Date of stay: August 2018Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
On this lake I don't know what you mean by tubing . No rivers to go tubing on. Tent campers are allowed, water spigots are close to campsites, and no electricity. Each campsite has direct access to the lake--one doesn't have to walk to the lake for it is right there in front of your site! Yes they provide a table and campfires are permitted. I don't remember any fire rings.
Wild center is about 7 miles away. Hope you come and enjoy The area. I believe Wild Center has a 2-day deal and one needs the 2 days for there is so much to do with all the programs. We tools 9 year old granddaughter who could have stayed for more days but then remembered that she could go fishing back our campsite!'
You can get one or two bars of signal strength at most sites. Some folks have better phones than others and have no problems at all. I have both a Motorola MAXX and an Iphone6. Both were able to receive and make calls.
Yes. Just on the other side of the road near the main entrance, they rent canoes and they deliver them to your site. They also bring back them from your site.
Morning
Almost any of the campsites will hold a 24' trailer. There are two ways to view the sites and get maximum sizes. Go onto fishcreekpond. Use the campsite browser and check out the sites. It shows you pictures, max trailer sizes, etc. It's a great tool.
Then, to actually make the rerservations, you have to use reserveamerica. When you go to this site, put in fish creek pond, and it will ask for the dates you want. Put them in, and it will tell you what sites are available for the dates you are requesting. keep in mind you can only reserve out 9 months max. You simply click on those dates, and it will reserve them. Then follow the directions to finalize the reservation. Any other questions, let me know.
Enjoy the trip
"Definitely check out the sites ahead of time because some are farther apart than others if you want a little privacy."Read full review
ALSO KNOWN AS
fish creek pond campground hotel saranac lake
LOCATION
United StatesNew YorkSaranac Lake
NUMBER OF ROOMS
355
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Frequently Asked Questions about Fish Creek Pond Campground
Which popular attractions are close to Fish Creek Pond Campground?
Nearby attractions include Coney Mountain Trail (5.4 km).
Are pets allowed at Fish Creek Pond Campground?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.