Located on two lakes between Inlet and Raquette Lake in the Adirondacks, New York, Eighth Lake Campground is the perfect spot for outdoor recreation with a sandy beach, swimming area and boat launch pad.
Set the south-eastern side of the 314-acre Eighth Lake and with some campsites on Seventh Lake, much of the activity here is water-based. Fish for lake trout in Eighth Lake, or salmon in the ponds next to the campground, or enjoy evening fishing off the small dock at Seventh Lake. Launch your boat and enjoy water skiing and tubing, or hire a canoe and paddle the lakes at your own pace. Or if you’d prefer to simply relax, take a picnic to enjoy on the sandy beach at the swimming area.
Suited to both standard campers and small RVs and trailers up to 30 feet, the campground offers both forested and waterside campsites along the shores of the lake. Activities off the water include wildlife watching, birding, biking, and hiking the many trails that lead from the campground. Whichever time of year you visit, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy.
Eighth Lake Campground is located off Route 28 through the villages of Indian Lake, Raquette Lake, and Blue Mountain Lake, five miles south of Raquette. A day use or camping fee is required to enter the park.
Once you’ve parked your big rig, you can get around by foot or by bike with one and a half miles of paved roads to explore, or launch your boat and explore from the water. .
Parking is available in the park, including at the boat launching area where there is parking for up to 10 cars.
Eighth Lake Campground offers a total of 126 campsites for standard tents and RVs or trailers up to 30 feet long. Campers have access to modern restrooms with flush toilets and hot showers, a trailer dump station, and a recycling center.
Facilities include a picnic area with tables and fire pits, a sandy beach, swimming area, a boat launch area, and canoe and boat rentals. Firewood is available for purchase.
Generators can be used up to five hours a day only between the hours of 09h00 to 11h00 and 16h00 to 19h00. The campground is also pet-friendly as long as you have proof of a rabies vaccination.
Campsites are limited to six people per campsite and two tents or one RV or trailer and one tent. Only two vehicles are permitted per site. Extra vehicles will have to park in the designated area at a fee.
During the peak seasons, little campers can join the park programs, such as the Junior Naturalist Program. Perfect for kids from five to 13 years old, this course teaches them all about the nature that exists in the park – and it can be fun for parents too! Kids will receive games and activities to complete in order to earn a Junior Naturalist badge of honor. Ask the campground for an updated schedule.
Set on Seventh and Eighth Lakes, the Eighth Lake Campground is perfect for water recreation. Launch your boat at the boat ramp area and enjoy power boating, water skiing, rowing, canoeing and kayaking. Boats and canoes are available for rent if you don’t have your own. Campers can also enjoy a wide range of non-motorized water sports on the lake, such as paddle boarding, windsurfing, and sail boating. Campers and day visitors can swim in designated areas at Eighth Lake Campground within specific hours when a lifeguard is on duty. When lifeguards are not available, the swimming areas will be closed.
Anglers will love fishing at Eighth Lake Campground, and can even fish from the lake shore from the lakefront campsites. The lake is a perfect spot for trout and smallmouth bass fishing, while special salmon ponds are available next to the campground. You’ll also find a small fishing dock at Seventh Lake which is great for evening fishing. Please note that a fishing permit is required to fish here, which can be purchased online. Fishing permits are not sold at the campground.
The hiking trails within Eighth Lake Campground are groomed in the winter season for snowmobiling only. Please note that it is not recommended for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. You’ll find a snowplough turn-around spot at the entrance to the park, so you’ll have to park your vehicle outside the campground and walk in.
Birding enthusiasts will love bird watching in Eighth Lake Campground. The birds you can expect to spot include loons, mergansers, lincoln sparrows, grey jays, boreal chickadees, solitary vireo, rusty blackbird, and a whole lot more. Bring your bird books and binoculars!
A network of scenic hiking trails snake their way through and around the Eighth Lake Campground and to the Moose River Plains Wild Forest. Take the Bug Lake trail that leads from the campground, past Bug Lake and onwards to Seventh Lake, Black Bear Mountain and the Mike Norris trails. You’ll find the Seventh-Eighth Lake Loop trailhead just across Route 28 to the east of the campground. This eight mile looped trail is very popular among hikers.
