Featuring secluded camping miles from civilization in the Adirondacks region of New York, Taylor Pond Campground is a natural haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Located next to the 813-acre Taylor Pond, this park is the perfect place for RV lovers wanting to get away from it all. Along with the 10-acre campground, you will also find a day-use area here for you to enjoy during your time in the great outdoors.
The most popular recreational activities at Taylor Pond Campground revolve around the water. There are over eight miles of explorable shoreline and exceptional fishing and paddling for visitors of all ages. You can also check out some of the local wildlife and go hiking in the 8,000 acres of state forest land that surround the campground.
RV travelers who want to stay at Taylor Pond Campground will have 30 different campsites to choose from. The camping facilities out here in the woods aren't exactly glamorous, so don't expect to find any sites that have water or electric hookups, despite this, there are water collection points throughout the campground, and there are also outhouses for your convenience. Like most campgrounds in the Adirondacks (such as Lake Durant Campground), if you have an RV that is up to 30 feet in length, you will be able to stay here, but for those who have larger rigs consider day trips to the park while staying at the Lake Placid / Whiteface Mtn. KOA. Whether you are staying for a weekend or a week, Taylor Pond Campground will be the perfect getaway.
Traveling to and from Taylor Pond Campground is a little bit different from most state campgrounds since it is located down a dirt road. There is only one entrance to the campground that can be accessed from the north or the south via Silver Lake Raod. If you are traveling north and reach Turnpike Road, you have gone too far, and if you are traveling south and reach Nelson Road, you have missed it.
There are many places to stop near Taylor Pond Campground for those who need to stock up on supplies, including Au Sable Forks (around 10 miles away), Wilmington (about ten and a half miles away), and Redford (around 11 miles away). The closest city to the campground is Vermont, which is around 62 miles away.
During the wintertime, there will be plenty of snow in the area, so getting to the campground can be quite challenging. For this reason, the campground is closed during the colder months.
Guests to Taylor Pond Campground will find parking available at several spots around the pond, near the registration booth, at the park entrance, and within the campsites.
Taylor Pond Campground is the perfect place for RV campers who want to get away from it all and enjoy a more primitive camping experience. There are 30 different sites for you to choose from during your stay, all of which are primitive with no electric or water hookups. It is quite the journey to get out to the campground, but it is well worth it. Most of the sites in the campground are drive-in, but some can only be accessed via watercraft as there are on the interior island on the pond. RVs over 30 feet in length will have to consider other options as the campground is built for smaller rigs. There are a few amenities within the campground for visitors to enjoy, including water collection points, picnic tables, a boat ramp, and vault toilets. Campsites at Taylor Pond Campground can be reserved for up to 10 months in advance, and it is open from mid-May until mid-September each year.
RV lovers who are traveling in a larger rig, or for those who want to experience some more amenities, you have the option of staying at the delightful Lake Placid / Whiteface Mtn. KOA. Located only 13 miles from Taylor Pond, Lake Placid / Whiteface Mtn. KOA is suitable for RVs up to 75 feet in length, which is a rarity for campgrounds in this region. Along with having plenty of large sites, Lake Placid / Whiteface Mtn. KOA also has a wide variety of site types to choose from, including 50-amp full hookup, 30-amp full hookup, and water and electric only. Surrounded by tall trees, the campground has many great amenities, such as a swimming pool, showers, restrooms, dog walking area, snack bar, sports center, and recreation room. Lake Placid / Whiteface Mtn. KOA is open from the middle of April until the middle of October. Reservations are highly encouraged since this is a popular place to stay—especially for those with larger rigs.
Guests to Taylor Pond Campground with interest in this modern twist on treasure hunting will be happy to hear that there are multiple caches available to them in this area. Those who are new to the activity will find this secluded wooded area a prime spot to give geocaching a try. There are two different geocaches for you to choose from, with the one at the pond being the simplest to find and located in reasonably easy terrain. Are you feeling up for a challenge? Give the Taylor’s Homestead cache a try. This cache is more difficult to find and is place in fairly difficult terrain. You'll find this cache near the old Taylor Homestead on Taylor Pond. The cache can be located by boat or by following the snowmobile trail. Look for an ammo box.
Those who can't imagine camping without fishing will want to make sure they take the time to test the waters at Taylor Pond. With over eight miles of shore and a boat ramp, guests can enjoy fishing from shore or the deck of a boat. Guests without a personal boat who wish to fish from the water will find canoes and row-boats available for rent. The pond is stocked with landlocked salmon and trout. You can also expect to land pumpkin seed, perch, rainbow smelt, and brow bullhead here. Don't forget to secure a state fishing license before heading to the water!
RV lovers visiting the lovely wooded Taylor Pond Campground will want to make sure they bring their hiking boots. Nestled beside Taylor Pond and surrounded by the Adirondack Mountains, this area is an ideal place for hiking. The park provides easy access to two trails around the pond known as the Taylor Pond North and Taylor Pond South trails. The North Pond Trail leads guests along a three-mile path to a lean-to on the northern side of Taylor Pond. This trail offers a hilly start followed by a steep incline for about 0.3-miles. After this ascent, the trail is all downhill. The South Pond Trail will take hikers on an approximately 2.5-mile wooded path to a lean-to on the south shore of Taylor Pond. Guests will find this trail to be both shorter and gentler than the Taylor Pond North Trail.
Guests to Taylor Pond Campground with interest in farming and rural life will want to make the drive to nearby Peru to explore the Babbie Rural and Farm Learning Museum. Open from May through October, this museum provides education on many aspects of life in a rural farming community. Visitors are encouraged to explore the outdoor blacksmith shop, and the little travelers will be excited to interact with the museum cow in the From Farm to Table exhibit. Guests of all ages will be fascinated by the displays of antique farming equipment. While there are admission fees, it is a not-for-profit, so it is well worth the money.
Another great option for those who are wanting to learn more about the history and local culture will want to make the trip to the nearby North Star Underground Railroad Museum. Open seven days a week from late May through Columbus Day, this museum offers information about the North Star Underground Railroad that helped many escape enslavement and find new lives as free people. Visitors to this unique museum are invited to explore exhibits explaining the history of the underground railroad in this area. Guests are invited to enjoy short films of readings from actual slave diaries. There is no cost to visit the museum, but donations are appreciated.
The most popular recreational activity for guests to Taylor Pond Campground and Day Use Area is exploring the 813-acre Taylor Pond located alongside the campground. The park maintains a boat ramp making it easy for guests to get onto and off the water. You can enjoy a relaxing paddle around this large wooded pond while drinking in the views of the surrounding Adirondack Mountains. Motorboats, rowboats, kayaks, and canoes are all allowed on Taylor Pond. Those who don’t own a private craft will find rowboats and canoes available for rent on site. Guests will find the boat launch near the entrance booth.
