Mountaindale Campground

The Great Outdoors

Camp in an RV near Mountain Dale and head north to explore the Slide Mountain Wilderness, which sprawls across 47,500 acres, making it the largest wilderness area in the Catskill Forest Preserve. It features more than 35 miles of marked trails that access the slopes of Slide Mountain and its summit, with incredible views across the rugged surrounds. Follow the Phoenicia East Branch Trail and the Wittenberg-Cornell-Slide Trail or opt for the Giant Ledge-Panther Mountain-Fox Hollow Trail, which offers views of the Devil’s Path and Woodland Valley.Also nearby is the Minnewaska State Park Preserve, which lies directly east of Mountain Dale. It’s traversed by numerous hiking, mountain biking, and snowshoeing trails that afford superb views across the Catskills, as well as being popular with local rock climbers. Minnewaska State Park Preserve is also renowned for its waterfalls and sky lakes, including Lake Minnewaska, Lake Awosting, and Lake Maratanza.RV camping at Mountaindale Campground also provides a good base for visiting the Ashokan Reservoir, which lies at the eastern end of Catskill Park. Aside from its picturesque nature trail that hugs the shores, it’s also a popular destination for fishing, with smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, and yellow perch all for the taking. If you want the best views of the Ashokan Reservoir, embark on the challenging trail that leads to the summit of Wittenberg Mountain to soak up its sweeping vistas across the Catskills.

Exploring the Area

Mountaindale Campground is around ten minutes’ drive from Woodbridge where you’ll find a supermarket for stocking up on grocery supplies. There are also gas stations if you need to fill up your RV rental, as well as a smokehouse and a pizzeria for dining out. Alternatively, you can browse the local boutiques in Mountain Dale itself and drop in at the local cafe or Vietnamese restaurant.Mountain Dale campers can spend a day in New Paltz, which was first settled by French Huguenots in the 17th century after fleeing persecution. The town centers around Historic Huguenot Street whose rich history and old stone buildings can be explored on a guided walking tour. Admire the beautifully reconstructed 1717 church and historic burial ground while learning how the French Huguenots secured the land from the Native American people through the exchange of blankets and tobacco pipes.While visiting New Paltz, don’t miss a visit to the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, which is located at the State University of New York’s campus in New Paltz. It exhibits the works of emerging artists, with a particular focus on those who lived in or were inspired by the Hudson Valley.If you’re interested in the local history, don’t miss a visit to the Delaware and Hudson Canal Museum, which is situated in the hamlet of High Falls. The museum details the construction and significance of the canal through old photographs, documents, and artifacts, which are housed within a Gothic Revival chapel that dates to 1885. The building is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and also provides access to the Five Locks Walk so you can explore five of the canal’s locks.Another historical institution not to miss while camping in Mountain Dale is the Hudson River Maritime Museum, which details the shipping and boating industries of the Hudson River and its tributaries. It’s located in Kingston, once the busiest port between New York City and Albany, and is home to the 1898 steam tugboat Mathilda that’s permanently displayed in its yard. If you’re visiting in the summer months, boat trips are available to nearby Rondout Lighthouse.Whether you want to discover the storied past of the Hudson River and the D&H Canal or explore the hiking trails of the Catskills Mountains, book an RV in Sullivan County and start planning your next vacation.