Nickerson Park Campground

The Great Outdoors

Camp in an RV near Gilboa and make the short drive north to the Mine Kill State Park, which is named after the creek that runs through this protected area. It encompasses 500 acres on the banks of the Schoharie Creek, with a narrow gorge and the 80-foot-high Mine Kill Falls among its highlights. Aside from hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing, you can also go fishing in the park, with trout and walleye both for the taking. Mine Kill State Park also includes a number of recreational facilities, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a children’s playground, and picnic tables.Around an hour’s drive south of the Nickerson Park Campground is the Slide Mountain Wilderness, which sprawls across 47,500 acres in the Catskills. It’s traversed by more than 35 miles of marked trails, including scenic routes that take you up the slopes and to the summit of Slide Mountain. One of the most picturesque options is the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail, which offers magnificent views across the rugged surrounds. Alternatively, follow the Giant Ledge-Panther Mountain-Fox Hollow Trail along Slide Mountain’s north-south ridge, overlooking the iconic Devil’s Path.If you want to hike the Devil’s Path, head to the nearby Indian Head Wilderness, an 11,500-acre protected area on the eastern escarpment of the Catskill Mountains. It encompasses five major peaks - Plattekill, Indian Head, Twin, Sugarloaf, and Plateau mountains - as well as picturesque waterfalls and rugged terrain. Challenge yourself on the 25-mile Devil’s Path that connects the Indian Head Wilderness and the Hunter-West Kill Wilderness or follow the shorter Warner Creek and Mink Hollow Trails.

Exploring the Area

Nickerson Park Campground is around 15 minutes’ drive from Grand Gorge where you can pick up basic groceries or fill up your RV rental with gas. Alternatively, you can make the 30-minute drive north to Middleburgh, which is home to larger supermarkets, restaurants, and brewing companies for RVers wanting to dine out.Middleburgh is also home to the Dr. Best House and Medical Exhibit, a Victorian house that’s believed to be haunted. Join a guided tour to learn about the unexplained events that have occurred here and get up close to early medical equipment and apparatuses. Another nearby museum not to miss is the Zadock Pratt Museum in the small town of Prattsville, which is named after its founder, 19th-century colonel and politician Zadock Pratt. Aside from admiring the Federal-style residence, take note of the two ginkgo trees planted on the property that were brought from China by Zadock Pratt.Camping at Nickerson Park Campground is also a good base for exploring the Howe Caverns, which are named after Lester Howe who discovered them in 1842. He first opened the cave to public tours in 1843, and it remains one of the most visited natural attractions in New York State today. Aside from spelunking to admire its limestone formations, the site is also home to the Cave House Museum of Mining & Geology. Next to the caverns in a former hotel, the museum details the cave’s geological history through rock and mineral specimens, as well as showcasing the wildlife that calls the cave “home.”Motorhome camping in Gilboa is also ideal if you want to see the natural wonders of the Gilboa Fossil Forest, which is renowned for its Devonian Period tree trunks (among the oldest in the world). Aside from visiting the fossil forest itself, which dates to 380 million years, you can also see a handful of trunks displayed on the banks of the Schoharie Creek.Whether you want to summit the mountains of the Catskills or explore the impressive Howe Caverns, book an RV in Schoharie County and start planning your next vacation.