Rainbow Woods Campground In Depth

P O Box 853 Schroon Lake, NY 12870
Phone: (518) 532-9728
Website: http://www.rainbowwoodscampgrounds.com
Email: rbw1@nycap.rr.com

Men only, private, 18+, membership campground in the Adirondack Park with camping along the Schroon River. Full hook up RV sites, tent sites, a rental 5th Wheel unit, fire rings, picnic tables, water stations, flush toilets, hot showers, bonfires, hiking, biking, volleyball/badminton areas, pavilion, canoe rental, activities, events. Pets welcome. Nearby museums, balloon rides, Fort Ticonderoga, Fort William Hendry, Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom, mines, gorges, beautiful Lake George, Ausable Chasm, Lake Placid.

satellite mapping
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Directions: From I-87; Exit 28, Rte 74, ½ mile to On The River Campgrounds to register—be sure to tell them you are registering for Rainbow Woods.

Evaluation

The drive up Adirondack Northway, I-87 into the Adirondack Park was gorgeous and really instilled a feeling of adventure as we headed into the wilderness. The campground is located close to the interstate, just ½ mile east on Rt. 74, however entering the park is a little unusual. Since we are towing a fifth wheel we were told to pull off into the fishing area parking lot on the right just before crossing the bridge over the Schroon River. The entrance to the parking area is narrow and steep, but did not pose any problems for our 38’ fifth wheel. The campground entrance is all but invisible from the road, but once in the parking area we noticed a gate in the fence with signs just beyond it to warn would be trespassers. Some electric pole lamps that would typically be placed near a walkway in front of a house are also located on the other side of the fence leading up to the gate.

The owner of this campground lives in a house at the entrance to the mainstream campground he owns on the other side of the river. We quickly walked over and registered and we were given a ride back over to our rig. Jim, the owner guided us every step of the way down the narrow tree lined dirt road to our site, and then gave us all the space we needed to back into the tight space while he visited with some campers until we were done. When we were done the right rear slide was just slightly pushing up against some pine tree branches while the kitchen slide was two inches from a tree. The trailer was perfectly level from side to side and we had plenty of room for the awning. The utilities were conveniently located and set up went smoothly.

This very rustic campground backs up to the Schroon River and is nestled into a thick forest of trees, with few having been removed to make way for the roads and camp sites. The main camping area is a cluster of sites mostly consisting of permanent campers. These sites are in a variety of configurations which even include some tents. The majority of the sites are put together tastefully and they are neat and clean.

The toilets and showers are in two separate buildings with a dish washing area on the side of the shower building. Unfortunately the heavy iron content in the water has left bad brownish stains on the otherwise white surfaces. Most of the transient rental sites are located near the toilets/showers and the pavilion which is convenient to the dirt road that comes back from the entrance.

The pavilion is basically the type that would be seen in a park with picnic tables under it. However this one has had some additions done to it. At one end is the DJ Booth and at the other a stage complete with runway and backstage dressing area. On the front side near the bonfire pit is a serving area. All of this is very rudimentary yet gets the job done.

A walk down the trail past the primitive tent sites and around the pond leads you to a small sandy beach near a bend on the Schroon River. The water is crystal clear with some pockets of water deep enough to swim in and the scenery is beautiful. Other than the faint whir of truck tires in the distance coming from interstate you would think that you are out in the middle of nowhere.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this campground. The remote location and the rustic nature of the setting is the closest thing to the type of camping that we used to do with our parents that we have experienced in a long time. This is definitely camping like it was in years gone by, when people used to take a lot of pride in packing up the family and going to live in the woods for a week or more with many less conveniences and with much more primitive and smaller housing. Well times have changed some things, we bring more stuff and stay in larger RV’s etc. now; we enjoy the rustic camping of yesteryear with our extended gay family. Guys at this campground still have a lot of pride in their camp, and are quick to say hello or lend a hand to a fellow camper. We were made to feel welcome and a part of the camp by everyone we met.

Check out Steve & Phil’s Blog from this location

Camping in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York!