Floating Battery Island Campground #1, Bolton Landing, NY

For New Yorkers seeking a truly unique and unparalleled outdoor escape that defines Adirondack adventure,

Floating Battery Island Campground #1

offers one of the Northeast's most coveted experiences: island camping on the pristine waters of Lake George. This destination is part of the extensive Lake George Islands Campsites system managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), specifically located within the renowned

Narrow Island Group

, often referred to by locals as "The Narrows."

This is not your typical drive-up campground. Floating Battery Island provides an experience of genuine seclusion and immersion in nature, a rare find even in the vast Adirondack Park. As one experienced camper eloquently put it, "you will never experience shorefront camping like you will at the Narrows." The beauty of this location is the combination of the natural elements: a cooling "nice breeze in the summer heat," the "cool pure waters of Lake George," and a breathtaking night sky "without light pollution that equals any place in the North East." While it requires meticulous planning—campers must "pack everything you need for the week"—this very requirement ensures a deep, uninterrupted sense of peace and forced relaxation away from the mainland's hustle and bustle.

Floating Battery Island itself consists of two islands within the Narrow Island Group. It hosts a number of secluded campsites, each designed to offer privacy and a dedicated stretch of shore. This boat-in, carry-in/carry-out style of camping delivers an experience that many New Yorkers, tired of crowded parks, find to be the most rewarding and memorable form of camping in the state.

Location and Accessibility

Floating Battery Island Campground #1 is located in the beautiful northern section of Lake George, near the charming village of Bolton Landing, NY.

The address associated with the island’s location is:

11 Floating Battery Is, Bolton Landing, NY 12814, USA

It is crucial for New York users to understand the unique accessibility of this site:

The island campsites on Lake George are

accessible by boat only

. Campers must either bring their own watercraft—a powerboat, sturdy rowboat, or kayak/canoe, depending on comfort level and distance—or arrange for a local water taxi service. Floating Battery Island is located roughly seven miles north of the Glen Island Group headquarters. Campers must check in at the Narrow Island Group headquarters before proceeding to their site. While the sites feel remote, the accessibility to civilization is still within a reasonable boating distance; as a camper noted, essentials like ice are "but a 30 minute ride in either direction to civilization." The boat-in requirement is part of what makes the camping here so exclusive and deeply rewarding.

Services Offered

As a DEC-managed island campsite in a Wild Forest setting, the services offered focus on essential amenities to support a rustic and responsible camping experience. There are no centralized facilities typical of drive-in campgrounds (like laundry, electric hookups, or running water at the site).

The basic infrastructure provided at the site includes:

Dedicated Dock: Each individual campsite is provided with a dock for at least one boat, serving as the main access point.
Tent Platform (at certain sites): Some sites, like Floating Battery Site #6, feature a 12' x 14' wooden tent platform to provide a level, dry surface for setting up camp.
Cooking Facilities: Each site is equipped with a fireplace for cooking and campfires.
Pit Privy: A dedicated, private pit-type toilet facility is provided at each campsite.
Dining Area: A picnic table is standard at every site.
Water Access: The clear waters of Lake George are available for swimming, but campers must pack in all their drinking water and other supplies.
Recycling: Recycling stations may be available at the main Narrow Island Group headquarters.

Features / Highlights

The key features of Floating Battery Island are inextricably linked to its stunning natural setting within the Lake George islands. The entire experience is a highlight in itself, providing a rare level of privacy and wilderness recreation.

Shorefront Camping: Virtually every campsite is a shorefront location, providing immediate access to the lake and incredible water views.
Exceptional Water Quality: Lake George is known as the "Queen" of American Lakes for its crystal-clear water, perfect for swimming and water sports.
Boating Paradise: The entire lake, 32 miles long, is open for boating, sailing, jet-skiing, and powerboating, with the campsite dock providing a dedicated mooring.
Fishing: Lake George offers a "two-story fishery," with opportunities to catch lake trout and landlocked salmon in deep water, and bass and pike in shallower weed beds.
Privacy and Seclusion: Most sites are well-forested and offer a high degree of privacy, essential for a relaxing, off-grid experience.
Access to Hiking: Over 50 miles of marked hiking trails are accessible in the mountains overlooking the lake and nearby mainland areas, including the possibility of hiking the Tongue Mountain Range or Black Mountain Shoreline.
Proximity to Attractions: While secluded, the campground remains close enough by boat to access mainland attractions like the Million Dollar Beach, Fort William Henry, and various marinas for boat rentals and supplies.

Contact Information

Reservations for Floating Battery Island (Narrow Island Group) are managed through the New York State Parks reservation system.

Address: 11 Floating Battery Is, Bolton Landing, NY 12814, USA
Narrow Island Group DEC Headquarters Phone: (518) 644-9696

Conclusion: Why Floating Battery Island is Suitable for Locals

For New Yorkers, Floating Battery Island Campground #1 is more than a camping spot; it is the ultimate expression of the unique recreational opportunities available in their home state. This site is uniquely suitable for local users because it offers a deep dive into the Adirondack wilderness without the extreme travel of a remote backcountry trip. It provides a level of

forced relaxation

and disconnection—being boat-in ensures this—that is essential for resetting from the fast pace of urban and suburban life in the New York region.

The experience is challenging enough to feel like a true adventure (packing everything in, managing a boat) but comfortable enough to be enjoyed by families (pit privy, picnic table, dock). The combination of a private, forested shorefront campsite, the cooling breeze off the lake, and the unparalleled beauty of a light pollution-free night sky provides a sensory experience that no mainland campground can match. This is the authentic, boat-access island camping adventure that every New Yorker with a love for the outdoors should prioritize, making it an irreplaceable part of the New York State camping legacy.