Chipmunk Bluff Camping Area

Welcome to the **Chipmunk Bluff Camping Area**, a popular and generously sized section of the picturesque **Chenango Valley State Park**. For residents across New York State, particularly those in the Central and Southern Tier regions, this campground represents an accessible and amenity-rich outdoor destination. It is the largest of the park’s camping loops, offering a diverse array of sites for both tent campers and RV enthusiasts, making it an ideal choice for a family getaway or a refreshing outdoor escape.

The surrounding Chenango Valley State Park is famed for its unique geological features—two glacial kettle lakes—and its year-round recreational opportunities. The campground is specifically designed to maximize visitor comfort while keeping the connection to the beautiful, wooded New York landscape intact. This overview is intended to guide our local users through the specifics of the Chipmunk Bluff experience, highlighting why it is a consistently well-regarded spot for outdoor recreation in the Empire State. The easy access, coupled with the impressive range of on-site activities and facilities, solidifies Chipmunk Bluff as a premier camping option in the Fenton/Binghamton area.

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### Location and Accessibility

The Chipmunk Bluff Camping Area is a distinct section located within the expansive **Chenango Valley State Park**. While the general area is often referenced as being in Fenton, the official mailing address for the park, which houses the campground, is: **153 State Park Road, Chenango Forks, NY 13746**. This location places the park conveniently in Broome County, approximately 12 miles northeast of the city of Binghamton.

Accessibility is considered excellent for New Yorkers. Campers can easily reach the park by taking Route I-88 to Exit 3 (Port Crane/Chenango Valley State Park), and then driving a few miles north on Route 369. This proximity to major interstate highways, including I-81, as mentioned by a prior visitor, makes the Chipmunk Bluff area straightforward to locate and navigate for those traveling from Upstate New York, the Southern Tier, and even the Capital Region. The setting is deeply wooded, providing a genuine forest camping atmosphere while maintaining easy access to nearby towns for supplies or dining. The ease of access off a major interstate is a significant convenience for RV owners and families embarking on weekend trips from the more densely populated areas of the state.

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### Services Offered

As the largest camping loop in a well-established New York State Park, Chipmunk Bluff offers a comprehensive list of essential services designed for comfortable modern camping. The area is divided into multiple loops to accommodate different camping styles and needs.

Core services and site amenities include:

• **Campsite Variety:** The campground is divided into several loops, offering a mix of sites suitable for tents and large RVs (up to 50 feet in length in some locations).
• **Electric Hookups:** Loops within Chipmunk Bluff are dedicated to electric service, including both **30 AMP and 50 AMP** hookups, catering specifically to RV and trailer campers.
• **Dedicated Comfort Stations:** There are at least two shower/restroom buildings serving the Chipmunk Bluff area, ensuring easy access to facilities, as confirmed by customer reviews noting the availability of showers.
• **Daily Cleaning:** Park staff are known to do a great job cleaning the bathhouses daily, contributing to a pleasant and hygienic stay, as noted in customer feedback.
• **Water Access:** Water spigots are conveniently located throughout the loops, providing access to fresh water. While individual water hookups at every site are not common, water outlets are easily reachable.
• **Sanitary Dump Station:** A central dump station is available within the park for RV and trailer waste disposal, simplifying the end-of-trip cleanup process.
• **Basic Site Furnishings:** Every campsite is furnished with a **picnic table and a campfire ring/fire pit**, allowing for outdoor dining and traditional campfire gatherings.
• **Camp Store/Concessions:** A convenience store is available within the park, providing essentials, camper information, and sometimes snacks near the beach area.

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### Features / Highlights

The Chipmunk Bluff Camping Area is highlighted by its integration into the rich recreational environment of Chenango Valley State Park, offering far more than a typical roadside campground.

Key features and highlights include:

• **Spacious, Wooded Sites:** Campsites are famously large, providing a significant amount of space between neighbors for privacy and comfort, often separated by a thin line of bushes or a small tree line. This is a significant highlight for New Yorkers seeking seclusion.
• **Access to Kettle Lakes:** The park features two unique glacial kettle lakes, Lily Lake and Chenango Lake, which offer fantastic opportunities for **swimming, fishing, and non-motorized boating**.
• **Resort-like Swimming Area:** The park boasts a popular swimming area at the lake’s beach, which includes a special diving section and a nearby bathhouse with snack bar options, often described as feeling like a resort.
• **18-Hole Golf Course:** An exceptional amenity is the park's top-rated, moderately challenging 18-hole golf course located on the southern part of the park, a major draw for local golf enthusiasts.
• **Extensive Trail System:** The park is crisscrossed with numerous scenic nature trails and multi-use paths perfect for **hiking and mountain biking**, including trails that circumnavigate the lakes and a unique bog trail.
• **Boat and Kayak Rentals:** Canoes, kayaks, and rowboats are available for rent, making it easy for campers without their own equipment to enjoy the clear waters of the kettle lakes.
• **Year-Round Activities:** While camping is seasonal, the park offers winter activities such as ice skating, sledding, and cross-country skiing, extending its value beyond the summer months.

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### Contact Information

For making reservations, inquiring about specific site availability, or confirming operating seasons and current rules (such as pet policies), use the primary contact information for Chenango Valley State Park.

**Mailing Address:**Chenango Valley State Park153 State Park RoadChenango Forks, NY 13746

**Phone Contact:**Information: (607) 648-5251Reservations: 1-800-456-2267 (ReserveAmerica Call Center)

Reservations are highly recommended, especially during the peak season from early May through early September, and can be made online or through the call center up to nine months in advance.

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### What is Worth Choosing Chipmunk Bluff Camping Area

For New York residents, choosing the Chipmunk Bluff Camping Area means selecting a quintessential, high-value State Park experience that effectively combines natural seclusion with abundant recreation. The value of this campground lies in three key areas that are vital to local users.

Firstly, the **Superior Campsite Quality and Variety** is a major factor. The Chipmunk loop is noted for its clean, large, and spacious sites that are well-separated by trees and bushes, providing a rare sense of privacy in a large public park setting. Crucially for RV owners from areas like Long Island, the Hudson Valley, or Buffalo, the availability of both **30-AMP and 50-AMP electric hookups** is a significant convenience, offering the comforts of home while being immersed in nature. The availability of clean, functional restrooms and showers (even if older, as noted by some) ensures that even tent campers have access to essential modern facilities.

Secondly, the **Unmatched Recreational Package** transforms a simple camping trip into a comprehensive vacation. Unlike many remote campsites, Chipmunk Bluff is a stone's throw from a fantastic **swimming beach on a kettle lake**, an excellent and challenging **18-hole golf course**, and a variety of **hiking and water sports options**. For New York families, this means every member, from the serious golfer to the young child who loves the beach, has an activity waiting right within the park boundaries. The availability of boat and kayak rentals makes participation easy, even without personal equipment.

Finally, the **Geological and Natural Heritage** of Chenango Valley State Park adds a unique, educational layer to the stay. Camping near the kettle lakes—glacial formations that are themselves fascinating—and having access to a unique bog trail offers an opportunity to connect with the state’s natural history. This combination of comfort, convenience, and diverse activity makes Chipmunk Bluff an exceptionally well-rounded and recommended choice for any New Yorker looking to explore the beautiful Southern Tier outdoors.

Chipmunk Bluff Camping Area

Fenton, NY 13746, USA