Summer R & R

Families enjoy camping at Coles Creek State Park campground

Story and photos by Amanda DeLosh

Children ride their bikes down the road, while their parents follow slowly behind them. People are splashing around in the cool river as boats glide by, and kids play in the sand. The smell of pine trees, campfires, and summer fills the air.

And then, someday, their children may do the same.

“With my family, I know my father's parents took him out to Coles Creek as a child, and as soon as he and my mother started a family, we’ve been spending our summers out at the campground,” Masena native Aurora O’Geen says.

Coles Creek State Park is a campground that families make a tradition of going to and enjoying every year, allowing them to get away from everyday life.

“I think it brings back a lot of memories of their childhood and their times with friends and family,” O’Geen says. “It’s a place we can all enjoy and start our own memories.”

Camper Francesca Fahd agrees that families make it a tradition to go out to Coles Creek. “People usually go out there to celebrate a holiday like Memorial Day and July Fourth by throwing a party and being with friends,” Fahd says.

“It’s really surreal to be sitting by the fire and looking around talking with everyone, then looking up and seeing a huge ship going by with flags from Greece on it.”

Coles Creek is at its busiest during Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July weekend, and Labor Day weekend. “Every year I visit Massena, I always go out to Coles Creek with everyone,” Jessica LeClair says. LeClair moved away from Massena about nine years ago, but stays close to her friends from around the area.

Located in Waddington, N.Y., Coles Creek brings in families from all over the region, from St. Lawrence County to Canada.

LeClair remembers how much she likes going out to Coles Creek because it’s a lot of fun for her. “It’s almost like a reunion, for me, at least.”

The campground, which is surrounded by the St. Lawernce River, has many different activities to partake in and sights to see. Having campsites located on the river’s edge gives campers the ability to see ships from all over the world pass by.

“It’s really surreal to be sitting by the fire and looking around talking with everyone, then looking up and seeing a huge ship going by with flags from Greece on it,” LeClair says.

Sites are equipped with electrical outlets, and are suitable for both campers and tents. The campground also helps its campers out by having bathrooms and shower stalls available for its guests, making the camping experience more “camper-friendly.”

People bask in the sun on the shoreline of the bay where boaters come in to dock on the sandy beach. A lot of the activity goes on along the main strip of the road through the campground, where there's a volleyball net, horseshoe pit, and the river.

“We definitely look forward to bringing our boat out to Coles and spending the day on the river,” O’Geen says. “Living in upstate New York, we don’t take any sunny days for granted, and we definitely try and make the best out of every day on the river.” She adds, “Whether we’re skiing, tubing, or just hanging out, it's absolutely one of our favorite things to do.”

Whether on the water or hanging out with family and friends, everyone seems to know each other, and they are always there to help each other.

“It’s cool to think about how most of our parents spent their summers doing the same thing over 20 to 30 years ago.”

“The atmosphere is really welcoming,” Fahd says. “Everyone is willing to help each other out; there’s so many activities out there.”

Memories will always be made here at Coles Creek, whether they are new or old ones, campers say.

“I think my favorite memories are the ones of my friends and me sneaking out of our tents and meeting up at the river to just hangout and stay up all night—nothing special, just all our friends together, messing around and hanging out,” O’Geen says.

“I definitely think parents will continue bringing their children to spend the summer at Coles,” O’Geen says. “It’s cool to think about how most of our parents spent their summers doing the same thing over 20 to 30 years ago.”

*Courtesy of Map Quest

Directions from Plattsburgh, NY to Coles Creek State Park Campground

1. Start out going NORTH on BEEKMAN ST toward CORNELIA ST/NY-3. (0.1 mi)

2. Turn LEFT onto CORNELIA ST/NY-3. Continue to follow NY-3. (2.5 mi)

3. Turn RIGHT onto NY-190/MILITARY TURNPIKE. (23.4 mi)

4. Stay STRAIGHT to go onto NY-190. (0.0 mi)

5. Turn LEFT onto US-11. (18.8 mi)

6. Turn RIGHT onto NY-122. (10.2 mi)

7. Turn RIGHT onto NY-37 W. (40.7 mi)

8. 13003 ROUTE 37. (END)

Have you ever been to Coles Creek?

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