Higley Flow State Park

Boasting a heavily wooded campground in the Adirondack foothills, Higley Flow State Park is pretty, pet-friendly, and pawfect for water lovers.

Encompassing more than 1,100 acres along the scenic Raquette River, the park's main selling point is its easy water access. There's a sandy swimming beach on the river's reservoir, providing calm and peaceful waters for a cooling swim. Boat launch sites are provided for angling and leisure boating, and the river is easy to explore via canoe or kayak.

Back on dry land, the 0.9-mile Beaver Pond Nature Trail passes through six distinctive habitats and features interpretive signs for those looking to learn a little more about the ecology of the region. Eight other trails are provided and range from 0.7 to 1.9 miles long -- plus, they double as cross-country skiing trails in winter.

Unfortunately, dogs aren't permitted on the beach or in the picnic areas, so someone will need to look after your pooch while other members of your camping group enjoy these parts of the park. Pets must also be leashed (six feet or shorter) and cleaned up after at all times, and there's a two-pet maximum on all campsites.

Speaking of the campsites, there are 128 to choose from, around half of which have electricity. The waterfront campsites are obviously the most sought-after, but all sites are well shaded and provide decent privacy from your neighbors thanks to shielding pine trees. Dump stations and showers are provided, and the campground has 24-hour security.

The vehicle entry fee for day-use visitors is $7, while campsites range from $15 to $31 a night (plus an additional nightly charge of $5 for out-of-state visitors).

One word of warning: this park is in a reasonably remote location, so make sure you don't forget anything crucial before setting off from home. But if you're certain that you've packed all the essentials, just concentrate on treating yourself (and your dog!) to a relaxing stay in this peaceful park.