For more information and to reserve a Deer Lake facility for your event, email us at reservations@deerlakeoutdoors.org or call our office at (203)421-4040.

We offer a special youth-serving non-profit rate for all our rentals. Contact us for a quote.

Deer Lake Outdoor Center is open to the public from dawn to dusk for walking and hiking without a reservation. If you’re part of a group, we ask that you check-in at the Ranger’s Office to let us know you’re here. There may be days throughout the year where we will be closed to the public for a private event, but should that happen, we will post it on our website, social media and with physical signs.

Yes, Deer Lake is open to the public for camping, programming, and events. Come for a solitary camping weekend or bring your whole family for a reunion.

The directors of Deer Lake, Jenn and Brian, are both certified Wilderness EMTs and active volunteers with the Killingworth Ambulance Association.  There are also two AEDs on premises and several medical facilities within a 15 minute drive.

There is a four-season shower house with flush toilets, sinks and hot showers at the North end of camp.  There is also an identical shower house at the center of our lean-to campsites that is open seasonally. 

Pets are welcome at Deer Lake, but must be kept on a leash and are not permitted inside our facilities.

Yes, our campsites are rented by the weekend and available for longer reservations as well. A few of our indoor facilities are also rentable by the day or partial day.      

While we strongly encourage disconnecting while here at Deer Lake, we’ve recently installed a commercial mesh WIFI network throughout the center of camp with plans for expansion. 

All of our trails are marked using a blazing system on the trees along the trails. A trail map is available HERE and at the Ranger’s Office. Stop in and say hello!

Five run north-south and several run east west. We have a variety of trails from easy to moderate difficulty. Some are as wide as a car, and others are single track foot paths. You will encounter gravel, larger stones, tree roots, and on occasion mud.  There are vernal ponds, rock cliffs, and boulders for exploring.

Yes, from a single facility to the entire camp, Deer Lake is available for your use.

Every summer we run an eight week day camp from Monday through Friday. For the safety of our campers, we do not take reservations for camping or events during those weeks.  We are, however, still open for weekend camping and events.

Deer Lake is home to the Richard English Bird Sanctuary and a diverse ever-changing population of birds as different species stop over on the migration journeys. On an early morning hike you may come across local white-tailed deer or see signs of bobcats and coyote. Take a walk along our Lakeside trail to visit our resident beavers.