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Best Dispersed Camping near Lenox Dale, MA

34 Reviews

The Berkshire region surrounding Lenox Dale, Massachusetts features a mix of dispersed camping options, with several sites located along the Appalachian Trail corridor. Jug End Dispersed Camping on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail provides hike-in access for backpackers, though recent reviews indicate some confusion about camping permissions at this location. Just across the state line, Sage's Ravine in Connecticut offers year-round camping with amenities including drinking water, toilets, and designated platforms approximately 50 feet apart. The broader area encompasses multiple state forests and wilderness areas within driving distance, including the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont and various New York state lands, creating a tri-state camping region with diverse terrain and accessibility options.

Road conditions and seasonal weather significantly impact camping experiences near Lenox Dale. Many dispersed sites become muddy or inaccessible after rainfall, with several campers reporting the need for vehicles with higher clearance. As one visitor to NF 83 Riverside noted, "The access into this location is a little rough but most cars should make it, I would prefer having a little more clearance though just to be sure." Winter camping is possible but challenging, with Somerset Airfield campers describing extreme conditions including "8 inches of fresh snow" and temperatures plummeting to "8 degrees with a windchill of -3." Cell service varies widely across the region, with some sites offering full connectivity while others provide complete disconnection from technology.

Lakeside and riverside camping locations receive particularly positive reviews from visitors to the region. Echo Lake in New York features tent sites circling the water with fire pits and a lean-to, though campers mention it "can get swampy near the edge of the lake" and "a little crowded later in the day." The George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed camping area consistently earns high ratings for its spacious, well-organized sites and relative privacy. Campers appreciate that "spots were all pretty spread out from each other" with "beautiful lakes and scenic towns all within 15 minutes." Bug pressure is frequently mentioned in wooded sites, with one camper reporting "a LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings" that seemed "unbothered by bug spray." Most dispersed sites feature fire rings but minimal other amenities, requiring self-sufficiency and adherence to Leave No Trace principles.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Lenox Dale, Massachusetts (16)

    1. Jug End Dispersed — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    2 Reviews
    South Egremont, MA
    17 miles
    Website

    "Trash cans, but carry out is preferable."

    2. Sage's Revine

    2 Reviews
    Taconic, CT
    23 miles
    Website

    "Near non-potable stream, no fires allowed, bathroom is fine, bear boxes available. 50 feet between platforms. Right over the border of CT into MA on the Appalachian Trail."

    3. George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed

    8 Reviews
    Wilmington, VT
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 747-6700

    "The camp spots were all pretty spread out from each other and the road was easy to drive on. There were only about 10 spots along the access road."

    "Some sites were really wet but we found a nice dry place."

    4. NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot

    6 Reviews
    Bennington, VT
    37 miles

    "A LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings. The bugs seems to be unbothered by the bug spray as well."

    "Went on a Wednesday night late October and had to drive about 4 miles down the dirt road to find a suitable spot. After what was very quiet and a peaceful place to be."

    5. Somerset Airfield

    6 Reviews
    West Dover, VT
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 388-4362

    "It has pit toilets. These sites are close together with little to no shade. Some sites have access to a stream that flows behind the park."

    "I arrived after the 4th of July and a neighbor said it was rowdy during the holiday with illegal fireworks set off every night over the dry forest. These pics are from a weekday morning."

    6. NF 83 - riverside

    3 Reviews
    West Dover, VT
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 362-2307

    "This is a nice clearing near the river where the road used to cross."

    "The left side of the drive in is swampy so be sure to not drift to that side."

    7. Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park

    3 Reviews
    Verbank, NY
    49 miles
    Website
    +1 (845) 256-3000

    "99% off people don't even know this area exists. If you want a quiet piece of beautiful forest to truly rough it and go camping for a few days, then this is what you have been looking for."

    "This spot is easy to find and access, and had decent ATT service. There's only a few spots, and the road is narrow with not much turnaround room, I wouldn't recommend for trailers or RVs."

    8. Echo Lake

    2 Reviews
    Woodstock, NY
    46 miles
    Website
    +1 (607) 652-7365

    "There are tent sites around the whole lake with fire pits and 1 lean-to site at the end of the trail when you first arrive at the lake.  The sites are relatively flat and well shaded with trees. "

    "Lake is surrounded by hills and there is a small lean two with a few campfire spots."

    9. Ushers Road State Forest

    2 Reviews
    Round Lake, NY
    48 miles

    "This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails. I explored both directions on my bike, riding approximately half a mile down each side."

    10. Green Mountain National Forest FR71

    1 Review
    West Dover, VT
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 747-6700

    "Free camping"

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Lenox Dale, MA

33 Photos of 16 Lenox Dale Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Lenox Dale, MA

34 Reviews of 16 Lenox Dale Campgrounds

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2021

    Echo Lake

    Lovely Camping in the Catskills

    This campground was my first backpacking trip and it was perfect!  There are tent sites around the whole lake with fire pits and 1 lean-to site at the end of the trail when you first arrive at the lake.  The sites are relatively flat and well shaded with trees.  Note, it can get swampy near the edge of the lake so you may want to bring bug spray.  Make sure you practice leave no trace principles and pack out what you bring in!  It does get a little crowded later in the day so you may have to share space with others and it can be a little noisy at night.

  • The L.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 8, 2025

    Ushers Road State Forest

    Trail head

    This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails. I explored both directions on my bike, riding approximately half a mile down each side. The terrain eventually transitions into a low-lying, swampy area, likely due to recent rainfall over the past week.

    About 500 feet down the right-hand trail, there is a smaller path branching off to the left. This leads to a previously used campsite, approximately 200 feet from the main trail. The site includes a stone fire ring, indicating prior use.

    Given that camping is permitted anywhere in the woods as long as it’s at least 150 feet off the trail, the surrounding area offers an abundance of potential camping spots.

  • M.A.D. P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 1, 2023

    Somerset Airfield

    Small open park

    The Airfield Campground is a strip of land with several campsites and fire pits. It has pit toilets. These sites are close together with little to no shade. Some sites have access to a stream that flows behind the park. The real attraction is the huge Somerset Resevoir which is up the road. Plenty of fishing, paddling, hiking and picnicking opportunities. There are other dispersed sites down the road that are free

  • Doc B.
    Jun. 17, 2021

    Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park

    A hidden gem...

    99% off people don't even know this area exists. If you want a quiet piece of beautiful forest to truly rough it and go camping for a few days, then this is what you have been looking for. Less then 10 min drive from town, but hiking in and finding a suitable place to make camp has the feeling of the wild, with the safety of having full cell service. There is plenty of trails to explore and wildlife to enjoy, especially since these over 900 acres also back up to another huge plot of protected forests. Please enjoy Mother Nature's healing love, and leave the area cleaner than when you arrived. Always let someone know where you are headed and when you plan to return.

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2024

    Somerset Airfield

    Good stopover location

    Only the first section of the campground was open due to flooding. As a result, there were puddles everywhere.

    Campsites are listed as disbursed but there are only 7 trees to separate 9 camp sites. The campsites are all next to the road and have fire circles.

    There is a single pit toilet at the end of the camping area. No garbage service, no water, no cell service. Basically a camp site where you can share a fire with the neighbors.

  • Natasha T.
    Jun. 6, 2022

    NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot

    Nice wooded little campsite

    A LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings. The bugs seems to be unbothered by the bug spray as well. A few miles down the road there is another campsite that is more open and also has a fire pit with a lot less bugs flying around and more open space.

  • c H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 13, 2023

    George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed

    Cool Spot!

    The camp spots were all pretty spread out from each other and the road was easy to drive on. There were only about 10 spots along the access road. Brewery, distillery, beautiful lakes and scenic towns all within 15 minutes of the sites.

  • SJ W.
    Nov. 1, 2024

    NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot

    Beautiful but surprisingly crowded

    Went on a Wednesday night late October and had to drive about 4 miles down the dirt road to find a suitable spot. After what was very quiet and a peaceful place to be. Many pull offs but a lot were too wet for my van and I was afraid of getting stuck. The road itself was in great condition though.

  • licia S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Somerset Airfield

    No Wifi, Resevoir Beautiful

    Enjoyed the stunning babbling brook and resevoir- saw happy people swimming, kayaking, and camping. It's been quiet and peaceful and sometimes generators running all night. I arrived after the 4th of July and a neighbor said it was rowdy during the holiday with illegal fireworks set off every night over the dry forest. These pics are from a weekday morning. It's great to see families camping. There are pit toilets. AT.T service at bridge prior to camp- short walk. SOS only in camp. Another camper told me Starlink works here.

Guide to Lenox Dale

Primitive camping near Lenox Dale, Massachusetts spans across three states with terrain varying from wetlands at 500 feet elevation to mountain slopes exceeding 2,500 feet. Weather conditions change dramatically with elevation, with temperature differences of 10-15 degrees between valley floors and ridgetops. Winter camping requires specialized gear as temperatures can drop below 0°F with significant snowfall in higher elevations.

What to do

Paddling opportunities: Access Somerset Reservoir from nearby camping areas in Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest. At Echo Lake, campers note the "lake is surrounded by hills" with sites scattered around the shoreline, making it ideal for kayaking and swimming.

Wildlife viewing: Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park connects to larger protected forests, creating significant wildlife habitat. One visitor mentioned "plenty of trails to explore and wildlife to enjoy, especially since these over 900 acres also back up to another huge plot of protected forests."

Winter exploration: Forest roads transform into snowmobile trails during winter months. Somerset Airfield offers cold-weather adventure with campers reporting "we endured Snow and mid 20s Friday night with 8" of fresh snow to wake up to Saturday."

What campers like

Riverside sites: Many primitive camping spots feature water access. At NF 83 Riverside, campers appreciate being "peacefully placed along the bends of the river" in "a large open grassy area with a sizable fire pit."

Solitude: Less-traveled areas provide quiet camping experiences. At Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park, visitors note "99% of people don't even know this area exists" yet it offers "the feeling of the wild, with the safety of having full cell service."

Varied terrain: The region offers diverse landscapes from lakeshores to forests. One camper at George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed noted "brewery, distillery, beautiful lakes and scenic towns all within 15 minutes of the sites."

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to many sites requires careful driving. At NF 83 Riverside, one camper advised "the access into this location is a little rough but most cars should make it, I would prefer having a little more clearance though just to be sure."

Site spacing: Space between campsites varies significantly. At NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot, campers found "large, well organized camping spots along the road" with "at least a dozen spots, some very spacious."

Insect pressure: Densely wooded sites can have significant bug activity. A camper at NFR 273 reported "a LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings. The bugs seems to be unbothered by the bug spray as well."

Seasonal popularity: Some areas become unexpectedly crowded in peak seasons. At Echo Lake, campers mention "it does get a little crowded later in the day so you may have to share space with others and it can be a little noisy at night."

Tips for camping with families

Lean-to options: Several sites offer shelters for easier family camping. Echo Lake features "a small lean-to with a few campfire spots" and tent sites "scattered and require navigating through small overgrown trails."

Alternative accommodations: Some sites offer improved facilities. At Ushers Road State Forest, there are "bicycle-friendly nature trails" with camping permitted "anywhere in the woods as long as it's at least 150 feet off the trail."

Campsite selection: Choose wisely for comfort. At Somerset Airfield, one visitor noted "the first section of the campground was open due to flooding. As a result, there were puddles everywhere."

Tips from RVers

Clearance requirements: Many forest roads have rough sections. At NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot, one RVer noted "many pull offs but a lot were too wet for my van and I was afraid of getting stuck."

Site limitations: Some areas are unsuitable for larger rigs. At Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park, a visitor cautioned "the road is narrow with not much turnaround room, I wouldn't recommend for trailers or RVs."

Limited facilities: Most sites offer minimal amenities. Somerset Airfield provides "a single pit toilet at the end of the camping area. No garbage service, no water, no cell service."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Lenox Dale, MA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Lenox Dale, MA is Jug End Dispersed — Appalachian National Scenic Trail with a 4-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Lenox Dale, MA?

TheDyrt.com has all 16 dispersed camping locations near Lenox Dale, MA, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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