Best Tent Camping near West Hatfield, MA
Tent campsites near West Hatfield, Massachusetts range from established campgrounds to more primitive backcountry options within a short drive. Barton Cove Campground in Gill offers tent-only sites with water access, while Tully Lake Recreation Area in Royalston provides walk-in tent camping with lakeside views. Several state forests in the region, including Federated Womens Club State Forest, maintain primitive tent camping areas accessible via hiking trails.
Most tent campgrounds in the area require campers to park in designated lots and walk to their sites. At Tully Lake, wooden wheelbarrows are provided to transport gear from the parking area to tent sites, which can be up to several hundred yards away. Tent platforms are common at established sites, while backcountry areas typically offer cleared ground for pitching tents. Seasonal restrictions apply, with many campgrounds operating from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Fire regulations vary by location, with some sites providing fire rings and others prohibiting open flames entirely.
The tent camping experience in this region offers notable privacy between sites, particularly at walk-in campgrounds. Tully Lake provides direct water access for swimming and paddling from some tent sites, while others offer views through the trees. Backcountry tent sites in areas like Mount Everett State Reservation require more hiking but reward campers with greater seclusion. According to one visitor at Tully Lake, "Each site has a table and a fire ring. The campsites are spacious and though there is not a bad site, some are better suited for certain purposes like group camping." Wildlife encounters are common, with several reviews mentioning the need for proper food storage to avoid attracting bears and other animals.