Road access here runs rough, so low-clearance vehicles may want to reconsider before making the trip. Allaben Campground sits within Shandaken Wild Forest, managed by the NYS DEC, and costs nothing to use. Sites include fire pits and picnic tables, with a short walk from the roadside parking area down to the campsites. Weekends tend to fill up. Campers wanting a more developed setup can look at Phoenicia Black Bear Campground to the southeast.
Description
Shandaken Wild Forest contains six different parcels, each with its own distinctive character. The many remnants of past industries found here including farms, sawmills, bluestone mining and tanneries, will intrigue those interested in Catskill history. The Lower Birch Creek Road parcel is a historic Catskill mountain farmstead. The Allaben parcel is largely undeveloped forest with primitive campsites. The Rochester Hollow area contains ruins of a former estate and a spruce plantation that is the John Burroughs Memorial Forest.
The Allaben parcel contains eight designated campsites, two of which are accessible with accessible picnic tables and fire rings. The first campsite is located next to a small pond with a hardened area near the edge of the water for fishing. Continue past this campsite to the end of the road where a second accessible campsite can be found. There is an accessible seasonal port-a-john located at the cul-de-sac, adjacent to this campsite. An accessible informational kiosk is located at the first intersection, near the first accessible campsite.
Rochester Hollow has an accessible lean-to campsite (with hardened surfaces, accessible picnic table, fireplace and privy) and two designated campsites. This site is near the end of a three-mile-long gated road (Rochester Hollow Road). Access by ATV is granted only to Motorized Access Program for People with Disabilities (MAPPWD) permit holders.
Additionally, at-large primitive camping is allowed. Campsites must be at least 150 feet away from the nearest road, trail, or body of water. Camping for more than three nights or in groups of ten or more requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsAllaben Campground is located in New York near Shandaken
Coordinates
42.109199 N
74.350582 W
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 13 usersLast on 8/28/26
- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 6/15/26
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 13 usersLast on 8/28/26
- AT&TLTESome CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 6/15/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Group
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
FREE established camping
Enjoy camping on government land. Limited or no services at this camping area.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Allaben Campground needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 30 min from Kingston, NY
- 1 hr 10 min from Albany, NY
- 1 hr 11 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
- 1 hr 40 min from Pittsfield, MA








