Dispersed camping near Albany, New York offers primitive sites in state forests across the Catskills and Green Mountain regions. Sites range from easily accessible drive-in spots to more remote locations requiring hiking. The area experiences significant temperature variations, with summer highs averaging 80°F and winter lows often below freezing, making seasonal preparation crucial for primitive camping success.
What to do
Hiking from camp sites: Echo Lake in the Catskills requires a hike-in approach but offers multiple camping opportunities around the water. According to a camper, "Lake is surrounded by hills and there is a small lean to with a few campfire spots. Other campsites are scattered and require navigating through small overgrown trails (wear pants)."
Winter camping adventures: Burnt Rossman State Forest - Westkill Camp provides opportunities for cold weather camping. A reviewer notes it "Was a great location for winter camping. Site easily accessible from road. Beautiful, peaceful, great time!"
Water activities: Somerset Reservoir near the airfield campground offers water recreation options. A camper reports, "The real attraction is the huge Somerset Reservoir which is up the road. Plenty of fishing, paddling, hiking and picnicking opportunities."
What campers like
Privacy levels: Despite being primitive sites, some locations offer unexpected seclusion. At Betty Brook Camp, a regular visitor explains, "Love to camp here all year long have been coming to the area for a couple of decades now. Remote. Sometimes you never see anyone. Sometimes you see some people. You camp on the stream."
Well-established fire rings: Many dispersed sites have permanent fire features. At George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed, a camper found "Large, well organized camping spots along the road. The spot I chose had a beautifully built fire pit."
Nature immersion: The primitive camping experience offers direct access to natural features. One Echo Lake camper shared, "We camped on the hill with a beautiful view of the whole lake and breeze."
What you should know
Road condition challenges: Access to many sites requires navigating unpaved forest roads that vary in quality. A Duck Pond Campsite visitor warned, "The road in on old cemetery rd was pretty rough, so we decided to go out the other way, which was way worse... Intermittent cell service which was frightening while driving on these rough roads."
Site availability fluctuations: During peak times, finding an open site can be challenging. A Somerset Airfield camper noted, "Got up on a Friday with plenty of spots. 10 spaces between the bathrooms/vault toilets with only 3 other 4 in working order."
Weather preparedness: Weather conditions can change rapidly in the region. One camper at Somerset Airfield shared an extreme experience: "We endured Snow and mid 20s Friday night with 8" of fresh snow to wake up to Saturday, and our main Roadhouse down from the weight of the snow."
Tips for camping with families
Choose more developed primitive sites: Some dispersed areas offer more amenities than others. At NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot, visitors found "Large enough for 2-3 vehicles or one large rig/RV. Very few vehicles pass, some days none. Two fire rings set up: a large one and a small cooking one."
Consider bugs and protection: Insect levels vary by location and season. One camper warned about a site at NFR 273: "A LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings. The bugs seems to be unbothered by the bug spray as well."
Check site spacing: Some primitive areas have tighter quarters than others. A Somerset Airfield visitor observed, "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."
Tips from RVers
Size restrictions: Most primitive sites have limited space for larger vehicles. At Ushers Road State Forest, a visitor noted, "This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails... 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."
Alternative options: Look beyond the main primitive areas for more space. A Somerset Airfield visitor mentioned, "Campers near us said there are more sites if you pass the airfield that are more spread out past the actual airfield sites."
Consider seasonal timing: Primitive camping near Albany varies significantly by season. One NFR 273 visitor reported in late October: "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."
