Dispersed camping sites near Arkville, New York provide primitive outdoor experiences throughout the Catskill Mountains region. The area sits at elevations ranging from 1,400-3,500 feet with dense mixed hardwood forests and numerous streams. Most primitive sites lack facilities and require self-sufficiency with variable access depending on season and weather conditions.
What to do
Fishing access trails: Campsites at Allaben Primitive Campsites connect to nearby fishing spots. "Small pond-don't think there are any fish. Picnic table. Fire pit with cooking griddle. Trails to the fishing access across the road," notes Breanne H.
Lake activities: Echo Lake offers water-based recreation with established sites surrounding the water. "Lake is surrounded by hills and there is a small lean two with a few campfire spots. Other campsites are scattered and require navigating through small overgrown trails (wear pants)," reports James A.
Hiking to tent sites: For backpacking opportunities, trails lead to secluded camping areas with river views. "Great camping spots about 1.5 mile hike in from Denning Trailhead. A lot of spots right by the river. Great spot to camp and then wake up to hike to tabletop/peekamoose mountain," says Ali B.
What campers like
Streamside locations: Betty Brook Camp provides water access with established fire pits. "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," writes Robert B.
Winter accessibility: Some sites remain available during colder months. "Was a great location for winter camping. Site easily accessible from road. Beautiful, peaceful, great time!" reports felix R. about Burnt Rossman State Forest - Westkill Camp.
Small secluded sites: Less-trafficked areas provide quiet experiences away from crowds. "After driving unpaved dirt road for a while, we arrived a surprisingly well maintained beautiful campsites. The pond is small so the mosquitos were not too bad. So few people passed by and very unknown quite," explains Yae U.
What you should know
Vehicle requirements: Access roads to many rustic camping sites near Arkville require appropriate vehicles. "The road in on old cemetery rd was pretty rough, so we decided to go out the other way, which was way worse. The site itself, was pretty nice, Fire pit, trickling stream, but the years taken off the life of my truck was not worth it," cautions The L. about Duck Pond Campsite.
Limited space: Many sites accommodate only small numbers of campers. "This spot is right off the road. Nice and quiet. There is enough room for 2 to 3 campers. Parking across the street if it's wet. Entrance is soft," notes The L.
Seasonal access limitations: Beals Pond State Forest becomes difficult to reach during winter months. "This state forest is beautiful but not easily accessible in the winter. After a certain point, the road is not maintained in the winter and I was unable to get cell reception with Verizon," warns Joshua M.
Tips for camping with families
Lean-to options: Protected shelters provide backup options during inclement weather. "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," reports Kate about Echo Lake.
Limited town access: Prepare for minimal services and supplies. "It is rather remote, but it is right along West kill road. There's a stream alongside it, a fire pit, and a town about 8 mi away. It's a small town, with just a gas station store," explains Peter about Betty Brook Camp.
Communication preparedness: Hickok Brook and similar sites have limited connectivity. "It's a hike back to town... there is a small town 10 minutes away. Eldred, NY. Really is a nice quiet place," reports Gregg T.
Tips from RVers
Clearance requirements: Many dispersed camping areas have rough access roads unsuitable for larger vehicles. "I drove in thinking that there would be flat places to park a very rugged camper in my full ton diesel pickup. The road is very rough with huge potholes so good clearance is a must. It's not a good spot for car camping," warns Corey about Hickok Brook.
Small RV limitations: For those with compact, high-clearance campers, several areas offer primitive options. "There are only 3 spots where we are. No motor vehicles beyond where I'm camping. Bring everything with you," notes Gregg T.
Camp layout awareness: Some sites have specific restrictions on where vehicles can park relative to camping areas. "The site is fairly small, but it's in state park, and there's tons of walking that can be done," explains Peter regarding Betty Brook Camp's limited space for vehicles.
