Best Dispersed Camping near Barneveld, NY
Planning a dispersed camping trip near Barneveld? Dispersed camping is the perfect way to get off the grid. Search dispersed campsites you've visited before, or discover new spots and read camper reviews.
Best Dispersed Sites Near Barneveld, NY (14)
1. North Lake Reservoir Campground
Otter Lake, New York2 Reviews•2 Photos•8 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
- Toilets
2. Stillwater Reservoir
Old Forge, New York9 Reviews•75 Photos•268 SavesThe 6,700-acre Stillwater Reservoir is located in the western Adirondacks, and provides undeveloped, remote camping on both islands and along the shoreline. The Reservoir offers a multitude of recreational possibilities including remote wilderness camping, canoeing, boating, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. The area receives considerable use during each of the four seasons.
During recent years, popularity of the Stillwater Reservoir has greatly increased. In an effort to alleviate some of the problems and preserve remote camping opportunities, campers are now required to use only designated sites, along the shoreline or to camp at least 150 feet inland from high-water mark. The high-water mark is generally that point where the sand beaches end and the forested or vegetative area begins.
Camping on sand beaches is no longer permitted. Camping within 150 feet of the high-water mark is limited to 46 sites designated and marked by the department. Camping beyond the 150 feet limit, as in past years, is relatively unrestricted. The intention here is to move camper use back from the water's edge to less fragile sites. The only exception is to the north of the Reservoir, which is in the Five Ponds Wilderness, where group sizes are limited to nine people or less.
Camping beyond the 150-foot perimeter remains relatively unrestricted, except for five Ponds Wilderness. That is, persons may use any site or open area for camping, provided it is more than 150 feet from the high-water mark, roads, trails or any other body of water. Furthermore, campers must comply with department regulations governing the use of state lands. These regulations will be posted at the registration booth at the Forest Ranger Headquarters and may also be found on the reverse side of the Interior Use Camping Permit. As the designated sites become filled, users are urged to camp within the Independence River Wild Forest Area on the south.
Campfires are allowed, but only dead and downed fuel may be used. The use of trail stoves is encouraged because of limited supplies of wood.
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
3. Powley Road in Ferris Wild Forest
Piseco, New York1 Review•1 Photo•35 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- RVs
- Tents
- Group
- Standard (Tent/RV)
5. Sunday Lake Dispersed Camping
Thendara, New York1 Review•5 Photos•41 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
6. Blue Lagoon Primitive Dispersed Camping
Old Forge, New York1 Review•7 Photos•11 Saves- Pets
- Fires
- Dispersed
- Alcohol
8. Towsley Road Dispersed Camping
Richland, New York1 Review•14 SavesPrimitive 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.
- RVs
- Tents
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Dispersed
10. Bucks Brook State Forest Primitive Tent Site
DeRuyter, New York1 Review•10 Photos•32 SavesBucks Brook State Forest consists of 2,178 acres located between State highway 26 and County Highway 13 in the northwest corner of Chenango County. Popular recreational uses of this forest are hiking, nature observation and hunting.
Camping 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.
Hiking General information on hiking includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules & regulations.
A portion of the Finger Lakes Trail (leaves DEC website) traverses the forest. The trail enters the forest on the northwest side along Ratville Road and traverses east and then south to where it exits the forest on Bucks Brook Road near its junction with Rt. 26
Fishing General information on fishing includes how-to and safety tips and links to seasons, rules & regulations.
The Otselic River, which runs along Rt. 26, offers nearby trout fishing opportunities and is easily accessible due to the numerous DEC parking areas.
Fishing Access information is available. Fishing Easement information is available.
Hunting & Trapping General Information on hunting and general information on trapping includes how-to and safety tips with links to seasons, rules & regulations.
Cross-country Skiing & Snowshoeing General information on cross-country skiing and snowshoeing includes how-to and safety tips and links to rules & regulations.
Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are permitted on all hiking trails.
Wildlife General information on animals includes links to information about birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, amphibians and insects that inhabit or migrate through the state.
- Pets
- Fires
- Dispersed
Recent Dispersed Reviews in Barneveld
17 Reviews of 14 Barneveld Campgrounds
Kevin C.
Ranger
Winona State Forest
Small but quiet campsite
Pulled in on a Thursday afternoon and found a single camp site. While there I talked to a state forest maintenance guy. He said there were currently two camping sites and that more might be added.
The campsite was just feet off of Bargy Road. The only amenity was a fire ring made of rocks. The campsite appears to be the trailhead for a man-made trail.
It rained while we were here but overall the campsite was quiet and peaceful.
Debbie T.
Scout
Stillwater Reservoir
Camped overnight
Took me five hours to drive there but finally made it. It was nice and peaceful. I will go there again
Dane P.ScoutStillwater Reservoir
Excellent place! Went for Solar Eclipse
a 20 mile ride of just woods on a bumpy road. Pretty cool! Surprisingly the place wasn't that populated as I expected it to be. I went to a accessible campsite near the dam so I can pull stuff i needed from my car. The restaurant in the town had great food, the staff were nice, and had two cute dogs!
Meghan B.Ranger
Powley Road in Ferris Wild Forest
Powley Road
Had a quiet and peaceful stay. Must camp at a numbered site. Most sites are right along the road, but I was lucky enough to snag one deeper in the woods. Some of the sites even have an outhouse. Stayed in October, so when I left early the next morning, I passed a lot of hunters that had camped along the road, too. The road is in good condition. No AT&T cell service in this area.
Noah D.
TravelerTowsley Road Dispersed Camping
great little spot
nice place to sleep. good for someone who doesn’t want something too off the road. when you get to the destination you have to go a little more up the road until you see a sign and a sand patch on the side of the road.
- JJoseph S.Traveler
Stillwater Reservoir
An island paradise
Having both camped, and trained with my SAR Unit, on Stillwater Reserve, I must say it's a wonderful place to "get lost" (voluntarily at least)!
sam T.
GuideStillwater Reservoir
Only car accessible campsite
Was a great camp site very big and had a trail that lead down to the water. This campsite is right down the road from the fire tower trail.
- sam T.Guide
Stillwater Reservoir
Nice kayaking spot
My wife and I kayaked to Long Island and stayed for a weekend. It was quiet and had the whole island to our self. Would recommend if you want to break away from technology because you get zero service out there
- KKaneScout
Stillwater Reservoir
Need a boat
I came here a couple days ago only to realize that all except one campsite needs a boat to be reached. It's first come first serve so best to find another place if you intend to drive up to your campsite. The drive up campsite had an outhouse though so that was nice
MARY B.Scout
Seventh Lake Primitive Camping
Canoe Camping at Its Best
There are a few camping sites and one lean-to that I know of in this area. We happened upon it on our way to the seventh lake campground and ended up staying for two nights. We accessed the sites by water on a canoe trip. There is a large sand bar within a very short walk which was a great place to hang out. Seventh lake is pretty quiet but there were a few boats there both days we visited. There is a trail that connects the campsites to Seventh Lake Rd. and to the Bug Lake trail and we had some Hikers travel through the campsite. If you are looking for the site from the water, look for a HUGE rock and there will be a sign that reads camp here, there are two more campsites, one with a lean-to within a short walk as well.
- Elizabeth B.Ranger
Blue Lagoon Primitive Dispersed Camping
Dispersed camping on stillwater reservoir
Primitive site on the beautiful south eastern end of Stillwater. A short hike in to a great beach for swimming or paddling.
We’ve stayed here many times in tents and hammock tents. The swimming is fantastic- water is clean and clear.
Because you can’t make a reservation here sometimes there’s competition for a spot. There is a good fire circle with space all around. The trail down to the beach is only about a hundred feet, but it is downhill.
This site is close to the trailhead for the Stillwater firetower, an original Adirondack firetower.
- Elizabeth B.Ranger
Sunday Lake Dispersed Camping
Primitive dispersed camping. 1/4 mile walk in, lovely quiet lake
This is a small primitive site. No services, but a very beautiful spot. There’s a small fire ring, and access to the lake for swimming or fishing.
Sunday lake has always been lovely and quiet and a great place to take youth campers.
Take Stillwater rd. to McCarty road, the trail is 0.3 miles To Sunday lake. Space to park two cars or a small RV off the road.
Janet R.
Legend
Whaupaunaucau State Forest
Hidden gem in Chenango County
You have to work a bit to find info on the Whaupaunaucau state forest as a camping destination, but for primitive campers that is part of the appeal! This is a relatively unknown oasis outside of the county, but this state forest has a network of miles of trails for both hiking and criss country skiing. There is an offifical lean-to shelter and developed campsite on trail 20 (see map) but there are several primitive sites with tent site and stine fireplace, plus dispersed leave-no-trace camping is allowed anywhere in the state forest, and the possibilities are endless. Lovely hilly vistas, pondside glens, and lots of clearings near clear streams deep in this old stately forest. A great place to get away from it all for hiking and camping but it is also a fantastic place to go if you enjoy botanizing or birding, lots of unusual species to see. Just beware of ticks, they are invading the region
- Elizabeth B.Ranger
Stillwater Reservoir
Your own private adventure beach
Even in cold rainy weather we had a phenomenal time at Stillwater. Our spot had gorgeous waterfront to it, a stone fire circle where someone had left extra fire wood, and ample trees. The season had had unusually low water all over and it left a really unusual landscape on the beach to explore. We can’t wait to come back!
- Christie M.Traveler
Stillwater Reservoir
Unplugged but recharged!
just returned from our annual week at the reservoir, such beauty! We saw Bald Eagles and Loons, enjoyed swimming, canoing and paddleboarding with the family. It was so peaceful with our site #37 accomodating 20 members of tge family plus 3 dogs!
- Janet R.Legend
Bucks Brook State Forest Primitive Tent Site
Bucks Brook primitive camping
Bucks Brook carves a beautiful gorge through Bucks Brook State Forest before it cascades into the Otselic River. There are both state forest roads and off road trails to hike on in the area; the Bucks Brook Forest Road follows a series of small waterfalls at the bottom of the gorge to the source of the creek near the top of the ridge above it, while the Finger Lakes trail follows the brook for a short while near its mouth before climbing offroad through the ridge high above the gorge, along steep cliffs above the Otselic and west along the crest of Bucks Brook Hill. There are several very primitive tent sites along the FTL, but dispersed camping is also allowed. Two sites on the ridge near the source of the Brook are accessible by the Finger Lakes trail either from Bucks Brook Rd or Ridge Rd.
The setting is scenic and picturesque, and the winding trail can be quite a challenge if hiking the long way uphill on the FTL. An easier hike-in access is at Ridge Rd, about a 1/4 hike to the brook where there are several nice flat tent sites. The brook is beautiful and unspoiled, but this truly is primitive camping, no picnic tables, no lean-to shelter like at somecother area FTL campsites, no water source other than the brook (you should filter it even though the source is a spring near by), no latrines, no fire grates though there is a stone fire ring and you could easily build a new one of your own with stones from the brook.
Although this is an idyllic and secluded spot for primitive camping, and the hike in (either via the long or short way) is well marked and enjoyable, the campsites are really nothing more than flat ground for basic tent-sites; this location could be improved with at least a fire grate, and preferably a lean-to. Also, the parking spot for access to the trail and tentsites really needs to be upgraded; it is just a muddy turnout off the forest road. Hence the four star rating d spite the five star brook and forest! However, it should be mentioned that the amenities at campsites along other segments if the FLT have been developed and maintained not by the DEC but by different volunteer chapters of the trail organization who have adopted certain local segments; this Bucks Brook section just hasnt been adopted yet! It has the potential for being a 5-star primitive camping experience if upgraded a bit; volunteers should feel free to step forth!
For more on the Bucks Brook section if the Finger Lakes Trail, go to this link: http://www.cnyhiking.com/FLT-BucksBrookSF.htm
Geoff W.GuideStillwater Reservoir
Another great trip
This was my 3rd trip to Stillwater in 3 yrs and it gets better each time!
Our first trip was an overnight to test some backpacking gear, it was September and the weather was perfect! We hiked into our site, not easy because almost everything is meant to be accessed by boat so we were guessing our course! Cooler weather meant no bugs to contend with
Next year we took a canoe to our site, it was July, warm weather, warm water and the bugs were not terrible, we were at Site 1, secluded in a cove, not a lot of traffic but there is a hiking trailhead near the site so there is potential for visitors.
Our latest trip was to site 10, an island site with a large sandy beachfront, we borrowed a motor boat to get there this year and brought plenty of gear for 4 days. Weather was great again, some rain each day but we had time to get setup and get shelters to keep dry.
Camping if free here but it is first come first serve but with 40+ sites you can almost always get something. There is a small store at the boat launch to get provisions if you need, public restrooms and wifi. Very limited cell service.
You should bring water or something to filter it from the reservoir. I believe all the site have privy boxes on them.
There are opportunities for fishing, a few local attractions, a nice restaurant at the launch.
Guide to Barneveld
Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Barneveld, New York, where nature lovers can find serene spots to unwind and connect with the great outdoors. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, there's something for everyone.
Dispersed campers should check out North Lake Reservoir Campground
- This location offers a remote and secluded experience, perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The stunning views of the lake upon waking up are truly breathtaking.
- Campers can enjoy a fire pit at their site, making it an ideal spot for evening gatherings under the stars. A bathroom facility is conveniently located nearby for added comfort.
- With no permit required, North Lake Reservoir Campground is accessible for drive-in camping, allowing for easy access to your camping gear.
Scenic views and tranquility at Seventh Lake Primitive Camping
- This area is known for its peaceful atmosphere, making it a great choice for canoe camping. Campers can access the sites by water, adding an adventurous twist to their stay.
- The large sand bar nearby provides an excellent spot for relaxation and swimming, perfect for families or groups looking to enjoy a day by the water.
- With no amenities available, this location encourages a true back-to-nature experience, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the wilderness at Seventh Lake Primitive Camping.
Top activities while free camping near Barneveld
- Hiking enthusiasts will appreciate the trails available at Whaupaunaucau State Forest, which features a network of paths for both hiking and cross-country skiing.
- For those interested in fishing or swimming, Sunday Lake Dispersed Camping offers direct access to the lake, making it a prime spot for water activities.
- Campers can enjoy the scenic beauty of Bucks Brook State Forest, where the picturesque gorge and small waterfalls create a stunning backdrop for a day of exploration and relaxation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Barneveld, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Barneveld, NY is North Lake Reservoir Campground with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Barneveld, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 dispersed camping locations near Barneveld, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.