Best Tent Camping near Beacon, NY
Tent campers in the Hudson Valley find several established options within a short drive of Beacon, New York. Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground provides designated tent sites with level platforms in the Shawangunk Mountains, while Hemlock Ridge MUA offers more primitive dispersed camping in an 80-acre wooded area. The latter requires campers to set up at least 150 feet from marked trails and has no developed facilities, making it popular with rock climbers seeking access to the Gunks.
Tent campgrounds near Beacon typically provide only basic amenities. Hemlock Ridge MUA Dispersed features no drinking water, toilets, or designated sites, requiring campers to follow Leave No Trace principles and carry in all supplies. A camper noted, "If you like dispersed camping, this place is good. There are absolutely no amenities whatsoever and barely even a signal here, but it's quiet and off the beaten path." The small parking area accommodates only 4-5 vehicles, limiting overall usage. Many sites in the region implement bear precautions, with some campgrounds providing bear boxes near tent pads.
Walk-in tent sites at Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground (sites 8-15) offer more seclusion than drive-up alternatives. These sites feature large, level tent pads covered with wood chips, communal fire areas, and access to basic facilities. A visitor commented that "sites 8 & 9 seemed like the star sites because they're up and away a little bit more than 10-15." Backcountry tent camping is also available along the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail, with primitive sites located about 2.5 miles from the Gate Hill Road trailhead. These sites require hikers to carry all gear up significant elevation, but reward with expansive views. The area particularly serves as a base for exploring the extensive trail networks of Harriman State Park and the renowned rock climbing routes of the Shawangunk Ridge.