Nathalie R.
Scout
ScoutWinona State Forest
Campsites well established
The campsite itself was extremely buggy and it was a bit further into the road then I thought to get to the second campsite. But once we got there it was open and well marked
Dispersed Camping near Brookfield, NY
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Several primitive camping options surround Brookfield, New York within nearby state forests. Morgan Hill State Forest offers free dispersed sites at the Onondaga Trailhead campground, which features cement pads with picnic tables and fire pits at developed sites. A camper noted, "This location is peaceful and quiet with mature trees and plenty of distance between neighboring campers." Though these sites are drive-up accessible, they lack water sources and toilets, requiring visitors to bring supplies.
Stillwater Reservoir provides numerous free dispersed campsites, though most require boat access. "All except one campsite needs a boat to be reached," explains one review. The reservoir offers excellent paddling, swimming, and fishing opportunities. Additional primitive camping can be found at Winona State Forest, where sites are marked with small black and yellow placards, and at Towsley Road Dispersed Camping, which provides a convenient roadside option. North Lake Reservoir Campground features 32 sites around a pristine lake, including walk-in spots directly on the water. Most dispersed sites throughout the region have fire rings but lack amenities, with no cell service in many areas.
Best Dispersed Campgrounds near Brookfield (17)
1. Towsley Road Dispersed Camping
2. Winona State Forest
"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."
"There were some firewood set out except it was wet. Overall a good free quiet place to camp."
3. North Lake Reservoir Campground
"Very remote and secluded. We got there after dark and it was beautiful to wake up to the view of the lake. Car camped, but there was enough room for a tent."
"32 sites all around the lake. Some are walk in right on the lake. Quiet, peaceful, and clean."
4. Stillwater Reservoir
"We hiked into our site, not easy because almost everything is meant to be accessed by boat so we were guessing our course!"
"Our spot had gorgeous waterfront to it, a stone fire circle where someone had left extra fire wood, and ample trees."
5. Roadside Parking on Route 20
6. Salmon River in Altmar State Forest
7. Morgan Hill State Forest Dispersed
"This location has a set of 2 large trailhead parking lots for hikers and backpackers accessing the vast trail network of the Morgan Hill State Forest."
8. Powley Road in Ferris Wild Forest
"Site 4 is magical, it is road side, but the view, and access to the river is great. There is a path right from the site."
"The road is in good condition. No AT&T cell service in this area."
9. Bucks Brook State Forest Primitive Tent Site
"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"
10. Morgan Hill Forest—Onondaga Trailhead campground
"This is a small state forest campground in the Morgan Hill forest from which you can directly access the Onondaga Trail branch of the National North Country scenic trail."
Drive Time
- 24 min from Utica, NY
- 51 min from Syracuse, NY
- 1 hr 11 min from Watertown, NY
- 1 hr 48 min from Ithaca, NY
Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Brookfield, NY
38 Photos of 17 Brookfield Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
North Lake Reservoir Campground
Winona State Forest
Morgan Hill State Forest Dispersed
Morgan Hill Forest—Onondaga Trailhead campground
Sunday Lake Dispersed Camping
Bear Wallow Pond Dispersed Campsite in Pharsalia Woods
Powley Road in Ferris Wild Forest
Blue Lagoon Primitive Dispersed Camping
Whaupaunaucau State Forest
Stillwater Reservoir
Dispersed Camping Reviews near Brookfield, NY
26 Reviews of 17 Brookfield Campgrounds
- The L.
GuidePowley Road in Ferris Wild Forest
Site 4
Site 4 is magical, it is road side, but the view, and access to the river is great. There is a path right from the site. Occasionally you will get the yahoo that speeds by and makes a dust cloud but otherwise it’s great. There is zero Verizon cell service in the whole area. So plan accordingly,
Thomas E.
TravelerWinona State Forest
Free and Quiet
The primitive campsite was a little difficult to find there’s a tiny black and yellow placard that shows you where you can camp. There were some firewood set out except it was wet. Overall a good free quiet place to camp.
- Janet R.
LegendRound Pond Pharsalia Woods Dispersed
Primitive camping at Round Pound
This is a relatively new location for primitive camping in the Pharsalia Woods State Forest. There is a parking area just off the Plymouth Reservoir Rd that allows you to access a network of trails that traverse the state preserve around the unique Round Pond and adjacent bog. Primitive camping is allowed anywhere in the vicinity as long as you are 150 feet from the waters edge and away from the parking lot. The parking lot has an info kiosk with a map of the trail network and info about the unique bog ecosystem. You need to sign in at the kiosk, but otherwise there are no permits needed and no fees. One amazing aspect at this site is a beautiful and accessible raised boardwalk to a unique overlook that has a beautiful vista over the bog and is an amazing place for birdwatching especially during spring migration. You can also access the bog pond here if using kayaks or canoes. It is like a unique wilderness location fir primitive camping, but only 15 minutes from the village of Norwich!
For more info on the Pharsalia Woods in general, and the Round Pond in particular, visit this link on the DEC website: https://dec.ny.gov/places/pharsalia-woods-state-forest Be sure to also click on the link on that page regarding primitive camping at this site
- Ashlee C.Traveler
North Lake Reservoir Campground
Beautiful spot!
Very remote and secluded. We got there after dark and it was beautiful to wake up to the view of the lake. Car camped, but there was enough room for a tent. Fire pit at the site and a bathroom across the way from the first site.
- Kevin C.
RangerWinona 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.TravelerStillwater Reservoir
Camped overnight
Took me five hours to drive there but finally made it. It was nice and peaceful. I will go there again
- Janet R.Legend
Pharsalia Woods State Forest Dispersed
Finger Lakes Trailhead off Grover Brown Rd
The coordinates lead you to a small parking area at the end of Grover Brown Rd, which is accessed by going north from Rt 23. The road itself is in pretty rough shape, and is marked with a sign that says it is a low maintanence road. But if you follow the road north to the end, you will come to a dead end and a parking circle that gives you the option of hiking north past a gate into the state forest on a hunting trail, or west onto the Finger Lakes Trail where dispersed camping is allowed within the state forest. However, the whole road in is a tough ride, it is posted extensively en route that you are passing private property with no trespassing allowed until you see the DEC sign announcing the border of the state forest. The parking area is overgrown, the neighbors aling the road en route seem frustrated with hikers coming into the forest via this route, and the Trailhead here for the Finger Lakes Trail is blocked by downed trees that seem to have been there for a while. While you might try to hike the trail for day use, I wonder if this may not be a great place to leave your car during a foray into the woods for dispersed camping. Although the Pharsalia Forest is beautiful throughout, and dispersed camping is allowed throughout, there are better places to access it. There are also designated primitive campsites in several locations in other areas of this state forest which are worthy of your camping adventures! You
- Janet R.Legend
Morgan Hill Forest—Onondaga Trailhead campground
Morgan Hill OT/NCST trailhead campground
This is a small state forest campground in the Morgan Hill forest from which you can directly access the Onondaga Trail branch of the National North Country scenic trail. Although the campsites here are primitive and free, they are official developed campsites and not really “dispersed” campsites. There are several basic tent spots, which are just cleared grassy areas adjacent to the trailhead parking circle; BUT in addition, there are two lovely developed campsites with parking spot right next to a cement pad with picnic tables and fire pits. These are very nice roomy wooded campsites, and the developed sites are supposedly ADA accessible —but while I agree that the picnic tables and cement pad around the fireplace can certainly accomodate wheelchairs, and the tenting area is roomy, note that there are NO OTHER ADA amenities at these sites, eg no water source and NO toilet or outhouse right at the campground. While you can drive right up to your campsite location, which is accessible, you would actually have to hike quite a long ways west on the OnondagaTrail to access a pit toilet, or to have stream access for obtaining water to boil, so you DO need to come prepared to use the bushes by your campsite and leave no trace, plus bring your own water. (See attached map where I circled the campground area in orange) That being said, this location is peaceful and quiet with mature trees and plenty of distance between neighboring campers, and would be an ideal setting for a group campout. Hiking the trail west on a day trip will bring you to the beautiful Tinker Falls, which may not be flowing during dry seasons but is still a gorge worth exploring! You can best access this campground from the south side of the forest; the entrance is from state route 13 on Morgan Hill Rd south, adjacent to a very nice farm stand that is a good stop for supplies, and there is a DEC forest sign to mark the turn off from Rt 13. After that, you are on your own and should bring a map to navigate as the hiking trails are marked with signs where they cross the roads, but the road to turn off from Morgan Hill Rd to the campground is not marked. You can set your driving directions on Google Maps beforehad, to this endpoint: https://www.google.com/maps/dir//42.767846,-75.997552/@42.7799792,-76.08097,12z?entry=ttu
You might also want to download the free Avenza map of the forest which will allow you to navigate real time even if you don't have cell service, that link is here: https://store.avenza.com/products/morgan-hill-state-forest-nysdec-map?queryID=eb824498ff4125babc1c06655b111da4&objectID=42626406056092
general info for this state forest is here:
https://dec.ny.gov/places/morgan-hill-state-forest
Guide to Brookfield
Primitive camping opportunities surround the Brookfield area in central New York State. These rustic camping options sit within state-managed lands at elevations between 1,200-1,800 feet, creating varied terrain for outdoor recreation. Most sites lack developed facilities and require campers to bring all necessary supplies including water, as natural sources may be seasonal or require treatment.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: North Lake Reservoir provides excellent fishing access with 32 dispersed sites positioned around the water. "32 sites all around the lake. Some are walk in right on the lake. Quiet, peaceful, and clean," notes one North Lake Reservoir Campground visitor.
Waterfront activities: Stillwater Reservoir offers swimming and paddling alongside primitive camping. "Our spot had gorgeous waterfront to it, a stone fire circle where someone had left extra fire wood, and ample trees," shares a Stillwater Reservoir camper. The reservoir creates numerous secluded coves and beaches.
Hiking access: Primitive sites at Morgan Hill State Forest serve as gateways to the trail network. "This is a small state forest campground in the Morgan Hill forest from which you can directly access the Onondaga Trail branch of the National North Country scenic trail," explains a visitor to Morgan Hill Forest—Onondaga Trailhead campground.
What campers like
Secluded sites: Bucks Brook State Forest offers truly remote camping experiences. "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 in the area," reports a Bucks Brook State Forest Primitive Tent Site visitor.
Roadside convenience: Many areas provide simple pull-off camping without long hikes. "Nice place to sleep. Good for someone who doesn't want something too off the road," states a Towsley Road Dispersed Camping user about this accessible option.
Wildlife viewing: The remote nature of these sites creates wildlife opportunities. "We saw Bald Eagles and Loons, enjoyed swimming, canoing and paddleboarding with the family," shares a Stillwater Reservoir camper about their wildlife encounters.
What you should know
Site identification: Finding designated camping areas requires attention to markers. "The primitive campsite was a little difficult to find there's a tiny black and yellow placard that shows you where you can camp," notes a Winona State Forest visitor about locating sites.
Water requirements: No potable water exists at most sites. "You need to bring your own water, there is none provided here, and be prepared to pack out your own garbage," explains a Morgan Hill State Forest camper.
Cell service limitations: Most areas have minimal or no connectivity. "There is zero Verizon cell service in the whole area. So plan accordingly," warns a Powley Road in Ferris Wild Forest reviewer.
Tips for camping with families
Bring water toys: Stillwater Reservoir's beach areas provide natural playgrounds. "It was so peaceful with our site #37 accomodating 20 members of the family plus 3 dogs!" shares a family group who enjoyed the shoreline.
Choose accessible sites: Some locations offer easier access for children. "Site 4 is magical, it is road side, but the view, and access to the river is great. There is a path right from the site," notes a visitor to Powley Road.
Plan for weather changes: The elevation can create variable conditions. "Very remote and secluded. We got there after dark and it was beautiful to wake up to the view of the lake," explains a North Lake visitor who experienced the area's changing conditions.
Tips from RVers
Limited RV access: Few rustic camping areas near Brookfield accommodate larger vehicles. "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," notes a Powley Road camper about the road conditions.
Road conditions: Forest roads may have seasonal limitations. "The road is in good condition," reports a fall visitor, though spring access often becomes more challenging after winter weather.
Site selection: When bringing an RV, arrive early to secure appropriate sites. "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," advises a Towsley Road visitor about finding suitable parking.
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Brookfield, NY?
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Brookfield, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Brookfield, NY is Towsley Road Dispersed Camping with a 4.0-star rating from 1 review.
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dispersed camping near
Brookfield, NY?
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Brookfield, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 17 dispersed camping locations near Brookfield, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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