Best Dispersed Camping near Cato, NY

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Cato, NY

6 Reviews of 7 Cato Campgrounds

• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  Jun. 18, 2024

  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

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• 

  Janet R.

  Legend

  Jun. 18, 2024

  Morgan Hill State Forest Dispersed

  Primitive Dispersed camping at Morgan Hill

  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. (See area circled in image on map) You do not camp here at these parking lots, but from here can backpack in to the woods on the Onondaga Trail or connecting trails, and from there you can do LNT dispersed camping as long as you follow the state forest camping rules(see this link for more details: https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/camping/state-land-rules) such as not setting up camp within 150 of a stream or other body or water, and not near an official campground (There are 2 official drive-in primitive camp grounds in the vicinty, for which you need permits from the local ranger; otherwise, elsewhere in the forest you can backpack the various trails and camp at your own site if you leave no trace). You need to bring your own water, there is none provided here, and be prepared to pack out your own garbage. Be sure to download a copy of the forest map with the trails network marked, as the various trails are blazed and have occasional signs, but they crisscross in a confusing network and you can get easily turned around without a map. The woods are beautiful and the trails are well developed, but also be prepared for ticks and the need for repellent as they are thick in spring and early summer. Note: the trails going west from here enter the Labrador Hollow Unique area, which is part of the state forest but is a special preserve where camping is NOT allowed, so be aware of your lication

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• 

  Jacob D.

  Guide

  Sep. 13, 2024

  Foster Pond Camping Area

  Relaxed Free Dispersed Camping

  Right at the intersection of Potomac Road and Chicken Coop road in the Finger Lakes National Forest. If heading North on Potomac Road, turn left at the intersection and you’ll find a parking lot. Into the woods around the Lake you’ll find free dispersed camping.

  My mom and I stayed just in the parking lot and had no issues and weren’t bothered. NO AMENITIES

• 

  Kevin C.

  Ranger

  Aug. 8, 2024

  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.

• 

  Thomas E.

  Traveler

  Apr. 1, 2025

  Winona 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.

• 

  Noah D.

  Traveler

  Sep. 24, 2023

  Towsley 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.