Morgan Hill State Forest provides several primitive tent camping options near Cazenovia, New York, including both established and dispersed sites. Tent campers can access the Onondaga Trailhead campground with its picnic tables and fire pits located in a peaceful wooded setting. Spruce Pond Camping Area offers ten established primitive campsites with pond access, while Nature Lover's Paradise provides tent-only camping with hiking trail access. These tent campsites are all within 20 miles of Cazenovia in the surrounding state forests.
Most primitive tent setups in this region lack modern amenities but offer natural settings with established fire rings. The Morgan Hill Forest—Onondaga Trailhead campground includes cement pads with picnic tables and fire pits but no water source or toilets nearby. A camper noted, "This location is peaceful and quiet with mature trees and plenty of distance between neighboring campers." Spruce Pond Camping Area features "fire grills and nicely developed tent sites, some nestled in the woods and others with their own pond access," according to a review. Campers should bring their own water and prepare to pack out all waste, as most sites operate on leave-no-trace principles.
Tent camping in these state forests offers excellent access to the Finger Lakes Trail network and various ponds for fishing and paddling. The areas provide good tree cover for shade and hammock camping. Walk-in tent sites at Pharsalia Woods State Forest include a lean-to campsite maintained by volunteers with picnic tables, fire rings, and nearby water sources that require filtering or treatment. Based on reviews from The Dyrt, the primitive tent campgrounds in Charles E. Baker State Forest are "a great camping experience" with "lots of good space for dispersed camping." Most sites remain relatively quiet even during peak seasons, making them ideal for tent campers seeking solitude within an hour's drive of Cazenovia.
"Toilet isn’t set up yet but will once the season opens. The first few campsites are the best the further down you go the worse the sites get for tent set up. Smaller tents would be best do here."
"Campsite 5 was very overgrown, but site 6 had a nice flat area of pine needles with a path to the road once you see it. However, I couldn't locate the fire ring for site 6."
"Nature Lover's Paradise is new to the Dyrt and they have an awesome spot to share with access to a vast network of trails in upstate New York. "
from $79 - $149 / night
"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 **"
"This campsite is a hike in stop on the Finger Lakes Trail, but can also be accessed by a short walk-in from Elmer Jackson Rd, or by paddling in from the parking area in the west side of the pond."
"This is a primitive undeveloped campsite, there is a clearing for tenting but no potable water or amenities of any kind."
"This is a great primitive campsite located close to Jackson Pond with access from a small parking area and trailhead of the Finger Lakes Trail, or via canoe or non-motorized boats from a nearby boat launch"
"Only found one designated campsite, which was available, but there’s a lot of good space for dispersed camping right nearby. Access at the end of a long, but well maintained, dirt road."
"Beautiful forest with miles of trails. I found this spot passing through on my bike and had no problem pitching a tent in a secluded spot in the woods."
"Beautifully maintained primitive group campsite with large Adirondack style lean-to, several picnic tables and fire rings, and firewood provided."
from $35 - $139 / night
RangerStopped here on my way from Maine to Ohio. I booked via Harvest Hosts and chose to boondock since they had a market (pay for food instead of a booking fee) and I was pleasantly surprised with the overall location. The entire farm is in great condition, the roads are marked well, there are several trails, plenty of wildlife, and just a generally pleasant experience. Loaded up on some goods at the market.
ScoutSpaces were easy in/out. Mature trees between sites. Pool, office, pickleball, k9kamp, bathrooms were all nice.
ScoutI would never return to this campground. We rented a golf cart, and while going downhill, the rear wheel came completely off because the lug nuts were not secured. My 1-year-old and 6-year-old were on the cart, and we were extremely fortunate that no one was injured. When I expressed how serious and upsetting this was and how close my children were to being injured the owner’s response was,“But were they?” When I explained that my children were thankfully not injured but were shaken up by the incident, he sarcastically questioned whether my 1-year-old could be traumatized. They did provide us with another golf cart afterward, but I consider that the bare minimum after being given an unsafe rental. After the apparent lack of proper inspection of the cart and the ill-mannered response to such a serious safety issue, I would never recommend this campground.
LegendHad an overnight stay here and it was really peaceful. The reservoir had been drained but it was still lovely to look out across the property. You definitely can’t beat $30 for an electric site! Restrooms were a bit dated but clean. Staff was very friendly. Our site was spacious and next to a short walking trail through the trees.
GuideThis was a great camping trip! We had site 29, nice spot with the North Rim trail right behind our site. Trails are beautiful. Restroom and shower close. You do need to be careful, lots of oaks trees and falling acorns! Easily dings you car hood, watch where you park. Close to down town for a visit to the awesome farmers market in Ithaca.
TravelerClean, safe RV park off a small lake. Functioning electric and water hookups as well as sewage. Very kind and helpful owners and friendly campers.
GuidePros: clean, good location,nice bathrooms,hot showers nice playground.
Cons: this cabin was on main thoroughfare,so people and traffic, stiff mattresses, very large religious group singing and playing loud music.
ScoutAlways have a good time, staff is always friendly. Ive been coming here since i was a kid my grandparents always had a seasonal here.
TravelerIn short it was perfect! This is a small family pet friendly campground. There is a pond that you can kayak and c&r fishing, just no swimming, there is snapping turtles! There is some handmade items in the office to purchase, also some camping needs, fire starters and firewood (6 dollars a bundle). There is a bath house, though we didn't use it so I can't tell you anything about it. There is also a trail but we didn't get to check it out. The owners can be seen here and there all over the property keeping it looking beautiful! It is clear just by watching them how much care they put into making this a great time to all that come there. On the weekends they offer meals that can be brought right to your site. We were there from Saturday till Wednesday morning and it was very peaceful. This is definitely be a place we will come back to. The only downfall to the place is that it has placed a high bar for other campgrounds to compare!
Tent camping opportunities near Cazenovia, New York include several primitive sites scattered throughout state forests in the southern Finger Lakes region. The area sits at elevations between 1,200-2,000 feet with hardwood forests dominated by maple, beech, and hemlock trees. Most primitive campsites require permits obtained from the DEC regional office at 1285 Fisher Ave in Cortland with processing time of approximately one week.
Fishing access points: Pharsalia Y Pond offers brook trout fishing in "deep and clear" water, with one camper noting you can "kayak or fish on the pond, go mountain biking on the network of state forest roads that are all part of the Pharsalia Woods Game Refuge." The pond is stocked regularly and requires non-motorized boats only.
Wildlife observation: Bear Wallow Pond Dispersed Campsite provides excellent wildlife viewing with "shoreline wildflowers are riotous" in summer according to reviewers. The pond sits in a protected game refuge with multiple observation points along established trails.
Seasonal hiking routes: Multiple access points connect to the Finger Lakes Trail system with varied terrain. A reviewer at Nature Lover's Paradise mentions "70 acres of hiking trails sound like the perfect getaway for anyone looking to reconnect with nature." Most trailheads have small parking areas for day hikers.
Spring water access: The Pharsalia Woods Lean-To Campsite offers a natural water source as mentioned by a camper: "There is a perennial spring nearby, but campers should be prepared to filter or treat their water." Filtration or purification tablets are necessary for all water sources in the region.
Fire management facilities: Most established sites include designated fire rings. At Spruce Pond Camping Area, campers appreciate the "fire grills and nicely developed tent sites, one nestled in the woods and three with their own pond access." Fire restrictions apply during summer drought conditions.
Hammock setup options: Several campgrounds offer ideal tree spacing for hammock camping. One reviewer at Spruce Pond noted "Great trees for hammock camping though," while another mentioned that smaller tents work best at some sites where the terrain is less level.
Permit requirements: For camping in Wildlife Management Areas like Pharsalia, permits are mandatory. A camper explained: "Camping in this DEC Wildlife Management Area is limited, and requires a permit. Visit the regional DEC office at 1285 Fisher Ave., Cortland NY or call 607-753-3095, or email at Info.R7@dec.ny.gov; allow one week for permit to be processed."
Road conditions: Some access points have deteriorating roads. A camper at Pharsalia Woods State Forest Dispersed noted: "The road itself is in pretty rough shape, and is marked with a sign that says it is a low maintenance road." High-clearance vehicles are recommended for several campground approaches.
Wildlife activity: Natural sounds may affect sleep quality. One camper at Spruce Pond reported: "This was a nice spot, but the animals at the pond are very active and made a lot of noise in the night." Earplugs are recommended during spring and summer when frogs are most vocal.
ADA accessible options: Families with mobility concerns have specific site choices. At Spruce Pond, "one [site] is actually handicapped accessible with its own accessible fishing landing and an easy access to the parking lot. There is a brand new outhouse with wide accessible doorway as well."
Vehicle proximity: For families with small children, sites with close parking are ideal. At Charles E. Baker State Forest, a camper noted there's "a lot of good space for dispersed camping right nearby. Access at the end of a long, but well maintained, dirt road."
Best toilet facilities: Most primitive sites lack toilets, but some have better options. A Charles Baker visitor mentioned: "Only giving 4 stars because the best free sites have water pumps and vault toilets, but this is a great camping experience." Families should prepare for primitive conditions at most locations.
Small RV considerations: Most areas can accommodate small trailers but lack hookups. At Morgan Hill Forest—Onondaga Trailhead campground, "there are two lovely developed campsites with parking spot right next to a cement pad with picnic tables and fire pits." Access roads typically limit larger RVs.
Seasonal accessibility: Winter access is limited by snow and mud conditions on forest roads. No formal winter maintenance occurs at most campgrounds, with primitive road clearing generally beginning in April depending on spring thaw conditions.
Parking limitations: Most forest campsites have limited parking. One reviewer noted at Pharsalia Woods that "The parking area is overgrown" and recommended considering alternate access points when planning multi-vehicle camping trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Cazenovia, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Cazenovia, NY is Spruce Pond Camping Area - Morgan Hill State Forest with a 4.3-star rating from 4 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Cazenovia, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 24 tent camping locations near Cazenovia, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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