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Best Tent Camping near Claryville, NY

630 Reviews

The Catskill Mountains surrounding Claryville, New York offer diverse tent camping options ranging from established campgrounds to primitive backcountry sites. The Peekamoose Valley provides free walk-in tent sites with basic amenities, while Alder Lake features both drive-in and hike-in tent campsites along a scenic waterfront. Giant Ledge Primitive Camp, located about 15 miles from Claryville, offers true backcountry tent camping with spectacular mountain views. Slide Mountain Wilderness also maintains roadside walk-in tent sites for those seeking easier access to primitive camping experiences.

Most tent campgrounds in the Claryville region feature soft, natural ground surfaces ideal for tent stakes. The Peekamoose Valley consists of three distinct camping areas (upper, middle, and lower fields) with walk-in tent sites situated in heavily wooded areas along Rondout Creek. Each site typically includes a fire ring, with portable toilets available at central locations. Cell service is virtually nonexistent at most primitive tent camping areas. Campers should bring their own water and pack out all trash, as services are minimal. Bear activity is common throughout the region, requiring proper food storage. Sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with weekends filling quickly during summer and fall foliage seasons.

Tent campers frequently comment on the solitude available at these sites, particularly during weekday visits. One camper noted that at Peekamoose Valley, "On a Wednesday night in early September I had the whole campground to myself." At Alder Lake, visitors appreciate the spacious tent sites with "lots of room between you and other campers," though summer weekends can become crowded. The walk-in tent sites at Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground, about 30 miles southeast of Claryville, are described as "wonderfully wooded" with sites 8 and 9 being particularly desirable for their elevated position and privacy. Winter camping is possible at some locations, with one visitor reporting the Peekamoose sites were "amazing" during colder months with virtually no other campers present.

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Best Tent Sites Near Claryville, New York (47)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Claryville, NY

55 Photos of 47 Claryville Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Claryville, NY

630 Reviews of 47 Claryville Campgrounds

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2021

    Echo Lake

    Lovely Camping in the Catskills

    This campground was my first backpacking trip and it was perfect!  There are tent sites around the whole lake with fire pits and 1 lean-to site at the end of the trail when you first arrive at the lake.  The sites are relatively flat and well shaded with trees.  Note, it can get swampy near the edge of the lake so you may want to bring bug spray.  Make sure you practice leave no trace principles and pack out what you bring in!  It does get a little crowded later in the day so you may have to share space with others and it can be a little noisy at night.

  • Shelly B.
    Oct. 3, 2017

    Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground

    Busy Place on Weekends - Quiet On Weekdays

    Fahnestock State Park, Carmel, NY

    Busy Campground on Weekends!

    This park has a nice open beach on Canopus Lake with a concession area and bathhouse, which we found to be quite clean! They even have boat rentals - or you can bring your own boat to launch! If you are into fishing, there is another lake and two ponds that our neighbor campers said were great for catching panfish - one fisherman said he had caught several bass weighing over 3 pounds!!

    Weekends - this park is FULL! Make sure to reserve at least two weeks out. Weekdays? You should be in luck! We stayed in site number 1, and I found it to be just wooded enough. Almost all of the sites offered privacy.... Even when the campground was full. I do feel the campground bathhouse really needed more attention... while it had clearly been painted this past year, it was very “buggy” - and did not appear to have been thoroughly cleaned since spring... (yuck!).

    PRODUCT REVIEW: As a ranger for Dyrt.com, sometimes I am offered the opportunity to test and review various products. At Fahnestock State Park in New York state, I reviewed my Gregory Maven 55L Women’s backpack (see accompanying video).

    Weighing in at 3 pounds 6 ounces, the Gregory Maven was a nice mid-weight pack for me to take on my yearly 2 1/2 week Appalachian Trail hike.

    Normally, I like to save the best for last when I do a review; however, this time I just can’t wait to spread the news about my favorite features! The Maven has a Matrix Ventilation System, which provides exceptional ventilation on the pack’s back panel. This kept my back from being its usual sweaty mess! The second feature that blew me away was how cool my water stayed in this backpack! With other packs, the water gets warmed up from heat radiating off the hiker’s back. This didn’t happen with my Gregory pack! Every pull off my water - from the beginning of the day until hours later - provided me with a refreshingly cool drink. I actually questioned other hikers with Gregory packs to see if I was the only one experiencing this - The other hikers, who had different Gregory models, confirmed that their backs and water were staying cooler too! Added bonus: I was able to pull out the hydration sleeve and use it as a daypack a few times!

    The Maven’s pockets helped me keep my pack much more organized than in the past. It has a lower sleeping bag compartment, top pocket with separate zipper areas (one has a place to attach a car key!), side pockets, hip pockets, and even pockets on the shoulder harnesses! I can’t forget the front pocket, which held the rain fly!

    The pack fit was great, but do be careful to check your sizing if you are looking at both the 45L and 55L. While I am a XS/S with the 55L, I would have been a S/M with the 45L.

    I used this pack for 2 1/2 weeks backpacking over 200 miles on the Appalachian Trail through the states of New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The Maven did an outstanding job keeping my possessions organized and dry as well as keeping me comfortable and happy on the trail! This will definitely be my pack of choice for future hikes!

  • M
    May. 17, 2015

    High Point State Park Campground

    Large Private Lakeside Sites

    We recently stayed at site 3 at the campground at High Point State Park in NJ. It was our first time there, and we were surprised at how nice it was.

    There are about 40 to 50 sites around Sawmill Lake. Many of these sites , like ours, are walk in sites (about a 50 yard walk) that sit lakeside. The sites were large and spread out, and we felt like we had a good amount of privacy.

    Our site had a picnic table, and a fire ring with a cooking grate. Although, we didn't have one, we saw some sites had tent platforms

    There are a few sites that sit higher up, and further from the lake, for RV and or car campers not looking to walk to there site. These had less privacy because they sit close to the road.

    The bathrooms with flush toilets were ok when we were there. There are water spigots around the campground, but there are no showers or sinks. It's noted that there is no camp store at the campground, and the closest grocery was about 1/2 hour away, so come prepared. They did sell firewood at the park headquarters , which is about 10 minutes away from the campground.

    It was pretty buggy (including ticks), so don't forget your deep woods.

  • Dwight D.
    Jun. 6, 2021

    High Point State Park Campground

    Nice Secluded Campsites

    My first time camping at High Point State Park, Sawmill Area, September 2019. I chose a campsite close to the restrooms and water spigot. It turned out to be very secluded, minus the foot traffic to the restroom at all hours. The campsite is mostly gravel so the platform is necessary. There are no trees for hammocking, so I made the best of it with the platform and my car. There was also not a lot of shade during the day. I moved my chair around to chase the shade. It was hot during the day and chilly at night.

    Campground is close hiking trails and the High Point Monument(20min drive).

    Each campsite has a firepit/ring, picnic table, and lantern hook. Campsite sells fire wood. Clean bathrooms with flush toilets, no sinks, no showers, no bad smell.

  • K
    May. 27, 2021

    Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground

    Awesome location!

    Shawangunk was SUCH a nice place to stay. So many good things - though a few things to keep in mind when you're booking, too. 

    I definitely recommend trying to get the walk-in (meaning you can't drive to them) sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed like the star sites, because they're up and away a little bit more than 10-15.

    Here goes:

    The Good:

    • The nicest, most level tent site you'll ever find. So easy to set up, and no worries whatsoever about roots or rocks.
    • Bathrooms and wash area, water access, etc. are all very easily accessible from any campsite
    • Nice new picnic benches
    • Gorgeous area - especially in the walk-in sites (i.e., not car accessible), where you're a little separated from the pavement
    • Holy crap is this the perfect location for exploring the Gunks, Mohonk Preserve, etc. You couldn't be more central to everything that's going on around it.
    • Phenomenal access to a trash can. It's very central and made throwing out dog poop really, really simple.

    The just okay:

    • Campsites are pretty close to a road. It's not particularly busy, but the speed limit is 55 so you do get some pretty decent whooshing sounds while you're trying to sleep.
    • The tent site is literally the only flat part of most campsites. Even our picnic table at site 13 was slightly tilted. Not an issue, really, but it was noticeable.
    • With all the heavy bear traffic signs that were up, I was surprised to see how close bear boxes were to our tents. They seemed to be 1-10 feet away from tents in each campsite. 
    • Take with a slight grain of salt my recommendation of sites 8-15 - 8 & 9 are up a little higher and might be better, but 11-15 are within 50 feet of a wet area, and the bugs in late May were pretty annoying. I'm guessing other sites would have been better, and our hikes were almost bug-less.
    • Campsites are CLOSE together. I was relieved to be in a site we had to walk to, because having the car right there combined with other tents would have been a little claustrophobic. 

    Overall we really did love staying here. It was pretty empty and we were able to have two cars in the parking spots (usually you can only have one in the assigned spot) without putting anyone out. It was full of friendly people and my dog had an awesome time romping through the leaves and people watching. Definitely recommend this site if you're hiking or climbing in the area!

  • Ethan K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2018

    Ocquittunk

    Nice camping, but disappointing lake

    The caping set up was nice and I enjoyed the proximity to available hikes in the area. The ‘lake’ however, was kind of a disappointment. It was much smaller then I expected and a rather underwhelming. Of the camping options in Stokes State Forest, Lake Oqcuittunk and Steamill were each a bit closer to High Point which offers more hiking options. Each campsite was set up with a picnic table and a fire ring. One big positive was the covered picnic area which was a nice place to bring food and eat and hang out during the day to get out of the sun.

  • Eugene T.
    Aug. 15, 2019

    Jellystone Park Gardiner

    Great for beginners

    The camp is set up in a “blank slate, parking lot” type style, with a big field, center for tent camping or to be used for sports or other activities. There’s a “lazy river” at one side and a small RV village on the other, and tent sites with water or dry tent camping. Restrooms are available with hot and cold running water, showers and toilets.

  • Dwight D.
    Jun. 6, 2021

    High Point State Park Campground

    Deceptive photography on reservation website

    This was my second time camping at High Point State Park, Sawmill Area, October 2020. I chose this campsite, 031, based on the photos on the reservation website and boy was I disappointed. We wanted to setup our large tent on the **flat** gravel driveway and our hammocks and relaxation area on the platform. The photos did not convey the actual steepness of this site!! The gravel driveway is on a 30-40 degree incline. The tent was too long for the 12'x10' platform, so we had to set it up on the flattest part and hope not to roll down the hill in the night. We stayed 5d/4n. We ended up tearing down the large tent and setting up a smaller one on the platform for the last night, due to rain.

    Beyond the tricky setup, it was nice fall weather until the rain the last night. The lake was beautiful in the morning with mist or steam. We took one afternoon to visit the High Point Monument, which was lovely. No room for yard games, but we spent the time relaxing and burning stuff. The site was very secluded. The weather was overcast so we weren't able to use our telescope at night.

    Each campsite has a firepit/ring, picnic table, and lantern hook. Campsite sells fire wood. Clean-ish bathrooms with flush toilets, no sinks, no showers, with that awful outhouse smell. Bringing your own toilet paper is a good idea as the park didn't replace it enough and it ran out. Though that could have been pandemic personnel issues.

  • W L.
    Feb. 9, 2022

    Little Pond Campground

    A Park with Tent Camping Options, Great Hiking Trails

    Had a great summer camping weekend at Little Pond.

    Pros:

    - Near wonderful, little-used hiking trails - challenging ones, too!

    - Close to Catskill town options to explore, e.g. Livingston Manor

    - picnic table and room to park at your site

    - there is a dump station and recycling center.

    - Clean bathrooms and shower facilities

    - Nice tent sites with well-maintained fire pits (have rack for grilling over coals, very large fire pits, sturdy)

    - payphone near entrance/park ranger's office

    - firewood for sale at ranger's office

    -wildlife: hummingbirds on the path around Little Pond, frogs, deer, birds

    - foraging: plaintain, raspberries near camp, blueberries and huckleberries on hike

    - views on hike

    - ruins on hike

    Cons

    - no cell service, however, if you hike to a mountain top can have fun joking with those you call about that's what it took to be able to get a signal and be in touch with them :-)

    - weekend around the lake is more like a park with day-trippers, as opposed to serene wilderness/lakeside camping. 

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    There was a high school group (on Satuday?) there that made it feel more like a family/public place than a wilderness getaway. The hiking, however, more than made up for it. The trail we took to get to the top and, at last, have cell phone service and AWESOME views more than made up for that.

    The Park Rangers were helpful and unobtrusive. They drove their carts around periodically but not like they were hovering in any one spot or making trouble for anyone. 

    We like visiting the nearby towns and breweries. It was a wondrful weekend. They have some tent sites right on the lake for hike-ins. If you drive, you have to carry all your stuff for awhile before you get to yourcamp site. However, these are right on the lake in supreme spots, even with "old school" outhouses a stone's throw away.

    I recommend Little Pond for a weekend. If you stay longer, be sure to check  out the surrounding area. We stayed at campsite 2, which was ok, but not on the lake. Go for a site on the lake, even if you have to carry your stuff to set up, it was breathtaking in the morning to see the mist rising off the lake.

    From the park: 

    Campground Phone:(845) 439-5480 Regional Office Phone:(607) 652-2032 Make Your Camping Reservation: ReserveAmerica

    Little Pond is a quiet picturesque campground located in the Catskill Forest Preserve which offers a leisurely hiking trail around a 13-acre pond, and the opportunity to venture along trails leading to the ruins of an old farm or enjoy breathtaking views atop the Touchmenot Mountains.

    The campgrounds, beach, boat rental, and Junior Naturalist Program offers fun for all ages; and for the primitive camper, we offer remote sites on the back side of the pond. Little Pond is located minutes from Beaverkill, a world renowned fly fishing stream. Amenities = 67 tent and trailer sites; 8"remote" tent sites; picnic area with tables, grills, or fireplaces; pavilion rental; playground; volleyball; horseshoes; soccer; basketball; ice sales; firewood sales; flush toilets; hot showers; trailer dump station; recycling center; sand beach; boat launch; rowboat, paddle boat, kayak and canoe rentals.

    The campground offers accessible campsites with a mile long trail around the pond. A newly constructed ADA fishing platform is at the end of the trail near the day use area. There is also a new ADA path to the beach. Full listing of DEC's Accessible Recreation Destinations. Campsite Restoration Project This campground has sites that have been selected for restoration. While undergoing restoration the chosen sites will be closed. For the list of sites and more information on the project visit the Campsite Restoration Project page. People using the accessible trail at Little Pond Featured Activities boating Boating No motor boats allowed. Rowboats and canoes allowed. Rowboat, paddle boat, kayak and canoe rentals available. fishing Fishing A variety of pan fish.

    The Beaverkill, renowned fly fishing stream, is with minutes from the campground. The Pepacton Reservoir is also close by. A special permit is needed to fish in this reservoir and can be obtained from the city of New York Board of Water Supply. Record sized brown trout and smallmouth bass have been caught in the reservoir. Fishing licenses are no longer being sold at any of our campground facilities, but can be conveniently purchased on-line or by phone.

    Hiking Trailheads for both the campground trail and Little Pond trail are located within the campground. These trails connect the campground to the 33 miles of foot trails located on the 27,000+ acre Delaware Wild Forest, which boarders the campground to the north. swimming

    Wildlife to Watch: White-tailed deer Wild turkeys Bald eagles Bears Coyotes Foxes

    Historic Interest: The campground was constructed between 1965 and 1968. It opened for camping in 1968 with 67 sites; the picnic area and the beach in 1968. The 8 remote sites were added at a later date. The shower house was constructed in 1984. In celebration of the 100th year anniversary of the Forest Preserve in July 1985, a time capsule was buried in the campground. This capsule, containing the names of the persons camping in the campground at that time, was entombed in the base of a stone monument located in front of the facility supervisor's office. The capsule is scheduled to be opened on the 200th anniversary of the Forest Preserve.

Guide to Claryville

The Catskill Mountains around Claryville sit at elevations between 1,500-4,200 feet, creating varied microclimates across the region. Winter camping temperatures regularly drop below 20°F at higher elevations, while summer days average 75-85°F. Most tent camping Claryville areas feature rocky, uneven terrain requiring careful tent placement and extra ground padding.

What to do

Hiking to mountain views: At Giant Ledge Primitive Camp, visitors face a challenging but rewarding hike. "It is a near vertical hike the first mile with 90% or more being over rock gardens. Not some rocks littering the trail. I think the trail used to be a stream or creek," explains one camper who wasn't fully prepared for the terrain.

Lake activities: Alder Lake offers waterfront recreation with an easy trail system. "The hike around the lake is a lovely, easy walk. The hike trail that connects to the far end of the lake is 6+ miles and while there were no real views, it was lovely," notes a visitor who stayed for three nights in late October.

Mountain climbing: For experienced hikers, the Balsam Lake fire tower provides expansive views of the surrounding Catskill wilderness. "We also hiked the balsam lake fire tower which had nice views of the area," reports a camper who found the combination of lakeside camping and mountain hiking ideal for a weekend trip.

What campers like

Solitude on weekdays: Peekamoose Valley offers exceptional privacy outside peak times. "Camped out at one of the sites by the river and it was amazing, no one was around except a man far from our site," shares a winter camper who appreciated the isolation during colder months.

Varied campsite options: The Catskills provide numerous camping styles within short distances. "There are two campsites located right outside of the park where you can park your car next to your tent but we opted to hike in. The first spot is less than 1/2 mile down the path, with the next three in the next mile," explains an Alder Lake visitor who appreciated having choices.

River proximity: Slide Mountain Wilderness Roadside Campsite offers easy water access. "Both sites have access to the creek, which showed active signs of beavers in the area," notes a camper who found the primitive sites surprisingly clean and quiet despite occasional road noise.

What you should know

Limited facilities: Most primitive sites have minimal amenities. "There are fire pits at each marked site and one port-a-poty at each of the four campgrounds. No cell service whatsoever (Verizon)," reports a Peekamoose Valley camper who still enjoyed their experience despite the basic setup.

Wildlife concerns: Bears remain active throughout the camping season. "Thought I heard bears come through overnight, but may have been a lucid dream. Bear can was undisturbed in the morning," mentions a Giant Ledge camper, highlighting the importance of proper food storage.

Insect activity: Campsites near water sources experience higher bug populations. "Sites 11-15 are within 50 feet of a wet area, and the bugs in late May were pretty annoying. I'm guessing other sites would have been better, and our hikes were almost bug-less," advises a visitor to Shawangunk Gateway Campground.

Tips for camping with families

Site selection matters: At Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground, some sites offer more privacy. "I definitely recommend trying to get the walk-in sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed like the star sites, because they're up and away a little bit more than 10-15," suggests a camper who appreciated the separation from the pavement.

Pack extra gear: Temperature fluctuations require layered clothing even in summer. "We stayed here mid-March and although it was a little chilly at night, overall a great spot," reports a Peekamoose Valley visitor who enjoyed their early spring camping despite cooler nighttime temperatures.

Water access consideration: For families with small children, consider water proximity and safety. "The beach was pretty full and there were a ton of people walking the path," notes one Alder Lake visitor who found the popular swimming area too crowded during peak season.

Tips from RVers

Access challenges: Some campgrounds have rough entry roads. "It was not the easiest for my RV van to get up the hill with the ruts, but I have a small lift so it helps, lower clearance vans might not make it," warns an Alder Lake visitor with a converted van who still found the site worth the effort.

Limited large vehicle sites: Most tent camping Claryville areas accommodate small to medium RVs only. "It's a single camper site at the top of the hill left before the trailhead parking," explains a van camper who discovered the limited space available for larger vehicles at Alder Lake.

Seasonal road conditions: Winter and early spring access often requires 4WD or higher clearance. "The place is pretty easy to access with paved road the whole way there except for the last 1/2 mile where it is very bumpy. Some might say 4*4 but we made it just fine in our little Camry," shares a camper who successfully navigated the access road to their site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Claryville, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Claryville, NY is The Peekamoose Valley with a 3.8-star rating from 6 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Claryville, NY?

TheDyrt.com has all 47 tent camping locations near Claryville, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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