Best Dispersed Camping near Cohoes, NY

Searching for the perfect place to dispersed camp near Cohoes? The Dyrt provides you with a diverse selection of places to camp, from dispersed backcountry camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. Find the perfect dispersed campsite for your next adventure.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Cohoes, NY (23)

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Showing results 1-10 of 23 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews in Cohoes

29 Reviews of 23 Cohoes Campgrounds


  • SJ W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot
    Nov. 1, 2024

    NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot

    Beautiful but surprisingly crowded

    Went on a Wednesday night late October and had to drive about 4 miles down the dirt road to find a suitable spot. After what was very quiet and a peaceful place to be. Many pull offs but a lot were too wet for my van and I was afraid of getting stuck. The road itself was in great condition though.

  • CThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot
    Oct. 13, 2024

    NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot

    Nice Spot

    The entrance to the road had a sign that said “road closed ahead”. We chanced it and was able to find a really nice open spot right before the road closure. Was a great spot!

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Somerset Airfield
    Aug. 30, 2024

    Somerset Airfield

    Good stopover location

    Only the first section of the campground was open due to flooding. As a result, there were puddles everywhere.

    Campsites are listed as disbursed but there are only 7 trees to separate 9 camp sites. The campsites are all next to the road and have fire circles.

    There is a single pit toilet at the end of the camping area. No garbage service, no water, no cell service. Basically a camp site where you can share a fire with the neighbors.

  • Thomas and James S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from NF 83 - riverside
    Jun. 12, 2024

    NF 83 - riverside

    Enchanting

    Peacefully placed along the bends of the river is a large open grassy area with a sizable fire pit! The left side of the drive in is swampy so be sure to not drift to that side. The beginning of the little driveway is quite rough with some bigger rocks we have substantial ground clearance so no issues there but smaller ground clearances may feel a bump or two! Live by the motto leave nicer than you found it so we all can continue to enjoy the beauty!

  • Miccal  M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Somerset Airfield
    Mar. 29, 2024

    Somerset Airfield

    Winter camping wonder

    Well, that was an experience! Met some friends Friday night at the Somerset Airfield for a weekend of camping. We endured Snow and mid 20s Friday night with 8" of fresh snow to wake up to Saturday, and our main Roadhouse down from the weight of the snow. The stakes didn't hold in the frozen ground. So, we tied them to the trees and our cars. Saturday, we got at least 8" more along with sleet, freezing rain, and rain. Saturday evening, we had 3" more by 11pm.

     Then the fun began as the wind blew the storms out and temperatures plummeted to 8⁰ and a windchill of-3 for this morning. Everything crusted was over with a good inch of ice. I have never endured such winds camping, I was sure camp was going to be blown apart. Even with a winter fly tight to the snow my hammock was rocking all night. Our tarps held mostly, we only lost one or two anchor points. Gear that wasn't staked, tied or put in our cars moved blown around inside our foxholes of snow.

    In the morning when packing up and breaking the ice glazed on everything.

    we stayed in the first few sites, there are walk in sites behind these that have easy river access.  in the winter be ready for snowmobiles, in the summer trucks.

    As I've stated in my other review for this location, there are outhouses here and firerings.  It is an easy dirtroad drive to get to this location, that is why they tend to be used so much by RVers.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Betty Brook Camp
    Mar. 24, 2024

    Betty Brook Camp

    One of my favorite

    Love to camp here all year long have been coming to the area for a couple of decades now. Remote. Sometimes you never see anyone. Sometimes you see some people. You camp on the stream. There is a couple of spots

  • Miccal  M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Somerset Airfield
    Mar. 1, 2024

    Somerset Airfield

    Least favorite of all the primitive sites in the area

    I've camped here a couple of times and it is ok.  This really is just a grass strip next to FR71 with a bunch of sites and a pit house.  It is probably good for people who camp with RVs or Trailor's that can't get into smaller sites, but if you can I would go some where else.

  • Miccal  M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from NF 83 - riverside
    Jan. 18, 2024

    NF 83 - riverside

    Quiet spot on the river

    I've looked at this spot a few times and it is normally way to wet to camp at, but this time it was frozen.  This is a nice clearing near the river where the road used to cross.

    The access into this location is a little rough but most cars should make it, I would prefer having a little more clearance though just to be sure.  

    Being a primitive site there is only a fire ring here.

  • Miccal  M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from NF83 Dispersed site 1
    Jan. 18, 2024

    NF83 Dispersed site 1

    Nice remote location

    This primitive spot is a little more than a clearing with a fire pit.  But what a great spot with no light pollution, cell signal or distractions.  Don't expect to get in here unless you have more than 8" of clearance under your vehicle.  

    I was here in winter, but I would expect in summer a lot of undergrowth in the woods, if your hammock camping bring a manchette to clear a spot.

  • P
    Camper-submitted photo from Betty Brook Camp
    Dec. 17, 2023

    Betty Brook Camp

    Pretty good place

    I live near this campground. I'm about a mile away and I pass it every day. It is rather remote, but it is right along West kill road. There's a stream alongside it, a fire pit, and a town about 8 mi away. It's a small town, with just a gas station store. I would not recommend this for large trailers. The site is fairly small, but it's in state park, and there's tons of walking that can be done.

  • mThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed
    Oct. 8, 2023

    George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed

    Beautiful, Quiet and restful!

    It was getting dark when we arrived and it had been raining all day. We just needed a night and it was great. Some sites were really wet but we found a nice dry place.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed
    Sep. 27, 2023

    George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed

    Nice Night

    It had rained a lot prior to our arrival, and several sites were damp. We found a perfect site off the road on the right side. It was large and flat. We were off the road by 100 feet or so. It made it more private. I would highly recommend this site. We stopped on our way through to Stowe Vermont.

  • Erica M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Somerset Airfield
    Aug. 2, 2023

    Somerset Airfield

    Nice spot but to busy

    Westford there last weekend. Got up on a Friday with plenty of spots. 10 spaces between the bathrooms/vault toilets with only 3 other 4 in working order. Great location near Somerset Reservoir. Weekend was interrupted by a domestic violence situation a few sites downbeat resulted in fights and someone shooting off a handgun. Took state police over 50 minutes to respond and multiple families left...... Can't pick the other people using the space I guess, but lots of trash left in fire pitsand all along river. Water behind the sites more like a marsh. Flat levels it's and people able to fit their campers. Campers near us said there are more sites if you pass the airfield that are more spread out past the actual airfield sites.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Statton Pond Camp on Forest Road 71
    Jun. 26, 2023

    Statton Pond Camp on Forest Road 71

    NFR 71 Wide Open Site, North End

    Easy access to an open circle, capable of handling multiple rigs for a large gathering. Stone fire ring in the center. We had this all to ourselves in our Bean teardrop. 

    Good hiking access to Stratton Pond, to Branch Pond, to Grout Pond Recreation Area, to the AT/LT. 

    Pretty quiet during our stay, plenty of dispersed sites along 71 further south. 

    Only reason for 4 stars is the lack of any long distance views from the site itself. 

    2 bars of USCellular LTE

  • c H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed
    Jun. 13, 2023

    George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed

    Cool Spot!

    The camp spots were all pretty spread out from each other and the road was easy to drive on. There were only about 10 spots along the access road. Brewery, distillery, beautiful lakes and scenic towns all within 15 minutes of the sites.

  • M.A.D. P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Somerset Airfield
    Jan. 1, 2023

    Somerset Airfield

    Small open park

    The Airfield Campground is a strip of land with several campsites and fire pits. It has pit toilets. These sites are close together with little to no shade. Some sites have access to a stream that flows behind the park. The real attraction is the huge Somerset Resevoir which is up the road. Plenty of fishing, paddling, hiking and picnicking opportunities. There are other dispersed sites down the road that are free

  • Natasha T.
    Camper-submitted photo from NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot
    Jun. 6, 2022

    NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot

    Nice wooded little campsite

    A LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings. The bugs seems to be unbothered by the bug spray as well. A few miles down the road there is another campsite that is more open and also has a fire pit with a lot less bugs flying around and more open space.

  • S
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed site along Forest RD 71
    Feb. 28, 2022

    Dispersed site along Forest RD 71

    Love camping here!

    I would have given 5 stars except for the unfortunate fact that 2 years in a row my husband and I had to spend over an hour cleaning the site from the people before us.... We camp here every summer and make sure the site is left clean and ready for the camper...

  • Danny D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot
    Nov. 8, 2021

    NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot

    Quaint dispersed camping spot

    Peaceful and quiet dispersed camping spot. Large enough for 2-3 vehicles or one large rig/RV. Very few vehicles pass, some days none. Two fire rings set up: a large one and a small cooking one.

  • Kirk C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Dispersed site along Forest RD 71
    Aug. 4, 2021

    Dispersed site along Forest RD 71

    Muddy

    I found this camping area on dyrt app. I didn't have too much luck with a different app.... So I decided to try this out. This particular campsite is very muddy. Well, at least today it is. I have an SUV and I didn't trust it to get through, and I didn't want to get stuck. There are a few spots around you can park at. I chose a more sunny and open spot with less trees. So there's more options. It's very quiet definitely check it out.


Drive Time


Guide to Cohoes

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Cohoes, New York, where nature meets tranquility. These spots offer a chance to escape the hustle and bustle while enjoying the great outdoors.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Cohoes, New York

  • Many dispersed camping areas, such as Featherstonhaugh State Forest Site, do not require permits, making it easy to set up camp without the hassle of reservations.
  • Access is typically drive-in, allowing for convenient arrival at locations like Ushers Road State Forest, where you can quickly settle in and start your adventure.
  • Be prepared for a primitive experience; facilities are limited, so plan to bring your own water and supplies when visiting places like Rensselaerville State Forest.

Top activities while free camping near Cohoes

  • Enjoy hiking and exploring the scenic trails around George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed, where you can immerse yourself in the stunning natural surroundings.
  • Fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the opportunities available at Somerset Airfield, which is located near water bodies ideal for casting a line.
  • Campfires are allowed at many sites, including NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot, providing a perfect setting for evening gatherings under the stars.

Scenic attractions for dispersed campers

  • The picturesque landscapes of Green Mountain National Forest FR71 offer breathtaking views and a peaceful atmosphere, ideal for photography and relaxation.
  • Explore the nearby rivers and streams at NF 83 - riverside, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim or simply unwind by the water.
  • For those seeking solitude, the remote sites at NF83 Dispersed site 1 provide a chance to disconnect from the world and reconnect with nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Cohoes, NY?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Cohoes, NY is NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot with a 4.5-star rating from 6 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Cohoes, NY?

    TheDyrt.com has all 23 dispersed camping locations near Cohoes, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.