Primitive tent campsites near Cohoes, New York range from backwoods shelters to established campgrounds within a one-hour radius. Most wilderness sites lack standard amenities and require proper preparation. The region contains both free dispersed camping options in state forests and fee-based sites with varying levels of facilities.
What to do
Hike to backcountry shelters: Mount Washington State Forest offers primitive camping via the Alander Trail. Kay D. noted, "You have to park at the entrance and hike in about 1.5-2 miles with everything on your back to get to the spots. Once you get there, there's quite a few sites to choose from and each offer quite a bit of privacy."
Winter camping: Stratton Pond Shelter provides year-round accommodations for prepared hikers. Miccal M. shared, "Spent the weekend here on the last weekend of Feb. 2024. Cold, Snow, Wind, full moon in the middle of the woods with only the people I hiked in with. It was great! The shelter is a 3.75mi hike from the nearest parking lot in winter."
Water activities: Zoar Outdoor connects campers with river recreation. Seth K. explained, "The campground is connected to an adventure/outing company that provides white water rafting, tubing and other water activities on a nearby river. It's close to where locals jump off outcrops into the lazy river and hang out on the river side."
What campers like
Secluded camping spots: Duck Pond Campsite offers quiet, remote camping. Yae U. commented, "After driving unpaved dirt road for a while, we arrived at surprisingly well maintained beautiful campsites. The pond is small so the mosquitos were not too bad. So few people passed by and very unknown quite and we just loved the experience."
Long Trail shelter system: Seth Warner Shelter provides trail accommodations for hikers. Daniel S. reported, "While hiking the Long trail I stopped at the seth warner shelter for one night. Its .2 miles off the LT/AT and sleeps 6-7 people. There is a fire pit...If you arrive late and there is no more room in the shelter use your tent or hammock in one of the many flat perfect spots for either."
Clean facilities: Alander Trail Campground maintains pristine sites despite remote location. Liz P. stated, "Although we were the only campers at the time the area was emmaculate and not one piece of trash on the ground anywhere! The outhouse was even clean!"
What you should know
Road conditions: Access to remote tent sites often requires driving on rough forest roads. The L. mentioned about Duck Pond Campsite, "The road in on old cemetery rd was pretty rough, so we decided to go out the other way, which was way worse. The site itself, was pretty nice, Fire pit, trickling stream, but the years taken off the life of my truck was not worth it."
Bear safety: Multiple backcountry sites near Cohoes require wildlife precautions. Kay D. warned about Alander Trail Campground, "You will be in the heart of the forest/woods so definitely make sure to be prepared. We had some scares with coyotes and bears in the past but never anything crazy. They give you a semi-flat area for a tent, a fire pit and grill rack, one picnic table, and a bear box you would be sharing with other campers nearby."
Reservation policies: Zoar Outdoor enforces strict booking requirements. Andie M. cautioned, "I'm writing this mid-October from western MA. In between homes and looked forward to staying another night, but can not because of a 12 hour advance policy. There were plenty of tent sites available last night."
Tips for camping with families
Private bathrooms: Getaway Catskill Campground offers modern amenities suitable for families with children. Ashley F. noted, "Each site has a private bathroom and hot shower, as well as a kitchenette."
Beginner backpacking: Alander Trail Campground offers family-friendly backpacking for those with older children. Annmarie J. mentioned, "Can't make a reservation but beautiful campground that is about a mile hike from the trailhead."
Staff assistance: Zoar Outdoor provides support for families engaging in outdoor activities. Dominick V. shared, "Staff was awesome, went out of their way to take care of our group from camping to rafting. Highly recommend the site. Amenities are well maintained."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV options: Most tent campsites near Cohoes lack RV hookups or accommodations. The Cherry Plain Sanctuary Farm offers four tent sites but no RV facilities, making it typical of the region's camping options.
Vehicle size restrictions: Large RVs cannot access most primitive camping areas in the region. Yae U. advised about Duck Pond Campsite, "Just be careful driving in the sometimes rough conditions."
Seasonal closures: Some established campgrounds close during winter months. Bryce B. simply stated about Red Mill Brook, "Closed," indicating the need to verify operational status before traveling.
