Best Tent Camping near Kirkwood, NY
State forests surrounding Kirkwood, New York provide several tent camping options, including both established and dispersed sites. Long Pond Campground offers primitive tent sites in a forested setting, with spots located around a fishing pond. Beals Pond State Forest provides free dispersed camping opportunities for tent campers willing to hike in from designated trailheads. The Pharsalia Woods State Forest area, while slightly farther away, contains additional backcountry tent camping options.
Most tent sites in the area are rustic with minimal amenities. Long Pond Campground provides fire rings at each site with access to a portable toilet near the entrance, but no potable water or garbage service. Tent campers need to pack in all water and pack out all waste. Sites are typically set on level, shaded forest ground with enough space for multiple tents. Access roads to many of these campgrounds may become difficult in wet conditions or winter months, with several reviews noting that "the state forest is beautiful but not easily accessible in the winter."
Tent campers frequently enjoy fishing opportunities directly from their campsites, particularly at Long Pond where many sites offer direct water access. The heavily forested surroundings provide ample shade and moderate privacy between sites, though the spacing varies. In warmer months, tent sites remain cool under the dense tree canopy, though this can limit solar charging options. Most sites accommodate standard tent setups with room for hammocks between trees. A camper described Long Pond as having "large and level spots all located beneath the tree canopy" with sites "disbursed enough to provide a modest level of privacy." For backpackers seeking more seclusion, the Finger Lakes Trail passes through the region with several lean-to shelters and primitive tent sites along the route.
