Roger V.
Traveler
TravelerAllaben Primitive Campsites
only a handful of spots but very nice
beautiful quiet space, great home base for the Catskills and small towns around here. note there's only a few spots. road conditions were fine.
Dispersed Camping near Downsville, NY
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Several free dispersed camping areas exist in state forests near Downsville, New York. Beals Pond State Forest offers hike-in and walk-in access sites that accommodate tents and RVs, though winter access is limited due to unmaintained roads and no cell reception. Denning Trailhead provides primitive camping spots approximately 1.5 miles from the trailhead, with sites situated along a river. Fire rings are available at most locations.
Russell Brook Road, Allaben Primitive Campsites, and Rider Hollow provide additional dispersed options within driving distance of Downsville. Betty Brook Camp features drinking water, picnic tables and streamside camping. Duck Pond Campsite receives positive reviews but requires navigating rough roads with limited cell service. One camper noted, "The road in on old cemetery rd was pretty rough, so we decided to go out the other way, which was way worse." Most sites enforce the standard 14-day camping limit and require practicing leave-no-trace principles. Permits are generally not required, though visitors should check current regulations with the appropriate ranger station before arrival.
Best Dispersed Campgrounds near Downsville (17)
1. Russell Brook Road
2. Beals Pond State Forest
3. Denning Trailhead Peekamoose Primitive Camping
"Great camping spots about 1.5 mile hike in from Denning Trailhead. A lot of spots right by the river. Great spot to camp and then wake up to hike to tabletop/ peekamoose mountain."
4. Allaben Primitive Campsites
"beautiful quiet space, great home base for the Catskills and small towns around here. note there's only a few spots. road conditions were fine."
"Nice spot right off the main road and close to town. Small pond-don’t think there are any fish. Picnic table. Fire pit with cooking griddle. Trails to the fishing access across the road."
5. Rider Hollow Dispersed Camping
6. Burnt Rossman State Forest - Westkill Camp
"Was a great location for winter camping. Site easily accessible from road. Beautiful, peaceful, great time!"
"Entrance is soft"
7. Duck Pond Campsite
"After driving unpaved dirt road for a while, we arrived a surprisingly well maintained beautiful campsites. The pond is small so the mosquitos were not too bad."
"Intermittent cell service which was frightening while driving on these rough roads"
8. Betty Brook Camp
"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."
"Remote. Sometimes you never see anyone. Sometimes you see some people. You camp on the stream. There is a couple of spots"
9. Hickok Brook
"I drove in thinking that there would be flat places to park a very rugged camper in my full ton diesel pickup. The road is very rough with huge potholes so good clearance is a must."
"Where I originally camped was not a spot, according to Ranger. Had to move next to the lake. Need a permit on NY state land. Contact Rangers office of whatever county."
10. Skyline Drive State Forest
"There was quite a deep dip in the beginning of the side road, so higher clearance needed to get there. Nice spot between the trees, lots of shade, clean. Felt safe. There was a firepit."
Drive Time
- 1 hr 1 min from Binghamton, NY
- 1 hr 17 min from Kiryas Joel, NY
- 1 hr 17 min from Kingston, NY
- 1 hr 28 min from Scranton, PA
Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Downsville, NY
18 Photos of 17 Downsville Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Dispersed Camping Reviews near Downsville, NY
19 Reviews of 17 Downsville Campgrounds
- aarlen K.
ScoutMink Hollow Lean-to
Lean-to and primitive tent sites
Lean-to is just off the Mink Hollow trail near the Devil's Path there is an outhouse near lean-to. A reliable piped spring is a quarter mile away.
- aarlen K.Scout
Devil's Kitchen Lean-to
Lean-to only short hike from trailhead
Lean-to is right on the overlook trail so a lot of hikers passing by.
- RRobert F.
GuideAllaben Primitive Campsites
Pond spot
Cool spot next to a pond. There are a few others that aren’t next to a pond, and therefore not as cool… but still pretty cool bc it’s free and you can walk up a little to a pond.
James A.TravelerEcho Lake
Beautiful lake with lean to
Lake is surrounded by hills and there is a small lean two with a few campfire spots. Other campsites are scattered and require navigating through small overgrown trails (wear pants) We camped on the hill with a beautiful view of the whole lake and breeze.
The L.GuideBurnt Rossman State Forest - Westkill Camp
Great little spot
This spot is right off the road. Nice and quiet. There is enough room for 2 to 3 campers. Parking across the street if it’s wet. Entrance is soft
- The L.Guide
Duck Pond Campsite
Small vehicle only
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. Intermittent cell service which was frightening while driving on these rough roads
Janet R.
LegendRound Pond Pharsalia Woods Dispersed
Primitive camping at Round Pound
This is a relatively new location for primitive camping in the Pharsalia Woods State Forest. There is a parking area just off the Plymouth Reservoir Rd that allows you to access a network of trails that traverse the state preserve around the unique Round Pond and adjacent bog. Primitive camping is allowed anywhere in the vicinity as long as you are 150 feet from the waters edge and away from the parking lot. The parking lot has an info kiosk with a map of the trail network and info about the unique bog ecosystem. You need to sign in at the kiosk, but otherwise there are no permits needed and no fees. One amazing aspect at this site is a beautiful and accessible raised boardwalk to a unique overlook that has a beautiful vista over the bog and is an amazing place for birdwatching especially during spring migration. You can also access the bog pond here if using kayaks or canoes. It is like a unique wilderness location fir primitive camping, but only 15 minutes from the village of Norwich!
For more info on the Pharsalia Woods in general, and the Round Pond in particular, visit this link on the DEC website: https://dec.ny.gov/places/pharsalia-woods-state-forest Be sure to also click on the link on that page regarding primitive camping at this site
- BBreanne H.Traveler
Allaben Primitive Campsites
Quick Weekend Getaway
Nice spot right off the main road and close to town. Small pond-don’t think there are any fish. Picnic table. Fire pit with cooking griddle. Trails to the fishing access across the road.
Guide to Downsville
Several primitive camping options exist near Downsville in the Catskills region of New York. Russell Brook Road offers drive-in access while Beals Pond State Forest provides tent and RV spots accessible by hiking or walking in. The Denning Trailhead area features riverside primitive camping approximately 1.5 miles from the trailhead, with campers noting it provides convenient access to Peekamoose Mountain hiking trails.
Free dispersed camping is available at multiple locations, with varying amenities and access conditions. Allaben Primitive Campsites and Rider Hollow allow campfires and permit alcohol and pets, while Betty Brook Camp uniquely offers drinking water and picnic tables. Several sites have challenging access conditions during winter months. One camper reported that Beals Pond State Forest is "not easily accessible in the winter" with roads becoming unmaintained and no cell reception. Duck Pond Campsite requires navigating rough dirt roads that may challenge larger vehicles. A visitor noted: "The road in was pretty rough...the years taken off the life of my truck was not worth it."
Frequently Asked Questions
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campsite near Downsville, NY?
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Downsville, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Downsville, NY is Russell Brook Road with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 17 dispersed camping locations near Downsville, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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