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Best Dispersed Camping near Dresden, NY

14 Reviews

Dispersed camping options exist within several state forests and recreation areas near Dresden, New York. The Finger Lakes National Forest provides free primitive camping locations, with Sugar Hill Recreation Area and Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite offering designated dispersed sites. Additional options include Foster Pond Camping Area and Morgan Hill State Forest, which features primitive sites accessible via hiking trails and forest roads. Most sites provide basic amenities while maintaining a genuine backcountry experience.

Access to many dispersed camping areas requires traveling on unpaved forest roads that may become challenging after rain. Several locations like Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite feature drive-in access with designated sites that include fire rings and picnic tables, while others like Morgan Hill State Forest require hiking in to reach campsites. Vault toilets are available at some locations, but many sites have no facilities. Campers should bring their own water and be prepared to pack out all waste. Most areas allow pets on leash and permit campfires, though seasonal restrictions may apply.

The dispersed camping experience in this region combines convenience with natural immersion. Sugar Hill Fire Tower area provides a central clearing surrounded by forest with flushing toilets and trash collection, unusual amenities for dispersed camping. Foster Pond offers a more primitive experience with no facilities but peaceful surroundings. At Morgan Hill, visitors can access the Onondaga Trail for hiking opportunities. "The campground offers a variety of great options for various rig sizes, accommodating different needs comfortably. Its location is convenient, just a 15-minute drive from Watkins Glen, making it an ideal base for exploring the area." Cell service tends to be limited throughout these areas, with most locations receiving only 1-2 bars of signal.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Dresden, New York (9)

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Dresden, NY

12 Photos of 9 Dresden Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Dresden, NY

14 Reviews of 9 Dresden Campgrounds

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2024

    Morgan Hill Forest—Onondaga Trailhead campground

    Morgan Hill OT/NCST trailhead campground

    This is a small state forest campground in the Morgan Hill forest from which you can directly access the Onondaga Trail branch of the National North Country scenic trail. Although the campsites here are primitive and free, they are official developed campsites and not really “dispersed” campsites. There are several basic tent spots, which are just cleared grassy areas adjacent to the trailhead parking circle; BUT in addition, there are two lovely developed campsites with parking spot right next to a cement pad with picnic tables and fire pits. These are very nice roomy wooded campsites, and the  developed sites are supposedly ADA accessible —but while I agree that the picnic tables and cement pad around the fireplace can certainly accomodate wheelchairs, and the tenting area is roomy, note that there are NO OTHER ADA amenities at these sites, eg no water source and NO toilet or outhouse right at the campground. While you can drive right up to your campsite location, which is accessible, you would actually have to hike quite a long ways west on the OnondagaTrail to access a pit toilet, or to have stream access for obtaining water to boil, so you DO need to come prepared to use the bushes by your campsite and leave no trace, plus bring your own water. (See attached map where I circled the campground area in orange) That being said, this location is peaceful and quiet with mature trees and plenty of distance between neighboring campers, and would be an ideal setting for a group campout. Hiking the trail west on a day trip will bring you to the beautiful Tinker Falls, which may not be flowing during dry seasons but is still a gorge worth exploring! You can best access this campground from the south side of the forest; the entrance is from state route 13 on Morgan Hill Rd south,  adjacent to a very nice farm stand that is a good stop  for supplies, and there is a DEC forest sign to mark the turn off from Rt 13.  After that, you are on your own and should bring a map to navigate as the hiking trails are marked with signs where they cross the roads, but the road to turn off from Morgan Hill Rd to the campground is not marked. You can set your driving directions on Google Maps beforehad, to this endpoint: https://www.google.com/maps/dir//42.767846,-75.997552/@42.7799792,-76.08097,12z?entry=ttu

    You might also want to download the free Avenza map of the forest which will allow you to navigate real time even if you don't have cell service, that link is here: https://store.avenza.com/products/morgan-hill-state-forest-nysdec-map?queryID=eb824498ff4125babc1c06655b111da4&objectID=42626406056092

     general info for this state forest is here: 

    https://dec.ny.gov/places/morgan-hill-state-forest

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2024

    Morgan Hill State Forest Dispersed

    Primitive Dispersed camping at Morgan Hill

    This location has a set of 2 large trailhead parking lots for hikers and backpackers accessing the vast trail network of the Morgan Hill State Forest. (See area circled in image on map) You do not camp here at these parking lots, but from here can backpack in to the woods on the Onondaga Trail or connecting trails, and from there you can do LNT dispersed camping as long as you follow the state forest camping rules(see this link for more details: https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/camping/state-land-rules) such as not setting up camp within 150 of a stream or other body or water, and not near an official campground (There are 2 official drive-in primitive camp grounds in the vicinty, for which you need permits from the local ranger; otherwise, elsewhere in the forest you can backpack the various trails and camp at your own site if you leave no trace). You need to bring your own water, there is none provided here, and be prepared to pack out your own garbage. Be sure to download a copy of the forest map with the trails network marked, as the various trails are blazed and have occasional signs, but they crisscross in a confusing network and you can get easily turned around without a map. The woods are beautiful and the trails are well developed, but also be prepared for ticks and the need for repellent as they are thick in spring and early summer. Note: the trails going west from here enter the Labrador Hollow Unique area, which is part of the state forest but is a special preserve where camping is NOT allowed, so be aware of your lication

  • Jacob D.
    Sep. 13, 2024

    Foster Pond Camping Area

    Relaxed Free Dispersed Camping

    Right at the intersection of Potomac Road and Chicken Coop road in the Finger Lakes National Forest. If heading North on Potomac Road, turn left at the intersection and you’ll find a parking lot. Into the woods around the Lake you’ll find free dispersed camping.

    My mom and I stayed just in the parking lot and had no issues and weren’t bothered. NO AMENITIES

  • Lylah H.
    May. 17, 2024

    Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite

    Great spot, follow the map around

    I believe it’s still off season so the spot with all the facilities wasn’t open. We used the map on the state forest website. But most spots have a privy/port o potty. We found the map on the website helpful because there are spots all over. Site 28 did have a sign about not awaking “butch and big daddy” as two young women we decided we didn’t want to stick around and meet them. There was a privy at 35 which was nice. The site by the pond was really cute with a privy but a walk in (believe it was 37)!

  • Brittany S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2022

    Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite

    Great location

    We stayed here during an anniversary trip to the Finger Lakes. Easy proximity to Seneca Lake and Watkins Glen State Park. Nice wooded area kept us far enough away from other campers. Great location!

  • A
    Aug. 24, 2024

    Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite

    Excellent Free Site

    No show but decent bathrooms. I spent a night at Watkins Glen the only advantage was the shower. But you can wash up well here. You can stay horses here, each site has a fire pit and it feels safe.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 9, 2023

    Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite

    Well worth it

    I drove in from out of state and I absolutely adore this campground! Will be returning, I found a lovely spot tucked into a back corner and has the most relaxing weekend.

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 23, 2024

    Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite

    Amazing campsite!!

    Stopped in to "ride out a rain storm." After surviving the night, we discovered all the amenities. Free garbage service daily, Water faucets were placed all over the campground. There is a Forest Fire Lookout Tower next to the bathrooms.

    Camp sites are disbursed so you don't feel crowded or squeezed for space.

    Weekends are very busy but weekdays there were no more than 7 or 8 campsites occupied each night.

    The horse stalls were used regularly and seeing horses coming and going on trail rides is a daily occurrence.

  • Joel M.
    Jun. 26, 2025

    Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite

    Free campround with Toiletts

    This campground is basically a big field surrounded by the forest. The sites are really nice, each one has a table with benches and a fire place. You can drive your car in here (gravel road). It has a toilet house.

Guide to Dresden

Dispersed camping options near Dresden, New York provide budget-friendly alternatives to developed campgrounds. The area sits between Seneca and Keuka Lakes at approximately 900 feet elevation, with seasonal weather patterns that include humid summers and cold winters. Primitive camping sites in this region typically require campers to bring their own water and practice leave-no-trace principles.

What to do

Hike fire tower trails: Sugar Hill Fire Tower Recreation Area offers hiking opportunities with rewarding views. According to Cam F., "The view from the tower is pretty nice too!" The tower provides panoramic vistas of the surrounding forest landscape.

Explore nearby state forests: Finger Lakes National Forest provides primitive camping options within short driving distance from Dresden. As Jacob D. notes about Foster Pond Camping Area, "Right at the intersection of Potomac Road and Chicken Coop road in the Finger Lakes National Forest... Into the woods around the Lake you'll find free dispersed camping."

Horse riding opportunities: Sugar Hill Recreation Area welcomes equestrians with designated facilities. As Darrell K. mentions, "Our area was slightly isolated but a trail was next to it so horseback riders just appear occasionally to brighten your day."

What campers like

Free camping access: Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite receives consistent praise for its no-cost camping. Annie J. reports, "This site is great! There are only a few sites on the road but they have picnic tables, fire rings and lots of space! They are also free! We just pulled up and parked in an empty spot."

Spacious, private sites: Campers appreciate the well-spaced sites at many dispersed locations. According to Kevin C., "Camp sites are disbursed so you don't feel crowded or squeezed for space. Weekends are very busy but weekdays there were no more than 7 or 8 campsites occupied each night."

Proximity to attractions: Sugar Hill Recreation Area serves as a convenient base for exploring. Paulina B. notes, "Its location is convenient, just a 15-minute drive from Watkins Glen, making it an ideal base for exploring the area."

What you should know

Seasonal availability: Some primitive sites have limited access during off-seasons. Lylah H. mentions about Sugar Hill, "I believe it's still off season so the spot with all the facilities wasn't open. We used the map on the state forest website."

Limited amenities: Foster Pond Camping Area offers truly primitive camping without facilities. Jacob D. states clearly, "NO AMENITIES" and explains, "My mom and I stayed just in the parking lot and had no issues and weren't bothered."

Navigation challenges: Some areas require detailed maps and attention to location. Joel M. warns about Sugar Hill Recreation Area, "The coordinates are wrong. Search for sugar hill fire tower and you'll find it. (42.3868868, -77.0025425)."

Tips for camping with families

Choose sites with basic facilities: When camping with children, select areas with at least minimal amenities. Andrew S. notes about Sugar Hill Recreation Area, "Clean bathrooms with flush toilets. Sign in near bathrooms on arrival."

Weekday camping for quieter experience: Morgan Hill Forest—Onondaga Trailhead campground offers a peaceful setting for families. Janet R. describes it as "peaceful and quiet with mature trees and plenty of distance between neighboring campers, and would be an ideal setting for a group campout."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Dresden, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Dresden, NY is Sugar Hill Fire Tower Campsite with a 4.7-star rating from 11 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 9 dispersed camping locations near Dresden, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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