Dispersed camping opportunities near Edwards, New York include several primitive sites situated around scenic lakes and reservoirs. Payne Lake Dispersed Site features a public boat ramp with limited parking and no amenities on site. Stillwater Reservoir provides over 40 free, first-come, first-served campsites, most requiring boat access. Cranberry Lake Backcountry Sites offer island camping with picnic tables and fire rings. Sunday Lake and Blue Lagoon provide walk-in primitive sites with lake access for swimming and fishing.
Water access is a critical consideration for these sites. Campers must bring their own potable water or filter from lakes. According to reviews, "You will either need to bring your own potable water or filter from the lake, so don't forget your water filter." Most sites have fire rings, but visitors should bring their own firewood. Cell service is extremely limited throughout the area. Several campers noted that Stillwater Reservoir is "a wonderful place to break away from technology because you get zero service out there."
Most dispersed sites in this region operate on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations possible. The majority of Stillwater Reservoir campsites require boat access, with only one car-accessible site near the dam. Cranberry Lake sites are accessible by boat, with Catamount Island offering a particularly secluded experience. The area experiences significant seasonal variations in weather and insect activity. Summer brings mosquitoes, particularly on hiking trails, while September offers cooler temperatures with fewer insects. Parking at Cranberry Lake State Park costs $8 per day, but the backcountry camping itself is free.
"Public access boat ramp with limited parking available on both sides. No amenities on-site. I'm getting two bars of Verizon signal with the help of a WeBoost. Beautiful views, peaceful and quiet."
"We hiked into our site, not easy because almost everything is meant to be accessed by boat so we were guessing our course!"
"Our spot had gorgeous waterfront to it, a stone fire circle where someone had left extra fire wood, and ample trees."
"Ours had an extensive pile of dry wood, too. There is a decent privy tucked back in the woods. Bring your own TP though! "
"amazing lake for kayaking and boating. sites not crowded together."
"Along Co 421, by Horseshoe Lake, there are 10-11 designated campsites. Most have fire pits. Road is rough but easily doable if you take it slow."
"A few sites around the lake all seem to have good to great view of the lake. Ours was nice but next to a house no one was there! However The site had lots of room! The road was mildly rough."
"There’s a small fire ring, and access to the lake for swimming or fishing. Sunday lake has always been lovely and quiet and a great place to take youth campers. "
"Some require driving down a bumpy access road that can be muddy after a rain. Sites are on the Pond. Pond has a small beach to swim. Tree covered sites."
"We happened upon it on our way to the seventh lake campground and ended up staying for two nights. We accessed the sites by water on a canoe trip."
GuidePublic access boat ramp with limited parking available on both sides. No amenities on-site. I'm getting two bars of Verizon signal with the help of a WeBoost. Beautiful views, peaceful and quiet.
TravelerCamped here for a few days, no cell, no internet
TravelerTook me five hours to drive there but finally made it. It was nice and peaceful. I will go there again
Scouta 20 mile ride of just woods on a bumpy road. Pretty cool! Surprisingly the place wasn't that populated as I expected it to be. I went to a accessible campsite near the dam so I can pull stuff i needed from my car. The restaurant in the town had great food, the staff were nice, and had two cute dogs!
TravelerHaving both camped, and trained with my SAR Unit, on Stillwater Reserve, I must say it's a wonderful place to "get lost" (voluntarily at least)!
GuideWas a great camp site very big and had a trail that lead down to the water. This campsite is right down the road from the fire tower trail.
GuideMy wife and I kayaked to Long Island and stayed for a weekend. It was quiet and had the whole island to our self. Would recommend if you want to break away from technology because you get zero service out there
ScoutI came here a couple days ago only to realize that all except one campsite needs a boat to be reached. It's first come first serve so best to find another place if you intend to drive up to your campsite. The drive up campsite had an outhouse though so that was nice
ScoutThere are a few camping sites and one lean-to that I know of in this area. We happened upon it on our way to the seventh lake campground and ended up staying for two nights. We accessed the sites by water on a canoe trip. There is a large sand bar within a very short walk which was a great place to hang out. Seventh lake is pretty quiet but there were a few boats there both days we visited. There is a trail that connects the campsites to Seventh Lake Rd. and to the Bug Lake trail and we had some Hikers travel through the campsite. If you are looking for the site from the water, look for a HUGE rock and there will be a sign that reads camp here, there are two more campsites, one with a lean-to within a short walk as well.
Rustic camping near Edwards, New York centers around several remote water bodies that offer primitive campsites with minimal amenities. The area experiences significant seasonal temperature variations, with summer highs around 80°F and winter temperatures frequently below freezing. Most dispersed camping locations require visitors to pack out all trash, as no collection facilities exist at these remote sites.
Swimming and paddling access: Blue Lagoon Primitive Dispersed Camping features a short hike to a swimming beach with "clean and clear" water according to campers. The site is located on the southeastern end of Stillwater Reservoir and involves a hundred-foot downhill trail to reach the water.
Fishing opportunities: Sunday Lake Dispersed Camping provides a secluded fishing spot accessible via a 0.3-mile trail from McCarty Road. One visitor notes it's "a very beautiful spot" with "a small fire ring, and access to the lake for swimming or fishing."
Hiking nearby trails: The area around Stillwater Reservoir connects to multiple trail systems. One camper mentions that their site was "right down the road from the fire tower trail," providing easy access to hiking opportunities without having to break camp.
Island camping experiences: Cranberry Lake Backcountry Sites offer island-based camping opportunities that provide exceptional seclusion. One camper shared their experience: "We spent 3 nights backcountry camping on Catamount Island in Cranberry Lake and absolutely loved it! The sunsets from the island were truly incredible."
Wildlife viewing: The waters around Stillwater Reservoir support diverse wildlife. One camper reported: "We saw Bald Eagles and Loons, enjoyed swimming, canoing and paddleboarding with the family." Wildlife sightings are more common during early morning and evening hours.
Digital detox environment: Polliwog Lake on Floodwood Road provides a true disconnection opportunity, with one camper simply stating they "Camped here for a few days, no cell, no internet." This type of isolation characterizes many of the dispersed sites in the region.
Site accessibility varies: Most sites around Stillwater Reservoir require boat access. One camper explained: "I came here a couple days ago only to realize that all except one campsite needs a boat to be reached. It's first come first serve so best to find another place if you intend to drive up to your campsite."
Water sources and filtration: No potable water exists at most dispersed sites. Campers must bring their own water or treat lake water. The Catamount Island site in Cranberry Lake requires visitors to "either bring your own potable water or filter from the lake."
Designated site restrictions: Little Green Pond has "12 designated camping spots" with some requiring "driving down a bumpy access road that can be muddy after a rain." Staying in designated sites only is required throughout the region to minimize environmental impact.
Consider paddling abilities: Many sites require boat access, so family skill levels must be considered. At Seventh Lake Primitive Camping, one visitor noted: "We accessed the sites by water on a canoe trip. There is a large sand bar within a very short walk which was a great place to hang out."
Site capacity planning: Some sites can accommodate larger family groups. At Stillwater Reservoir, one camper mentioned their "site #37 accomodating 20 members of the family plus 3 dogs!" Family groups should confirm site capacity before arrival.
Youth-friendly locations: Seventh Lake Primitive Camping offers sites ideal for families with children. A camper observed it was "Canoe Camping at Its Best" with access to a "large sand bar within a very short walk which was a great place to hang out."
Limited RV accessibility: Most dispersed camping locations have rough access roads unsuitable for larger RVs. At Horseshoe Lake, campers report the "Road is rough but easily doable if you take it slow." Only smaller, more rugged RVs should attempt access.
Power considerations: Solar-dependent RVers face challenges due to heavy tree cover. One camper at Horseshoe Lake noted: "As it's a forest, the sites are pretty shaded, so solar and Starlink may present challenges. Slight AT&T at earlier sites."
Size restrictions: At Payne Lake Dispersed Site, a camper observed "limited parking available on both sides" of the public access boat ramp, indicating tight quarters for vehicles and equipment. Most sites accommodate smaller rigs only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Edwards, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Edwards, NY is Payne Lake Dispersed Site with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Edwards, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 dispersed camping locations near Edwards, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
