Best Dispersed Camping near Fort Plain, NY

Dispersed camping near Fort Plain, New York includes several primitive sites across state forests and along waterways. Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail provides riverside camping in a parking area with views of the Mohawk River. Other notable dispersed camping locations include Powley Road in Ferris Wild Forest, Betty Brook Camp, Duck Pond Campsite, and Burnt Rossman State Forest. These sites are typically located on public lands where remote camping is permitted without formal facilities or reservations.

Access to many dispersed sites requires navigation on unpaved forest roads of varying quality. Duck Pond Campsite is reached via rough dirt roads that may challenge larger vehicles, while Betty Brook Camp sits alongside West Kill Road near a stream. Powley Road sites are generally in good condition but lack cell service. Most areas have fire rings but limited amenities. Campers must pack out all trash and follow leave-no-trace principles. Camping is typically limited to 14 days, though specific regulations vary by location.

These primitive areas offer varying levels of seclusion and natural features. The Lock 15 site provides water access and wildlife viewing but includes ambient noise from nearby highways and trains. Powley Road sites feature river access but limited privacy as most are roadside. A reviewer noted that "Site 4 is magical, it is road side, but the view, and access to the river is great." Duck Pond Campsite provides more isolation, though one camper cautioned about road conditions: "The road in on old cemetery rd was pretty rough, so we decided to go out the other way, which was way worse." Cell service is inconsistent throughout the region, with some areas having no coverage.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Fort Plain, New York (14)

    1. Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail

    3 Reviews
    Fort Plain, NY
    1 mile

    "Continue driving past the original coordinates until you reach the dirt parking lot on the right. You’ll see signs that say “No Vehicles Past This Point” — those apply only to the grassy picnic area."

    "It offers sounds of the highway and freight trains going by, my wife and I love it. If you need quiet, keep on moving. There are grills in the grassy area for tent camping, also a potable water tap."

    3. Powley Road in Ferris Wild Forest

    2 Reviews
    Piseco, NY
    26 miles
    Website

    "Site 4 is magical, it is road side, but the view, and access to the river is great. There is a path right from the site."

    "The road is in good condition. No AT&T cell service in this area."

    4. Betty Brook Camp

    2 Reviews
    West Fulton, NY
    28 miles

    "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"

    5. Duck Pond Campsite

    2 Reviews
    North Blenheim, NY
    30 miles

    "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"

    6. Burnt Rossman State Forest - Westkill Camp

    2 Reviews
    North Blenheim, NY
    31 miles

    "Was a great location for winter camping. Site easily accessible from road. Beautiful, peaceful, great time!"

    "Entrance is soft"

    8. Ushers Road State Forest

    2 Reviews
    Round Lake, NY
    43 miles

    "This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails. I explored both directions on my bike, riding approximately half a mile down each side."

    9. North Lake Reservoir Campground

    2 Reviews
    Otter Lake, NY
    44 miles

    "Very remote and secluded. We got there after dark and it was beautiful to wake up to the view of the lake. Car camped, but there was enough room for a tent."

    "32 sites all around the lake. Some are walk in right on the lake. Quiet, peaceful, and clean."

    10. Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off

    2 Reviews
    Bakers Mills, NY
    49 miles

    "The directions in the app are accurate -but do keep in mind that the campsite is down a dirt road which is well hidden from the main road if you aren’t paying close attention."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Fort Plain, NY

17 Reviews of 14 Fort Plain Campgrounds


  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 28, 2019

    Whaupaunaucau State Forest

    Hidden gem in Chenango County

    You have to work a bit to find info on the Whaupaunaucau state forest as a camping destination, but for primitive campers that is part of the appeal! This is a relatively unknown oasis outside of the county, but this state forest has a network of miles of trails for both hiking and criss country skiing. There is an offifical lean-to shelter and developed campsite on trail 20 (see map) but there are several primitive sites with tent site and stine fireplace, plus dispersed leave-no-trace camping is allowed anywhere in the state forest, and the possibilities are endless. Lovely hilly vistas, pondside glens, and lots of clearings near clear streams deep in this old stately forest. A great place to get away from it all for hiking and camping but it is also a fantastic place to go if you enjoy botanizing or birding, lots of unusual species to see. Just beware of ticks, they are invading the region

  • Josie W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2024

    Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off

    Private Campsite

    Decent site right off of the “main” road. “Main” because it was quiet. Easy to access via a short dirt road, but also easy to miss. We only saw sites 3 and 6 marked and took #6. There was a fire ring and access to the river down a semi-steep bank. Beautiful to listen to at night. Site was big enough to pull our mid-size SUV down and unfold rooftop-tent, but we did have to back out in the morning; not enough room to turn around. Felt private despite the road.

  • The L.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 8, 2025

    Ushers Road State Forest

    Trail head

    This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails. I explored both directions on my bike, riding approximately half a mile down each side. The terrain eventually transitions into a low-lying, swampy area, likely due to recent rainfall over the past week.

    About 500 feet down the right-hand trail, there is a smaller path branching off to the left. This leads to a previously used campsite, approximately 200 feet from the main trail. The site includes a stone fire ring, indicating prior use.

    Given that camping is permitted anywhere in the woods as long as it’s at least 150 feet off the trail, the surrounding area offers an abundance of potential camping spots.

  • Taylor A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 17, 2023

    Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off

    Adirondack Camping Trip

    Highly Reccomend! The directions in the app are accurate -but do keep in mind that the campsite is down a dirt road which is well hidden from the main road if you aren’t paying close attention. There is no service at all.

    This site is campsite 6 and very private (I believe there must be others located close by). The site has it’s own private road. A car is not reccomended. Possible to turn around but you definitley need a smaller suv. There is a firepit at the site and plenty of space for multiple tents, ground may look flat but when sleeping-definitely is not. Plenty of trees for hammocks etc. You can hear cars from the site but the cars can’t see you-loved this! The sound of the cars from the main highway is something I got used to quick. The site is mostly shaded-the sun shines through a bit but not much.

    There is a river down the hill from the campsite which helps keep it fairly cool at night. The bugs were terrible.

  • YThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2024

    Duck Pond Campsite

    Open quite campsites

    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. So few people passed by and very unknown quite and we just loved the experience. Just be careful driving in the sometimes rough conditions.

  • The L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 10, 2025

    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

  • Ashlee C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 28, 2024

    North Lake Reservoir Campground

    Beautiful spot!

    Very remote and secluded. We got there after dark and it was beautiful to wake up to the view of the lake. Car camped, but there was enough room for a tent. Fire pit at the site and a bathroom across the way from the first site.

  • Mona M.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 16, 2025

    Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail

    Just Passed Lock 15

    Continue driving past the original coordinates until you reach the dirt parking lot on the right. You’ll see signs that say “No Vehicles Past This Point” — those apply only to the grassy picnic area. The parking lot is large, rocky, and uneven, situated right on the Mohawk River. It's a great spot for wildlife viewing and fishing (with a valid license). Verizon cell service is good here. At the lock parking area, you'll find pit toilets, a dumpster, and potable water available on the side of the building as you enter.

  • The L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 10, 2025

    Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail

    Great overnight.

    Simply it’s a parking lot with a view. The parking area is right on the water. It offers sounds of the highway and freight trains going by, my wife and I love it. If you need quiet, keep on moving. There are grills in the grassy area for tent camping, also a potable water tap.


Guide to Fort Plain

Dispersed camping near Fort Plain, New York offers primitive sites throughout the southern Adirondack region and nearby state forests. Most sites sit at elevations between 500-1,500 feet, creating moderate temperature variations between day and night. Winter camping requires special preparation as temperatures regularly drop below freezing from November through March, with snow accumulation common in higher elevation sites.

What to do

Wildlife observation along waterways: At Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail, campers report excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. "The parking lot is large, rocky, and uneven, situated right on the Mohawk River. It's a great spot for wildlife viewing and fishing (with a valid license)," notes reviewer Mona M.

Seasonal water activities: Late spring through early fall provides optimal conditions for swimming and fishing. At North Lake Reservoir Campground, the pristine lake offers swimming access. "32 sites all around the lake. Some are walk in right on the lake. Quiet, peaceful, and clean," explains J B.

Winter camping options: Several sites remain accessible year-round for cold-weather enthusiasts. Burnt Rossman State Forest provides winter camping opportunities. Felix R. confirms: "Was a great location for winter camping. Site easily accessible from road."

What campers like

Stream-side camping: Many campers prefer sites with water features for both ambiance and practical uses. At Betty Brook Camp, Robert B. shares: "Love to camp here all year long have been coming to the area for a couple of decades now. Remote. Sometimes you never see anyone. Sometimes you see some people. You camp on the stream."

Privacy levels: Sites range from completely secluded to roadside accessible. "This spot is right off the road. Nice and quiet. There is enough room for 2 to 3 campers," writes The L. about Burnt Rossman State Forest.

Seasonal atmosphere changes: Lock 15 transforms throughout the year. "They have dropped the gates, and the lock is in operation. The resident peacock has been keeping me company," notes The L., adding: "I anticipate another lovely sleep. It's quite breezy, so the windows will be open."

What you should know

Road conditions vary significantly: Access roads range from well-maintained to extremely rough. Duck Pond Campsite requires careful vehicle consideration. Yae U. warns: "After driving unpaved dirt road for a while, we arrived at surprisingly well maintained beautiful campsites... Just be careful driving in the sometimes rough conditions."

Cell service limitations: Coverage is inconsistent throughout the region. At Powley Road in Ferris Wild Forest, Meghan B. reports: "No AT&T cell service in this area." The L. adds: "There is zero Verizon cell service in the whole area. So plan accordingly."

Limited facilities: Most sites have fire rings but lack other amenities. At Fort Plain Lock 15, The L. explains: "Simply it's a parking lot with a view. The parking area is right on the water. It offers sounds of the highway and freight trains going by."

Tips for camping with families

Site selection for children: Choose sites with gentle terrain and water access. Peter notes about 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. There's a stream alongside it, a fire pit, and a town about 8 mi away."

Noise considerations: Some sites experience ambient noise from roads or trains. "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," shares Yae U. about Duck Pond Campsite.

Supply planning: The nearest services may be 8+ miles away. At Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off, Taylor A. advises: "There is no service at all... There is a river down the hill from the campsite which helps keep it fairly cool at night. The bugs were terrible."

Tips from RVers

Vehicle size limitations: Most dispersed sites accommodate smaller RVs only. "The site has its own private road. A car is not recommended. Possible to turn around but you definitely need a smaller suv," warns Taylor A. about Cod Pond.

Parking considerations: Many sites have limited parking or turning space. Josie W. explains: "Site was big enough to pull our mid-size SUV down and unfold rooftop-tent, but we did have to back out in the morning; not enough room to turn around."

Water access challenges: Some sites require navigating steep terrain to reach water. "We got there after dark and it was beautiful to wake up to the view of the lake. Car camped, but there was enough room for a tent," shares Ashlee C. about North Lake Reservoir Campground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Fort Plain, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Fort Plain, NY is Fort Plain Lock 15 on Empire Trail with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 14 dispersed camping locations near Fort Plain, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.