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Best Dispersed Camping near Gouverneur, NY

16 Reviews

Dispersed camping around Gouverneur, New York includes several primitive sites on public lands, with notable locations like Payne Lake, Stillwater Reservoir, and Cranberry Lake offering free backcountry options. Most sites are situated in the Adirondack region, featuring minimal or no amenities. Campers seeking seclusion can access Sunday Lake Dispersed Camping via a quarter-mile walk-in trail, while others may prefer Stillwater Reservoir's numerous boat-accessible sites or the single drive-in site. Winona State Forest and Horseshoe Lake provide additional designated primitive camping areas with limited facilities.

Access varies significantly across sites. Many locations require boat access, particularly at Stillwater Reservoir where only one campsite is accessible by vehicle. The drive to Stillwater involves 20 miles of bumpy forest roads, and McCarty Road leads to Sunday Lake's walk-in site with parking for two vehicles. Horseshoe Lake features 10-11 designated sites along County Road 421, with rough but passable road conditions when driven slowly. Most sites have fire rings but no drinking water, restrooms, or trash service. Cell service is extremely limited throughout the area, with virtually no connectivity at more remote locations.

The region provides opportunities for paddling, swimming, hiking, and wildlife observation. Stillwater Reservoir is particularly noted for its pristine beaches and island camping options, while Cranberry Lake offers backcountry sites on islands with picnic tables and fire rings. Several locations connect to hiking trails, including the Stillwater Fire Tower trail near the reservoir's drive-in site. According to one visitor, "Sunday lake has always been lovely and quiet and a great place to take youth campers." Another camper noted about Stillwater, "We saw Bald Eagles and Loons, enjoyed swimming, canoeing and paddleboarding with the family." Seasonal considerations include significant mosquito activity on trails during summer months, though waterfront areas generally have fewer insects.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Gouverneur, New York (8)

    1. Payne Lake Dispersed Site

    1 Review
    Redwood, NY
    10 miles

    "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."

    2. Stillwater Reservoir

    9 Reviews
    Old Forge, NY
    37 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 785-2239

    "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."

    3. Santway Park

    Be the first to review!
    Theresa, NY
    19 miles

    4. Cranberry Lake Backcountry Sites

    2 Reviews
    Cranberry Lake, NY
    35 miles
    Website

    "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."

    5. Sunday Lake Dispersed Camping

    1 Review
    Thendara, NY
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 376-3521

    "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. "

    6. Blue Lagoon Primitive Dispersed Camping

    1 Review
    Old Forge, NY
    36 miles

    7. Winona State Forest

    2 Reviews
    Lorraine, NY
    50 miles

    "While there I talked to a state forest maintenance guy. He said there were currently two camping sites and that more might be added.

    The campsite was just feet off of Bargy Road."

    "There were some firewood set out except it was wet. Overall a good free quiet place to camp."

    8. Horseshoe Lake

    1 Review
    Tupper Lake, NY
    45 miles

    "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."

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Gouverneur, NY

25 Photos of 8 Gouverneur Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Gouverneur, NY

16 Reviews of 8 Gouverneur Campgrounds

  • Shari G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 28, 2018

    Cranberry Lake Backcountry Sites

    Your Own Private Island for FREE!

    We spent 3 nights backcountry camping on Catamount Island in Cranberry Lake and absolutely loved it! The sunsets from the island were truly incredible. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Ours had an extensive pile of dry wood, too. There is a decent privy tucked back in the woods. Bring your own TP though! Also, you will either need to bring your own potable water or filter from the lake, so don’t forget your water filter.

    In addition to many cool places to kayak from the island, there are a few hiking trails where you can land your boat and hike for a few hours. The Curtis Pond hike was our favorite and there are some incredible beaver dams along the way. While the mosquitoes weren’t bad at the campsite itself or while kayaking, they are terrible on the trails this time of year; so bring your bug spray, or better yet, bug shirts! The millions upon millions of dragonflies help make up for the mosquitoes!

    The Village of Cranberry Lake (which is accessible from the lake) has some supplies, but not much except the very basics at the general store.  You’ll need to head to Star Lake or Tupper Lake for anything of significance.

    Backcountry camping is first come, first served…no reservations necessary or even possible. No permit is needed. The only fee is if you want to park your vehicle in the state park while you are camping on the island, it is $8 per day.

  • Geoff W.
    Aug. 16, 2017

    Stillwater Reservoir

    Another great trip

    This was my 3rd trip to Stillwater in 3 yrs and it gets better each time!

    Our first trip was an overnight to test some backpacking gear, it was September and the weather was perfect! We hiked into our site, not easy because almost everything is meant to be accessed by boat so we were guessing our course! Cooler weather meant no bugs to contend with

    Next year we took a canoe to our site, it was July, warm weather, warm water and the bugs were not terrible, we were at Site 1, secluded in a cove, not a lot of traffic but there is a hiking trailhead near the site so there is potential for visitors.

    Our latest trip was to site 10, an island site with a large sandy beachfront, we borrowed a motor boat to get there this year and brought plenty of gear for 4 days. Weather was great again, some rain each day but we had time to get setup and get shelters to keep dry.

    Camping if free here but it is first come first serve but with 40+ sites you can almost always get something. There is a small store at the boat launch to get provisions if you need, public restrooms and wifi. Very limited cell service.

    You should bring water or something to filter it from the reservoir. I believe all the site have privy boxes on them.

    There are opportunities for fishing, a few local attractions, a nice restaurant at the launch.

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 8, 2024

    Winona State Forest

    Small but quiet campsite

    Pulled in on a Thursday afternoon and found a single camp site. While there I talked to a state forest maintenance guy. He said there were currently two camping sites and that more might be added.

    The campsite was just feet off of Bargy Road. The only amenity was a fire ring made of rocks. The campsite appears to be the trailhead for a man-made trail.

    It rained while we were here but overall the campsite was quiet and peaceful.

  • Mona M.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 6, 2025

    Payne Lake Dispersed Site

    Beautiful Lake

    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.

  • Elizabeth B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2020

    Blue Lagoon Primitive Dispersed Camping

    Dispersed camping on stillwater reservoir

    Primitive site on the beautiful south eastern end of Stillwater. A short hike in to a great beach for swimming or paddling.

    We’ve stayed here many times in tents and hammock tents. The swimming is fantastic- water is clean and clear.

    Because you can’t make a reservation here sometimes there’s competition for a spot. There is a good fire circle with space all around. The trail down to the beach is only about a hundred feet, but it is downhill.

    This site is close to the trailhead for the Stillwater firetower, an original Adirondack firetower.

  • Elizabeth B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2020

    Sunday Lake Dispersed Camping

    Primitive dispersed camping. 1/4 mile walk in, lovely quiet lake

    This is a small primitive site. No services, but a very beautiful spot. 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. 

    Take Stillwater rd. to McCarty road, the trail is 0.3 miles To Sunday lake. Space to park two cars or a small RV off the road.

  • Thomas E.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 1, 2025

    Winona State Forest

    Free and Quiet

    The primitive campsite was a little difficult to find there’s a tiny black and yellow placard that shows you where you can camp. There were some firewood set out except it was wet. Overall a good free quiet place to camp.

  • Elizabeth B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 25, 2019

    Stillwater Reservoir

    Your own private adventure beach

    Even in cold rainy weather we had a phenomenal time at Stillwater. Our spot had gorgeous waterfront to it, a stone fire circle where someone had left extra fire wood, and ample trees. The season had had unusually low water all over and it left a really unusual landscape on the beach to explore. We can’t wait to come back!

  • Dane P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 10, 2024

    Stillwater Reservoir

    Excellent place! Went for Solar Eclipse

    a 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!

Guide to Gouverneur

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Gouverneur, New York, where nature enthusiasts can find serene spots to unwind and connect with the great outdoors. With a variety of locations offering unique experiences, there's something for everyone.

Dispersed campers should check out Stillwater Reservoir

  • The Stillwater Reservoir offers a peaceful retreat with opportunities for kayaking and hiking, making it a favorite among outdoor lovers.
  • This area allows for both drive-in and walk-in access, providing flexibility for how you want to set up your camp.
  • Visitors have praised the stunning scenery and the chance to escape technology, as cell service is limited, allowing for a true disconnect.

Tips for free and dispersed camping near Gouverneur, New York

  • When heading to Cranberry Lake Backcountry Sites, remember to bring your own potable water or a filter, as water sources are not provided.
  • Be prepared for a hike-in experience at Sunday Lake, which offers a lovely, quiet lake perfect for swimming and fishing.
  • For those looking for a more primitive experience, Blue Lagoon Primitive Dispersed Camping provides a beautiful beach area ideal for swimming and relaxing.

Unique experiences for dispersed campers at Santway Park

  • Santway Park is a great option for those who prefer a no-permit-required experience, allowing for spontaneous camping trips.
  • The park is accessible by car, making it convenient for families or groups looking to set up camp without a long trek.
  • With no amenities provided, this spot is perfect for those who enjoy a more rugged and self-sufficient camping experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Gouverneur, NY is Payne Lake Dispersed Site with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 8 dispersed camping locations near Gouverneur, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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