Best Tent Camping near Hermon, NY
Tent campers near Hermon, New York have several options ranging from established campgrounds to more primitive sites in the surrounding Adirondack region. Cedar Island State Park Campground offers tent camping with the unique feature of boat-only access, while Middle Pond Campsite provides a more secluded first-come, first-served location for tent camping approximately 35 miles southwest of Hermon. Francis Lake also features primitive tent sites that require short hikes to reach the camping area.
Most tent sites in the Hermon area require visitors to plan for self-sufficiency. Francis Lake offers free primitive tent camping with limited amenities that include toilets and drinking water, though campers still need to pack essentials. Access varies significantly between campgrounds, with sites like Cedar Island requiring boat transportation to reach the camping area, while others like Francis Lake involve short hike-in access. Many tent-only areas have established fire rings where fires are permitted, but campers should check current restrictions before arrival. Seasonal availability varies, with Cedar Island State Park operating from May 27 to September 4.
The tent camping experience near Hermon provides opportunities for solitude and scenic waterfront locations. Areas around Francis Lake offer excellent kayaking access with "room for two or three tents, two fire circles and has an outhouse," according to one visitor. Many sites feature waterfront locations, with Middle Pond Campsite situated directly on a pond and Cedar Island offering water views from most tent sites. The boat-in requirement for Cedar Island and Mary Island State Park campgrounds creates a more secluded experience for tent campers. Visitors to these island campgrounds note the privacy between sites and the unique opportunity to camp on islands within the Thousand Islands region. During off-season periods, tent campers will find lower crowds at popular sites like Middle Pond, which sees heavy use during summer months.
