Best Tent Camping near Hurley, NY
Tent campsites near Hurley, New York range from established campgrounds to primitive dispersed options in the surrounding Catskill Mountains. Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground offers tent-specific sites with level platforms about 15 miles southwest of Hurley, while Echo Lake provides a more rustic tent camping experience in a forested setting north of town. Several dispersed tent camping areas are accessible within Catskill Park, including Hemlock Ridge Multiple Use Area approximately 10 miles south of Hurley.
Most tent sites feature dirt or gravel surfaces with minimal site preparation, though some established campgrounds provide flat tent pads. Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground offers both drive-up and walk-in tent sites with picnic tables, while primitive options like Giant Ledge require hiking in with all supplies. Vault toilets are available at some locations, but primitive sites have no facilities. A visitor commented, "If you like dispersed camping, this place is good. There are absolutely no amenities whatsoever and barely even a signal here, but it's quiet and off the beaten path." Bear activity is common throughout the region, so proper food storage is essential at all tent camping locations.
Tent-only sites in the Catskills provide access to extensive trail networks with opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, and wildlife viewing. Areas farther from Hurley offer deeper seclusion with fewer crowds, particularly at primitive tent sites like Echo Lake and Giant Ledge. According to one visitor, "There are tent sites around the whole lake with fire pits and 1 lean-to site at the end of the trail when you first arrive at the lake. The sites are relatively flat and well shaded with trees." Summer weekends tend to draw more campers, while spring and fall provide more solitude at most tent campgrounds. Rock climbers frequently use tent sites near the Shawangunk Ridge as basecamp for accessing renowned climbing routes.
