Dispersed camping at Ushers Road State Forest offers secluded sites throughout its wooded terrain that extends into swampy lowlands after rain. The forest sits in eastern New York's rolling hills where elevations range from 300-500 feet, creating varied terrain for campers seeking isolation. Several established campgrounds within a 30-mile radius of Johnsonville provide alternative options with more amenities for tent campers and RVers.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: At Pine Hollow Campground, the pond supports catch-and-release trout fishing. "Very quiet and clean campground. Friendly people and nice pond for swimming and catch and release trout fishing," notes camper AcIdBuRn.
Water recreation: Camping On The Battenkill offers river activities near Johnsonville. "We did some fishing and swimming. I get the feeling the other end of the campground with the RVs is not as nice and can be loud, but you can avoid it by staying on the tent side," explains Michele S. The river provides tubing opportunities with Michele adding, "Friends and I camp here every June, and we love being close to the river... We also tube down the river."
Hiking trails: Mt. Greylock State Reservation features hiking options within driving distance. "The hike in was a fairly easy 1.3 to the campground. There are plenty of options for hiking including two nearby falls, a section of the AT, and of course the summit," writes Heidi R. The reservation maintains multiple trail difficulties with "fantastic trails with varying degrees of difficulty."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Moreau Lake State Park Campground, campers appreciate the site separation. "I love the spacious campsites. It's very woodsy between sites, so it seems very private," notes Michi P. This sentiment is echoed by Nancy W.: "Campsites are spacious, shady, and had good separation between the neighboring sites which we enjoyed."
Clean facilities: Dog friendly campgrounds near Johnsonville maintain well-kept facilities. "The bathrooms were the cleanest campground bathrooms I've ever seen!" mentions Jenny A. about Woodford State Park. At Moreau Lake, Robert L. notes, "Moreau Lake has superb facilities as far as state run campsites go. The beach is nice, large picnic facilities, and the campgrounds are well maintained with nice bathroom/shower buildings."
Family activities: Woodford State Park Campground receives praise for its kid-friendly atmosphere. "Perfect for families! There are tons of different types of campsites with either tent spots, lean tos, and a few (hard to get) cabins," reports Sambath T. Another camper adds simply, "If you have kids and don't mind them making friends and roaming the campground then this is great! Boat rentals!"
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Some pet-friendly camping areas near Johnsonville have limited operating seasons. Moreau Lake State Park operates from "May 6 to October 13," while Woodford State Park runs from "Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend." Pine Hollow Campground has a slightly longer season from "Mid May to Mid Oct."
Wildlife awareness: Bears are present in the region, particularly at Mt. Greylock. "The bear lockers are roomy and clean and could double as storage to keep items out of the rain (highly recommend reviewing being 'bear aware' as we had a sighting in our neighboring site," advises Heidi R.
Insect concerns: Lee's Park Campground has specific areas with heavy mosquito presence. "DONT GO IN THE WOODLINE you'll get mobbed by mosquitoes," warns Gabe W. This aligns with Moreau Lake's situation where Robert L. notes the park "becomes very crowded, especially on holiday weekend due to proximity to I-87."
Tips for camping with families
Water attractions: Family-oriented campgrounds provide water features children enjoy. At Adventure Bound Camping Resort at Deer Run, Lauren notes, "Family oriented. The kids loved love water attractions. Our site was large and shaded." Woodford State Park offers "a small reservoir with a little beach that you can swim or kayak/canoe in."
Playground access: Several dog friendly campgrounds near Johnsonville have play facilities. "We did use the playground with our grandkids and it was clean and lots to do," reports Kim H. at Aqua Vista Valley Campgrounds. The campground hosts "hayrides, many activities, themed weekends" with Kelly M. adding "Activities going on all the time. Great place for family and kids."
Special events: Holiday-themed activities create memorable experiences at some locations. "We went for the Halloween event, and the kids had a great day and evening! They really enjoyed trick or treating!!!" shares Mary F. about Aqua Vista. Programming varies by season with most special events concentrated in summer months.
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