Tent camping near Johnsonville, New York ranges from dispersed forest sites to backcountry tent platforms, with options spread across the nearby landscape. Ushers Road State Forest offers tent-friendly dispersed camping with locations at least 150 feet from established trails. Seth Warner Shelter, accessible via the Long Trail in nearby Vermont, provides both shelter accommodations and tent platforms for hikers seeking primitive camping experiences.
The tent campsites at Ushers Road State Forest feature stone fire rings at previously used sites, with fires permitted throughout the forest. Most primitive tent areas lack amenities, with no drinking water, toilets, or trash service available. Campers must pack in all necessary supplies and pack out all waste. Access varies significantly between locations, with some sites requiring a short hike from trailheads while others permit drive-in access. At Seth Warner Shelter, visitors will find basic toilets but should be prepared to filter water from natural sources. Stratton Pond Shelter, another backcountry option, includes two tent platforms, outhouses, and proximity to a substantial body of water.
The primitive tent camping experience around Johnsonville provides excellent opportunities for solitude and nature immersion. Sites at Ushers Road State Forest offer flexible camping options with abundant potential locations for tents throughout the wooded area. When exploring trail-accessed tent sites, campers should watch for side trails leading to established campsites with stone fire rings. The terrain transitions to low-lying, swampy areas in some locations, particularly after rainfall. One visitor noted, "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." At Stratton Pond, tent campers gain access to hiking trails at the intersection of the Appalachian Trail, Long Trail, and Stratton Mountain trail systems.
"This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails. I explored both directions on my bike, riding approximately half a mile down each side."
"While hiking the Long trail i stopped at the seth warner shetler for one night. Its .2 miles off the Lt/At and sleeps 6-7 people. There is a fire pit."
"One of many locations along Forest rd 71, this spot was a good place to pitch a tent for the night while exploring the area even in the rain."
"We stayed at one near the creek just over a little bridge. Cute little site, nice fire pit, clean, perfect rock to put a big water jug on. The sound of running water was soothing."
from $100 - $300 / night
"Cold, Snow, Wind, full moon in the middle of the woods with only the people I hiked in with. It was great! The shelter is a 3.75mi hike from the nearest parking lot in winter. "
from $35 - $60 / night
TravelerCamp is pretty close together but most spots have a thick tree line between them which is nice. You still get a bit of road noise off the bridge and surrounding areas but it’s not to bad and the views at the boat launch on the Hudson are gorgeous
ScoutIt was dark. I arrived after 7p. There were 3 rv camps already going on. All 3 had camp fires. Many fire rings for many groups. No hassles at all. It's off the beaten path but worth it. The first 4 camp sites were open. Made a fire. Ate some food. I got a good night sleep. Nothing ate me or attacked me so that's 5 star in my book.
GuideThe park looks fantastic! Well maintained camp sites and beautiful river sceneries from the boat launch area!
Bathhouse is one of the best I have seen!
Check in was smooth. Everyone was courteous!
TravelerLots of beautiful spots to pick from but be careful some are a bit muddy. We brought our school bus down the dirt road just fine and backed right in. They also have fireplaces which was nice!
LegendMostly peaceful campground with nice spots, most of which offer some privacy. If you are bothered by trains, note that you will hear them in the background quite frequently from the railroad bridge that passes over the Hudson River. It's not loud by any means, but you can hear them.
The state park staff and the camp hosts were all very friendly, and it has some of the cleanest bathrooms I've ever seen in a state park.
Site 20 is a pull through site and it's huge, and while it is next to the shower building, it's far enough away that it really isn't a problem. Also, the field between you and the shower building is a fantastic spot to set up a Starlink dish.
GuideWonderful owners. A variety of sites to choose from in a relaxing setting. No waste hookups here, but they have a dump station. $51 per night with cash.
TravelerLaundry is clean, bathrooms are clean and showers are hot. Pool, dishwashing station, sometimes quite sometimes very active. Love this place! Wish it was open year round!
TravelerGreat little campground in Berkshire County. Mostly suited for tent camping or small RVs, although there are definitely sites for RVs to use. Call to get an idea of what’s available if you do plan on bringing your RV. The facilities were clean and the trails well marked.
LegendWhat an amazing find! This was a perfect location for the first 2 days of our vacation. Steve and Michelle were incredibly accommodating and wonderful hosts! We truly enjoyed our stay and will definitely return!
Primitive tent camping near Johnsonville, New York offers backcountry experiences ranging from boat-accessed island sites to trail-accessed forest campgrounds. The region sits at the border of New York and Vermont, with camping options spanning both states within a 30-mile radius. Winter camping requires additional preparation with temperatures frequently dropping below freezing from November through March.
Hike to backcountry shelters: Stratton Pond Shelter combines camping with access to multiple trail systems. "The shelter is a 3.75mi hike from the nearest parking lot in winter. There are 2 tent platforms, 2 outhouses and at least 16 bunk spaces in the shelter," reports Miccal M. from Stratton Pond Shelter.
Water activities: Lake George provides island camping with boat access. "Renting a boat and taking it on an adventure towards an island was something new," shares Ryan from Long Island Group — Lake George Islands. The sites require boat transportation, with no land access available.
White water sports: Locations near the Massachusetts border offer water recreation combined with camping. "The campground is connected to an adventure/outing company that provides white water rafting, tubing and other water activities on a nearby river," notes Seth K. about recreational options at nearby water features.
Wildlife encounters: Campers frequently mention natural wildlife sightings, though proper food storage is essential. "Hang your food! Watch for bears and coons," advises Daniel S. from Seth Warner Shelter, highlighting common wildlife concerns when tent camping in the region.
Island camping: Lake George offers distinctive island camping experiences. "We had a great spot on Long Island! Beautiful view, chill atmosphere, easy boat parking on the slip," shares Anastasiia T. The isolation of island sites provides a different camping atmosphere than forest locations.
Trail access: Trailheads connect to extensive hiking networks, creating diverse recreation options. "This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails," notes a reviewer at Ushers Road State Forest, describing both hiking and biking possibilities from camping areas.
Site conditions vary significantly: Island camping sites may have terrain limitations. "There were no leveled space whatsoever (except for one platform per site...but where would a second tent go? On the horrible ground beside it," reports Ryan from Lake George Islands, indicating parties with multiple tents should consider site limitations.
Seasonal closures: Some campgrounds operate seasonally or close permanently. "Closed," reports Bryce B. about Red Mill Brook, demonstrating the importance of verifying operational status before traveling, especially for remote sites.
Reservation policies: Last-minute camping can be challenging due to reservation requirements. "I'm writing this mid-October from western MA. In between homes and looked forward to staying another night, but can not because of a 12 hour advance policy," notes Andie M. from Zoar Outdoor.
Bathroom facilities: Primitive camping often means minimal facilities. "The wooden porta pottys or whatever you call them were grotesque," cautions Ryan from Long Island Group. Families should pack portable toilet supplies when camping at basic sites.
Wildlife precautions: Some sites experience regular wildlife activity requiring proper food storage. "We were literally bombarded with a group of raccoons each night. It was bad," warns Ryan from Lake George Islands, indicating families need secure food storage systems.
Staff support: Service levels vary between campgrounds. "Staff was awesome, went out of their way to take care of our group from camping to rafting," reports Dominick V. from Zoar Outdoor, which may be preferable for families wanting more structured support.
Limited RV options: Most primitive camping near Johnsonville restricts vehicle size and access. Ushers Road State Forest permits some RV camping but lacks hookups and has terrain limitations for larger vehicles, making tent camping the dominant option in the region.
Drive-in accessibility: When RV camping is permitted, access roads may present challenges. "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," notes a reviewer at Ushers Road State Forest, indicating potential access issues for larger vehicles after wet weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Johnsonville, NY is Ushers Road State Forest with a 5-star rating from 1 review.
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