Top Free Dispersed Camping near Lake Pleasant, NY

Searching for the perfect place to dispersed camp near Lake Pleasant? The Dyrt can help you find the best dispersed campsites for your next trip. Whether you're looking for a quiet location in the trees or wide open spaces, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect dispersed campsite.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Lake Pleasant, NY (17)

Showing results 1-10 of 17 campgrounds

Recent Dispersed Reviews In Lake Pleasant

20 Reviews of 17 Lake Pleasant Campgrounds


  • Josie W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off
    Jul. 9, 2024

    Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off

    Private Campsite

    Decent site right off of the “main” road. “Main” because it was quiet. Easy to access via a short dirt road, but also easy to miss. We only saw sites 3 and 6 marked and took #6. There was a fire ring and access to the river down a semi-steep bank. Beautiful to listen to at night. Site was big enough to pull our mid-size SUV down and unfold rooftop-tent, but we did have to back out in the morning; not enough room to turn around. Felt private despite the road.

  • Dane P.
    Camper-submitted photo from Stillwater Reservoir
    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!

  • Meghan B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Powley Road in Ferris Wild Forest
    Oct. 19, 2023

    Powley Road in Ferris Wild Forest

    Powley Road

    Had a quiet and peaceful stay. Must camp at a numbered site. Most sites are right along the road, but I was lucky enough to snag one deeper in the woods. Some of the sites even have an outhouse. Stayed in October, so when I left early the next morning, I passed a lot of hunters that had camped along the road, too. The road is in good condition. No AT&T cell service in this area.

  • Noah D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Forked Lake Adirondack Preserve
    Sep. 26, 2023

    Forked Lake Adirondack Preserve

    Truck camping heaven

    we came here for a night and stayed at the camp 76 by the lake. it was beautiful. definitely top 5 best campgrounds we have ever been to. they had a picnic bench and an outhouse in good condition. great visibility at night and of the lake

  • Taylor A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off
    Jul. 17, 2023

    Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off

    Adirondack Camping Trip

    Highly Reccomend! The directions in the app are accurate -but do keep in mind that the campsite is down a dirt road which is well hidden from the main road if you aren’t paying close attention. There is no service at all.

    This site is campsite 6 and very private (I believe there must be others located close by). The site has it’s own private road. A car is not reccomended. Possible to turn around but you definitley need a smaller suv. There is a firepit at the site and plenty of space for multiple tents, ground may look flat but when sleeping-definitely is not. Plenty of trees for hammocks etc. You can hear cars from the site but the cars can’t see you-loved this! The sound of the cars from the main highway is something I got used to quick. The site is mostly shaded-the sun shines through a bit but not much.

    There is a river down the hill from the campsite which helps keep it fairly cool at night. The bugs were terrible.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Stillwater Reservoir
    Feb. 27, 2023

    Stillwater Reservoir

    An island paradise

    Having both camped, and trained with my SAR Unit, on Stillwater Reserve, I must say it's a wonderful place to "get lost" (voluntarily at least)!

  • T K.
    Camper-submitted photo from Crane Mountain Pond Campsite
    Apr. 28, 2022

    Crane Mountain Pond Campsite

    Gorgeous sunset views

    After a short hike up steep crane mountain we watched the beautiful sun set. One of the nicest places I’ve camped at.

  • sam T.
    Camper-submitted photo from Stillwater Reservoir
    Jan. 1, 2022

    Stillwater Reservoir

    Only car accessible campsite

    Was a great camp site very big and had a trail that lead down to the water. This campsite is right down the road from the fire tower trail.

  • sam T.
    Camper-submitted photo from Stillwater Reservoir
    Dec. 28, 2021

    Stillwater Reservoir

    Nice kayaking spot

    My wife and I kayaked to Long Island and stayed for a weekend. It was quiet and had the whole island to our self. Would recommend if you want to break away from technology because you get zero service out there

  • K
    Camper-submitted photo from Stillwater Reservoir
    Aug. 4, 2021

    Stillwater Reservoir

    Need a boat

    I came here a couple days ago only to realize that all except one campsite needs a boat to be reached. It's first come first serve so best to find another place if you intend to drive up to your campsite. The drive up campsite had an outhouse though so that was nice

  • MARY B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Seventh Lake Primitive Camping
    Jan. 22, 2021

    Seventh Lake Primitive Camping

    Canoe Camping at Its Best

    There are a few camping sites and one lean-to that I know of in this area. We happened upon it on our way to the seventh lake campground and ended up staying for two nights. We accessed the sites by water on a canoe trip. There is a large sand bar within a very short walk which was a great place to hang out. Seventh lake is pretty quiet but there were a few boats there both days we visited.  There is a trail that connects the campsites to Seventh Lake Rd. and to the Bug Lake trail and we had some Hikers travel through the campsite. If you are looking for the site from the water, look for a HUGE rock and there will be a sign that reads camp here, there are two more campsites, one with a lean-to within a short walk as well.

  • Elizabeth B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Blue Lagoon Primitive Dispersed Camping
    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.
    Camper-submitted photo from Sunday Lake Dispersed Camping
    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.

  • Karolee G.
    Camper-submitted photo from Forked Lake Adirondack Preserve
    Sep. 8, 2020

    Forked Lake Adirondack Preserve

    Best Primative Camping

    We were unfortunately able to get a spot on the lake, also due to us having dogs that aren’t fond of riding in kayaks yet. We ended up camping out right past spot 6 on North Point Road. Loved it. Us and the dogs. Primitive camping at Forked Lake is always the best.

  • C
    Camper-submitted photo from Forked Lake Adirondack Preserve
    Apr. 27, 2019

    Forked Lake Adirondack Preserve

    Wild

    This campground was beautiful. We boated in to our site with a kayak and a canoe with our supplies. We went during peak black fly season and got eaten alive though and decided to pack it up early. There was a bear den close to our site that was pretty cool.

  • Elizabeth B.
    Camper-submitted photo from Stillwater Reservoir
    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!

  • Christie M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Stillwater Reservoir
    Aug. 13, 2018

    Stillwater Reservoir

    Unplugged but recharged!

    just returned from our annual week at the reservoir, such beauty! We saw Bald Eagles and Loons, enjoyed swimming, canoing and paddleboarding with the family. It was so peaceful with our site #37 accomodating 20 members of tge family plus 3 dogs!

  • Geoff W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Stillwater Reservoir
    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.



Guide to Lake Pleasant

Camping near Lake Pleasant, New York, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor fun. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a family-friendly adventure, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Kayaking and Swimming: Many campgrounds, like Fish Creek Pond Campground, are right by the water. One reviewer said, "Every site has water access, and the water is super shallow all along the shoreline. It’s perfect for dogs, kids, and hanging out in the water."
  • Hiking: Explore the trails around Moreau Lake State Park Campground. A visitor noted, "The hiking trails and lake mean you don’t even have to leave the park to enjoy great outdoor recreation."
  • Fishing: Many campers enjoy fishing in the nearby lakes. One happy camper at Rogers Rock Campground mentioned, "The views out the camper were just amazing," highlighting the beautiful setting for fishing.

What campers like

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A visitor at Moffitt Beach Campground said, "Facilities and park in excellent condition."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites. One reviewer at Moose Hillock Camping Resorts noted, "For a private campground, the sites are large and well spaced out."
  • Family-Friendly Activities: Campgrounds like Lake George RV Park have plenty of activities for kids. A camper shared, "The array of resort-level amenities are beautifully maintained and clean."

What you should know

  • Noise Levels: Some campgrounds can be noisy, especially during busy weekends. A visitor at Hearthstone Point Campground mentioned, "There was a ton of street noise from Rt9."
  • Crowded Sites: Campers at Old Forge Camping Resort found the campground a bit cramped, stating, "The roads are very tight making backing into a spot very difficult."
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds may not have all the amenities you expect. A reviewer at Rogers Rock Campground pointed out, "There are not many amenities or services for the phones but that could be good if you want an off the grid type of camping."

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose the Right Campground: Look for family-friendly options like Lake George Escape Campground, which has a full schedule of themed activities for kids. One parent said, "There is a FULL schedule of themed activities for the kiddos, weekly."
  • Plan for Bugs: Be prepared for bugs, especially in early summer. A camper at Fish Creek Pond Campground noted, "There were quite a few bugs. Mostly mosquitos that were quite pesky."
  • Bring Water Shoes: If you're swimming or kayaking, water shoes are a good idea. A visitor at Rogers Rock Campground advised, "Make sure to bring water shoes because everything is gravel."

Tips from RVers

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure the sites can accommodate your RV size. A reviewer at Moose Hillock Camping Resorts mentioned, "Some sites were pretty small and would not fit large RVs."
  • Be Aware of Road Noise: Some campgrounds are near busy roads. A visitor at Hearthstone Point Campground noted, "You can hear the car noise almost always until late evening."
  • Plan for Limited Connectivity: Many campgrounds have poor cell service. A camper at Rogers Rock Campground said, "There are not many amenities or services for the phones."

Camping near Lake Pleasant, New York, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're looking for a quiet getaway or a fun family trip, there's something for you in this beautiful area.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Lake Pleasant, NY?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Lake Pleasant, NY is Cod Pond Dispersed Pull-Off with a 3.5-star rating from 2 reviews.

  • What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Lake Pleasant, NY?

    TheDyrt.com has all 17 dispersed camping locations near Lake Pleasant, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.