Best Tent Camping near Little Valley, NY

The forested regions surrounding Little Valley, New York offer several tent camping options ranging from established campgrounds to primitive backcountry sites. Allegany State Park provides tent campsites with amenities including drinking water, showers, and picnic tables. Streamside Eriegrove offers walk-in tent sites with more rustic accommodations, featuring fire rings and picnic tables but limited facilities. For those seeking primitive tent camping experiences, Warner Road Dispersed Camping in North Harmony State Forest provides basic sites with fire pits approximately 25 miles northwest of Little Valley. Firefly Acres, located closer to Little Valley, features three tent-only camping spots with walk-in access options.

Tent campground surfaces vary considerably throughout the region. Allegany State Park provides well-maintained tent pads with nearby water sources and restroom facilities. Campers should be aware that bears are active in the area, with one reviewer noting that "bears are very ambitious" around food. Primitive sites at Warner Road typically offer ungraded dirt surfaces with established fire rings but no water or sanitation facilities. Recent visitors have reported litter issues at some dispersed sites, so bringing trash bags is advisable. The Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite across the Pennsylvania border provides free primitive tent camping with multiple pull-offs suitable for setting up tents, though the access road can be challenging to locate.

In early spring and late fall, tent campers often find greater solitude at backcountry sites. According to reviews, the Forestry Road area offers "big open spots with established fire rings" and remains "quiet except for the distant rumble of a train." One camper noted that logging roads in the area, while closed to vehicles, welcome foot travel and lead to secluded tent camping spots for those willing to walk a short distance from their cars. The Allegheny Wild and Scenic River area provides "large sites well shaded" for tent-only camping. Tent campers should be prepared for variable weather conditions, as the region experiences significant rainfall, particularly during spring and fall seasons.

Best Tent Sites Near Little Valley, New York (15)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Little Valley, NY

1 Photos of 15 Little Valley Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Little Valley, NY

389 Reviews of 15 Little Valley Campgrounds


  • Jennifer K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 14, 2022

    Hearts Content Recreation Area

    Great quiet little campground

    Very nice quiet small wooded campground. No hookups, about 3-4 fresh water spigots, 1 dump station and dumpster. Water pressure was very low and took a while to fill tank. 26 various sized sites, some large with plenty of space for our 22 foot tow behind and truck + some for extra vehicles. Other smaller sites for tents or vans. Self serve ice $2 wood $10. Vault toilets. Fire rings and picnic table at each site. AT&T spotty 0-1 bars. Host camper. Quiet time 10pm-6am. 1 Xlarge site for groups.

  • Bill  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 18, 2020

    Hearts Content Recreation Area

    Simple and serene

    Hearts Content is best described as a way station. The sites are nestled within a grove of immense pines. Some are large enough for large RV’s . There are no showers. Bathrooms are vault toilets. Two of the sites include Adirondack type shelters. A picnic table and fire ring are within each site. I used this site as a staging area to explore Allegheny National Forest for a week. Used a camp shower. The closest town is Warren, PA. Firewood is available at the camp host site. Across the road is an hiking area with picnic tables and the like.

  • Bill  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 26, 2020

    Willow Bay Recreation Area

    Quiet nights, Easy days

    Willow bay campground is run by the National Forest Service. The reservable lots are wide and numerous for a out of the way sight. The campground services tent sites, RV sites as well as small cabins with electricity. There is a central bathhouse near the oak loop. Closer to the boat ramp sites- most of which are tent ready, there are vault toilets. These sites are less than a mile from the North Country Trail. Other, smaller trails are here as well. The New York State lone is less than five miles away- providing access to Allegheny State Park. The closest town of note is Bradford, which is about 18 miles away. It has all you need to get your necessities. The cabins were small- one twin bed and a set of single bunks. You need to bring your own sheets. There is a small heater imbedded in the wall. It keeps things from getting too cold, as it was when I was there. Fire ring and picnic table provided. Charcoal grill as well. The only problem I had was with the wildlife. A mouse or something kep crawling in the space between the roof and ceiling. There is no cel service here, and you shouldn’t need it either. Places to visit are too numerous to mention, but I will give a shout out to the zippo case museum, absolutely a must.

  • Mary S.
    Sep. 24, 2018

    Quaker Area — Allegany State Park State Park

    This is a great vacation area.....spend a week!

    Did you know this is NY's largest state campground? We stopped here on a rainy night, but what we saw convinced me we need to return. I know this campground is a vacation destination for families in western NY.

    Cain Hollow is in the Quaker Run area which includes Quaker Lake. There is another campground in the Red House Area, and there are also lots of cabins. This is definitely a 4 seasons park - hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing....

    I was able to take photos of a few sites the next morning. You can see that sites are private and you're definitely in the woods. There are food storage boxes at all campsites because you're in bear country.

  • Bill  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 10, 2018

    Hearts Content Recreation Area

    Minimal offering for maximum relaxing

    This campground is within Allegheny National Forest near the town of Warren and Tidouette. The sites are few but spacious. Good for car camping, though I’m sure a smaller RVcould get by. Each site has a fire ring. Two sites have Adirondack type shelters. The night sky is promising but light pollution from Warren inhibits a truly awesome night sky. There is a vault toilet. No showers. No water either. Bring what you need! The closest town is about 30 minutes away. Lots of critter life. My dogs loved it here. We spent all days exploring the nearby trails and creeks. Price was cheap. No frills but a quiet respite for sure.

  • Danielle S.
    Apr. 16, 2019

    Minister Creek Campground

    Small, rustic, gorgeous

    We stayed here July 2018 and found a quiet campsite by the creek. It had been quite rainy and some of the sites were wet and muddy, but for $12, I couldn't complain. While there is an outhouse, it is simply a couple of toilets (bring a lantern or wear a headlamp). Arrive early to get a prime spot, and take advantage of the hiking trails (a bug net for your head will help in the summer as the gnats and deer flies are distracting). Looking forward to staying again.

  • Travis S.
    Jun. 30, 2020

    Dewdrop

    Spacious

    Campsite layouts are non traditional with large driveways and often times the tables and fire rings are below the driveway.  With this layout you get more privacy with very few sites having and overlapping with other sites. Pitching a tent was easy on the driveway and fairly level. Some sites had large high sided fire rings which take away from the fireside relaxation of a shorter camp chair. 

    Bathrooms and shower house was below the standards of many of PA State Parks which we regard as the benchmark for campgrounds at reasonable prices. 

    Boating and biking all accessible from the grounds. No need to drive to the trails at Jakes Rocks.

  • D
    Aug. 21, 2023

    Minister Creek Campground

    Beautiful, peaceful

    Established campground on north side has six sites with picnic tables and fire rings and costs $12/night. You can park and camp for free across the street but I’m not sure you’d want to sleep in your car/camper in the parking lot. There are a number of sites on the side of the road within 2-3 miles in either direction if you want to sleep in your van etc. I parked on the free side and set up a tent about 100 yards in. Lots of beautiful sites on the creek. I walked to the paid side for water and vault toilet. Arrived on a Friday in August and had no trouble grabbing a prime site.

    Absolutely no cell signal. Drive about 7-10 miles in either direction to pick up a signal. Or hike to the Outlook for a very faint signal. Warren, PA is a really nice little town about 30 minutes drive and I went there for a meal and a brewery visit

  • Laura M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 28, 2023

    Evangola State Park Campground

    Great campground

    We stayed here three nights to ride out a heat wave and really liked it. Sites are electric only, with a dump station available at the entrance and one in the campground loop. There are potable water spigots throughout the campground, where you awkwardly pull over to the side of the road and fill your tank. Sites are pretty much wide open, with zero separation between you and your neighbor. Most are out in direct sun but the ones along the edge have some tree cover and shade. 

    There are yurts here as well, and a playground, and a huge disc golf course. You can walk to the beach from the campground (dogs aren’t allowed on the beach). The nature center is right in the campground, by the basketball and tennis courts. 

    Showers were dirty and buggy, but they’re free and you can actually choose your own water temperature. NY State campgrounds require proof of rabies vaccinations for your dogs.

     Good cell reception for Verizon, ATT wasn’t great but the cell booster helped. Trash bins, but no recycling. Beautiful sunset on the lake.


Guide to Little Valley

Cabin camping options near Little Valley, New York range from modern heated facilities to rustic shelters in forested settings. Located in the western portion of New York state at elevations between 1,400-2,200 feet, this region experiences cold winters with significant snowfall and mild summers. The area's cabin accommodations typically feature fire rings and are situated within mixed hardwood forests dominated by maple, beech and hemlock trees.

What to do

Hiking to local waterfalls: Forestry Road Dispersed Campsite offers access to several natural attractions. "There is a really cool place called Hector Falls. The trailhead is about a mile down the road from this spot. It's about 3/4 a mile hike into the woods. The falls are really cool to look at, and has some cool rock formations," notes reviewer Bob J.

Winter recreation options: Cabins at Bova Cottages — Allegany State Park provide year-round access to seasonal activities. One visitor reports, "Cabins feel rustic but are new (2014?) and modern. Had everything we needed for a weekend with extended family, almost like a hotel in what they supply. Open all year. Allegany State Park is nearby for hiking, snowshoeing, XC skiing, leaf peeping,etc."

Explore logging roads: Several forest areas permit walking exploration along closed vehicle routes. "There are tons of logging roads that split off the main forest road. They mostly have gates that say 'Logging road, no public motor vehicles allowed' but they also say 'Foot travel is welcome,'" explains a camper who visited the area.

What campers like

Modern cabin amenities: Hidden Valley Camping Area offers established campsites with electrical hookups for tent campers wanting some conveniences. A recent visitor notes, "It's new they have a little bit to go to be a Jellystone campground."

Secluded tent sites: Warner Road Dispersed Camping provides primitive camping spots in North Harmony State Forest. A camper reports, "The site was fine, fire pit, primitive spot so no services. We arrived late at night so couldn't see so well but stopped in a clearing on the road toward the coordinates."

Family-friendly atmosphere: Several campgrounds near Little Valley cater specifically to families with children. One visitor to a local campground states, "Nice friendly environment, clean facilities. Lots to do for kids and adults. Weekend activities. The snack house food is great, if you don't feel like cooking they offer a nice menu almost anyone would love."

What you should know

Bear safety precautions: Wildlife encounters require proper food storage at campsites. At Allegheny Wild and Scenic River, campers appreciate the natural setting but should be prepared for wildlife. One visitor describes the area as having "Large sites well shaded."

Weather preparation: The region experiences variable conditions throughout camping seasons. A visitor notes, "It rains a lot so keep your slip-ons near the door. Great hiking/biking. The spot next to the hiking trail has WiFi 70% of the time. I would give this a 5 star if it didn't rain so much."

Firewood availability: Most established campgrounds sell firewood onsite, while dispersed camping areas may require gathering or bringing your own. "Fire wood can be found all around," reports one camper about forest camping options.

Tips for camping with families

Look for activity-rich campgrounds: Choose sites with built-in recreation options. A camper at Dream Lake Campground reports, "I love this campground very family friendly lots of activities been going here 6 years now and never have had a bad time."

Consider cabin options for easier family trips: Cabins eliminate tent setup time with young children. "Our family of 6 fit comfortably in one cabin when we were all small. There's beaches, guided nature trails, biking, hiking. Basically, Allegany has it all. Do not miss the thunder rocks, they're really, really enjoyable," shares one family visitor.

Pack extra supplies for primitive sites: When using tent campsites near Little Valley without amenities, bring trash bags and water. "Kind of a gross site, the previous people who stayed at our site were messy and left litter, but it served its purpose as a free place to sleep along a longer trip," warns one visitor.

Tips from RVers

Cell service availability: Some remote forest areas offer surprising connectivity. "I managed to get an average of 3-4 bars of 5g every day," reports one visitor to a forest camping area, adding useful information for those needing to stay connected.

Roadway considerations: Some access roads to tent camping sites can be challenging. A visitor notes, "A little hard to find, decided not to stay. On the same road as hector falls," highlighting navigation challenges that may affect larger vehicles.

Local supply options: Know where to restock during longer stays. "Howe's ace hardware is about 10 miles away with a dollar general across the street. The site seeing is second to none," notes one camper about resources near their campsite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Little Valley, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Little Valley, NY is Bova Cottages — Allegany State Park with a 5-star rating from 4 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Little Valley, NY?

TheDyrt.com has all 15 tent camping locations near Little Valley, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.