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Best Dispersed Camping near Natural Bridge, NY

20 Reviews

Several free dispersed camping options exist near Natural Bridge, New York, with Payne Lake Dispersed Site and Stillwater Reservoir being the highest-rated locations. Payne Lake provides public boat access with limited parking on both sides, while Stillwater Reservoir features approximately 40 free first-come, first-served sites. Most Stillwater sites require boat access, with only one drive-up campsite available. The reservoir area has limited cell service, a small store at the boat launch with public restrooms and wifi, and most sites include a privy box.

Sunday Lake and Blue Lagoon offer walk-in primitive camping experiences, requiring a short hike to reach. Sunday Lake is accessed via Stillwater Road to McCarty Road with a 0.3-mile trail to the lake. According to one visitor, "Sunday lake has always been lovely and quiet and a great place to take youth campers." Winona State Forest provides tent camping with fire rings but limited amenities. For backcountry options, Cranberry Lake offers free island camping with picnic tables and fire rings. One camper shared, "We spent 3 nights backcountry camping on Catamount Island in Cranberry Lake and absolutely loved it! The sunsets from the island were truly incredible."

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Natural Bridge, New York (12)

    1. Payne Lake Dispersed Site

    1 Review
    Redwood, NY
    16 miles

    "Public access boat ramp with limited parking available on both sides. No amenities on-site. I'm getting two bars of Verizon signal with the help of a WeBoost. Beautiful views, peaceful and quiet."

    2. Stillwater Reservoir

    9 Reviews
    Old Forge, NY
    25 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 785-2239

    "We hiked into our site, not easy because almost everything is meant to be accessed by boat so we were guessing our course!"

    "Our spot had gorgeous waterfront to it, a stone fire circle where someone had left extra fire wood, and ample trees."

    3. Sunday Lake Dispersed Camping

    1 Review
    Thendara, NY
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (315) 376-3521

    "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. "

    4. Blue Lagoon Primitive Dispersed Camping

    1 Review
    Old Forge, NY
    24 miles

    5. Santway Park

    Be the first to review!
    Theresa, NY
    18 miles

    6. Winona State Forest

    2 Reviews
    Lorraine, NY
    34 miles

    "While there I talked to a state forest maintenance guy. He said there were currently two camping sites and that more might be added. The campsite was just feet off of Bargy Road."

    "There were some firewood set out except it was wet. Overall a good free quiet place to camp."

    7. Cranberry Lake Backcountry Sites

    2 Reviews
    Cranberry Lake, NY
    36 miles
    Website

    "Ours had an extensive pile of dry wood, too. There is a decent privy tucked back in the woods. Bring your own TP though! "

    "amazing lake for kayaking and boating. sites not crowded together."

    8. North Lake Reservoir Campground

    2 Reviews
    Otter Lake, NY
    47 miles

    "Very remote and secluded. We got there after dark and it was beautiful to wake up to the view of the lake. Car camped, but there was enough room for a tent."

    "32 sites all around the lake. Some are walk in right on the lake. Quiet, peaceful, and clean."

    9. Seventh Lake Primitive Camping

    1 Review
    Inlet, NY
    44 miles

    "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."

    10. Horseshoe Lake

    1 Review
    Tupper Lake, NY
    44 miles

    "Along Co 421, by Horseshoe Lake, there are 10-11 designated campsites. Most have fire pits. Road is rough but easily doable if you take it slow."

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Natural Bridge, NY

26 Photos of 12 Natural Bridge Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Natural Bridge, NY

20 Reviews of 12 Natural Bridge Campgrounds

  • Shari G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 28, 2018

    Cranberry Lake Backcountry Sites

    Your Own Private Island for FREE!

    We spent 3 nights backcountry camping on Catamount Island in Cranberry Lake and absolutely loved it! The sunsets from the island were truly incredible. Each site has a picnic table and fire ring. Ours had an extensive pile of dry wood, too. There is a decent privy tucked back in the woods. Bring your own TP though! Also, you will either need to bring your own potable water or filter from the lake, so don’t forget your water filter.

    In addition to many cool places to kayak from the island, there are a few hiking trails where you can land your boat and hike for a few hours. The Curtis Pond hike was our favorite and there are some incredible beaver dams along the way. While the mosquitoes weren’t bad at the campsite itself or while kayaking, they are terrible on the trails this time of year; so bring your bug spray, or better yet, bug shirts! The millions upon millions of dragonflies help make up for the mosquitoes!

    The Village of Cranberry Lake (which is accessible from the lake) has some supplies, but not much except the very basics at the general store.  You’ll need to head to Star Lake or Tupper Lake for anything of significance.

    Backcountry camping is first come, first served…no reservations necessary or even possible. No permit is needed. The only fee is if you want to park your vehicle in the state park while you are camping on the island, it is $8 per day.

  • Geoff W.
    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.

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 8, 2024

    Winona State Forest

    Small but quiet campsite

    Pulled in on a Thursday afternoon and found a single camp site. While there I talked to a state forest maintenance guy. He said there were currently two camping sites and that more might be added.

    The campsite was just feet off of Bargy Road. The only amenity was a fire ring made of rocks. The campsite appears to be the trailhead for a man-made trail.

    It rained while we were here but overall the campsite was quiet and peaceful.

  • Ashlee C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 28, 2024

    North Lake Reservoir Campground

    Beautiful spot!

    Very remote and secluded. We got there after dark and it was beautiful to wake up to the view of the lake. Car camped, but there was enough room for a tent. Fire pit at the site and a bathroom across the way from the first site.

  • Mona M.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 6, 2025

    Payne Lake Dispersed Site

    Beautiful Lake

    Public access boat ramp with limited parking available on both sides. No amenities on-site. I'm getting two bars of Verizon signal with the help of a WeBoost. Beautiful views, peaceful and quiet.

  • J B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 28, 2023

    North Lake Reservoir Campground

    Pristine lake

    32 sites all around the lake. Some are walk in right on the lake. Quiet, peaceful, and clean. Make sure to take a left at the start of the lake, the right is all private road and you will have to turn around.

  • Elizabeth B.The Dyrt PRO User
    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.The Dyrt PRO User
    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.

  • MARY B.The Dyrt PRO User
    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.

Guide to Natural Bridge

Discover the beauty of dispersed camping near Natural Bridge, New York, where nature enthusiasts can enjoy serene landscapes and a sense of adventure. With a variety of options available, campers can find the perfect spot to unwind and connect with the great outdoors.

Scenic Lakes for Dispersed Campers

  • The tranquil waters of Sunday Lake Dispersed Camping offer a lovely setting for swimming and fishing, making it an ideal spot for those seeking a peaceful retreat.
  • For a beach-like experience, Blue Lagoon Primitive Dispersed Camping provides access to a clean and clear swimming area, perfect for paddling and relaxation.
  • If you're looking for a more remote experience, Stillwater Reservoir is a hidden gem where you can enjoy kayaking and the beauty of nature without the crowds.

Tips for Free and Dispersed Camping Near Natural Bridge, New York

  • Many dispersed camping spots, like Cranberry Lake Backcountry Sites, do not require permits, allowing for a hassle-free camping experience.
  • Be prepared to hike in to reach some sites, such as Towsley Road Dispersed Camping, which offers a convenient drive-in access point followed by a short walk to your camping area.
  • Always bring your own water or a filtration system, especially when camping at places like Seventh Lake Primitive Camping, where drinking water is not available.

Unique Experiences for Dispersed Campers

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Natural Bridge, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Natural Bridge, NY is Payne Lake Dispersed Site with a 5-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Natural Bridge, NY?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 dispersed camping locations near Natural Bridge, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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