The Catskill Mountains near Olivebridge sit at elevations ranging from 600 to 4,000 feet with a humid continental climate that brings warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The area's landscape features dense northern hardwood forests interspersed with coniferous trees at higher elevations. Seasonal permit requirements affect certain popular camping areas during peak months, with weekend permits often required from May through October.
What to do
Hiking on Slide Mountain: Access trails from the Slide Mountain Wilderness area where camping options provide convenient basecamp locations. "This property is the closest private property to Slide Mountain. It's also just minutes from so many other trailheads and peaks," notes a visitor to Upper Esopus Creekside Camp.
Explore local lakes: Multiple lakes in the region offer water-based recreation beyond just shoreline camping. At Alder Lake, "The hike around the lake is a lovely, easy walk. The hike trail that connects to the far end of the lake is 6+ miles and while there were no real views, it was lovely."
Rock climbing: The Shawangunk Ridge provides world-class climbing opportunities. "Love this campground! Have been here several times and have never had a complaint... Located really close to the Gunks for climbing and also some great hikes around the area," writes a climber about Sam Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground.
Winter camping options: Some areas remain accessible year-round for cold weather camping. One camper at Peekamoose Valley reported, "Camped out at one of the sites by the river and it was amazing, no one was around except a man far from our site. Good walking distance to the car especially in the cold!"
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many tent camping areas near Olivebridge feature good separation between campsites. At Giant Ledge Primitive Camp, a visitor noted, "There's a couple marked campsites scattered along the trail, we camped at the first one on the way up. Good hike with a bit of a challenge climbing rocks at the end towards the ledge but nothing crazy."
Modern facilities at select campgrounds: While primitive sites dominate, some offer unexpected amenities. One camper described Shawangunk Gateway as "a very nice modern campground with great access to amazing hiking and climbing in the area! About half the sites are walk-in and half the sites are drive-up."
Free camping options: Budget-conscious campers can find no-cost sites. A visitor to The Peekamoose Valley described it as "a cute little campground between the Peekamoose Road and Rondout Creek. It's actually a set of 4 campgrounds, the lower field, the middle field, the upper field, and the trailer field."
Stargazing opportunities: Clear mountain skies create excellent night viewing conditions. A camper at Giant Ledge enthusiastically shared, "Yes you can camp on top of the mountain. Yes you can make a camp fire. Yes you can star gaze by the views near the camp. Yes it's amazing."
What you should know
Access challenges: Many sites require hiking in gear from parking areas. At Peekamoose Valley, "you have to walk 200+ feet from the parking lot to your campsite, so just be prepared to carry your stuff."
Early arrival importance: Popular sites fill quickly, especially in peak seasons. A visitor to Echo Lake advised, "This campground was my first backpacking trip and it was perfect! There are tent sites around the whole lake with fire pits and 1 lean-to site at the end of the trail when you first arrive at the lake... It does get a little crowded later in the day."
Limited amenities at primitive sites: Many tent camping locations near Olivebridge lack facilities. At Giant Ledge, campers should "bring biodegradabe toilet paper and a shovel; as there are not toilets up here."
Cell service limitations: Most remote camping areas have no connectivity. An Alder Lake camper noted simply: "No cell service. If you bring a handsaw youll be good for firewood. Bugs were pretty bad. Awesome sunrise."
Tips for camping with families
Choose accessible sites: Some campgrounds offer shorter walks to campsites. At Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground, "There are drive-up sites and also walk-in sites. No fire pits at individual campsites, though. Only a group fire pit."
Prepare for bugs: Depending on season and proximity to water, insect protection is essential. A camper at Peekamoose warned, "Oh, did I mention the Tics!??"
Consider tent site surfaces: Some areas offer prepared tent platforms or cleared areas. At Shawangunk Gateway, families appreciate the "big flat tent bases to set up on" and "a picnic table at each site."
Look for communal areas: Shared spaces provide gathering spots for multiple families. One camper highlighted Shawangunk Gateway's "communal fire pit and supplied wood" and "covered communal pavilion with picnic tables, big sinks for washing dishes, and lighting."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV-friendly options: Most tent camping areas near Olivebridge don't accommodate larger vehicles. At Creek View Campground, RVers can find "thirty-amp-hookups" though one visitor noted you're "basically camping in this guy's back yard, so dont expect any feeling of being in nature."
Road conditions: Access roads to many campgrounds may be challenging for larger vehicles. A camper at Alder Lake reported, "Was not the easiest for my RV van to get up the hill with the ruts, but I have a small lift so it helps, lower clearance vans might not make it."
Weight and size restrictions: Many Catskill forest roads have limits on vehicle dimensions. At Peekamoose Valley, RVs are limited to the "trailer field" as "all of the sites are walk in except for the trailer field."
