Best Dispersed Camping near Otisville, NY
Dispersed camping opportunities exist within several natural areas surrounding Otisville, New York, primarily in the nearby Catskill Mountains and Delaware Water Gap regions. Hemlock Ridge MUA offers primitive tent camping on 80 acres of forested land with sites located at least 150 feet from established trails. Other options include Hickok Brook, featuring lakeside dispersed sites accessible via rough forest roads, and Echo Lake in the Catskills with tent sites surrounding the water and a lean-to shelter. Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Park provides additional backcountry camping across its 900-acre woodland property.
Access to most dispersed sites requires either hiking in or navigating unmaintained forest roads with significant clearance. The road to Hickok Brook features "huge potholes" requiring high-clearance vehicles, while Hemlock Ridge and several other areas are primarily hike-in destinations with limited parking. Facilities are minimal or nonexistent, with most locations offering no toilets, drinking water, or trash services. Fire regulations vary by location, with several sites permitting campfires while others enforce strict fire bans. Campers must practice Leave No Trace principles and pack out all waste, as noted in multiple site reviews.
These primitive camping areas provide varied terrain and experiences ranging from lakeside camping to forested settings. At Echo Lake, campers can find "tent sites around the whole lake with fire pits and 1 lean-to site." The area "can get swampy near the edge of the lake," making bug spray advisable. Hemlock Ridge MUA is described as "a quiet peaceful wooded area" with "no spectacular mountain views" but offering solitude. Hickok Brook features "only 3 spots" with "a small lake" and requires permits for camping on New York state land. Thunder Swamp Trailhead provides "tons of hiking" opportunities with "plenty of shade" in its parking area for overnight stays.
