East Otto State Forest offers free primitive camping on 14 designated sites approximately 12 miles southeast of Otto, New York. The forest sits in the northwestern foothills of the Allegheny Plateau with elevations ranging from 1,400 to 1,900 feet. Winter camping remains popular despite occasional heavy lake effect snow, with some visitors setting up hot tents for cold weather comfort.
What to do
Hiking in Allegheny State Park: Red House Area offers numerous marked trails for hikers of all abilities. "This is a great place to camp. New improvements to the park have been made the last few years! They run daily activities you can go to and learn about different things in nature," notes one visitor to Red House Area — Allegany State Park.
Bouldering at Thunder Rocks: The park's natural rock formations provide climbing opportunities for adventurous visitors. "Check out Thunder rocks and climb boulders the size of a house," recommends a camper who found the formations impressive and accessible for family exploration.
Water activities on the Allegheny Reservoir: Willow Bay Recreation Area provides direct access to the water. "The water is a great amenity and you can rent canoes and kayaks!!" writes one enthusiastic camper at Willow Bay Recreation Area, where waterfront sites are available for both tents and RVs.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At East Otto State Forest, campers appreciate the natural separation between camping areas. "This was a nice secluded feeling site, neighbors are pretty close by and you can hear them but a good amount of private space to yourself," reports one visitor who camped there in 2021.
Family-friendly amenities: RV parks near Otto, New York offer extensive recreation options. High Pines RV Park provides "a game room that offers free games for the kids along with a playground and basketball court," according to a 2021 visitor who appreciated the family activities.
Natural surroundings: Many campgrounds maintain wooded settings despite offering full hookups. One camper at Jellystone Park of Western New York noted, "What are the best things about this National Park is that you feel like you were in a Yogi Bear show although there is still a ton of beautiful nature to enjoy."
What you should know
Seasonal limitations: Most RV parks in the Otto area close between late October and early May. High Pines RV Park stays open longer into fall, but a visitor cautions, "We will go back again but making sure it's not peak summer due to not having 50A."
Cell service gaps: Coverage varies significantly by carrier and location. At Willow Bay Recreation Area, a recent visitor reported, "No cell service with AT&T or Verizon," making it important to plan communications accordingly.
Firewood availability: Local regulations restrict transporting firewood. A camper at Quaker Area noted, "The park service asks you not to transport fire wood. We understand why, my problem is when you get to the park the small bundles way over priced 35$ lasted for a night."
Bathroom facilities: Quality varies widely between campgrounds. East Otto State Forest has no facilities, while RV parks offer varying levels of service. Willow Bay provides "vault toilets on the tent side and plumbing and showers on the RV side."
Tips for camping with families
Plan for rainy day activities: The region receives significant rainfall. One visitor to Quaker Area — Allegany State Park suggests, "The rustic cabins offered through most of the Quaker Area are a bargain and never have a problem staying toasty on cold nights with their wood burning stoves," making them ideal for inclement weather.
Look for campgrounds with programmed activities: Many parks offer organized events. "They loved all of the hikes, they loved all other places, from thunder rocks to bear caves trail," shares a long-time visitor about their children's experiences at Quaker Area.
Consider campsite location carefully: Some camping loops have tighter spacing. A visitor to Quaker Area observed, "The campsites were a little too closely spaced, and no one enforced quiet hours. We could hear people laughing and carrying on all night long."
Tips from RVers
Access challenges: Several rv parks near Otto, New York have specific limitations. At High Pines RV Park, a visitor noted, "Our site only had 30a power. Most seem to be that way. Looks like some updates are on the way."
Winter RV options: Quaker Area accommodates cold-weather camping. "The box wood stoves inside to keep things thirsty, warm, even on a snowy day," reports one winter visitor who uses the park for holiday camping traditions.
Site configurations: Different campgrounds offer varying RV setups. High Pines features both back-in and pull-through options, with one camper noting, "We had a site in the full hookup back in section, they are very nice spacious sites," indicating back-in sites may offer more room than pull-through alternatives.
