Best Dispersed Camping near Phoenix, NY
Dispersed camping near Phoenix, New York includes several primitive sites in nearby state forests, with Morgan Hill State Forest and Winona State Forest offering the most accessible options. Towsley Road Dispersed Camping provides a simple roadside site, while Morgan Hill Forest features both dispersed backcountry camping and a small trailhead campground with picnic tables and fire pits. These areas permit tent and sometimes RV camping on public lands without developed facilities or reservations.
Access varies significantly between sites. Morgan Hill Forest Onondaga Trailhead campground provides drive-in access with some sites featuring cement pads and picnic tables, though no water or toilets are available. Winona State Forest sites require locating small black and yellow placards marking designated camping areas. Most locations lack amenities entirely, requiring visitors to pack in water and pack out waste. Fires are permitted at Morgan Hill and Winona forests but prohibited at other sites. Camping is free at most locations, though primitive sites require adherence to Leave No Trace principles, including camping at least 150 feet from water sources.
The camping experience varies across these forests. Morgan Hill provides direct access to the Onondaga Trail branch of the National North Country Scenic Trail, with hiking opportunities to Tinker Falls. Bucks Brook State Forest offers more remote primitive tent sites along the Finger Lakes Trail near a scenic gorge with small waterfalls. Visitors note the peaceful nature of these areas, with one camper describing Winona State Forest as "a good free quiet place to camp." Another reviewer mentioned Towsley Road camping requires going "a little more up the road until you see a sign and a sand patch on the side of the road."