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Best Tent Camping near Purling, NY

548 Reviews

Tent camping options near Purling, New York include a mix of established campgrounds and primitive sites within the Catskill region. Echo Lake offers highly-rated tent sites around a mountain lake, requiring a hike-in approach that appeals to backpackers seeking a more remote experience. Giant Ledge Primitive Camp provides tent sites that serve as basecamps for hiking the surrounding peaks, with designated areas located along trails in the wilderness.

Most tent sites in the area feature basic amenities with varying levels of access. Echo Lake campsites include fire pits and well-shaded, relatively flat terrain, though the lake edge can become swampy during wet periods. Visitors must pack out all trash and follow leave-no-trace principles at these sites. Giant Ledge sites include primitive rock-ringed fire pits but lack water sources or toilet facilities. Bear activity is common throughout the region, with some campgrounds providing bear boxes for food storage. Road access to many sites ranges from paved routes to the final half-mile of rough terrain that may challenge low-clearance vehicles.

The surrounding Catskill forest provides ample shade at most tent sites, with natural spacing between camping areas creating privacy even during busier periods. Trail networks connect many of the tent camping areas, allowing visitors to explore nearby summits and scenic overlooks. Sites at Echo Lake can become crowded later in the day, especially during peak seasons, sometimes requiring campers to share space. A visitor noted, "This campground was my first backpacking trip and it was perfect! There are tent sites around the whole lake with fire pits and one lean-to site at the end of the trail when you first arrive at the lake." Primitive sites at Giant Ledge offer more seclusion but require proper preparation as they lack amenities beyond basic fire rings and sometimes stone benches.

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Best Tent Sites Near Purling, New York (36)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Purling, NY

51 Photos of 36 Purling Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Purling, NY

548 Reviews of 36 Purling Campgrounds

  • KThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 9, 2021

    Echo Lake

    Lovely Camping in the Catskills

    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.  The sites are relatively flat and well shaded with trees.  Note, it can get swampy near the edge of the lake so you may want to bring bug spray.  Make sure you practice leave no trace principles and pack out what you bring in!  It does get a little crowded later in the day so you may have to share space with others and it can be a little noisy at night.

  • Nicole G.
    Aug. 24, 2025

    Tolland State Forest Campground

    Great Lakeside Campground

    This was only my second camping trip ever (and first tent camping) so grain of salt here - We had a great time at Tolland. The site was spacious and equipped with a bear box, fire ring, and picnic table. The ground at the site was large gravel which was not great in the tent, but walking around it looks like most sites are more dirt and pine needles.

    The swimming area is small but sandy, great for kids, and my daughter loved thethe campfire and nature talk given on Saturday night by park staff.

  • K
    Jul. 6, 2025

    Alander Trail Camground — Mount Washington State Forest

    Amazing Dispersed Camping

    Absolutely love this spot and highly recommend if you’re looking for a super private, true primitive camping experience. You have to park at the entrance and hike in about 1.5-2 miles with everything on your back to get to the spots. Once you get there, theres quite a few sites to choose from and each offer quite a bit or privacy. It’s completely free and it usually isn’t too busy since most people don’t like having to carry all their stuff in that far. You will be in the heart of the forest/woods so definitely make sure to be prepared. We had some scares with coyotes and bears in the past but never anything crazy. They give you a semi-flat area for a tent, a fire pit and grill rack, one picnic table, and a bear box you would be sharing with other campers nearby

  • K
    May. 27, 2021

    Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground

    Awesome location!

    Shawangunk was SUCH a nice place to stay. So many good things - though a few things to keep in mind when you're booking, too. 

    I definitely recommend trying to get the walk-in (meaning you can't drive to them) sites (8-15) because they're just a little bit more set back and kind of wonderfully wooded all around. 8 & 9 seemed like the star sites, because they're up and away a little bit more than 10-15.

    Here goes:

    The Good:

    • The nicest, most level tent site you'll ever find. So easy to set up, and no worries whatsoever about roots or rocks.
    • Bathrooms and wash area, water access, etc. are all very easily accessible from any campsite
    • Nice new picnic benches
    • Gorgeous area - especially in the walk-in sites (i.e., not car accessible), where you're a little separated from the pavement
    • Holy crap is this the perfect location for exploring the Gunks, Mohonk Preserve, etc. You couldn't be more central to everything that's going on around it.
    • Phenomenal access to a trash can. It's very central and made throwing out dog poop really, really simple.

    The just okay:

    • Campsites are pretty close to a road. It's not particularly busy, but the speed limit is 55 so you do get some pretty decent whooshing sounds while you're trying to sleep.
    • The tent site is literally the only flat part of most campsites. Even our picnic table at site 13 was slightly tilted. Not an issue, really, but it was noticeable.
    • With all the heavy bear traffic signs that were up, I was surprised to see how close bear boxes were to our tents. They seemed to be 1-10 feet away from tents in each campsite. 
    • Take with a slight grain of salt my recommendation of sites 8-15 - 8 & 9 are up a little higher and might be better, but 11-15 are within 50 feet of a wet area, and the bugs in late May were pretty annoying. I'm guessing other sites would have been better, and our hikes were almost bug-less.
    • Campsites are CLOSE together. I was relieved to be in a site we had to walk to, because having the car right there combined with other tents would have been a little claustrophobic. 

    Overall we really did love staying here. It was pretty empty and we were able to have two cars in the parking spots (usually you can only have one in the assigned spot) without putting anyone out. It was full of friendly people and my dog had an awesome time romping through the leaves and people watching. Definitely recommend this site if you're hiking or climbing in the area!

  • Katherine P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2020

    Rudd Pond Area — Taconic State Park

    A Cozy Spot

    We stayed here in August 2020.

    This is a really interesting campground that's situated on a hill overlooking Rudd Pond in Taconic State Park.  Almost all of the sites have platforms to pitch your tent on, although there are a couple of flatter spots without platforms (although they still have a slope.)

    There's space near the platform that is flat-ish with a picnic and a fire pit.  Some of these are better than others, ours was not that flat, but we made it work. You get a pretty decent view of Rudd Pond, and the sunsets are pretty. There is also a trailhead at the end of the campground that connects to the other trails in Taconic State Park. There's a swimming beach and during non-covid times, boat rentals.

    The campsites are pretty close together, so if the campground is full, you are rather close to your neighbors. It was close to half full when we were there, and it still felt like a fairly noisy campground, even after quiet hours. 

    My one complaint in these covid times is that compared to the NY-DEC campground we stayed at, I felt that the safety measures were less adhered to here. They had signs asking people to wear masks in the bathroom building, but far fewer people were. I also didn't see the staff do any cleaning of the restrooms while we were there - the paper towels ran out at one point and I had to flag the staff down to get them to go take care of that.  

    Still, I thought it was a really cute place to stay, and I think we would stay here again.

  • Eugene T.
    Aug. 15, 2019

    Jellystone Park Gardiner

    Great for beginners

    The camp is set up in a “blank slate, parking lot” type style, with a big field, center for tent camping or to be used for sports or other activities. There’s a “lazy river” at one side and a small RV village on the other, and tent sites with water or dry tent camping. Restrooms are available with hot and cold running water, showers and toilets.

  • Amanda S.
    Jul. 17, 2018

    Copake Falls Area — Taconic State Park

    Great price

    This is basic dry camping it is fun but there is no electric or water at the sites o LU in the bathhouse. So if you get a site close the the bathhouse you will have water close by and electricity close. Otherwise it’s dry camping.. the platform sites are great it makes it real easy to set up a tent because of the platform that the tent goes on and the lake is ok. The kids don’t like swimming with fish so we didn’t spend much time at the lake

  • W L.
    Feb. 9, 2022

    Little Pond Campground

    A Park with Tent Camping Options, Great Hiking Trails

    Had a great summer camping weekend at Little Pond.

    Pros:

    - Near wonderful, little-used hiking trails - challenging ones, too!

    - Close to Catskill town options to explore, e.g. Livingston Manor

    - picnic table and room to park at your site

    - there is a dump station and recycling center.

    - Clean bathrooms and shower facilities

    - Nice tent sites with well-maintained fire pits (have rack for grilling over coals, very large fire pits, sturdy)

    - payphone near entrance/park ranger's office

    - firewood for sale at ranger's office

    -wildlife: hummingbirds on the path around Little Pond, frogs, deer, birds

    - foraging: plaintain, raspberries near camp, blueberries and huckleberries on hike

    - views on hike

    - ruins on hike

    Cons

    - no cell service, however, if you hike to a mountain top can have fun joking with those you call about that's what it took to be able to get a signal and be in touch with them :-)

    - weekend around the lake is more like a park with day-trippers, as opposed to serene wilderness/lakeside camping. 

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    There was a high school group (on Satuday?) there that made it feel more like a family/public place than a wilderness getaway. The hiking, however, more than made up for it. The trail we took to get to the top and, at last, have cell phone service and AWESOME views more than made up for that.

    The Park Rangers were helpful and unobtrusive. They drove their carts around periodically but not like they were hovering in any one spot or making trouble for anyone. 

    We like visiting the nearby towns and breweries. It was a wondrful weekend. They have some tent sites right on the lake for hike-ins. If you drive, you have to carry all your stuff for awhile before you get to yourcamp site. However, these are right on the lake in supreme spots, even with "old school" outhouses a stone's throw away.

    I recommend Little Pond for a weekend. If you stay longer, be sure to check  out the surrounding area. We stayed at campsite 2, which was ok, but not on the lake. Go for a site on the lake, even if you have to carry your stuff to set up, it was breathtaking in the morning to see the mist rising off the lake.

    From the park: 

    Campground Phone:(845) 439-5480 Regional Office Phone:(607) 652-2032 Make Your Camping Reservation: ReserveAmerica

    Little Pond is a quiet picturesque campground located in the Catskill Forest Preserve which offers a leisurely hiking trail around a 13-acre pond, and the opportunity to venture along trails leading to the ruins of an old farm or enjoy breathtaking views atop the Touchmenot Mountains.

    The campgrounds, beach, boat rental, and Junior Naturalist Program offers fun for all ages; and for the primitive camper, we offer remote sites on the back side of the pond. Little Pond is located minutes from Beaverkill, a world renowned fly fishing stream. Amenities = 67 tent and trailer sites; 8"remote" tent sites; picnic area with tables, grills, or fireplaces; pavilion rental; playground; volleyball; horseshoes; soccer; basketball; ice sales; firewood sales; flush toilets; hot showers; trailer dump station; recycling center; sand beach; boat launch; rowboat, paddle boat, kayak and canoe rentals.

    The campground offers accessible campsites with a mile long trail around the pond. A newly constructed ADA fishing platform is at the end of the trail near the day use area. There is also a new ADA path to the beach. Full listing of DEC's Accessible Recreation Destinations. Campsite Restoration Project This campground has sites that have been selected for restoration. While undergoing restoration the chosen sites will be closed. For the list of sites and more information on the project visit the Campsite Restoration Project page. People using the accessible trail at Little Pond Featured Activities boating Boating No motor boats allowed. Rowboats and canoes allowed. Rowboat, paddle boat, kayak and canoe rentals available. fishing Fishing A variety of pan fish.

    The Beaverkill, renowned fly fishing stream, is with minutes from the campground. The Pepacton Reservoir is also close by. A special permit is needed to fish in this reservoir and can be obtained from the city of New York Board of Water Supply. Record sized brown trout and smallmouth bass have been caught in the reservoir. Fishing licenses are no longer being sold at any of our campground facilities, but can be conveniently purchased on-line or by phone.

    Hiking Trailheads for both the campground trail and Little Pond trail are located within the campground. These trails connect the campground to the 33 miles of foot trails located on the 27,000+ acre Delaware Wild Forest, which boarders the campground to the north. swimming

    Wildlife to Watch: White-tailed deer Wild turkeys Bald eagles Bears Coyotes Foxes

    Historic Interest: The campground was constructed between 1965 and 1968. It opened for camping in 1968 with 67 sites; the picnic area and the beach in 1968. The 8 remote sites were added at a later date. The shower house was constructed in 1984. In celebration of the 100th year anniversary of the Forest Preserve in July 1985, a time capsule was buried in the campground. This capsule, containing the names of the persons camping in the campground at that time, was entombed in the base of a stone monument located in front of the facility supervisor's office. The capsule is scheduled to be opened on the 200th anniversary of the Forest Preserve.

  • Christina W.
    May. 28, 2019

    Sperry Road Campground — Mount Greylock State Reservation

    I go every year!

    Me and my friends get a group site at least once a year. It's an amazing place with really great staff that care about the safety of everyone and keeping the areas clean. We always have an amazing time here. The views are great and we have never had any issues. 

    First time I went it was intimidating because I had never camped in an all tent camping site with no running water or public restroom areas. However, as soon as I got acclimated, I loved it. There are outhouses stationed at different areas all around, and bear boxes for every group. There are bears around so use the boxes seriously. 

    There are a number of rivers and little waterfalls that are always nice to visit. I plan to go there again very soon!

Guide to Purling

Tent campsites near Purling, New York offer diverse camping experiences beyond the immediate Echo Lake and Giant Ledge areas. The Catskill region provides camping options from 1,200 to 3,500 feet elevation with terrain varying from creekside flats to mountain ridges. Most primitive sites require preparation for potential weather changes, as temperatures can drop 10-15 degrees at night even during summer months.

What to do

Challenging hikes from base camp: Giant Ledge Primitive Camp serves as an excellent starting point for serious hikers. "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," reports Emily S. The trail includes rock gardens requiring careful footing.

Stargazing opportunities: The elevation and distance from urban centers make Giant Ledge Primitive Camp ideal for night sky viewing. Ryan notes, "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." Clear nights provide excellent visibility of constellations and occasional meteor showers.

Spring water collection: Accessing natural water sources requires planning at wilderness sites. John S. from Giant Ledge mentions, "The spring water source is a short hike back from the campsite, relatively convenient to restock from camp." Visitors should bring filtration equipment as water sources remain untreated.

What campers like

Sunrise viewpoints: The eastern exposure at many Catskill campsites creates memorable morning experiences. Raj T. describes Giant Ledge Primitive Camp as the "Best site in Catskills, sunrise and sunset." Sites on elevated terrain often provide unobstructed views across valleys.

Lakeside camping flexibility: Echo Lake's perimeter offers multiple camping options with varying advantages. James A. notes, "Lake is surrounded by hills and there is a small lean to with a few campfire spots. Other campsites are scattered and require navigating through small overgrown trails (wear pants). We camped on the hill with a beautiful view of the whole lake and breeze."

Secluded creek access: Waterfront sites provide both recreational opportunities and practical benefits. Upper Esopus Creekside Camp offers proximity to trailheads while maintaining creek access. Ashley F. notes it's "the closest private property to Slide Mountain. It's also just minutes from so many other trailheads and peaks."

What you should know

Road conditions vary significantly: Access to primitive sites often requires navigating unmaintained roads. At Duck Pond Campsite, The L. warns, "The road in on old cemetery rd was pretty rough, so we decided to go out the other way, which was way worse. The site itself was pretty nice, fire pit, trickling stream, but the years taken off the life of my truck was not worth it."

Trail difficulty can surprise newcomers: Some sites require more technical approaches than apparent from descriptions. Caleb J. shares about Giant Ledge: "It is a near vertical hike the first mile with 90% or more being over rock gardens. Not some rocks littering the trail. I think the trail used to be a stream or creek. It doesn't wind its way up the mountain, someone picked a side and said 'we go up from here, straight up'."

Bear precautions essential: Wildlife encounters require proper preparation. John S. reports, "Thought I heard bears come through overnight, but may have been a lucid dream. Bear can was undisturbed in the morning." Tina D. recommends, "Bring a bear bell and bear mace can to be safe. We did not see any but definite signs of them."

Tips for camping with families

Choose tent sites with natural barriers: When camping with children, select sites with natural boundaries. At Echo Lake, the shoreline creates natural containment while hillside sites provide elevation advantages. Yae U. found Duck Pond Campsite appropriate, noting, "After driving unpaved dirt road for a while, we arrived at surprisingly well maintained beautiful campsites. The pond is small so the mosquitos were not too bad."

Pack protective clothing: Overgrown trails between sites require preparation. James A. specifically advises, "Other campsites are scattered and require navigating through small overgrown trails (wear pants)." Long sleeves and pants protect against both insects and scratches from vegetation.

Bring trekking poles for stream crossings: Several approaches to tent campsites near Purling require crossing small streams. Tina D. recommends, "Get tracking poles if you don't already have some. Very helpful here." Poles provide stability on slippery rocks and help gauge water depth.

Tips from RVers

Low clearance warning: Most dispersed camping areas near Purling have road conditions unsuitable for traditional RVs. The L. cautions about Duck Pond Campsite, "Intermittent cell service which was frightening while driving on these rough roads." Consider parking at established locations and hiking to primitive sites.

Limited turnaround areas: Forest roads often lack adequate space for larger vehicles to turn around. Yae U. advises, "Just be careful driving in the sometimes rough conditions." Scout ahead when possible before committing to narrow access roads.

Frequently Asked Questions

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