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Best Dispersed Camping near Schaghticoke, NY

33 Reviews

The eastern New York landscape surrounding Schaghticoke features primarily dispersed camping options, with Ushers Road State Forest serving as the main local destination for primitive camping. Located approximately 5 miles from town, this state forest provides bicycle-friendly nature trails and numerous potential camping spots that require minimal facilities. Campers seeking more developed options often venture east into Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest, where a network of forest roads offers both designated and informal camping areas. The camping landscape transitions from New York's more regulated state forests to Vermont's mix of wilderness areas and national forest lands, creating diverse experiences within a 45-minute drive of Schaghticoke.

Seasonal conditions significantly impact camping viability throughout the region. Spring rainfall frequently creates swampy conditions in low-lying areas, particularly at Ushers Road State Forest, where one visitor noted that "the terrain eventually transitions into a low-lying, swampy area, likely due to recent rainfall." Vehicle clearance becomes important when accessing more remote sites, with several Vermont locations requiring at least 8 inches of ground clearance. Winter brings challenging conditions with temperatures dropping below 10°F, heavy snowfall, and high winds. Most primitive sites lack amenities, with no drinking water, toilets, or trash service available, requiring complete self-sufficiency.

Campers consistently mention the privacy and natural setting as primary attractions. At Ushers Road State Forest, camping is permitted anywhere at least 150 feet from trails, allowing visitors to find secluded spots with established fire rings. The forest's bicycle-friendly trails provide recreational opportunities directly from campsites. Sites in Vermont's George D Aiken Wilderness receive high ratings for their spaciousness and accessibility, with one visitor noting that "camp spots were all pretty spread out from each other and the road was easy to drive on." Proximity to water features enhances many camping experiences, though seasonal flooding can limit site availability. Cell service remains spotty throughout the region, with most primitive sites offering minimal to no connectivity, creating a true disconnected wilderness experience.

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Best Dispersed Sites Near Schaghticoke, New York (23)

    1. Ushers Road State Forest

    2 Reviews
    Round Lake, NY
    9 miles

    "This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails. I explored both directions on my bike, riding approximately half a mile down each side."

    2. NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot

    6 Reviews
    Bennington, VT
    25 miles

    "A LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings. The bugs seems to be unbothered by the bug spray as well."

    "Went on a Wednesday night late October and had to drive about 4 miles down the dirt road to find a suitable spot. After what was very quiet and a peaceful place to be."

    3. George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed

    8 Reviews
    Wilmington, VT
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 747-6700

    "The camp spots were all pretty spread out from each other and the road was easy to drive on. There were only about 10 spots along the access road."

    "Some sites were really wet but we found a nice dry place."

    4. Somerset Airfield

    6 Reviews
    West Dover, VT
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 388-4362

    "It has pit toilets. These sites are close together with little to no shade. Some sites have access to a stream that flows behind the park."

    "I arrived after the 4th of July and a neighbor said it was rowdy during the holiday with illegal fireworks set off every night over the dry forest. These pics are from a weekday morning."

    5. NF 83 - riverside

    3 Reviews
    West Dover, VT
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 362-2307

    "This is a nice clearing near the river where the road used to cross."

    "The left side of the drive in is swampy so be sure to not drift to that side."

    6. Statton Pond Camp on Forest Road 71

    3 Reviews
    Sunderland, VT
    32 miles

    "Easy access to an open circle, capable of handling multiple rigs for a large gathering. Stone fire ring in the center. We had this all to ourselves in our Bean teardrop. "

    "The site was very flat and could accommodate several small campers.  It was quiet during our overnight stay other than a car or two on Stratton-Arlington Rd.  There weren't many mosquitoes either. "

    7. Dispersed site along Forest RD 71

    3 Reviews
    Sunderland, VT
    32 miles

    "One of many locations along Forest rd 71, this spot was a good place to pitch a tent for the night while exploring the area even in the rain."

    "There are a few spots around you can park at. I chose a more sunny and open spot with less trees. So there's more options. It's very quiet definitely check it out."

    8. Green Mountain National Forest FR71

    1 Review
    West Dover, VT
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 747-6700

    "Free camping"

    9. Branch Pond on National Forest Hwy

    1 Review
    Sunderland, VT
    31 miles

    "No public bathrooms, no hookups, I personally didn’t have service."

    10. NF83 Dispersed site 1

    1 Review
    West Dover, VT
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (802) 362-2307

    "Don't expect to get in here unless you have more than 8" of clearance under your vehicle.  "

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Recent Free Dispersed Camping Photos near Schaghticoke, NY

46 Photos of 23 Schaghticoke Campgrounds

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Schaghticoke, NY

33 Reviews of 23 Schaghticoke Campgrounds

  • The L.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 8, 2025

    Ushers Road State Forest

    Trail head

    This trailhead provides access to bicycle-friendly nature trails. I explored both directions on my bike, riding approximately half a mile down each side. The terrain eventually transitions into a low-lying, swampy area, likely due to recent rainfall over the past week.

    About 500 feet down the right-hand trail, there is a smaller path branching off to the left. This leads to a previously used campsite, approximately 200 feet from the main trail. The site includes a stone fire ring, indicating prior use.

    Given that camping is permitted anywhere in the woods as long as it’s at least 150 feet off the trail, the surrounding area offers an abundance of potential camping spots.

  • M.A.D. P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 1, 2023

    Somerset Airfield

    Small open park

    The Airfield Campground is a strip of land with several campsites and fire pits. It has pit toilets. These sites are close together with little to no shade. Some sites have access to a stream that flows behind the park. The real attraction is the huge Somerset Resevoir which is up the road. Plenty of fishing, paddling, hiking and picnicking opportunities. There are other dispersed sites down the road that are free

  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2024

    Somerset Airfield

    Good stopover location

    Only the first section of the campground was open due to flooding. As a result, there were puddles everywhere.

    Campsites are listed as disbursed but there are only 7 trees to separate 9 camp sites. The campsites are all next to the road and have fire circles.

    There is a single pit toilet at the end of the camping area. No garbage service, no water, no cell service. Basically a camp site where you can share a fire with the neighbors.

  • Natasha T.
    Jun. 6, 2022

    NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot

    Nice wooded little campsite

    A LOT of bugs due to dense wooded surroundings. The bugs seems to be unbothered by the bug spray as well. A few miles down the road there is another campsite that is more open and also has a fire pit with a lot less bugs flying around and more open space.

  • c H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 13, 2023

    George D Aiken Wilderness Dispersed

    Cool Spot!

    The camp spots were all pretty spread out from each other and the road was easy to drive on. There were only about 10 spots along the access road. Brewery, distillery, beautiful lakes and scenic towns all within 15 minutes of the sites.

  • SJ W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 1, 2024

    NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot

    Beautiful but surprisingly crowded

    Went on a Wednesday night late October and had to drive about 4 miles down the dirt road to find a suitable spot. After what was very quiet and a peaceful place to be. Many pull offs but a lot were too wet for my van and I was afraid of getting stuck. The road itself was in great condition though.

  • licia S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Somerset Airfield

    No Wifi, Resevoir Beautiful

    Enjoyed the stunning babbling brook and resevoir- saw happy people swimming, kayaking, and camping. It's been quiet and peaceful and sometimes generators running all night. I arrived after the 4th of July and a neighbor said it was rowdy during the holiday with illegal fireworks set off every night over the dry forest. These pics are from a weekday morning. It's great to see families camping. There are pit toilets. AT.T service at bridge prior to camp- short walk. SOS only in camp. Another camper told me Starlink works here.

  • Miccal M.
    Jan. 18, 2024

    NF 83 - riverside

    Quiet spot on the river

    I've looked at this spot a few times and it is normally way to wet to camp at, but this time it was frozen.  This is a nice clearing near the river where the road used to cross.

    The access into this location is a little rough but most cars should make it, I would prefer having a little more clearance though just to be sure.  

    Being a primitive site there is only a fire ring here.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 26, 2023

    Statton Pond Camp on Forest Road 71

    NFR 71 Wide Open Site, North End

    Easy access to an open circle, capable of handling multiple rigs for a large gathering. Stone fire ring in the center. We had this all to ourselves in our Bean teardrop. 

    Good hiking access to Stratton Pond, to Branch Pond, to Grout Pond Recreation Area, to the AT/LT. 

    Pretty quiet during our stay, plenty of dispersed sites along 71 further south. 

    Only reason for 4 stars is the lack of any long distance views from the site itself. 

    2 bars of USCellular LTE

Guide to Schaghticoke

Primitive camping near Schaghticoke, New York primarily clusters around forest roads and wilderness areas in neighboring Vermont, approximately 30-45 minutes from town. Winter temperatures in this region can drop well below freezing, with readings as low as 8°F and persistent high winds. Vehicle clearance becomes a critical consideration when accessing remote sites, with several areas requiring a minimum of 8 inches of ground clearance to navigate safely through rough terrain.

What to do

Pond exploration: The Somerset Reservoir provides excellent paddling opportunities near dispersed campsites. According to one visitor at Somerset Airfield: "The real attraction is the huge Somerset Reservoir which is up the road. Plenty of fishing, paddling, hiking and picnicking opportunities."

Biking: Forest roads throughout Green Mountain National Forest offer routes for mountain biking with varying difficulty levels. A camper at NFR 273 Dispersed Camping Spot noted: "Brewery, distillery, beautiful lakes and scenic towns all within 15 minutes of the sites."

Stargazing: Areas like NF83 Dispersed offer exceptional night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. One camper described it as "a great spot with no light pollution, cell signal or distractions."

What campers like

Natural water features: Many campers appreciate the small streams and water access at various sites. A visitor at NF 83 - riverside described it as "Peacefully placed along the bends of the river is a large open grassy area with a sizable fire pit!"

Space between sites: Several locations provide good separation between campers. At Somerset Airfield, one reviewer noted: "There are other dispersed sites down the road that are free."

Accessible fire rings: Most sites feature established fire pits. At Statton Pond Camp on Forest Road 71, a camper described "Easy access to an open circle, capable of handling multiple rigs for a large gathering. Stone fire ring in the center."

What you should know

Road conditions: Access to many sites requires careful driving, especially after rain. One camper at NF83 Dispersed site 1 advised: "Don't expect to get in here unless you have more than 8" of clearance under your vehicle."

Seasonal flooding: Spring and heavy rain periods frequently make sites unusable. A camper at Dispersed site along Forest RD 71 reported: "This particular campsite is very muddy. Well, at least today it is. I have an SUV and I didn't trust it to get through, and I didn't want to get stuck."

Sanitation facilities: Most sites lack toilets, requiring proper waste disposal practices. A reviewer at Somerset Airfield observed that "Site was littered with places previous campers had left human excrement. While not in the site directly, it was all around it."

Tips for camping with families

Site selection timing: Arrive early during peak seasons to secure suitable spots. At Branch Pond on National Forest Hwy, a camper recommended: "If you get there while its still sunlight you can pick a spot by a flowing stream/river."

Wildlife awareness: Bear activity has been reported in the area. A camper at Branch Pond noted: "I did see a huge blackbear."

Weekend crowding: Holiday periods bring significant activity and potential noise. At Somerset Airfield, one camper reported: "Weekend was interrupted by a domestic violence situation a few sites down that resulted in fights and someone shooting off a handgun. Took state police over 50 minutes to respond and multiple families left."

Tips from RVers

Site size considerations: Several dispersed areas can accommodate multiple vehicles. At Statton Pond Camp, one RVer noted: "The site was very flat and could accommodate several small campers."

Weather preparation: Winter camping requires extensive preparation for extreme conditions. An RVer at Somerset Airfield shared: "Everything crusted was over with a good inch of ice. I have never endured such winds camping, I was sure camp was going to be blown apart."

Holding spots: During peak periods, expect some sites to be claimed in advance. One camper observed: "Many other sites further south on 71 were filled and some were just TTs holding the space for the upcoming weekend."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Schaghticoke, NY?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Schaghticoke, NY is Ushers Road State Forest with a 5-star rating from 2 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Schaghticoke, NY?

TheDyrt.com has all 23 dispersed camping locations near Schaghticoke, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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