4 campgrounds with availability this weekend
The Catskill Mountains surrounding Spring Glen, New York offer diverse tent camping options ranging from established campgrounds to primitive backcountry sites. Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground in Gardiner provides dedicated tent campsites with both drive-in and walk-in options, making it popular with rock climbers visiting the nearby Gunks. The Peekamoose Valley, located about 20 miles northwest of Spring Glen, features primitive tent-only camping with riverside sites divided into three distinct camping areas. For those seeking more seclusion, Hemlock Ridge MUA Dispersed camping area offers true backcountry tent camping with minimal facilities but maximum privacy.
Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables, though facilities vary significantly between locations. The walk-in tent sites at Shawangunk Gateway Campground provide level tent pads but require carrying gear from parking areas. Primitive tent camping areas like Peekamoose Valley offer soft ground for staking tents but limited facilities beyond fire rings and occasional vault toilets. Bear activity is common throughout the region, requiring proper food storage. Many sites operate on a first-come, first-served basis, particularly at dispersed and primitive locations, while established campgrounds like Samuel F. Pryor III typically require reservations.
According to campers, the walk-in sites at Shawangunk Gateway Campground (sites 8-15) provide more seclusion and are "wonderfully wooded," with sites 8 and 9 considered premium locations. One visitor noted that the tent sites are "the nicest, most level tent sites you'll ever find" with "no worries about roots or rocks." At Alder Lake, campers report spacious sites with good separation between neighbors, though one reviewer warned that summer weekends can become crowded and noisy. The Peekamoose Valley receives praise for its riverside tent sites with "plenty of privacy between spots," though some campers mention road noise. Hemlock Ridge offers what one tent camper described as "a quiet, peaceful wooded area" where solitude is almost guaranteed due to the small parking area limiting visitor numbers.
"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"
"This is a very nice modern campground with great access to amazing hiking and climbing in the area! About half the sites are walk-in and half the sites are drive-up."
"Quiet, next to a lightly trafficked road. There was a port a potty. Campsites in middle field are just clearings with fire pits and nothing else. Soft ground for staking a tent. Very few bugs."
"This was a good campground for a base point for hiking around the peekamoose area. I stayed in the middle field campground site #6 (which is the worst spot on that field)."
"There are absolutely no amenities whatsoever & barely even a signal here, but it’s quiet & off the beaten path. The parking lot only holds about 4-5 cars, 6 if you park real tight."
"Arrived at night on a weekday to find two other vehicles parked in the lot, srilll was able to find a fire ring with a level area relatively easy."
"Get tracking poles if you don't already have some. Very helpful here. This was one of my favorite weekend backpacking trips."
"However the descriptions of this place in reviews here and elsewhere provided very little info and once I got out to the trail realized how different it was to what I expected."
"In September my Girlfriend (who has never been camping) and I made the trip to New York."
from $90 / night
"We arrived here early afternoon, which ended up being perfect timing as we could set up everything and catch sunset by the fire."
"There are several beautiful, secluded hike-in sites along the lake which I would love to return to someday. The hike around the lake is a lovely, easy walk."
"There are two primitive campsites at this location. The small parking area can accommodate several cars. One site is to the left, one to the right."
from $15 - $45 / night
"I'm right across from the lake in amongst a copse of trees. Drawback solar is pretty much out. I would not drive an rv in here except maybe a small type trailer."
"There is a ten dollar fee per day to park your car so bring cash as the parking area is not always manned and you’ll have to leave the fee in an envelope that is available just past the entrance."
"They are a first come, first camped, set up, but I have not once in 6 years, (multiple trips per year), ever found anyone in the site ahead of me."
ScoutOctober leaves starting to fall makes for a very quiet, peaceful midweek evening in one of the two dispersed car camping sites. Exactly what I was hoping for - private and empty and lovely. Easy to find - two dispersed car sites are to the left at the fork in the road before the trailhead.
GuideMade a reservation (site44) since I arrived as the sun had set. Office registration was open until 8. Staff was neither friendly nor unfriendly. Bathroom was dated but fine and a short walk from my site. CG was emptier being a Tuesday night in mid-October, so was plenty of space.
Great trail following the Hudson River. Beautiful fall colors.
ScoutI stayed here in March 2026 for a night before going snowboarding at Belleayre Mountain. It was in the middle of a snowstorm on a Tuesday night, so I had the whole place to myself, which was nice.
ScoutNice campground, bathrooms are clean but dated, first come first serve for the sites.
Travelerbeautiful quiet space, great home base for the Catskills and small towns around here. note there's only a few spots. road conditions were fine.
RangerI'll start by saying this is a site-specific review (C20). I booked using Campspot and didn't select my own site but put in the criteria for my rig (30ft TT plus truck) and got a 50A back-in spot. The site was big but abnormal. Between the picnic table placement and the trees, I ended up right around 50ft from the electric and water, and the water spigot was so low I could barely put on my camco filter. With the uneven dirt roads, I had to unhitch with my truck in a gigantic puddle (lol). The site was otherwise fine aside from my gate code not working on Day 2. As for the campground as a whole, I thought it was pretty unique place by the river that offered several good amenities and activities, like downstream river tubing, an arcade, bathroom/shower facilities, a small store, little trails, and more. I would say this place borders the more primitive side.
GuideDefinitely a wide variety of sites—look at the site pictures before booking—there are two areas where it’s just an open field with bonfires and picnic tables that I’d avoid. I could see a large group going there or something but personally it doesn’t offer any privacy.
BUT if you book one of the other sites that DOES have privacy you’ll be in camping heaven. The “hike in” sites are more like “walk-in,” I was worried at first but it’s some are as little as a few yards from the road. The most annoying part was lugging the cooler back and forth, but totally worth it
GuideWe went the 2nd week of October and seems like we had just missed the foliage peak but it was still beautiful.
Everyone minded their business and most sites were 2-4 people, showers were clean and warm but the kind where you gotta push the button every 30 seconds. Toilets were clean and running smoothly (we were in the southernmost loop, closest to the camp office)
No cellphone reception but we could get satellite signal to text our loved ones that we were alive and well!
We loved the hiking and especially kayaking on the pond
GuideWe were in campsite 20 with lots of room. The first night we were there we were near very loud groups which was difficult to sleep through. The next night everyone cleared out and we had a peaceful crowd. Bathrooms are nice, the park has great hiking trails and a nice day use area! There is also an area where we can rent canoes. I would definitely return, just wish there was a little more crowd control.
The Catskill region near Spring Glen, New York sits at elevations ranging from 600 to 4,000 feet, creating varied camping microclimates. Primitive tent campsites near Spring Glen, New York typically close between November and April due to snow and freezing temperatures, though a few sites offer year-round access. Most dispersed camping areas require hikers to pack out all trash and supply their own water.
Hike to fire towers: The Balsam Lake fire tower accessible from Alder Lake provides panoramic views of the Catskills. "We also hiked the balsam lake fire tower which had nice views of the area," notes one camper who visited in October.
Rock climbing: Many campers choose Spring Glen as a base for climbing at the Shawangunk Mountains. "Love this campground! Have been here several times and have never had a complaint... Located really close to the Gunks for climbing and also some great hikes around the area," explains one visitor to Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground.
Winter camping: For those prepared for cold weather, tent sites remain open. "Camped out at one of the sites by the river and it was amazing, no one was around except a man far from our site. Good walking distance to the car especially in the cold!" reports a winter camper at The Peekamoose Valley.
Communal facilities: The Samuel F. Pryor III campground offers structured social spaces. "Communal fire pit and supplied wood... Covered communal pavilion with picnic tables, big sinks for washing dishes, and lighting (which shuts off at 9:47PM)," mentions one visitor.
Secluded spots: Giant Ledge Primitive Camp offers isolation for those willing to hike. "Amazing weekend getaway. Even the rain couldn't ruin this weekend getaway. The spring water source is a short hike back from the campsite, relatively convenient to restock from camp," shares one backpacker.
Morning views: Sunrise watching is popular at higher elevation sites. "Best site in Catskills, sunrise and sunset," notes a camper at Giant Ledge, while another at Alder Lake mentions an "awesome sunrise" as a highlight of their stay.
Spacious sites: Many tent campsites in the region offer room to spread out. "The campsites are very spacious with lots of room between you and other campers, and have a fire pit and some have picnic tables," reports a visitor to Alder Lake.
Challenging terrain: Some camping areas require significant hiking effort. One camper at Giant Ledge warns, "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."
Limited facilities: Hemlock Ridge MUA Dispersed camping area offers minimal amenities. "This isn't a fancy campsite and has no amenities. There is a small (10 car) parking lot and a trail that runs thru 80 acres of forest. Camping is allowed anywhere 150ft from the trail," explains one visitor.
Insect activity: Bugs can be problematic, particularly in spring and early summer. "Bugs were pretty bad," notes one camper at Alder Lake, while another mentions that sites 11-15 at Samuel F. Pryor III are "within 50 feet of a wet area, and the bugs in late May were pretty annoying."
Seasonal popularity: Many tent sites fill quickly during peak seasons. "Very disappointing camping experience... We arrived around 11:00 am and the parking lot was already packed and cars were lined up along the road," reports one summer visitor to Alder Lake.
Off-season visits: For quieter family camping, avoid summer weekends. "We arrived here early afternoon, which ended up being perfect timing as we could set up everything and catch sunset by the fire," notes a camper at Alder Lake who found the area peaceful during their stay.
Flat tent sites: Slide Mountain Wilderness Roadside Campsite offers accessible options. "There are two primitive campsites at this location. The small parking area can accommodate several cars. One site is to the left, one to the right. We stayed towards the left, which was slightly closer to the road, but was much larger and next to a pit toilet house."
Accessible swimming: Some camping areas offer water access for children. At Alder Lake, one visitor mentions "relaxing by the water" as part of their experience, while another notes the "beach was pretty full" during peak season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Spring Glen, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Spring Glen, NY is Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Spring Glen, NY?
TheDyrt.com has all 55 tent camping locations near Spring Glen, NY, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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