Emily F.
Guide
GuideMax V. Shaul State Park Campground
Site 13
Our site had a lot of space. Watched a video on YouTube that was a walk through of each site. So peaceful. Lots of good hiking. Sinks for dishes, clean bathrooms and showers.
Best Campgrounds near Walton, NY
The western Catskills region surrounding Walton, New York features a mix of established campgrounds and primitive sites within a 30-mile radius. Bear Spring Mountain DEC campground in nearby Downsville provides drive-in access for both tents and RVs with full hookup options, while Little Pond Campground in Andes offers a more secluded experience with waterfront sites and remote walk-in options. Beals Pond State Forest provides free dispersed camping for those seeking a more primitive experience. Oquaga Creek State Park Campground in Bainbridge and Peaceful Valley Campsite in Downsville round out the options with cabin rentals and glamping accommodations alongside traditional camping sites.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from mid-May through early October, with limited winter access. Cell service varies significantly throughout the region, with many campers reporting no signal at locations like Little Pond. According to one visitor: "There is no cell service as soon as you turn into the park. I didn't even find an area where I could temporarily send and receive messages." Reservations are recommended for established campgrounds, particularly for weekend stays during summer months. The region experiences typical Northeast weather patterns with hot, occasionally humid summers and cold winters. Many forest roads leading to primitive sites may require high-clearance vehicles, especially after rainfall when conditions deteriorate.
Waterfront camping locations receive consistently positive reviews, with pond and river access being major draws. At Beaverkill Campground, one camper noted: "I loved how close the river was to our campground, only a few steps away." Privacy levels vary considerably between sites, with some campgrounds offering spacious, well-separated sites while others place campers in closer proximity. Wildlife sightings, including deer, bears, and various bird species, are commonly reported. Hiking trails connect many campgrounds to larger trail networks in the surrounding state forests and preserves. Fishing opportunities abound in the area's ponds, streams, and rivers, with the Beaverkill stream particularly noted for its fly fishing. Most established campgrounds provide basic amenities like picnic tables, fire rings, and access to drinking water.
Best Camping Sites Near Walton, New York (169)
1. Bear Spring Mountain — DEC
7 ReviewsDownsville, NY5 milesWebsite+1 (607) 865-6989$18 - $40 / night
"Went here with some friends who had never been outside NYC before. They were absolutely blown away. For me, it was a nice site but not exceptional. Bring or rent a kayak!"
"I drove to NYC for a business trip and ended up driving 1 and a half hour to reach this place. I always carry a tent in the back of my trunk and decided to go camping."
2. Little Pond Campground
21 ReviewsMargaretville, NY22 milesWebsite+1 (845) 439-5480$22 / night
"Pros: Near wonderful, little-used hiking trails - challenging ones, too!
- Close to Catskill town options to explore, e.g."
"You can see a picture here of the water just a 10 foot trail away from our campsite. All in all a great trip."
3. Oquaga Creek State Park Campground
7 ReviewsAfton, NY15 milesWebsite+1 (607) 467-4160$17 - $150 / night
"Great little lake for swimming & fishing. Weather was miserable so proximity to Cooperstown was a plus. No cell service or wifi which didnt bother me but could some."
"Cute cabins sprinkled all around the park. Lake with a nice beach and swimming area. Carry in boating. Great for tents or self contained RV."
4. Peaceful Valley Campsite
4 ReviewsDownsville, NY10 milesWebsite+1 (607) 363-2211"Great location with full hook-ups. Nice riverside spots. Quiet during the week. Nice place to stay"
"Great location with nice riverside spots. Weekdays are quiet, weekends not so much. Full hook-ups. Owners are friendly and great. Reccomended, especially during the week."
5. Unadilla KOA
4 ReviewsTrout Creek, NY13 milesWebsite+1 (607) 369-9030"A bit off the beaten path for a KOA, but nearly sold out in early October nonetheless. Sites range from typical large rig to dispersed tents next to a creek."
6. Russell Brook Campsites
4 ReviewsRoscoe, NY16 milesWebsite+1 (607) 498-5416"We were right next to a small brook, and falling asleep to the sound of the water behind our tent was amazing. Everyone we met was super friendly. We will definitely be back!"
"As close to nature as possible with modern conveniences still nearby. Terri and her gang do a great job of running her Dad's adventure."
7. Roscoe Campsites
6 ReviewsRoscoe, NY19 milesWebsite+1 (607) 498-5264"Great access to the beaverkill. It’s perfect for a quick getaway."
8. Beaverkill Campground
6 ReviewsRoscoe, NY20 milesWebsite+1 (845) 439-4281$20 - $40 / night
"This campground was so pleasant, very clean and quiet, I loved how close the river was to our campground, only a few steps away."
"Bathrooms were very cleaned and everybody respected COVID-related social distancing. Would come again!"
9. Beals Pond State Forest
1 ReviewTrout Creek, NY13 milesWebsite+1 (518) 357-216110. Tall Pines Campground & Canoeing
3 ReviewsBainbridge, NY18 milesWebsite+1 (607) 563-8271"Great for kids, kinda close to busy roads but close to convenient shopping and local activities when they open back up."
"My 3 year old loves the swimming pool and the ice cream and craft carts that come around."
Recent Camping Photos near Walton, NY
266 Photos of 169 Walton Campgrounds
Becky S.
Bear Spring Mountain — DEC
Ann F.
Oquaga Creek State Park Campground
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Bramley Mountain Trail Camp
Rocky W.
My Friends Place
Ashley B.
Beaverkill Campground
Jen B.
Deer Haven Campground and Cabins
Jason E.
Kellystone Park Campsite
Todd H.
Brook Hollow Homestead - Camping in a Catskills Forest
Casey L.
Little Pond Campground
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Adams River Run
Anne B.
Soaring Eagle Campground and the Inn at Kellam's Bridge
Mike R.
Blue Wind Nature Camp
Recent Reviews near Walton, NY
448 Reviews of 169 Walton Campgrounds
Jacob Y.
ScoutDevil's Tombstone Campground
Entitled Arrogant Staff
We have camped for years all over the Northeast and have never experienced campground staff as rude, patronizing, and overbearing as we did at Devil’s Tombstone Campground. It felt like our group was constantly being watched and corrected over every minor thing imaginable instead of simply being treated like paying guests trying to enjoy the weekend. The campground itself was disappointing, but the staff attitude was by far the worst part of the experience. Unless you want to be nitpicked every time you do literally anything, then you might not want to camp here.
- Jacob Y.Scout
Devil's Tombstone Campground
Entitled Arrogant Staff
We have camped for years all over the Northeast and have never experienced campground staff as rude, patronizing, and overbearing as we did at Devil’s Tombstone Campground. It felt like our group was constantly being watched and corrected over every minor thing imaginable instead of simply being treated like paying guests trying to enjoy a weekend camping. The campground itself was disappointing, but the staff attitude was by far the worst part of the experience. We do not recommend this campground to anyone, unless you want to have anxiety when they drive by every 5 minutes to check on every minor thing. By the way, the walk from the check in shack to the end of the campground is at most 0.2 miles.
Danielle S.ScoutDevil's Tombstone Campground
Experienced Campers — First Time Ever Leaving a Negative Review
FYI this is my first time ever writing a negative campground review, but this experience deserves one. Our large family group stayed at Devil’s Tombstone Campground over Memorial Day weekend, and despite having camped dozens of times over the years, this was by far the worst campground and staff experience we’ve ever had.
When we arrived there was no caretaker present, no cell service to call the posted number, and we were later condescendingly told we “should have checked in” and “should have knocked”— both of which we did. We were then told the posted number was “only for emergencies,” despite nowhere stating that. The first caretaker who checked us in was pleasant, but after that it felt like staff constantly monitored and corrected our group over extremely minor issues: partially parking on grass, briefly parking near the bathroom walkway, plugging into an outlet near the restroom during 40-degree rainy weather, hanging signs, and even checking our tarp lines on trees. Many of these rules were not posted anywhere.
After someone plugged into the bathroom outlet because they were freezing (there was no sign that said you couldn't and it was not listed in the rules), the bathroom power was shut off entirely, leaving the bathrooms without lights at night, which created an obvious safety issue. Around the same time, a camera suddenly appeared near the outlet area, which felt excessive and uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, staff spent hours mowing, weed-whacking, and chain sawing during the middle of Friday on Memorial Day weekend while simultaneously nitpicking campers over every little thing.
The final straw was being told we could not use a fully enclosed propane fire pit with no embers during cold, windy, rainy weather. After expressing frustration over the constant nitpicking, forest rangers were called on us the next morning. Staff reportedly told them we had garbage and food everywhere, which was completely false. Thankfully the rangers themselves were respectful and seemed to quickly realize we were simply a group trying to enjoy our weekend.
The campground itself was also very misleading compared to online photos. The “lake” is more like a shallow pond unsuitable for meaningful fishing, kayaking, or swimming. The supposedly stocked creek running through the campground was completely dry, there is no running water in the bathrooms, and a main road cuts directly through the campground with traffic flying by at highway speeds.
We still managed to have fun because we enjoy spending time outdoors together, but we would absolutely not return or recommend this campground.
Ryan B.ScoutRussell Brook Campsites
Great campground
Owners are amazing, family oriented, campground has tons for kids to do and is close to Roscoe. Our family goes every year
Emily M.
TravelerLong Pond Campground
Great dispersed camp sites
All the roads are gravel, so it might get a little muddy after a big rain but I had no issue with a low clearance car driving around to explore the sites available. About half the sites are spread out in a large patch of spruce trees, I stayed at one of these. You can hear and sometimes see cars on the main road from your site but overall the spruce trees give you a lot more privacy. Had a neighbor blasting their speaker and didn't even hear it until I was walking by on that stretch of road. You might catch a glimpse of someone's fire at night, but it mostly felt like I had the place to myself. The other half are clustered much closer together among some deciduous trees but all the sites are pretty spacious, with a picnic table, fire pit, and easy access to the water. You might get a visit from day-use visitors looking for water access, especially if you pick a site closer to the water access paths, so if you're looking for more seclusion you may want to look elsewhere, but I didn't mind and the people who did stop near my site were respectful and didn't seem to want to disturb me once they saw the site near the water access was occupied. A free permit is needed for camping during the on-season. I stayed off-season and most of the sites were unoccupied, but I could see this being a popular spot during the warmer months. Port-a-potties are also not available off-season – be prepared to find a good cat hole spot or bring a wag bag if you're not self-contained. Seeing some litter around my site was a bit of a bummer (don't be that guy!), but overall the sites looked pretty clean and well-maintained. I did notice some broken glass at my site, so if you have pets (or shoe-averse children) be mindful of their paw pads (and feet). There's plenty of downed wood for making a fire, and I passed a couple homes selling firewood on the side of the road on the way. Service was spotty (AT&T) but if you wandered around enough you could get a couple bars to send a text, or if you really needed to, drive up the road a couple of minutes. I would easily stay here again, but if I came during the main season I'd probably want to plan a mid-week trip and get my permit and claim my site as soon as possible.
- aarlen K.Scout
Mink Hollow Lean-to
Lean-to and primitive tent sites
Lean-to is just off the Mink Hollow trail near the Devil's Path there is an outhouse near lean-to. A reliable piped spring is a quarter mile away.
- RRobert F.Guide
Allaben Primitive Campsites
Pond spot
Cool spot next to a pond. There are a few others that aren’t next to a pond, and therefore not as cool… but still pretty cool bc it’s free and you can walk up a little to a pond.
- RRobert P.Scout
Gunx Camping on a Horse Farm
No Amenities but Great Location for the Gunks
This campground is just mowed spots on a hillside in Kerhonkson. There are no facilities aside from some port-o-sans that the owners didn't recommend using. But the location is great for accessing the Shawamhunks. Given the lack of affordable RV campgrounds (and even the few expensive ones) in the area, this stands out.
Guide to Walton
Campsites near Walton, New York sit in the western Catskills at elevations between 1,200-2,200 feet. The region features a mix of hardwood forests, rolling hills, and meandering waterways with cool nights even during summer months. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-85°F with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, while spring and fall camping requires additional cold-weather gear due to nighttime temperatures that can drop below 40°F.
What to do
Hiking trails access: Tall Pines Campground offers easy access to multiple trail systems. "We were able to access several great hiking trails directly from our campsite without driving anywhere," reports one visitor.
Fishing opportunities: Bear Spring Mountain — DEC provides excellent trout fishing in streams that remain cold even during summer months. "Nothing but woods all around! Endless hiking and beautiful steams - you can drink straight from the pipes!" notes Kimberly S.
Wildlife viewing: At Russell Brook Campsites, you'll find abundant wildlife in the surrounding forests. "Our site was massive (39) and had direct access to Russell Brook. Couldn't keep my son out of the water. Very peaceful. Felt like we had the place to ourselves," shares Mike C.
Swimming access: Oquaga Creek State Park offers a dedicated swimming area with lifeguards during peak season. "Nice park with area loops that all have a central bath house. Lake with a nice beach and swimming area. Carry in boating," reports Mary H.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Little Pond Campground offers walk-in sites that provide greater seclusion. "We had a walk in site and it was fantastic! Right on the water and pretty private. Each walk in site has its own bear box and outhouse," writes Lauren S.
River sounds: At Beaverkill Campground, many sites sit directly along the water. "The site we had was right on the river, so it was pretty and the sound of the water was pleasant," notes Guy M.
Star gazing: Oquaga Creek State Park provides excellent night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. "You can kayak and swim in the lake, and see incredible stars at night. Would recommend bringing your bikes," writes Ann F.
Clean facilities: Bear Spring Mountain maintains well-kept bathrooms and common areas. "Clean, private, and quiet! We had a blast!!" shares Amanda P.
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Beals Pond State Forest has no cellular coverage in most areas. "This state forest is beautiful but not easily accessible in the winter. After a certain point, the road is not maintained in the winter and I was unable to get cell reception with Verizon," reports Joshua M.
Weather preparedness: The region experiences rapid temperature changes, particularly in spring and fall. Overnight lows can drop below 40°F even when daytime temperatures reach the 80s.
Bear safety requirements: Russell Brook Campsites enforces strict food storage rules. "Just Wonderful. Have stayed at RB multiple times over the years since Charlie ran the place. It's an awesome visit to the woods. As close to nature as possible with modern conveniences still nearby," writes Brian J.
Reservation timing: Most campgrounds in the region require reservations 2-6 months in advance for summer weekends, while weekday availability remains better throughout the season.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly water features: Tall Pines Riverfront Campground offers dedicated swimming areas for children. "I have been coming here since I was a kid and now take my family too. My 3 year old loves the swimming pool and the ice cream and craft carts that come around," says Abigayle R.
Equipment recommendations: For walk-in sites at Little Pond Campground, bring gear with wheels. "Do recommend bringing something with wheels. It's not too far from the parking lot, but it's far enough to be annoying to carry everything," suggests Lauren S.
Activity options: Oquaga Creek State Park provides family-oriented recreation beyond camping. "Memorial Day weekend, campground was full but never felt crowded. Sites are large with a good buffer, fire ring & grill. Good mix of tent & trailer. Staff was pleasant and helpful. Great little lake for swimming & fishing," writes Cheryl S.
Wildlife education: Bear Spring Mountain offers opportunities to spot local wildlife safely. "Lots of wildlife! There are two areas for camping, check out both though one smells kind of like a barn. Site was typical of state park campgrounds, all up to expectations. Obey bear rules!" advises Amber A.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Unadilla KOA offers premium waterfront sites for larger rigs. "It looks like permanent campers take up most of the real estate along the stream, but we lucked out with a spot one row back with two empty sites in front of us. With the autumn foliage, it was a spectacular camp site. No problems getting out 40ft coach parked," reports Laura H.
Power adapter requirements: Some campgrounds require specific power adapters. "The tent sites with electric like the one we took used 240v 50A plugs, so we had to borrow a converter plug from the office for our 120v equipment," notes Deborah W. at Unadilla KOA.
Off-season advantages: Visiting in early spring or late fall offers greater site selection and fewer crowds. "Weekdays are quiet, weekends not so much. Full hook-ups. Owners are friendly and great. Recommended, especially during the week," shares Dave S. about Peaceful Valley Campsite.
Leveling challenges: Be prepared for uneven sites at some campgrounds. "Our site had a nice concrete pad, but the parking spot was mud. In fact, we could never get level because our blocks kept sinking," warns Sue G. about Tall Pines Riverfront Campground.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Walton, NY?
What camping is available near Walton, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, Walton, NY offers a wide range of camping options, with 169 campgrounds and RV parks near Walton, NY and 17 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Walton, NY?
Which is the most popular campground near Walton, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Walton, NY is Bear Spring Mountain — DEC with a 4.4-star rating from 7 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Walton, NY?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Walton, NY?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 17 free dispersed camping spots near Walton, NY.
Keep Exploring