Best Dispersed Camping near Windham, NY
Dispersed camping around Windham, New York includes several primitive sites in the Catskill Mountains and surrounding state forests. Echo Lake provides hike-in tent camping with established sites circling the water and one lean-to. Other options include Burnt Rossman State Forest, Betty Brook Camp, Duck Pond Campsite, and Allaben Primitive Campsites. These areas generally allow camping at no cost, with fire rings at many locations. Most sites permit pets and allow campfires, though regulations vary by location.
Access to many of these sites requires navigation on unpaved roads that can become challenging after rain or in winter conditions. Duck Pond Campsite is reached via dirt roads that may require careful driving in smaller vehicles. One reviewer noted, "The road in on old cemetery rd was pretty rough," while another mentioned "intermittent cell service which was frightening while driving on these rough roads." Most areas have no amenities such as toilets, drinking water, or trash service. Betty Brook Camp is an exception, offering drinking water and picnic tables according to the available data. Pack-in, pack-out principles apply at all locations.
The natural setting provides the primary appeal of these dispersed sites. Echo Lake offers a picturesque mountain lake environment where "the lake is surrounded by hills" and camping options include both lakeside spots and elevated positions with "a beautiful view of the whole lake and breeze." Burnt Rossman State Forest provides winter camping opportunities in a peaceful environment. Betty Brook Camp features streamside camping where "sometimes you never see anyone." Many sites remain relatively unknown and uncrowded, though Echo Lake can "get a little crowded later in the day" according to one camper. Wildlife viewing opportunities exist throughout the region, with most sites situated in forested settings away from developed areas.
