Beaver Pond Campground — Harriman State Park

Perfect place to get away and be in the calm nature. Only sound I’ve heard is the birds in the trees. Very open area with many sites with bear lockers, picnic tables and fire pits. We called ahead yesterday and they said it’s walk-in, so we will go register now because we came in late. Only $20 for out of state!! That’s the cheapest I’ve seen across all New England lol

Because of its convenient location, this is my"home" campsite and the one I visit most frequently. I like the platform sites that are available, the location close to the lake and beach, and the clean shower and bathroom facilities slope game.

If you would like a peaceful, clean campground skip this place. This was the worst campground we’ve stayed at. The bathrooms are very outdated and not cleaned often enough. The sites are too close together with very little trees between sites allowing zero privacy. Their picnic tables also are disgusting, bring a table cloth! They have a lot rules one being “no amplifying speakers allowed” that they clearly do not enforce. It sounded like a rave throughout the night even after calling the ranger station and complaining. Guests were playing loud music until about 1:30 AM and starting up again right as quiet hours ended at 7 AM. There then was a religious service happening at 8 AM with a whole amp system we could hear clearly on the other side of campground. We absolutely will not be back.

This is also an ideal place to relax and explore. 

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The staff person at Beaver Pond Campground in Harriman State Park is so sweet! She picked a site for us suitable to our vehicle and, with so few people in the campground, away from other folks but close to the bathroom. Going for a hike here in the morning before heading out.

This is my "home" campsite and the one I return to most frequently because of the convenience of location. I enjoy the beach/lakefront, option for platform sites, and regularly cleaned bathroom and shower facilities. HOWEVER, I DO NOT recommend going on holiday weekends or peak summer seasons. It will be noisy, there will be generators, there will be loud music. When I plan my trip around the spring, fall, or summer weekends that look sparse it is quiet, clean, and the others that are at the sites are nature lovers enjoying the scenery.

Worst camping experience ever. We arrived at 2:45 and had to wait until 3pm to check in which staff sat and chatted with each other. Wardens drive around in constant golf cart surveillance while campers are trying to enjoy nature.

Worst camping experience of my life. It's like a prison. We show up 245pm, have to wait till 3pm, office staff all chatting with each other. Guys constantly driving around in golf cart surveillance

I stayed here with my 7-year old niece. The overall park is amazing with a great beach for swimming and a short but fun hike up to a fire tower with an amazing view. We had a great time.

For campsites, there are two experiences. There is a main grid of campsites (picture included) that are really right next to each other. This area offers little seclusion and seemed pretty noisy.

We stayed at site 14, which had spacing and privacy between campsites. However, we happened to be next to a larger group that spread across multiple campsites, so there was more of a party feel until well after midnight.

Most sites are crammed in, but we lucked out by changing sites to a quieter spot. Did not let people checkin until clock struck 11, no alcohol, no hammocks, no parking near store where they sell wood, no …. List goes on.

This is an off-grid camping experience. You can use your generator at certain hours. Theu have a beach. Their staff is friendly. I love going here.

Very peaceful and quiet with lots to do in the area.

beautiful sites for all types of campers

Great location and quick to get to from NYC. 45 minute drive and location has a lot of amenities. Full bathrooms and slop sinks throughout the campsite. The campsites are a bit close to one another but if you have a big group you can book several sites near each other and have a great time with family and friends. The wildlife do roam around your campsite so be mindful of putting food and garbage away before sleeping. Hike trails are all over the place and the lake is nearby. Definitely coming back again and making this place a regular visit for my family and friends.

I have camped Beaver Pond for the last 45 years and have found something new and better each every year I've gone to the campgrounds. I have gone from tent platform,  tent camping, tarp, and now hammock camping. The sites can be a bit tight, at times and you may find a few visitors, not necessarily on two legs, but always a delight. It's great to be among the trees away from the hustle and bustle of the city in what I consider a majestic chapel that will always welcome and embrace your presence. Something for all, swimming, camping, access to bear mountain pool, or the appalachian trails, and lean tos, (not on the camp sites).  Prices all can afford to come. Great for all types of levels of campers.

Short distance from the NYC, very organized, clean pond, has a playground, showers, bathroom. Your phone will have signal.

Drive-in tent campgrounds. Adequate restroom facilities sprinkled amongst tent sites. Some campsites have raised platforms. All sites have picnic tables and fire ring with flip-top grill. If looking for privacy, back end of campgrounds (#’s 1, 13, 15, 21, 23, etc) provide adequate quietness, a bit hidden and tucked away from the rest. Very near many trailheads and the expansive Lake Welsh. Alcohol prohibited... Uploaded photo/vid from off-season 2019.

Harriman State Park offers primitive camping only. You biggest downside is that you have to hike in about a mile or two to get to the various sites. The advantage of this is that you are already on the trail and you will be far enough from car/street noises. There are several camping options once you begin hiking in. Make sure to bring enough supplies to last for your trip as it is a bit of a hassle to have to hike back out to your car.

The biggest positive about Beaver Pond is how spread out it was. You definitely feel like you have your own space and are not camping on top of your neighbor. Many of the camping options were on platforms which is especially nice if it recently rained or if you are expecting rain during your stay. I also particularly enjoyed the communal sink which made it very convenient and easy to wash dishes and fill up water.

Did a two day, 30 mile backpacking trip along the AT and adjacent trails. Stayed at two places:

West Mountain Shelter Gorgeous! As far as the lower Hudson Valley goes, the views here are unbeatable. The shelter looks out over the valley, and when the weather is clear you can see 75miles+ down the Hudson. Plenty of fire rings and dispersed sites clustered around the shelter. we had a bear canister and had no issue, nor did we here of anyone else having any. Bring plenty of heavy duty insect repellent!!

Fingerboard Shelter: This one doesn’t have much in the way of a view, but it is only half a mile (via a spur trail) from Lake Tiorati, which is open for various recreational activities in the summer (and has vending machines with COLD WATER AND POWERADE OMG). a good number of sites, and the shelter itself was nicer than WM, even if there was no view.

We stayed here on a Thursday night in September prior to taking off backpacking. The campground was clean and quiet. RV hook-ups, tent platforms, and rustic tent sites were available. Our rustic tent site had a few good options for pitching a tent, as well as picnic table and fire ring.

Ranger said that during summer weekends the grounds fill up and can be quite noisy, but mid-week during the off-season it was great. Expect to purchase firewood, although scrounging for kindling was possible. Facilities were clean and what you'd expect from a campground.

Would definitely return!!

Most of the camping in Harriman is more backcountry-esque. Hike in, set up camp, move to a new spot and so on. Beautiful area with great hiking trails. Good for all seasons!

Total enjoyment always coming back been coming here over 20 years every July with the kids when they were younger now they are adults and we bring them and grandchildren and Me & my sweetheart still come up and spend four days alone in August we always get a platform we set up our tent we meet returning campers and assist new camper They always ask us about our tent how we set up everything

I’ve been coming here for years and love this spot in Harriman State Park. Busy at peak times, but very cozy.

It has proximity to tons of hiking trails. The view from the beach in the evening is breathtaking. I have never seen so many stars.

I have spent dozens of nights in Harriman, mostly 4 day/ 3 night loops. Pure backcountry an hour North of Manhattan. Carry in/ carry out. Bring water purification. Water is abundant in cooler months, but expect to purify lake water in Summer. Camp in or around shelters. Hang you food or carry a bear canister; black bears do inhabit Harriman/ Bear Mountain. Pick up NY NJ trail Conference Map set #118-119. Carry/apply insect repellant to repel deer ticks that carry Lyme disease.

The campground accommodated a late arrival. Minus the rain, it was a great experience. Elevated platforms and conveniently located restrooms! The fire pits also had a grate, which was great 😬