Upper Esopus Creekside Camp

Camp on the Esopus Creek in the Big Indian-Oliverea Valley surrounded by seven 3500' Catskill High Peaks including Slide Mountain, the tallest in the Catskills.

Our PRIVATE camp (no other campers) is situated on 100 acres of land in the middle of the Catskill State Park. We are the closest private Dyrt site to Slide Mountain, the Catskills tallest peak at 4180 feet. A perfect base camp for some of the best hiking in the Catskills, the site is bordered by Forever Wild Forest and is minutes from the trailheads to Balsam, Giant Ledge, Panther, Big Indian, Slide Mountain and dozens more peaks within 30 minutes or so away.

You can walk to a swimming hole on a winding path through a wildflower meadow blazed with rock cairns along a half mile of private waterfront. Try your luck at catching some wild Brook Trout on the world famous Esopus Creek!

Our drive up camp has a 10X12 covered tent platform, several individual tent sites with private fire rings, as well as a bunkhouse and a leanto for day use. The camp table and cook pit are covered from the elements. For toilet use, we have a CleanWaste loo which is a 5 gal bucket in a toilet seat box. You lift the lid, place a CleanWaste bag in the bucket which has a kitty litter like powder called Poo Powder in it. You do your business, the powder absorbs all the odor and gels all the matter. When done, you lift the seat, take out the bag, tie it up and throw it in the trash.

Open Network WiFi (no UN/PW needed) is available at the Campkeeper home a short woods walk away. Seasoned bundled 16" firewood is available by honor box cash payment on Brown rd across the camp entry road.

Rules:

'Almost' anything goes. Learn about 'pack-in pack-out/leave no trace camping' and the 'leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures' motto. Due to local laws, no music or noise louder than 60 decibels is allowed which is about as loud as conversation with 20 people in a restaurant, an office of 20 people speaking or being on the phone, background music typically heard in restaurants and public spaces, an air conditioning unit at 100 feet.

There are camp rules about how to handle trash, recycling, and compost so as to minimize the possibility of black bear visits. Follow those rules so as to avoid a penalty fee of $50.00 if trash, recycling, and compost rules are not followed. A detailed message about trash, recycling, and compost practice will be sent to campers days before the booked trip.

Our site is to be best enjoyed for the sounds that do exist naturally, the many birds singing their song, the babbling Esopus Creek, the rustling leaves on the trees. Ask questions, I will always answer anything about camping and am thrilled to share my knowledge.

Extras:

-Arrive to a dry campfire stack mini bonfire for your evening's entertainment. Full of dry kindle and fire starter, just light it and enjoy! The stack will be made of about 20 pieces built up teepee style and will be covered from the elements. If you will be camping for more than one night, please specify how many or which night(s) you would like the fire setup for . Dry campfire stack is $25.00

-I have several tents available including a large 5 person Eureka! Copper Canyon tent for $15.00, and 4 two person backpacking tents (Eureka! Timberline, Eureka! Prism, 2 Gazelle tents, and Moss Starlet tent) for $10.00 each.

-I have 4 comfortable 2" thick Therm-a-rest Camprest foam and air mattresses for $8.00 each.

Inquire about the extras when you book the site. Extras can be paid for in cash after you arrive.