Catskill Campsites
from the New York State Conservation Department

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The Catskills may be reached via the New York, Ontario and Western Railroad from Weehawken, by changing cars at East Branch to the line of the Delaware and Northern Railroad. The Delaware and Northern Railroad runs along the western boundary of the Park, through the upper portion of the valley of the east branch of the Delaware River, connecting with the Ulster and Delaware Railroad at Arkville. The southern portion of the Park is accessible from the New York, Ontario and Western Railroad without change: the Neversink valley from Liberty, the Willowemoc valley from Livingston Manor, and the Beaverkill valley from Roscoe.

A branch of the New York, Ontario and Western Railroad also runs through the Rondout valley from Summitville to Kingston, and, from the stations at Ellenville and Wawarsing, highways lead to the southeast part of the Park.

The Catskill region offers excellent opportunities for camping and the enjoyment of life in the open. As liberal a policy as is possible, under the constitutional restrictions placed upon the Forest Preserve, has been adopted by the Conservation Department to promote the recreational use of these lands by the people. Camping is permitted anywhere on State land, except at public campsites having a resident Caretaker, for a period of three nights without a permit. For longer periods, a permit must be obtained from the local Forest Ranger or District Forest Ranger. For complete information regarding the regulations governing the use of the Forest Preserve, Recreation Circular 2 should be consulted.

To make more readily accessible the interior of the Catskill Region, a system of hiking trails and log lean-to shelters described in Recreation Circular 9 “Catskill Trails” has been developed by the Department, while for the convenience of the rapidly increasing host of automobile campers a system of large public campsites is being developed along the principal motor routes of the region. The latter are provided with fully protected systems of pure water, individual fireplaces, tables, benches, the most approved sanitary facilities, and, where bathing possible, with bathhouses. No charges of any kind are made for use of public campsites in the Forest Preserve or the facilities there.

The Conservation Department does not have for rent on these or at other points in the Adirondack or Catskill regions tents, cabins or other camping equipment. Rules governing the use of the campsites are as follows:

 

1. ALL PERSONS MUST REGISTER WITH THE CARETAKER IN CHARGE OF THE CAMPSITE. No tents shall be erected or maintained except under permission from the Caretaker, who will assist campers to sites.

2. Temporary tent platforms are permitted provided they are placed and removed at the same time as the tent.

3. No firearms shall be used on the campsite at any time.

4. Quiet must be observed between 10 p. m. and 7 a. m. Campers arriving or departing between these hours must be quiet. Failure to observe this rule will be sufficient cause to deny a camper the privilege of the campsite.

5. Fires except in stoves must be built in fireplaces provided for that purpose and nowhere else. On sites where fuel is limited, the caretaker in charge of the campsite is authorized to prohibit fires for any purpose except cooking and smudges.

6. Lighted matches, cigarettes, cigars, or burning tobacco must not be deposited or left where they may cause fires.

7. No official sign posted or structure maintained shall be defaced.

8. Peeling bark or cutting or injuring trees is prohibited. Nor shall anyone on any public campsite in the Forest Preserve, or on Forest Preserve land adjacent thereto, cut, pluck, remove, destroy or otherwise injure or disturb any tree, shrub, bush, flower, plant, fern, moss, lichen, any part thereof.

9. Camps and adjacent grounds must be maintained in clean and sanitary condition. Garbage and refuse must be either burned or deposited in the receptacle provided. Waste materials must not be thrown into the water.

10. All tents must be occupied continuously. Caretakers are authorized to remove any tent left unoccupied for a period of 48 hours.

11. All dogs must be tied up or confined in a manner satisfactory to the Caretaker in charge of the campsite.

12. No one will be permitted to bathe or swim on any public campsite bathing area during the hours of darkness.

13. All persons will be held responsible for compliance with these rules and any person violating them or injuring State property will be held liable for damages and penalties.

A short description of each campsite follows:

Beaverkill Campsite: This is one of the largest of the Catskill public campsites and is located on the stream of the same name, one of the most noted trout streams of the east. In the vicinity of the campsite the State owns approximately two miles of stream which is one of the few sections of the stream open to public fishing. At the campsite a deep, natural pool close to the old and picturesque covered bridge which spans the stream permits of excellent bathing. Bathhouses have been erected close by for the accommodation of the public. One of the finest springs in the entire Catskill region supplies water for the campsite.

To reach the Beaverkill Campsite turn north from State highway route 17, two miles west of Livingston Manor. The campsite is about five miles from this point over hard surfaced roads.

The nearest town of size to the campsite is Livingston Manor, but excellent small stores at Beaverkill Post-office carry full lines of food supplies and fresh farm produce may be obtained within a short distance of the campsite.

Woodland Valley Campsite: To the readers of John Burroughs, the name Woodland Valley is a familiar one. Here the great naturalist and writer spent much of his time and the quiet beauty and wildness of the place seem to have held an irresistible appeal for him. His ascents from the Valley to Slide Mountain, highest of the Catskill peaks, are commemorated by a bronze tablet set in the rock near the summit. The trail which he traversed is now an important link in the trail system maintained by the Department and has its beginning a short distance from the campsite. The campsite itself lies in a beautiful mixed forest between the macadam highway and the Woodland stream. Native brook trout may be caught in the stream and about five miles distant the Esopus provides some of the finest trout water in the entire Catskill region. Woodland Valley is reached by turning south from State Highway Route 28 one mile west of Phoenicia. Five miles on a good macadam road brings one to the campsite.

Devil’s Tombstone Campsite: The Devil’s Tombstone campsite, which derives its name from a boulder of peculiar shape in the vicinity, is located in the scenic Stony Clove and may be reached by turning north from State Highway Route 28 at Phoenicia or south from State Highway Route 23 two miles east of Hunter. The campsite is located at the southerly entrance to the Clove, a narrow defile between Hunter and Plateau Mountains, through which the highway passes. Just north of the campsite, in the heart of the Clove, the Conservation Department’s sky line trail over Indian Head, Twin, Sugarloaf, Plateau and Hunter mountains crosses the highway.

 

From the collection of Jack Obecny

 

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