KML Maps: NYS Roadside and Primitive Backcountry Campsites and Lean-Tos

About NYS Roadside and Primitive Backcountry Campsites and Lean-Tos ....

Here is a Leaflet/KML/Google Maps overview of Lean-tos and Primitive Campsites in an interactive map for NYS DEC Lands and Finger Lakes National Forest Lean-To data and many of campsites come from the NYS DEC, while additional data has been heads-up digitized based on my own exploration.

Google Sheets with Coordinates: Campsites and Lean-Tos

Helpful Hints: In the upper right corner, use the layer button to switch to US Forest Service Maps for more detail on forest service lands, or use the US Topographic Map DRGs to get traditional topographic maps from the USGS.

Updated on 5/13/2021 Moved Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Vermont campsites to a separate maps.

Updated on 3/14/2021 Incorporated additional data found on DEC ARC Map Server at gisservices.dec.ny.gov, adding 81 additional NY State campsites not found on this map.

Updated on 1/31/2021 Fixed overlaps between NYS DEC data and heads up-digitized campsites by myself. Also, re-created all the points in Speculator Tree Farm/Perkins Clearing by geo-referencing and plotting the official map to add campsites to correct locations.

Note: This was not available for a number of years due to the limitations of Google Maps, however since switching to Leaflet, it has made it possible to load in a larger number of points.

Here are the primitive campsites dataset broken into KML files πŸ• that are less then 1,000 points per file that are more friendly with Google Earth and similar services:

Catskills, Central NY, Western NY - generally campsites South of the Mohawk River / Erie / Barge Canal, extended east by an imaginary line to the Vermont - Massachusetts border.

Southern Adirondacks and Tug Hill - generally campsites North of the Mohawk River / Erie / Barge Canal but South of NY 177 (Tug Hill) to NY 26 to Moose River Road to NY 28 to NY 28N to Blue Ridge Road to Johnson Pond Road to NY 74 to Ticonderoga. Includes Tug Hill, Black River WF, Moose River Plains, Wilcox Lake WF, Hammond Pond WF, Vanderwhacker, Cheney Pond, and Pharaoh Lake WF.

North Adirondacks and Tug Hill - generally campsites North of NY 177 (Tug Hill) to NY 26 to Moose River Road to NY 28 to NY 28N to Blue Ridge Road to Johnson Pond Road to NY 74 to Ticonderoga. Includes White Hill SF, Grass River, Pigeon Lake, Ha-De-Ron-Dah, Sargent Ponds, Blue Lake, High Peaks, Five Ponds, Watsons Triangle, St. Regis Canoe, McKenzie, Debar Mnt, Taylor Pond, Valcour Island, Deer River, Brasher Falls, Hammond Pond WF (North of NY 78)

Lean-Tos - DEC lean-tos are in a separate file.

Helpful Hint: While I suggest you look on blog for a downloadable PDF Map, you should be able to print or save this map by clicking the print button on the map above.

Data Sources

Google Earth Data - You can download the KMZ File used in creation of this map.

NYS DEC Firetowers - You can download the KMZ File used in creation of this map.

USGS National Map Topographic - New-style topographic map product from USGS, may not be as detailed as traditional DRG (scanned) in maps. National Map. WMS Service: https://basemap.nationalmap.gov/arcgis/services/USGSTopo/MapServer/WMSServer, Layer: 0

NYS Roads and Trails - NYSDEC. Download KMZ File / Download GeoJSON File
ArcMap FeatureService: https://services6.arcgis.com/DZHaqZm9cxOD4CWM/ArcGIS/rest/services/DEC_Trails/FeatureServer/ Query: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6

NYS DEC Lands - NYS DEC. Download KMZ File / Download GeoJSON File
ArcMap FeatureService: https://services6.arcgis.com/DZHaqZm9cxOD4CWM/ArcGIS/rest/services/NYS_DEC_Lands/FeatureServer/0

3DEP Elevation Hillshade. LIDAR and legacy USGS DRG Topo Derived hillshades used as a background. DEM - WMS Service: https://elevation.nationalmap.gov/arcgis/services/3DEPElevation/ImageServer/WMSServer, Layer: 3DEPElevation:Hillshade Gray

Full List of WMS and ArcMap Services - CSV Spreadsheet with all web map services currently used on the blog.

More about NY State Camping Maps...

Maps of primitive or backcountry campsites and lean-tos in New York State.

Maps and Interactives

Free Primitive and Roadside Campsites in the Catskills
Free Primitive and Roadside Campsites in the Finger Lakes
Free Primitive and Roadside Campsites in the Adirondacks, North Country, Tug Hill
Free Primitive and Roadside Campsites in Central New York
Free Primitive and Roadside Campsites in Western New York – Southern Tier (Chautauqua County, Cattaragus County, and Allegany County)

No Comments

  • Jordan A says:

    This is a fantastic resource! I was trying to import the KMZ file you provide of the campsites and leantos into Gaia, but there is a limit of 1000 points per KMZ file in Gaia. I tried to manually split out the file into 3 smaller ones unsuccessfully – is this something you can do easily and add links to this page?

    • Andy says:

      I can probably do that. I should actually update this file as I have some new data from the DEC, and maybe I can then do some smaller files. When I used Google Maps for displaying this stuff, this was an issue — that’s why for a while I didn’t have full-statewide coverage, as Google Maps wouldn’t allow more then 1,000 points on a map.

      • Andy says:

        Here are the primitive campsites dataset broken into KML files πŸ• that are less then 1,000 points per file that are more friendly with Google Earth and similar services:

        Catskills, Central NY, Western NY – generally campsites South of the Mohawk River / Erie / Barge Canal, extended east by an imaginary line to the Vermont – Massachusetts border.

        Southern Adirondacks and Tug Hill – generally campsites North of the Mohawk River / Erie / Barge Canal but South of NY 177 (Tug Hill) to NY 26 to Moose River Road to NY 28 to NY 28N to Blue Ridge Road to Johnson Pond Road to NY 74 to Ticonderoga. Includes Tug Hill, Black River WF, Moose River Plains, Wilcox Lake WF, Hammond Pond WF, Vanderwhacker, Cheney Pond, and Pharaoh Lake WF.

        North Adirondacks and Tug Hill – generally campsites North of NY 177 (Tug Hill) to NY 26 to Moose River Road to NY 28 to NY 28N to Blue Ridge Road to Johnson Pond Road to NY 74 to Ticonderoga. Includes White Hill SF, Grass River, Pigeon Lake, Ha-De-Ron-Dah, Sargent Ponds, Blue Lake, High Peaks, Five Ponds, Watsons Triangle, St. Regis Canoe, McKenzie, Debar Mnt, Taylor Pond, Valcour Island, Deer River, Brasher Falls, Hammond Pond WF (North of NY 78)

        Lean-Tos DEC lean-tos are in a separate file.

    • Peter says:

      I’d also like to second this request for the same reasons. Having trouble splitting up the file for import into Gaia.

      Thank you Andy for all your work on this amazingly comprehensive list!

  • Annie ledo says:

    Wow im impressed with this site of yours! I live in Old Forge and been here 25 years, many backpacking experiences, and kayaking camp experiences as well as pontoon boat camping. Im having a tuff time remembering the primitive camping sites on Raquette lake, I see there is one on your map in Sucker brook bay, but I cannot see any others except the lean to sites. i have the topo map from the 90s, but those sites arent marked on the map!
    Can you help me? Thank you kindly

    • Andy says:

      It’s possible the campsites aren’t on the map, as the DEC might not have GPS’d them. It’s not an area I’ve explored myself.

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