This year with COVID-19, I stayed closer to home but did spend a record 62 nights out in the wilderness this year -- all back country camping -- mostly away from other people. It was an interesting year with remote work, but it worked out to be a lot of fun, camping and then working at various libraries or using a hotspot and my cellphone.
As the pandemic presses on, city dwellers are turning to camping as a safe, socially distant alternative to typical travel, with online booking tools Campspot, Tentrr and Hipcamp all reporting upticks in usage. But newbies are quickly discovering there’s a lot more to sleeping outside than s’mores and sing-alongs.
A list of lean-tos on state lands with an outhouse within 150 feet.
| Forest | Lean-To Name | Description | Region | Latitude | Longtitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Indian Wilderness | Shandaken Brook Lean-To | 3 | 42.0502743293466 | -74.5106001666636 | |
| Big Indian Wilderness | Biscuit Brook Lean-To | 3 | 42.0091051509829 | -74.4838519036791 | |
| Delaware Wild Forest | Mud Pond Trail Lean-To | 4 | 42.0116839995216 | -74.9476810002715 | |
| Hunter-West Kill Wilderness | Diamond Notch Lean-To | 4 | 42.1694869998955 | -74.2569359998362 | |
| Blue Mountain Wild Forest | Tirrel Pond North Lean-To | 5 | 43.8873444775573 | -74.3788006260605 | |
| Blue Mountain Wild Forest | O’Neill Flow Lean-To | 5 | 43.8755968409362 | -74.3664262369705 | |
| Blue Ridge Wilderness | Wilson Pond Lean-To | 5 | 43.8201917816146 | -74.4686803224003 | |
| Blue Ridge Wilderness | Cascade Pond Lean-To | 5 | 43.8299374729896 | -74.4366163022193 | |
| Blue Ridge Wilderness | Stephens Pond Lean-To | 5 | 43.818673668555 | -74.4205248717271 | |
| Giant Mountain Wilderness | Giant Mtn. Lean-To | 5 | 44.1759172264724 | -73.7215350426426 | |
| Hammond Pond Wild Forest | Moose Mt Pond Lean-To | 5 | 43.9655912049299 | -73.6440374623141 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Catlin Bay #2 Lean-To | 5 | 43.9972143811434 | -74.3959393656481 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Catlin Bay #1 Lean-To | 5 | 43.9980126926989 | -74.3927845610842 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Hidden Cove Lean-To | 5 | 44.0026552881939 | -74.3864802632516 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Rodney Point #1 Lean-To | 5 | 44.0414093848994 | -74.3501490963956 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Rodney Point #2 Lean-To | 5 | 44.0429767454126 | -74.3493346475314 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Plumley Point #2 Lean-To | 5 | 44.0655989161076 | -74.32761224546 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Cold River #3 Lean-To | 5 | 44.0914592780512 | -74.257641750845 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Cold River #4 Lean-To | 5 | 44.0913902533326 | -74.2557348025251 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Moose Pond Stream Lean-To #2 | 5 | 44.079553878647 | -74.2391509433142 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Moose Pond Stream Lean-To | 5 | 44.079589788976 | -74.2389368366902 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Seward Lean-To | 5 | 44.1062441376862 | -74.2091536427719 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Ouluska Pass Brook Lean-To | 5 | 44.1202212816036 | -74.1874471739093 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Newcomb Lake Lean-To #1 | 5 | 44.0158171441475 | -74.1523218842845 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Newcomb Lake Lean-To #2 | 5 | 44.0205306743106 | -74.1522782706761 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Cold River #2 Lean-To | 5 | 44.1425166431718 | -74.1303582429155 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Cold River Lean-To #1 Lean-To | 5 | 44.1427273762849 | -74.1298402106559 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Duck Hole #1 Lean-To | 5 | 44.1416268740099 | -74.1069373467662 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Duck Hole #2 Lean-To | 5 | 44.1416768646683 | -74.1065435467226 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Moose Pond Lean-To | 5 | 44.1828433824027 | -74.07364102376 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Henderson Lake Lean-To | 5 | 44.104178442066 | -74.066913293691 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Beaver Point #1 | 5 | 44.1210154790382 | -73.9821264349125 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Beaver Point #2 | 5 | 44.1207874446534 | -73.9817139903994 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Kagel Lean-To | 5 | 44.1494011459341 | -73.9557902346565 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Marcy Brook Lean-To | 5 | 44.1469386474738 | -73.9552287452665 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Panther Gorge Lean-To | 5 | 44.099635151426 | -73.9133647612345 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Lilian Brook Lean-To | 5 | 44.0601596208968 | -73.807816780134 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Slide Brook Lean-To | 5 | 44.0441261980002 | -73.8058583966018 | |
| High Peaks Wilderness | Bouquet Lean-To | 5 | 44.1082054720282 | -73.7738312580535 | |
| Hurricane Mountain Primitive Area | Gulf Brook Lean-To | 5 | 44.253019593455 | -73.7180348153422 | |
| Hurricane Mountain Primitive Area | Lost Pond/Biesemeyer Lean-To | 5 | 44.2607301476158 | -73.7100106668894 | |
| Lake George Wild Forest | Black Mountain Ponds Lean-To | Lean-To With Privy And Fire Ring | 5 | 43.5996600138705 | -73.5330643345846 |
| Lake George Wild Forest | Lapland Pond Lean-To | Campsite With Lean-To 13-27 | 5 | 43.5958213340907 | -73.5179510245416 |
| Mckenzie Mountain Wilderness | Placid Lean-To | 5 | 44.3214560456649 | -74.030786043903 | |
| Sentinel Range Wilderness | Copperas Pond Lean-To | 5 | 44.3317122951397 | -73.8997103538312 | |
| Shaker Mountain Wild Forest | Holmes Lake Lean-To | 5 | 43.1885867657416 | -74.4310218122738 | |
| Siamese Ponds Wilderness | John Pond Lean-To | 5 | 43.7278247361895 | -74.2012685562129 | |
| Siamese Ponds Wilderness | E. Sacandaga River Lean-To | 5 | 43.6154338756917 | -74.1499734599501 | |
| Silver Lake Wilderness | Mud Lake Lean-To | 5 | 43.342671073158 | -74.4562907856386 | |
| Silver Lake Wilderness | Hamilton Lake Stream #1 Lean-To | 5 | 43.3974135951753 | -74.4552975900222 | |
| Taylor Pond Wild Forest | Poke-O-Moonshine Summit Lean-To | 5 | 44.3997973548695 | -73.5145569962096 | |
| Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest | Stony Pond Lean-To | 5 | 43.8387348152587 | -73.9856219153826 | |
| West Canada Lake Wilderness | West Lake #1 Lean-To | 5 | 43.5931622288498 | -74.6268866843131 | |
| West Canada Lake Wilderness | West Lake #2 Lean-To | 5 | 43.5970642572198 | -74.6231056495758 | |
| West Canada Lake Wilderness | South Lake Lean-To | 5 | 43.58724480971 | -74.6215788383727 | |
| West Canada Lake Wilderness | West Canada Creek Lean-To | 5 | 43.5869876140516 | -74.6139979710011 | |
| West Canada Lake Wilderness | Spruce Lake #1 Lean-To | 5 | 43.5272841125778 | -74.6099246975027 | |
| West Canada Lake Wilderness | Spruce Lake #3 Lean-To | 5 | 43.5371297279245 | -74.6082096280248 | |
| West Canada Lake Wilderness | Spruce Lake #2 Lean-To | 5 | 43.5346306298339 | -74.608085803069 | |
| West Canada Lake Wilderness | T Lake Lean-To | 5 | 43.4527175891905 | -74.5822815394449 | |
| West Canada Lake Wilderness | Beaver Pond (AKA Cedar Lakes Lean-To #2) | 5 | 43.6259693968044 | -74.5492715037002 | |
| West Canada Lake Wilderness | Cedar Lakes #1 Lean-To | 5 | 43.6281256650379 | -74.5404732399266 | |
| West Canada Lake Wilderness | Pillsbury Lake Lean-To | 5 | 43.5968984708902 | -74.5316653645311 | |
| West Canada Lake Wilderness | Carry Lean-To | 5 | 43.6787448834709 | -74.4954982187945 | |
| West Canada Lake Wilderness | Colvin Brook Lean-To | 5 | 43.6524139144065 | -74.4903803529398 | |
| Black River Wild Forest | Bear Lake Lean-To | 6 | 43.6000735406502 | -75.0530032053211 | |
| Black River Wild Forest | Sand Lake Falls Lean-To | 6 | 43.5589723655294 | -75.0029762567594 | |
| Five Ponds Wilderness | Griffin Rapids Lean-To | Aka Oswegatchie River Campsite 38. With Full Sized Privy. Checked 05/2016. | 6 | 44.0841653919081 | -74.9687479733594 |
| Five Ponds Wilderness | High Falls No. 2 Lean-To | Aka Oswegatchie River Campsite 13. With Full Sized Privy. | 6 | 44.0689134869774 | -74.9113129664397 |
| Five Ponds Wilderness | High Falls No. 1 Lean-To | Aka Oswegatchie River Campsite 15. With Full Sized Privy. | 6 | 44.0689098251132 | -74.9093969117936 |
| Pigeon Lake Wilderness | Gull Lake Lean-To | 6 | 43.8574321808094 | -74.8250005772908 | |
| Wolf Lake State Forest | Wolf Lake Lean-To | 6 | 44.3363136708752 | -75.3138633269515 | |
| Sugar Hill State Forest | Parks Hollow Lean-To | Log | 8 | 42.3690917205455 | -77.0130036276398 |
| Sugar Hill State Forest | The Twin Lean-To’s | 2 Lean-To At This Location | 8 | 42.3822533325968 | -77.0026799994935 |
| Sugar Hill State Forest | Vanzandt Lean-To | 8 | 42.3898077706314 | -76.972589837336 |
Last week I got an email requesting a list of lean-tos on state land that have full accomindations - that is an outhouse or pit privy. So I made up that list, and figured I'd share it as some might find it useful.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize that beauty of the state’s policy of keeping dispersed and wilderness campsites at least a 1/4 mile apart.
While that leads to fewer camping opportunities in popular locations, it also means a truer wilderness experience where other campers will not be disturbed by talking, music, chopping wood or other human noise, smoke from other fires or other privacy issues.
Camping, beaches and outdoor activities are quite safe during a pandemic.
I wish I could go up there, but I have to work both on Friday and Monday and can’t be totally off the grid. But I am working on alternative plans where I could get away for a long weekend, and conduct business from camp. Nothing is set in stone, but I have an idea that might be able to be implemented.
This is the tent I ultimately ended up deciding to buy for camping. This way I can have a sheltered place to cook and prepare meals and read a book on buggy or drizzly days. I also got a lantern post that I can put my propane lantern on and use in the tent as an alternative to hanging it on a cable at camp.