Moose River Plains is Closed Through Mid-May. What are the alternatives?

Here are some alternatives for drive-in campsites that are generally either open early in the spring season or year round, assuming there isn’t too much snow on the ground.

East Branch Scanadaga River – NY 8

Most of the campsites along the East Branch Sacandaga River and NY 8 are accessible year round, assuming there is not too much snow. While often noisy from this busy rural highway, they are still very remote and without restriction as long as your vehicle can get back to them in the snow.

Harrisburg Road – West of Harrisburg Lake in Stoney Creek

A dirt track that heads from Harrisburg Lake to Bakerstown (trailhead to Wilcox Lake) offers several roadside campsite. This road while drying out quickly, is narrow which limits what you can tow back there.

Old Route 8B – South of Speculator

Access via the northern bridge, closest to Speculator near Christine Falls. Generally this road is not closed off during the spring, providing access to several campsites, however it may close due to repairs at times. A long lightly maintained concrete road, it provides camping at sites along the Sacandaga River between Auger Flats, Austin Falls and Christine Falls. Watch for poison ivy by campsites and along the river.

Lake Durant Primitive Campsites on Old Route 28

Another year-round open road is Old Route 28 when it swings out into the marshy area along the lake, south of Blue Mountain Lake. There are two campsites along this old routing of the road.

Stewart Landing

The two campsites at the loop near Stewart Land are available year-round. The DEC recently improved the gravel/dirt road for accessing them near this popular kayak launch and swimming area near the dam on Sprite Creek.

Mud Creek Road aka Hope Falls Road *

This road depends on when the Town of Hope opens the road for the season, however if it’s dry and snow free out, it is often open earlier then Moose River Plains. Provides access to Tenant Creek Falls. Not all campsites have vehicle access.

Piseco-Powley Road South of Potholers *

This is dependent on the Town of Stratford, however they often remove the barricades and allow access to the four campsites in Fulton County south of Potholers in late April or early May. North of the Potholers in Hamilton County does not open until Memorial Day Weekend.