roadside camping

Brasher Falls State Forest

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There are two camping areas in Brasher Falls: The Tri-Town Equestrian Assembly-area (field camping) off Truck Trail 901, north of DEC Maintenance Garage, and a 21-site Drive-in Camping Area known as the CC Dam Association / Walter F Pratt Memorial Forest at Redbrook River Dam. The CC Dam Association area is maintained by a group of local volunteers, and offers many amenities not found at most primitive camping areas. It also staffed by volunteers on weekends.

Brasher Falls Sign

Like Moose River Plains, all of the sites are hardened with gravel, have picnic tables, and outhouses. They are a short walk from a man-made lake, consisting of the Redwater Brook (red from iron in water), which was damned up by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Swimming is allowed. There is a horseshoe pit. There is a hand pump for water, although it says “Non-Potable Water”, so boil first. Many of the sites are pretty close together (25 sites on 1/2 mile of road, only one side), with somewhat limited screening. On weekdays in summer, when I camped there, it was little used.

Campsite 21

Nearby there are dozens of miles of truck trail, hiking, and horse trail to explore, and while not-officially sanctioned by the DEC are also used for riding ATVs. ATV use on roads were allowed prior to Court-case prohibiting on-road use of ATVs except to access trails.

“The Walter Pratt Memorial Park features two accessible camp sites [ed note: and 19 other sites that can accommodate trailers/RV/trucks] designed for use with camper trailers. Each site has an accessible picnic table and a shared privy. There are also two accessible picnic sites and a privy located in the day use section of the park, the picnic tables overlook the impoundment at Redwater Dam. The park is open from mid-May to October, for camping and picnicking.”

— NYSDEC Brasher/Bombay State Forest

Roadside Campsites.

Road Number of Sites
Walter Pratt Memorial Forest
At the Redwater River Dam		 21
Tri-town Horse Camp (Field Camping)

Walter Pratt Memorial Forest.


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Tri-Town Horse Camp Assembly Area (Truck Trail No. 901)


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More Resources…

C.C. Dam

Camping

Entering the Campground

Horseshoe Pit

Map: Battery Diagram
United Steaks of America map: If each state could have only one meat, what would it be?

Moose River Plains

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Moose River Plains is the largest roadside camping area in the Adirondacks. It has also been called the largest roadside camping area in the United States, at least with entire road system, considered as a single consolidated unit of 175 campsites. In recent years, a number of sites have been abandoned or closed to protect environmental resources, however the supply of campsites usually exceeds even peak usage on holidays, so finding a good spot is never hard.

Campsite on Moose River Plains road

In Fall 2010, a new Unit Management Plan was adopted in Moose River Plains. It made the following major changes to the area:

  • Reduced Drive-in Campsites At Wakley Dam to 5. A couple additional tent sites will remain. The Wakely Dam will prohibit motor vehicles crossing it except snowmobiles.
  • New “Intensive Use” Area Was Created to Allow for Up to 150 drive-in campsites (tent or RV or truck camper) to remain along Moose River Plains Road, Helldiver Road, Lost Ponds Foad, Loop Road, Red Dam Road, and other Camping Spurs with spacing less then 1/4 mile. There is no charge to use these sites, you just need a permit if you stay more then 3 days.
  • Campsites Along Otter Brook and Indian Lake Roads will be spaced a 1/4 mile apart, and avoid sensetive areas, such as closing the sites right along the Moose River. These sites will be primarily tent sites during the summer, but during Big Game Season, RVs and truck campers will be allowed.

The recently adopted Moose River Plains Unit Management Plan discusses some of the chnages to Roadside Camping in the area…

“The creation of the MRPCA will create some challenges in educating the public as to what to expect within the area. As the area will not charge fees, nor will reservations be taken, users will be arriving at the area without the benefit of knowing what site they may be camping at. Users will need to drive through the area and locate a site that is suitable for their needs. In the unlikely case that no sites are available, users will need to be educated as to what alternatives exist in the general area. Providing information at the two entrance points, Cedar River Flow and Limekiln Lake, will be an important part of informing users of the type of opportunity available in the MRPCA. It will also provide an opportunity to provide information on alternative locations should the MRPCA not meet their expectations.”

“Unlike other intensive use area campgrounds in the Park, amenities such as bath houses, playgrounds, and paved drives are not ever going to be considered for the MRPCA. Pursuant to APSLMP guidelines for newly created intensive use areas, the MRPCA will only contain up to 150 roadside campsites along approximately 20 miles of roads. These sites will have fire rings, pit privies and picnic tables as their only amenities. Some of these sites will remain relatively close to the road, while others will remain several hundred feet back, accessed by short driveways. A majority of these sites will be comprised of existing sites, some fairly well separated from other sites and some clustered in small groups. This will provide for a variety of camping opportunities depending on what users are seeking. Existing sites that are very close to the road may be relocated to a location that provides better screening or may be converted to parking areas with a walk‐in site located a short distance from the parking area. Any newly constructed sites will be located in a manner to provide vegetative screening between the site and the road.”

— NYSDEC Moose River Plains UMP.

Map of Moose River Plains.

There are no campsites shown on the map, and as listed below both the Intensive Use Area and other portions of Moose River Plains will continue to allow camping as listed below.

Moose River Plains Overview

Roadside Campsites, Post UMP Changes.

These are based on the UMP proposal not implemented yet. This is considered the minimum number of sites under the new plan, the Moose River Plains Camping Area, may increase form 112 to 150 sites in the future, depending on the demand. The DEC plans to limit Otter Brook/Indian Lake Roads to tent only sites during summer season has not be finalized.

Road Number of Sites Site Types
At Wakley Dam:
Cedar River Road		 5 Tent (plus others) or Vehicle
Moose River Plains Camping Area Roads:
Moose River Plain Road
Campsite Loop
Helldiver Pond Road
Lost Ponds Road
Loop Road
Rock Dam Road		 112 Tent or Vehicle
Otter Brook Road 14 Tent, Vehicles Allowed During Big Game Season
Indian Lake Road 5 Tent, Vehicles Allowed During Big Game Season

More Resources…

Camping Down By Otter Brook

Kayak Tying Down Tarp

Site 57 in the Plains

Campsite 55

Thematic Map: Maine Land Cover
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Ferris Lake Designated Roadside Campsites

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The most popular area in Ferris Lake Wild Forest is to camp along the 20-mile long Piseco-Powley, a spectacular seasonally-gated, state truck trail. Other roads in area provide more remote roadside camping opporunities and are listed below.

Campsite North of Powley Place

The Ferris Lake Wild Forest Unit Management Plan mentions the following about Roadside Camping in the area…

“The FLWF provides a variety of different camping opportunities. The interior portion of the unit contains numerous primitive tent sites that are located along the shores of the more popular lakes. These sites are designated with a yellow camping disk and often contain a fire ring. There are also a number of car accessible sites located along secondary access roads, such as the Powley-Piseco Road, G Lake Road, Mountain Home Road Extension and Edick Road. Most of these sites can accommodate small camper trailers. There are no lean-tos within the unit.”

— NYSDEC Ferris Lake Wild Forest UMP.

Roadside Campsites Designated in UMP.

Road Number of Campsites
Edick Road 2
G-Lake Road 3
Jerseyfield Road 2
Mountain Home Road Extension (Rough Truck Trail Past the Floe) 6
Powley-Piesco Road (Open Late Spring-December)
Northern Hardwoods Section Near Mud Pond
Central Section Near Marshlands of Powley Place
Southern Section Near Potholers		 Total: 22
5
10
7

More Resources…

Location of Roads with Camping in Ferris Lake UMP.

Designated Campsites Along Edick Road.

This map is from the Ferris Lake Wild Forest UMP.

East

Designated Campsites Along G Lake Road.

Please note that the roadside campsites are noted by “GLR”. The “GL” sites are traditional primative tent sites, beyond the gated end of G Lake Road, that you have to backpack into. This map is from the Ferris Lake Wild Forest UMP.

Designated Campsites Along Piseco-Powley Road.

These maps are from the Ferris Lake Wild Forest UMP.

Cascade Lake

Strawberry Moon

Renters vs Population Density - NY Census Tracts

Designated Campsites Along Mountain Home.

This map is from the Ferris Lake Wild Forest UMP.

Betty Brook Road

Plains of East Canada Creek

Campsite Set Back Off the Road

North Up to Piseco-Powley


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Kayaking Horseshoe Lake, Aug 12

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Horseshoe Lake is located on South Eastern Saint Lawrence County, on a dead end state highway, NY 421, a spur from NY 30 South of Tupper Lake. It offers 6 campsites scattered along the lake, with 6 others on nearby roads. It is also near the Bog River Flow Canoe/Kayak Area.


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Six Miles to Horseshoe Lake. This is the turn off for NY 421, one of the strangest state highways in the state. It is a dead ended highway, that leads to gravel roads around Horseshoe Lake and Bog River Flow. It is very twisty and narrow, and portions have not been resurfaced in over 50 years.

Six Miles to Horseshoe Lake

Towards Mt Morris. Paddling across Horseshoe Lake. As you can see, the land around here is very flat, former timber country. In the distance is Mount Morris, near Tupper Lake.

Towards Mt Morris

Choppy Waters. The water was somewhat choppy on Horsehoe Lake as there was a steady breeze as the weather was clearing out.

Choppy Waters

Northeast Tip. This is the upper tip of the Horseshoe Lake, in the most North-Eastern portion.

Northeast Tip

Heading Around The U. Horseshoe Lake is fairly large, all things considered. The open bays can be a bit rough, especially when you get into the wider portion of the U in the horseshoe.

Heading Around The U

Blinding Sun. Heading West across the Lake, I was going directly in the path of sun at 7 PM. Even with sunglasses on, the sun was bright and painful, leading to a temporary sunblindness. I ended up tacking North-West then South-West to avoid the sun, and the choppiness of the water.

Blinding Sun

Glare. In the background rises Silver Lake Mountain, that beautiful ridge one sees most clearly from paddling around Hitchins Pond/Lows Lake in the Bog River Canoe Area.

Glare

Other End of Lake. This is where NY 421 first hits the lake, heading west on NY 421 from Mountain Camp. You could say that it’s other tip of the Horseshoe. About 3 campsites, spaced 1/2 mile apart, are located on the lake.

Other End of Lake

Map: Carters Pond Wildlife Management Area
Map: Eldridge Swamp State Forest

Kayaking Mason Lake, August 11

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Mason Lake is located in the Adirondacks just off NY 30. It has primative camping, I camped their last night (August 10th), and also camped there on July 31.

NY 30

It’s a two hour drive from Albany, so it’s not as far north as Moose River Plains, and can be done on a Friday night. It’s fairy popular, but there is usually some of the 6 out of 12 non-lake side campsites are always avaliable, and it’s not like it’s ever crowded on the lake in a boat.

Pine Trees Reflect On Mason Lake

I paddled down to the southern end of the lake, with a stream exiting Mason Lake. This part of the Jessup River is unpassable by kayak due to many trees crossing on it.

Stream Exiting Mason Lake

It was a beautiful day at Mason Lake with puffy clouds above.

Clouds and Marsh at Mason Lake

Thru Swampy End of Mason Lake. You had to watch out for trees on the bottom that you could get hung up on.

Thru Swampy End of Mason Lake

Pond Lilly

Jessup River Road. As seen from the southern end of Mason Lake paddling around.

Jessup River Road

Great Blue Heron, standing tall on an Island on Mason Lake.

Great Blue Heron

Another Island on Mason Lake

Snowy Mountain. As seen from the middle of Mason Lake.

Snowy Mountain

Lower Blue Ridge. As seen from Mason Pond. Beyond this ridge is Moose River Plains and Cedar River Flow.

Lower Blue Ridge

Kayak Parked at the Mason Lake Parking Area, where people pull off NY 30, totally oblivious to the camp sites across the lake.

Kayak Parked

Lakeside Campsite. This was the lake campsite at Mason Lake I camped out on Tuesday night. It was pretty nice that night, although I didn’t get any pictures, because I was dead tired after driving up two hours after work.

Lakeside Campsite

Truck’s All Packed. All I have to do now is put the kayak on the roof of my truck, and head north to Cedar River Flow for the next day of camping out.

Truck's All Packed

Lake Side Parking. This by where I camped down at Mason Lake.

Lake Side Parking

The campsite I stayed at with it’s views at Mason Lake. It was real nice.

Campsite with a View

Styrofoam Canoe Blocks I Made. I cut up an old styrofoam sleeping pad, rolled it up, cut notches, and duck taped it all together. It worked well, far better then trying to let the kayak ride directly on the roof of the pickup.

Styrofoam Canoe Blocks I Made

Here is a map of the lake. 12 Campsites are located along Jessup River Road, 3 which are RV/truck accessible with water, 3 that tent sites, and about 6 nearby the water. It’s great.


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Map: Roosevelt Truck Trail
Map: Ferd's Bog Trail