Big Bay #3 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest)
FREE primitive camping. DEC-designated primitive tent site ('Big Bay #3') in the Ferris Lake Wild Forest, part of New York's Adirondack Forest Preserve, in the southern Adirondacks in Fulton, Hamilton and Herkimer County (DEC Region 5, near Stratford, Caroga and Arietta). New York's Forest Preserve allows backcountry camping at these designated sites at NO CHARGE (the DEC unit page lists the fee as 'Free'), first-come/first-served -- these backcountry sites cannot be reserved. A FREE New York State Forest Ranger permit is required ONLY if you stay more than 3 nights in one spot or camp in a group of 10 or more; otherwise no permit and no fee. Camp only at the marked site (look for the yellow 'Camp Here' disc). This is a primitive site: no hookups, no potable water, pack out all trash, follow Leave No Trace and the DEC fire rules. This site is check the DEC unit page / DECinfo Locator for this site's access (drive-up vs hike-in). Rules and site status change -- confirm with the DEC unit page (dec.ny.gov/places/ferris-lake-wild-forest) or a regional DEC office before you go; we have not visited.
Everything you need — measured from Big Bay #3 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest) · New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation · NY
- ShShower10 mi
- DDump11 mi
- WWater12 mi
- FFuel13 mi
- GGrocery13 mi
- LLaundry13 mi
- +Urgent care13 mi
- @Mail13 mi
- HHardware22 mi
- RxPharmacy22 mi
- MMechanic22 mi
- OOutfitter24 mi
- EVEV fast charger27 mi
- AAir-up28 mi
The read: water's a short hop out, fuel & food sit about 13 mi out.
Not within 60 mi: Propane. Plan those before you head up.
One dot per need — the nearest of each kind, straight-line from camp. Places from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors); the EV fast charger from the US DOE station locator. Open in Google Maps ↗
The site — Big Bay #3 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest)
Nearby & resupply — around Big Bay #3 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest) · New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation · NY (OpenStreetMap)
- Drinking waternone within 10 mi
- FuelSpeculator Gas Station · ~12.6 mi
- Propane / LPGnone within 31 mi
- Dump station~10.8 mi
- GroceriesSpeculator Gas Staion · ~12.6 mi
- PharmacyWalgreens · ~21.9 mi
- Hospital / clinicInfirmary · ~12.6 mi
- HardwareGeorge Lumber · ~21.7 mi
EV charging — from Big Bay #3 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest) · New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation · NY — nearest public DC fast & Level 2 (US DOE station data)
- Nearest public DC fast charger27.0 mi straight-line S — Aldi Johnstown TUL 110 (at a public site) · RED_E · CCS, NACS (Tesla) · 8 fast ports listed · listed open, last confirmed by AFDC 2026-09-16 · hours: not listed · directions
- Public DC fast stations within reachnone within 25 mi · 56 within 50 · 259 within 100 · 684 within 150
- Nearest listing CHAdeMO28.2 mi — Iroquois Travel Plaza, Little Falls
- Nearest public Level 2 (J1772)12.5 mi — Lemon Tree Brewery - Tesla Destination, Speculator, NY · Tesla Destination · J1772, NACS (Tesla) · 6 Level 2 ports listed · listed open, last confirmed by AFDC 2026-08-27 · hours: 24 hours daily. Open to all vehicles.
- Pricing at the fast chargernot listed
- Power (kW)not listed by AFDC — “DC fast” spans roughly 24 to 350 kW, so ask the network.
- Read this honestlyStraight-line miles, like every distance on this site. Roads run longer than this, and you have to get back. We know where a charger is listed. We don’t know if it works today, how fast it is, or the road miles. Check the network before you commit.
Snapshot 2026-09-16 · AFDC record 451463 · US DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center
Nearby restrooms — around Big Bay #3 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest) · New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation · NY — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)
- Highway rest areaIroquois Travel Plaza WB · ~28.2 mi SW
- Highway rest areaIndian Castle Travel Plaza EB · ~28.3 mi SW
Open Big Bay #3 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest) elsewhere
Other camps near Big Bay #3 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest)
If this one is full, gated or washed out.
- Big Bay #2 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest)~0.3 mi
- Big Bay #1 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest)~1.0 mi
- Spy Lake #3 (Silver Lake Wilderness)~1.6 mi
- Powley Rd Roadside Campsite (Ferris Lake Wild Forest)~1.8 mi
How we know this — Big Bay #3 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest)
What we don’t know about Big Bay #3 (Ferris Lake Wild Forest)
A land record can put you within a few meters of a spot. It cannot tell you any of this — so check it yourself, and treat anything below as the open question it is.
- Road surface & last-mile access
- How many rigs actually fit
- Cell coverage by carrier
- Seasonal & winter access
- Current fire restrictions
- Whether any water here is drinkable
- Shade & wind exposure
- Noise and who else shows up
- Whether a listed EV charger works today, or the road miles to it