Campsite 005 (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest)
FREE primitive camping. DEC-designated primitive tent site ('Campsite 005') in the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, part of New York's Adirondack Forest Preserve, in the southern Adirondacks between Northville and Stony Creek (Hamilton, Warren and Saratoga County). 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/wilcox-lake-wild-forest) or a regional DEC office before you go; we have not visited.
Everything you need — measured from camp
- @Mail11 mi
- GGrocery12 mi
- FFuel12 mi
- +Urgent care12 mi
- LLaundry12 mi
- RxPharmacy12 mi
- WWater14 mi
- ShShower14 mi
- DDump14 mi
- HHardware17 mi
- MMechanic17 mi
- OOutfitter23 mi
- AAir-up31 mi
The read: water's a short hop out, fuel & food sit about 12 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). Open in Google Maps ↗
The site
Nearby & resupply (OpenStreetMap)
- Water featureEast Branch Sacandaga River (river) · nearby
- Nearest townOregon · ~0.3 mi
- Drinking waternone within 10 mi
- FuelNice n' Easy · ~11.6 mi
- Propane / LPGPropane · ~27.2 mi
- Dump stationDump station · ~14.5 mi
- GroceriesStewart's Shops · ~11.5 mi
- PharmacyRite Aid Pharmacy · ~12.2 mi
- Hospital / clinicNorth Creek Health Center · ~12.0 mi
- HardwareBraley Noxon Hardware · ~17.2 mi
Nearby restrooms — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)
- Highway rest areaGlens Falls (South) · ~29.6 mi SE
- Highway rest areaAdirondacks Welcome Center · ~29.8 mi SE
Open this spot elsewhere
Other camps nearby
If this one is full, gated or washed out.
- Campsite 003 (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest)~0.6 mi
- Campsite 004 (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest)~0.7 mi
- Campsite 002 (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest)~0.8 mi
- Eagle Pond Campsite (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest)~1.0 mi
How we know this
What we don’t know
A land record can put you within a few metres 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