Campsite 5 (Independence River Wild Forest)
FREE backcountry primitive camping. DEC-designated primitive tent site ('Campsite 5') in the Independence River Wild Forest, part of New York's Adirondack Forest Preserve, in the western Adirondacks -- the Towns of Greig and Watson in Lewis County and the Town of Webb in Herkimer County -- around the 6,200-acre Stillwater Reservoir. 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. NOTE ON ACCESS: this is a MIXED unit -- some sites are drive-up roadside sites, MOST Stillwater Reservoir sites can only be reached from the water (boat/canoe), and others are backcountry pond sites. THIS particular site is one of the Stillwater Reservoir sites; the DEC page notes most reservoir sites can only be reached from the water (boat/canoe/kayak across the 6,200-acre reservoir) and only a couple are accessible near a parking area -- confirm THIS site's access and the nearest launch on the DEC unit page / DECinfo Locator. Camping for more than 3 nights in one spot requires a FREE New York State Forest Ranger permit; a free New York State Forest Ranger permit is the statewide rule for groups of 10 or more; the DEC page also caps a specific list of numbered Stillwater Reservoir sites at a maximum of 6 people. This numbered reservoir site (#5) has a stricter maximum group size of 6 people per the DEC page. Arrange any permit in advance through DEC Ray Brook Dispatch at (518) 897-1300 (they name the local Forest Ranger for the permit). 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. Rules and site status change -- confirm with the DEC unit page (dec.ny.gov/places/independence-river-wild-forest) or a regional DEC office before you go; we have not visited.
Everything you need — measured from Campsite 5 (Independence River Wild Forest) · New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation · NY
- FFuel2 mi
- OOutfitter2 mi
- LLaundry13 mi
- @Mail13 mi
- HHardware14 mi
- RxPharmacy14 mi
- GGrocery14 mi
- WWater15 mi
- DDump19 mi
- MMechanic20 mi
- +Urgent care29 mi
- ShShower31 mi
- EVEV fast charger31 mi
- AAir-up56 mi
The read: water's a short hop out, fuel & food sit about 2 mi out, the nearest EV fast charger is a 31-mi run (and back).
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 — Campsite 5 (Independence River Wild Forest)
Nearby & resupply — around Campsite 5 (Independence River Wild Forest) · New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation · NY (OpenStreetMap)
- Water featureSlim Pond (water) · nearby
- Nearest townStillwater · ~2.1 mi
- Drinking waternone within 10 mi
- FuelFuel · ~2.1 mi
- Propane / LPGnone within 31 mi
- Dump station~19.0 mi
- GroceriesKalil's Market · ~14.9 mi
- PharmacyKinney Drugs · ~13.8 mi
- Hospital / clinicClifton Fine Hospital · ~17.9 mi
- HardwareAce Hardware - Old Forge Department Store · ~13.6 mi
EV charging — from Campsite 5 (Independence River Wild Forest) · New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation · NY — nearest public DC fast & Level 2 (US DOE station data)
- Nearest public DC fast charger31.3 mi straight-line W — Aldi Carthage TUL 27, West Carthage, NY (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 · 8 within 50 · 197 within 100 · 471 within 150
- Nearest listing CHAdeMO52.6 mi — EVolve NY Potsdam, Potsdam
- Nearest public Level 2 (J1772)9.6 mi — Covewood Lodge - Tesla Destination, Eagle Bay, NY · Tesla Destination · J1772, NACS (Tesla) · 2 Level 2 ports listed · listed open, last confirmed by AFDC 2026-08-27 · hours: 9:00am-5:00pm 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 434178 · US DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center
Nearby restrooms — around Campsite 5 (Independence River Wild Forest) · New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation · NY — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)
- No mapped restroom within 30 miles — plan to pack it out.
Open Campsite 5 (Independence River Wild Forest) elsewhere
Other camps near Campsite 5 (Independence River Wild Forest)
If this one is full, gated or washed out.
- Campsite 6 (Independence River Wild Forest)~0.3 mi
- Campsite 36 (Independence River Wild Forest)~0.5 mi
- Site 35 - Accessible Campsite (Independence River Wild Forest)~0.6 mi
- Campsite 37 (Independence River Wild Forest)~0.6 mi
How we know this — Campsite 5 (Independence River Wild Forest)
What we don’t know about Campsite 5 (Independence River 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