Crystal Lake Campsite 10 [DEC #7216] (Crystal Lake Wild Forest)

FREE primitive camping at Crystal Lake Campsite 10, a DEC-designated site on the shore of Crystal Lake in the Crystal Lake Wild Forest (Town of Fremont, Sullivan County, DEC Region 3). This is designated lakeshore site. New York provides it at NO CHARGE: the DEC Crystal Lake Wild Forest page lists the unit as 'Free' and open year-round, with camping in DESIGNATED areas only on a first-come, first-served basis -- there are ten designated primitive campsites at Crystal Lake (three within 150 feet of the lakeshore and seven set back from the water), and this is one of them. This is a designated lake-shore site: it sits about 32 feet from the Crystal Lake shoreline, which is allowed here because it is one of the three DEC-designated shore campsites. Note DEC will NOT issue group-of-10-or-more permits for the lake-shore sites. COUNT / CONFIDENCE NOTE: this is HIGH confidence -- the DEC page's own count of ten designated sites (3 lakeshore + 7 away) matches DEC's ten numbered GIS campsite points exactly, and we independently measured each point's distance to the lake to confirm the 3-lakeshore / 7-away split. These are FREE, first-come DEC designated sites -- no reservation, no fee, no registration, and no camping facilities (no hookups, no showers, no potable water); this is NOT a reservable fee campground. RULES: camp only at the designated sites; a free Forest Ranger permit is required only if you stay more than 3 nights or camp with a group of 10 or more (arrange it through the DEC Region 3 New Paltz Office at (845) 256-3076 (Forest Rangers via 911 or DEC dispatch 1-833-NYS-RANGERS)); DEC will not issue group-of-10-or-more permits for the lake-shore sites, and no temporary-camping permit is issued to anyone under 18. Bring water or treat what you take from the lake or a stream, pack out all trash, follow Leave No Trace and the DEC fire rules, and store food from bears (this is black-bear country). This site is around 1739 feet elevation. SEASON / ACCESS: DEC lists the unit as open year-round, but the trail and access roads can be muddy, washed or snow-covered off-season -- confirm current conditions with the DEC Region 3 New Paltz office (845-256-3076) or the unit page before you go. Confirm current rules and this specific site's status on the DEC page (dec.ny.gov/places/crystal-lake-wild-forest) or with the New Paltz office (845-256-3076) before you go; we have not visited.

USGS topo — contours & terrain

Aerial — USGS / NAIP

Nearby restrooms — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)

• RestroomCallicoon PA Access Seasonal Toilet · ~8.2 mi S · NPS
• Highway rest areaRoscoe · ~9.2 mi NE
• RestroomLordville Access Seasonal Toilet · ~9.5 mi W · NPS
• Highway rest areaEast Branch · ~10.7 mi NW

Open this spot elsewhere

Other camps nearby

If this one is full, gated or washed out.

• Crystal Lake Campsite 11 [DEC #7217] (Crystal Lake Wild Forest)~0.2 mi
• Crystal Lake Campsite 9 [DEC #7215] (Crystal Lake Wild Forest)~0.2 mi
• Crystal Lake Campsite 8 [DEC #7214] (Crystal Lake Wild Forest)~0.2 mi
• Crystal Lake Campsite 7 [DEC #7213] (Crystal Lake Wild Forest)~0.3 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

Before you go