E. Branch Gorge Campsite (Siamese Ponds Wilderness)
FREE primitive camping in the 114,010-acre Siamese Ponds Wilderness, part of New York's Adirondack Forest Preserve, in the east-central Adirondacks between Indian Lake and North Creek -- Towns of Johnsburg and Thurman in Warren County and Towns of Indian Lake, Lake Pleasant and Wells in Hamilton County (DEC Region 5), reached from NY 8, NY 30 and the Thirteenth Lake / Old Farm Clearing roads off NY 28. DEC-designated primitive tent site ('E. Branch Gorge Campsite'). New York provides these designated primitive tent sites at NO CHARGE (the DEC unit page lists the fee as 'Free'); sites are first-come and cannot be reserved. This is a HIKE-IN backcountry site. DEC's page routes it from the East Branch Gorge trailhead on NY 8 via the East Branch Gorge Path, an UNMARKED 0.8-mile path along the East Branch Sacandaga River. For orientation, the nearest DEC-published trailhead or parking coordinate is the East Branch Gorge trailhead parking area on NY 8, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line -- trail mileage will be longer. PERMITS: a free New York State Forest Ranger permit is required for any stay of more than three nights at one spot, or for a group of ten or more (the DEC unit page sets no stricter local threshold, so the statewide rule governs). Arrange any permit in advance through the DEC Region 5 Warrensburg Office at 518-623-1200 (Mon-Fri, 8:30 to 4:45). Camp only at the marked site (look for the yellow 'Camp Here' disc) -- elsewhere on the Forest Preserve, camping is prohibited within 150 feet of any road, trail, spring, stream, pond or other water. These are primitive sites: typically just a fire ring, no hookups and no potable water, and designated TENT sites are for tents only. Pack out all trash, follow Leave No Trace and the DEC fire rules, and store food away from black bears. The unit is open year-round, but winter access is on ski or snowshoe and several stream crossings here have no bridge -- confirm current conditions, closures and this site's access with the DEC unit page (dec.ny.gov/places/siamese-ponds-wilderness) or the Warrensburg office before you go; we have not visited.
Everything you need — measured from camp
- @Mail10 mi
- GGrocery10 mi
- FFuel10 mi
- +Urgent care10 mi
- LLaundry11 mi
- RxPharmacy11 mi
- WWater14 mi
- ShShower14 mi
- DDump15 mi
- MMechanic16 mi
- HHardware18 mi
- OOutfitter24 mi
- AAir-up32 mi
The read: water's a short hop out, fuel & food sit about 10 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 · ~1.6 mi
- Drinking waternone within 10 mi
- FuelNice n' Easy · ~10.2 mi
- Propane / LPGPropane · ~27.8 mi
- Dump stationDump station · ~15.3 mi
- GroceriesStewart's Shops · ~10.1 mi
- PharmacyRite Aid Pharmacy · ~10.7 mi
- Hospital / clinicNorth Creek Health Center · ~10.5 mi
- HardwareBraley Noxon Hardware · ~17.5 mi
Nearby restrooms — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)
- No mapped restroom within 30 miles — plan to pack it out.
Open this spot elsewhere
Other camps nearby
If this one is full, gated or washed out.
- Campsite 001 (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest)~0.8 mi
- Campsite 002 (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest)~1.1 mi
- Campsite 003 (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest)~1.3 mi
- Campsite 004 (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest)~1.4 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