Olmstead Pond Campsite (Five Ponds Wilderness)
FREE primitive camping in Five Ponds Wilderness, part of New York's Adirondack Forest Preserve, in the western Adirondacks northwest of Stillwater Reservoir and southwest of Cranberry Lake -- St. Lawrence, Herkimer, Lewis and Hamilton Counties (DEC Region 6), reached from Wanakena / Cranberry Lake off NY Route 3 and from Inlet / Stillwater off the south. DEC-designated primitive tent site ('Olmstead Pond 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 site at an interior pond, reached on foot by the Five Ponds / Cat Mountain / Olmstead Pond trail system rather than by canoe -- confirm the trailhead and distance with DEC. 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 required for any stay of more than three nights at one spot, or for a group of ten or more (the DEC page sets no stricter local threshold, so the statewide rule governs). Arrange any permit in advance through the DEC Region 6 Potsdam Office at (315) 265-3090. Camp only at the marked site (look for the yellow 'Camp Here' disc), keep camp 150 feet from water and trails unless the site is otherwise designated, and follow the posted wilderness rules. These are primitive sites -- typically only a fire ring, no hookups and no potable water; pack out all trash and follow Leave No Trace and the DEC fire rules. Both wilderness areas are open year-round, but winter access is on ski/snowshoe -- confirm current conditions, and this site's access, with the DEC unit page (dec.ny.gov/places/five-ponds-and-pepperbox-wildernesses) or the Region 6 Potsdam office before you go; we have not visited.
Everything you need — measured from camp
- GGrocery4 mi
- @Mail4 mi
- FFuel13 mi
- +Urgent care14 mi
- OOutfitter19 mi
- MMechanic19 mi
- HHardware20 mi
- RxPharmacy20 mi
- LLaundry25 mi
- WWater25 mi
- ShShower25 mi
- DDump26 mi
The read: water is a real 25-mi drive, fuel & food sit about 4 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 featureOlmstead Pond (water) · nearby
- Nearest townJanacks Landing Shelter · ~2.5 mi
- Drinking waternone within 10 mi
- FuelU-B's Mercantile · ~12.6 mi
- Propane / LPGnone within 31 mi
- Dump stationDump station · ~26.1 mi
- GroceriesOtto's Abode · ~3.9 mi
- PharmacyKinney Drugs · ~20.3 mi
- Hospital / clinicClifton Fine Hospital · ~10.9 mi
- HardwareAce Hardware - Old Forge Department Store · ~29.3 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.
- Olmstead Pond Campsite (Five Ponds Wilderness)~0.2 mi
- Campsite 31 (Five Ponds Wilderness)~1.4 mi
- Cranberry Lake Campsite 18 (Five Ponds Wilderness)~1.4 mi
- Campsite 29 (Five Ponds Wilderness)~1.5 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