Pallisades Campsite [DEC #4468] (Split Rock Wild Forest)
FREE first-come primitive camping at the Pallisades Campsite, one of the four DEC-designated shoreline campsites in the Split Rock Mountain Wild Forest (Essex County, eastern Adirondacks, on the largest undeveloped stretch of Lake Champlain shoreline in New York, DEC Region 5). New York provides it at NO CHARGE: the DEC Split Rock Mountain Wild Forest page lists the unit as 'Free' and open year-round, and states 'Four designated campsites are located on the shoreline of Lake Champlain at Barn Rock Bay (2), Palisades, and Snake Den Harbor.' This is the designated site below the Champlain Palisades of Split Rock Mountain, on the Lake Champlain shoreline -- reach it by canoe/kayak or small boat. These are FREE, first-come, designated sites -- no reservation, no fee, no facilities (no hookups, no showers, no potable water); this is NOT the developed Lincoln Pond or Crown Point campground. The most common way in is by canoe, kayak or small boat from the free DEC Westport Boat Launch. 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 5 Ray Brook office at (518) 897-1200 (Forest Rangers via 911 or 1-833-NYS-RANGERS / 1-833-697-7264)). Camp only on the designated/hardened site (look for a round yellow DEC 'Camp Here' disc), bring water or treat what you take from the lake, pack out all trash, follow Leave No Trace and the DEC fire rules, and store food from bears (this is black-bear country). SEASON / ACCESS: DEC lists the unit as open year-round, but Lake Champlain conditions and wind/water levels vary by season -- confirm current conditions and this specific site's status on the DEC page (dec.ny.gov/places/split-rock-mountain-wild-forest) or with the DEC Region 5 office (518-897-1200) before you go; we have not visited.
![USGS topographic map of Pallisades Campsite [DEC #4468] (Split Rock Wild Forest)](img/pallisades-campsite-dec-4468-split-rock-wild-for-ny-44221n73360w-topo.png)
![Aerial image of Pallisades Campsite [DEC #4468] (Split Rock Wild Forest)](img/pallisades-campsite-dec-4468-split-rock-wild-for-ny-44221n73360w-aerial.jpg)
Everything you need — measured from camp
- HHardware4 mi
- GGrocery4 mi
- @Mail5 mi
- FFuel6 mi
- RxPharmacy7 mi
- MMechanic7 mi
- LLaundry7 mi
- ShShower8 mi
- OOutfitter12 mi
- WWater12 mi
- DDump12 mi
- +Urgent care12 mi
- AAir-up54 mi
The read: water's a short hop out, 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)
- Resupply lookup unavailable — try the map links below.
Nearby restrooms — pit toilets, restrooms & rest areas (government data)
- Highway rest areaWilliston South Rest Area · ~20.3 mi NE
- Highway rest areaWilliston North Rest Area · ~20.4 mi NE
- Highway rest areaHigh Peaks (South) · ~22.2 mi SW
- Highway rest areaHigh Peaks (North) · ~22.3 mi SW
Open this spot elsewhere
Other camps nearby
If this one is full, gated or washed out.
- Snake Den Harbor Campsite [DEC #4469] (Split Rock Wild Forest)~0.4 mi
- Barn Rock Campsite [DEC #4466] (Split Rock Wild Forest)~0.8 mi
- Barn Rock Bay Campsite [DEC #4467] (Split Rock Wild Forest)~1.0 mi
- East Side Of Boquet River Primitive Area Campsite (Giant Mountain Wilderness)~16.4 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