Primitive Tent Site (Independence River Wild Forest)
FREE backcountry primitive camping. DEC-designated primitive tent site ('Primitive Tent Site') 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 of uncertain access -- this unit mixes drive-up roadside, water-access reservoir and backcountry pond sites, so confirm THIS site's access, launch/trailhead and distance on the DEC unit page / DECinfo Locator before you go. 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. 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 camp
- FFuel8 mi
- GGrocery8 mi
- RxPharmacy8 mi
- HHardware8 mi
- DDump9 mi
- @Mail13 mi
- OOutfitter14 mi
- LLaundry17 mi
- MMechanic17 mi
- WWater18 mi
- +Urgent care30 mi
- ShShower38 mi
- AAir-up41 mi
The read: water's a short hop out, fuel & food sit about 8 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 featurePine Lake (water) · nearby
- Nearest townMinnehaha · ~4.9 mi
- Drinking waterDrinking water · ~8.8 mi
- FuelOtter Lake Gas Station and Grocery · ~8.5 mi
- Propane / LPGnone within 31 mi
- Dump stationDump station · ~8.9 mi
- GroceriesWalmart Supercenter · ~17.3 mi
- PharmacyKinney Drugs · ~8.2 mi
- Hospital / clinicLewis County General Hospital · ~18.8 mi
- HardwareAce Hardware - Old Forge Department Store · ~8.5 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.
- Big Otter Lake Campsite #1 [DEC #15492] (Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness)~1.5 mi
- Primitive Tent Site (Independence River Wild Forest)~2.1 mi
- Primitive Tent Site (Independence River Wild Forest)~2.2 mi
- Middle Settlement Lake Designated Campsite [DEC #18825] (Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness)~2.8 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