River Road Campsite (Silver Lake Wilderness)

FREE primitive camping in the Silver Lake Wilderness, part of New York's Adirondack Forest Preserve, in the southern Adirondacks west of the Sacandaga River -- Hamilton County (Towns of Arietta, Lake Pleasant, Wells and Benson) in DEC Region 5, reached from NY 8 on the north, NY 30 on the east and the Benson / Godfrey Road side roads on the south. This is a DEC-designated primitive tent site ('River Road Campsite'). New York provides these designated sites at NO CHARGE -- the DEC unit page lists the fee as 'Free' -- and they are first-come, first-served and cannot be reserved. This is an EASY ONE to reach: it lies about 0.23 mile (1194 feet) in a straight line from the River Road parking area off State Route 30, a DEC-published parking coordinate, so it is a short walk in rather than a backpacking trip. DEC confirms designated sites are here but never describes the walk itself, so treat that figure as straight-line distance, not trail mileage, and expect the footpath to wander. 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 Northville Office at 518-863-4545 (Mon-Fri, 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM). 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, no potable water and no dump station, and designated TENT sites are for tents only. If you want amenities, DEC points you at its own Sacandaga Campground nearby, but that one CHARGES -- the sites listed here are the free ones. 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 travel here is on ski or snowshoe -- confirm current conditions, road status, closures and this site's access with the DEC unit page (dec.ny.gov/places/silver-lake-wilderness) or the Northville office before you go; we have not visited.

USGS topo — contours & terrain

Aerial — USGS / NAIP

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

• Highway rest areaParking/Rest Area · ~26.6 mi S
• Highway rest areaParking/Rest Area · ~26.7 mi S
• Highway rest areaMohawk Travel Plaza · ~28.1 mi S
• Highway rest areaGlens Falls (South) · ~29.4 mi E

Open this spot elsewhere

Other camps nearby

If this one is full, gated or washed out.

• Murphy Lake Trail Campsite (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest)~2.7 mi
• Murphy Lake Trail Campsite (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest)~2.7 mi
• Murphy Lake Tent Site (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest)~2.7 mi
• Murphy Lake Trail Campsite (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest)~2.7 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