Round Pond (Lake George Wild Forest)

FREE backcountry primitive camping. DEC-designated primitive tent site ('Round Pond') in the Lake George Wild Forest, part of New York's Adirondack Forest Preserve, in the southeastern Adirondacks around Lake George and the upper Hudson River -- the Towns of Bolton, Chester, Hague, Horicon, Lake George, Lake Luzerne, Queensbury and Warrensburg in Warren County, the Towns of Dresden, Fort Ann and Putnam in Washington County, and the Towns of Ticonderoga and Schroon in Essex County. New York's Forest Preserve allows backcountry camping at these designated sites at NO CHARGE (the DEC unit page lists the fee as 'Free' -- 63 designated tent sites free for overnight use), first-come/first-served -- these backcountry sites cannot be reserved. NOTE ON ACCESS: this unit is a MIX -- some sites are drive-up along the Hudson River road corridor (Buttermilk, Gay Pond, Bear Slide and River Roads), some are short hikes in the Shelving Rock area on Lake George's eastern shore, and many are hike-in sites on small backcountry ponds. THIS particular site is on a small backcountry pond in this unit, most likely reached ON FOOT by trail (a few of these ponds may also have a nearby road or paddle access) -- confirm THIS site's trailhead, route and distance on the DEC unit page / DECinfo Locator. DON'T CONFUSE THESE FREE SITES WITH THE PAID LAKE GEORGE ISLANDS: the Lake George Islands Campgrounds & Day Use Areas -- the Glen Island, Long Island and Narrow Island groups of reservable, fee-based island tent sites reached by boat are separate developed facilities that charge a fee and take reservations -- these designated Wild-Forest sites are the free ones. 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 unit page sets no stricter local group threshold). Arrange any permit in advance through the DEC Region 5 Warrensburg Office (Mon-Fri 8:30 AM-4:45 PM) at (518) 623-1200 -- they name the local Forest Ranger for the permit. Camp only at the marked site (look for the yellow 'Camp Here' disc), and keep camp 150 feet from water, roads and trails unless the site is otherwise designated. 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/lake-george-wild-forest) or the Region 5 Warrensburg 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 areaFair Haven Welcome Center · ~19.1 mi SE
• Highway rest areaHigh Peaks (North) · ~22.0 mi N
• Highway rest areaHigh Peaks (South) · ~22.2 mi N
• Highway rest areaIra Parking Area · ~27.7 mi E

Open this spot elsewhere

Other camps nearby

If this one is full, gated or washed out.

• Round Pond 1 (Lake George Wild Forest)~0.2 mi
• Long Pond Primitive Campsite 3 (Lake George Wild Forest)~1.2 mi
• Lily Pond Campsite 2 (Lake George Wild Forest)~1.3 mi
• Island Pond Campsite (Lake George Wild Forest)~1.3 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