Sprague Pond Designated Tent Site #1 [DEC #11289] (Blue Ridge Wilderness)

FREE backcountry primitive camping on the shore of Sprague Pond in the Blue Ridge Wilderness of New York's ADIRONDACK Forest Preserve (DEC Region 5, between Blue Mountain Lake and Raquette Lake). This is a DEC-mapped designated primitive tent site ('Sprague Pond Designated Tent Site #1 [DEC #11289]'), and New York provides it at NO CHARGE: the DEC Blue Ridge Wilderness page lists the fee as 'Free' and the unit as open year-round, first-come first-served. It sits about 15 feet from Sprague Pond (measured against OpenStreetMap). This is a hike-in: reach it on foot via the Sprague Pond Trail from the free Sprague Pond trailhead pull-off on Cedar River Road -- the Blue Ridge Wilderness is closed to motor vehicles and bicycles, so you carry in. COUNT DISCLOSURE: the DEC unit page names only Sprague Pond among designated primitive tent sites (two sites) and describes Sagamore Lake as a waterway-access site with a 300-foot carry (lean-tos, a separate asset, are at Cascade, Wilson and Stephens Ponds). DEC's GIS returns six primitive-tent-site points for the unit; this batch ships the two page-named Sprague Pond sites plus the GIS-named Sagamore Lake site, and HOLDS three unnamed GIS points near the northern trailhead area that are not named on the DEC page and could not be corroborated on any water or in OpenStreetMap. No pins were invented. This is free, first-come Adirondack Forest Preserve backcountry camping in the Blue Ridge Wilderness -- do NOT confuse it with a reservable fee campground; the DEC unit page charges a day-use fee only at the SEPARATE Stephens Pond Trailhead parking and at the Lake Durant Campground to the north, NOT at the free Sprague Pond or Sagamore Lake trailheads used to reach these sites. SEASON / ACCESS: DEC lists Blue Ridge Wilderness as open YEAR-ROUND and free, but every site here is reached on foot or by paddle (Wilderness = no motor vehicles and no bicycles) -- trails can be wet, snow-covered or blowdown-blocked and water crossings vary, so confirm current trail, water and site conditions with the DEC Region 5 Northville office (518-863-4545) or the unit page before you go, especially in winter or mud season. RULES: no reservation and no fee; camp only at a designated site (look for the round yellow DEC 'Camp Here' marker) or, elsewhere in the wilderness, more than 150 feet from any road, trail or water; 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 Northville Office at (518) 863-4545 (Forest Rangers via 911 or DEC dispatch 1-833-NYS-RANGERS)). This site is around 1843 feet, well below any Adirondack high-elevation camping restriction. These are primitive sites: expect at most a fire ring -- no hookups, no showers and no potable water, so 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). Confirm current rules, trail status and this site's status on the DEC page (dec.ny.gov/places/blue-ridge-wilderness) or with the Northville office (518-863-4545) before you go; we have not visited.

USGS topo — contours & terrain

Aerial — USGS / NAIP

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.

• Sprague Pond Designated Tent Site #2 [DEC #11288] (Blue Ridge Wilderness)~0.1 mi
• Rock Lake Site [DEC #15860] (Blue Mountain Wild Forest)~3.0 mi
• Rock Lake [DEC #15861] (Blue Mountain Wild Forest)~3.1 mi
• Rock Lake Site [DEC #15862] (Blue Mountain Wild Forest)~3.4 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

Before you go