Josephine
My girlfriend and I are looking to go camping but we do not drive. The only access we have is by trains/buses from port authority/grand central. Does anyone know of a campground that is accessible and has any of the following:
Waterfall?
Swimming Hole?
Fire Pits?
Hiking Trails?
Adventurous/Challenging/Scenic?
Drinking/music?
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Answer
Malouf's Mountain Sunset Campgrounds
All you need to enjoy a weekend at this upstate New York camping resort is a sleeping bag and mat, a knife, a flashlight and a toothbrush, says owner Dick Malouf, who picks city slickers up from the nearby train station and sends them off on a day hike (ranging from a half hour to five hours) while he drives their gear to the well-spaced-out sites. Tents are set up on elevated platforms complete with a tarp-covered fire pit and a âchow boxâ full of cooking supplies, silverware and even a deck of cards. You can bring your own food, purchase uncooked meat and veggies at the campsite, or order in from local restaurants.
Price: $68 per night for a platform site with chow box and tent, $43 for primitive sites
Getting there: From Grand Central Terminal, take Metro-Northâs Hudson Line to the Beacon station (about 90 minutes). Call 845-831-6767 or visit maloufsmountain.com for reservations.
Clarence Fahnestock State Park
If youâre nostalgic for the days of family camping trips, rowboat rentals, Saturday-night movies and organized hiking excursions, book yourself one of the 80 campsites at this 14,000-acre upstate park located along the beautiful Canopus Lake. Nearby hunting and fishing are also available with a state permit.
Price: $19 a night per tent site
Getting there: From Grand Central Terminal, take Metro-Northâs Hudson Line to the Cold Spring station. Arrange ahead of time for the eight-mile taxi ride to the campgrounds (about $20). Visit newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com for reservations.For a quick getaway
Croton Point Park
Just an hourâs train ride north of the city, this Westchester County park offers cabin and tent camping on the Hudson River, along with hiking, picnicking and swimming facilities. Tour the historic wineries, thought to be the oldest in New York State, and the fun-for-all-ages Croton Point Nature Center.
Price: Six-person cabins range from $55 to $90 a night with a park pass, $75 to $120 without. Tent sites are $30 a night with a park pass, $50 without.
Getting there: From Grand Central Terminal, take Metro-Northâs Hudson Line to the Croton-Harmon station, which is about a half-mile walk to the park entrance. Visit westchestergov.com for reservations.
Kittatinny Canoes
Pack your tent and your bathing suit for a day of rafting, canoeing, kayaking or tubing on the Delaware River (one of the cleanest waterways in the country) and a night camping on the riverfront in Barryville, New York. Choose from 350 campsites in both wooded and open-grass settings, and catch your own dinner in the stocked trout stream (just bring your own pole).
Price: Water-adventure trips range from $25 to $45 a day; two-day specials also available. Tent campsites are $11 per night, plus $13 per person.
Getting there: Take New Jersey Transit to Secaucus Junction and transfer to the Main Line/Bergen County Line to Port Jervis. Visit kittatinny.com or call 800-FLOAT-KC for reservations and to make pickup and drop-off arrangements.
Fire Island National Seashore
A limited number of free camping permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Otis Pike High Dunes Wilderness area on Long Islandâs Fire Island, about a mile from civilization (including food and bathrooms) but steps from the white sand beaches and sparkling ocean. If thatâs roughing it a bit too much, you can reserve a tent site near Fire Islandâs Watch Hill Visitor Center, where thereâs running water, grills, showers, food and even a tiki bar nighttime hangout. No cars are allowed on the island, but summertime Long Island Rail Road trains coordinate with the 20-minute Watch Hill ferry to make your trip quick and easy.
Price: Wilderness camping is free upon availability; Watch Hill five-person tent sites are $20 per night with a two-night minimum.
Getting there: Take the Long Island Rail Road Montauk Branch to the Patchogue station and catch a $4 shuttle bus (or walk) to the ferry terminal. Visit nps.gov/fiis for wilderness camping information and watchhillfi.com for a campground reservation form.
Floyd Bennett Field
Manhattanites have always considered Brooklyn to be something of a wilderness, but it may still come as a surprise to learn that you can actually camp thereâand weâre not talking about sleeping on the sidewalk. This abandoned-airport-turned-national-park in Marine Park has room for about 100 campers, each site with a fire pit and picnic tableâand not much else. (It may be the only place in New York City where holes in the ground are considered acceptable bathroom facilities.) Itâs a little slice of serenityâ¦with bonus noise from JFK-bound planes that ocassionally fly nearby!
Price: $50 per campsite for a three-night stay.
Getting there: Take the 2 or 5 train (at rush hour) to Flatbush Avenue and transfer to the Rockaway Parkâbound Q35 bus. Call 718-338-3799 for reservations.
First time camping experience...?
Mr.Chipotl
Ok, so me and a few friends want to go camping to celebrate our first year of college completed and I'm in charge of arranging everything. Personally, I've never been camping but wanted to since I was a kid. Ideally, I'd like to find a nice camping area in New Jersey that isn't "family-oriented," in other words, secluded but environmentally beautiful. Somewhere where we can build a small camp fire for barbecuing, preferably near a lake where we can swim and/or fish. Are there any sites like this in New Jersey? (Out of state sites are fine too; We're willing to make the trip) Where and what do I have to do to arrange this? Do I have to call and reserve a spot? Also, how much money do we need in order to make this trip as comfortable as possible? (We have 4 people going, including myself). If we go, it'll probably be for a weekend or so (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Please, help me make this trip memorable! College sucks...
Answer
I live and frequently camp in NJ, and it's sad to say that there are few opportunities for this type of camping in our state.
If you are looking for secluded, scenic and near water, your best bet will be the primitive campsites in Wharton State Forest in the Pinelands (Atsion, NJ). Bodine Field, Hawkins Bridge, Batona, Mullica River and Goshen Pond have hand pumps for water and pit toilets. Buttonwood Hill and Lower Forge sites have no water. Mullica River and Lower Forge can only be accessed by hiking, canoeing or horseback; motor vehicles are not permitted. All other areas are accessible by motor vehicles. Most campsites are on or a few yards from a river, creek or pond. Some of these sites require traveling a distance over unimproved sand roads, where loose sand and water holes as deep as 12" may require a high-clearance 4WD vehicle, but most can be safely accessed by an AWD SUV, CUV or Pick-Up truck.
Note that it is illegal to possess or consume alcohol in NJ parks and forests. My experience is that if you are otherwise behaving in a mature and responsible manner and being discreet, most rangers will not bother you, though there are no guarantees. But if you are noisy, have a bonfire large enough to land aircraft by, or have cans/bottles of beer or alcohol in plain view, expect to get a ticket ($75). It is also illegal to swim in any water not supervised by a lifeguard, but "wading" is permitted and, to be frank, I've never seen this enforced except when attempting to swim in an unprotected area visible from a protected one.
Reservations are accepted in-person at the ranger station or via mail using the application form listed below. Cost is $2 per person per night for primitive campgrounds. Aside from the camping fees, you'll need gear, firewood, stove fuel and food/drinks. How much this all costs you depends on how extravagant your needs. You can get by on $5 worth of food and fuel a day eating Ramen Noodles, Hot Dogs and Beans, or over $35 dining on Roast Beef Subs, King Crab Legs and Filet Mignon.
There are many other state forests and parks with camping on or nearby water; check the list on the Camping Reservations page listed below. Note that these are family-oriented campgrounds, usually with full bathrooms including hot showers, one or more playgrounds, and are frequented by families in camping trailers. But some do offer reasonable amounts of privacy and great views of rivers, lakes and mountains. Some noteworthy areas are Stokes State Forest, Highpoint State Park, Worthington State Forest (right on the Delaware River). Camping in these locations is a bit more expensive at $20/night per site, max 6 people and 2 tents. Unfortunately, Byrne (aka Lebanon) and Allaire are not on or near any water features.
Round Valley Reservoir has a unique camping area that has full facilities but is not accessible by car. You need to backpack (3 to 6 miles, depending on the site) or access the camp by water (small boat, canoe or kayak). While still a "family" campsite, there won't be any RV's and few if any small children.
Finally, if you are up for a hike, you can section-hike the Appalachian Trail and camp overnight (one night per location) for free. You would need to be completely self-sufficient including water and toilet facilities, pack out all your trash and solid waste, and move to a new location each day. In return you get to test your endurance and self-reliance while enjoying breathtaking views of the mountains, valleys and Delaware River.
Expanding out from NJ there are many great places in PA and upstate NY for remote camping. Perhaps someone local to those areas can suggest some spots that are legally open to the general public.
(P.S., Possibly hard to believe now, but you'll look back at college as one of the best times of your life.)
(P.P.S., No state parks/forests have hookups, electrical or otherwise. The State University of NJ is Rutgers, centered in New Brunswick NJ, not Madison, WI. The State College of NJ is in Ewing, NJ, formerly Trenton State College. Drew University is located in Madison, NJ and is a state institution, but has never been referred to as "the state university." All total there are 12 state colleges and universities and 19 accredited community colleges in NJ.)
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