Beaver Pond Camp is less than an hour from New York, and puts you close to some pretty great hiking opportunities. But sometimes convenience isn’t a good thing. Picture by Rick McCharles, from his Flickr page.
“The ‘campsites’ are little more than raised slatted platforms, the sites are mostly on top of each other, its loud, dirty, and crowded. At night it sounds like the Lord Humoungous is calling for the surrender of the gasoline.” — from Member greenmm3’s review, About.com camping.
Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly (see reviews, below) on Beaver Pond Campground. “So close to New York City” can sometimes be a good thing, sometimes not…
The Facts
For the complete information brochure, download the PDF here: Beaver Pond Camping Information
Information:
- Phone number: (845)947-2792
- Mailing address: Beaver Pond Campground, Harriman State Park
PO Box 427
Bear Mountain NY 10911 - 73 regular tent sites, 55 platform tent sites, 7 RV sites without hookups.
- Season Dates:
Last Friday in April – Sunday of Columbus Day Weekend (in October). Section A does not open until Memorial Day Weekend, at it closes on Labor Day Weekend (Sunday).
Location:
- Beaver Pond Campground is located in the Lake Welch Recreation area of Harriman State Park (see the New York New Jersey Trail Conference Map (North or South segment). Between Route 106 and Lake Welch Drive.
- An easy drive from New York City, just 25 miles north of the George Washington Bridge. Take the Palisades Parkway to Exit 15.
- GPS Info: 41.23083, -74.06917 Lat
41°13’51″N, 74°4’9 Long
What You’ll Find at Your Site:
- Picnic Table
- Fire Ring
What You’ll Find at Beaver Pond Campground:
- Tent, trailer, and large vehicle sites. 73 regular tent sites, 55 platform tent sites, 7 RV sites without hookups.
- 14′ x 14′ platform sites for tents
- Bathrooms
- Showers
- Laundry facilities
- Dumping station
- Swimming beach (when lifeguards are on duty)
- Boat launch
- First aid station
- Parking
What You Won’t Find:
- Much peace and quiet. This is a noisy campground and unfortunately the rules about noise are not strictly enforced. Lots of campers, lots of kids, lots of loud music and crying of babies into the small hours has led to lots of negative reviews and bad experiences reported online.
- RV sites with water or electric hook-up.
- Ice or other items for sale at a general store (there isn’t one).
- Sink for washing dishes.
- Much room. The sites are crowded together. Try to get a site in the A or W sections, which are a little roomier.
Beaver Pond Campground, in Harriman State Park (on Lake Welch).
Don’t Bring:
- Alcohol (supposedly strictly enforced, and your car and cooler may be checked)
- Your doggie. Or any pets.
- Your own firewood — this is to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer — a creepy, invasive jerk — who’s threatening our native ash trees. You can buy kiln-dried wood at the Beaver Pond campground park office.
- More than 6 people to your site, including visitors.
What They’re Saying on the ‘Net:
“Being so close to NYC and a car-camping site, don’t expect any quiet outdoor solitude. The campsites are very close together and the deer ticks are plentiful. There is a nice little beach on the pond reserved for the campsite.” Ray D., Manhattan (Yelp)
“The bathrooms were on the negative side of the cleanliness scale with the ladies’ bathroom almost unusable due to standing water on the floor and lack of TP. The men’s room was tolerable.” RustyJDCS (Tripadvisor)
“The college-age employees seemed about as useful and knowledgeable as the cast from “Road Trip: Beer Pong,” although slightly more sober due to the park’s no alcohol policy. The girl behind the counter in the office was helpful enough, but the remainder of the motley crew seemed to loiter aimlessly about the campground flirting with each other and attempting to drive golfcarts down the hiking trails.” Life, Love and Outside Blog.
This page was last updated on June 1, 2014.
