The best camping near DAR State Forest

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next DAR State Forest adventure.

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Discover the natural charm of DAR State Forest.

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Top-rated campgrounds near DAR State Forest

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Salamander Hollow Healing Habitat

5 sites · Lodging17 acres · Warwick, MA

Best HipCamp Massachusetts 2023 Best HipCamp USA Finalist 2023 Best HipCamp Massachusetts Finalist 2022 THERE IS WIFI, PRIVATE HOT SHOWER and FLUSH TOILET. EXCEPT FOR THE RECENTLY ADDED TULLY 'THOREAU' ISLAND. Salamander Hollow is a private, evolving honeybee and human being sanctuary on 17 acres of land abutting Massachusetts State Forest. We currently have a one-room, wood stove warmed, cozy sleeping loft for one or two - with two benches below on either side of room - for two sleeping bags; plus, a separate 22 foot Sioux tipi with two cots. There are two chairs in the tipi, which if removed at night, make floor room for four other sleeping bags. 'Forest Bathing' for miles! If you're a larger group booking Salamander Hollow main camp with its Sleeping Library, Tipi & Slovenian Beehive House, you might consider renting this additional Tiny Cabin want to entertain all in glamping style, utilizing its amenities; as well, providing another bathroom/shower and guest bedroom for those who prefer being indoors while in the great outdoors. Note that Kula Bata Tiny Cabin abuts the wheelchair accessible larger bathroom/shower which is available to those at the Salamander Hollow main camp, yet you are secluded with your own private entry points and private bathroom. A ten minute drive takes you to the parking area to hike up Tully Mountain. There is a grill, wood fired pizza oven, two fire pits and a hygienic Incinolet electric toilet on the property for night convenience, with small camp sinks for washing & teeth brushing. Take a short hike off the property to organic Chase Hill Farm for milk, eggs, seasonal veggies, grass fed meat and other goodies. Say hello to their cows, chickens, pigs, goats, pups and kids. Nestled across the road from Salamander Hollow is Timber Haven Farm, where you can schedule your pickup of bacon and eggs, while loading up on delicious Owl Energy Bars for your adventurous excursions. For those interested in the glamping side of camping, you will enjoy a remote rustic experience with a few creature comforts to keep you well read, clean and fed. Please bring your own bedding - pillows, sleeping bags, comforter, teddy bears.There is a wall mounted blue tooth car radio/CD player in Sleeping Library, so bring your pre-digital favorites. Classical CDs to listen to. Lots of eclectic books to peruse.Walkie talkies, a set of 4, are available upon request. Chess & poker sets, too. Electric 2-burner stovetop and griddle upon request. Bring fire-starters/newspaper for tinder. We suggest if you are staying more than a night or two in winter, you bring supplemental wood or we can direct you to a nearby stand. Next season, our own cut and split wood will be seasoned and available on site. We ask that you carry out trash and recyclables. An established Western facing four point sacred Medicine Wheel site being established on Askari Ridge - our name for the slope starting with the two fire pits - 'Askari' being Swahili for night guard. Here is where we envision a great touch-point area for those leading groups to be for a base-camp by day or night, where eventually a multi-use tenting platform/performance stage will be constructed for outdoor entertainment, creating an authentic 'stadium style' seating on the hill. You will see on your way up to Salamander Hollow main clearing - the Kula Bata Tiny Kabin on the left of the dirt road- now available to rent with its small guest room for two, infrared sauna, hot shower, kitchenette, dishwasher and laundry.

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Bent Apple Farm

7 sites · Lodging100 acres · Londonderry, VT

Often described as being the most relaxing, romantic, dreamy and unique farm you'll ever stay in!!! Bent apple farm is natures perfect scape, thanks to my husband and I efforts to create a sanctuary to share with others. From apple trees, beautiful pond and a rustic cabins. Our farm is at the edge of VT natural forest, with often gifts us the visit of wild deers, moose and turkeys. Our property has 5 cabins total that give a small little village feel to it, but spaced enough that each has its privacy. This quiet piece of heaven is our little treasure, built and cared by us to share with you. Instagram: @bentapplefarm You’ll need 4x4 car in the winter time.

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Sunrise Farm

9 sites · RVs, Tents75 acres · Dover, VT

Voted 3rd in Vermont by Hip Camp 2022 6 Sites are on Sunrise Farms 75 acre Conservation land with 50 mile view for Sites 1 and 2. Very quiet area with lots of wildlife and ponds and disc golf. Very quiet with great swimming and lots of hikes right from your sites. 2 of the Brookside Sites (Wishbone Left and Right) are close by (2.7 miles) where we have another 1/2 mile of river frontage and can handle bigger groups as Conservation land on Sunrise Farm only allows 4 campers per site. Sunrise Farm Sites 1 and 2 have oodles of space and Spectacular 50 mile views of Mount Monadnock with no house lights out there in the evening except the party string lights we provide. Site 1 (with entrance 70 yards south of the farmhouse) is best for camping in with up to 20 foot trailers or multiple tents …on the large flat spaces in the 25 acre field to choose from. Great Well water available near farmhouse. Biodegradable soaps Only if used in the ponds. Double Olympic sized Swim Pond we stock with Rainbow Trout to keep clear. We have been advised Not to allow imported firewood (can import Wood Beetle dangerous for our forest). - PLEASE use the Firewood bundle tubs we provide ($11) - pick up at the farmhouse or pull wood from the woods (and make it safer for use). Beautiful and plenty of wildlife nearby... as well as Port a Potties are marked on Map we provide with solar lights marking them at night. Do Not Leave food out when camping or away from site. Bears are rarely seen but it is wild country. Sites have locking garbage lids. Unique and lovely as well as being next to trails and roads to miles of remote spots with very few if any ... people. In Winter we request only AWD vehicles go down to this site or park up by farmhouse and hike in so you can easily get out. When wet park up by the road if you have 2 wheel drive. Always WISE to arrive When LIGHT out as we do not live at the site and are not able to show guests to their sites as a result.

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Riverhaven

1 site · Lodging2 acres · Woodford, VT

Come stay in our cozy cabin set just feet from a beautiful trout-filled Vermont river. Sit on the deck under the hemlock trees and sip your coffee as you watch the clear water cascade over the rocks. Go for a hike on your choice of trails--there are many very close by, including the Long Trail/Appalachian Trail only a mile away. Then you can come back and take a refreshing dip in the river. This tributary of the Walloomsac river is stocked with fish every spring and boasts of many native brook trout that are a hidden gem for fly fishermen. Use the grill or fire pit to cook your catch, or drive 10 minutes into the town of Bennington to enjoy a restaurant. Stroll around the shops in the several wonderful small towns in the area or just go on a drive and enjoy the scenery. Just around the corner is a premier cross country skiing center at Prospect Mountain (3 miles away), or downhill skiing at Mount Snow (13 miles) or Stratton (19 miles), or snowshoe around the pond at Woodford State Park (5 miles). Then come back to our riverside cabin, click on the fire, and let the murmur of the river put you to sleep--a haven from the busy world. There is so much beauty and so much to do in every season--or just come and do nothing and enjoy! We built this cabin bit by bit with many repurposed and salvaged materials--it is definitely a labor of love. The walls are from local pine, and the deck boards are from the local high school bleachers. A shelf in the cabin is from a piece of our old piano and the flooring is secondhand. Our family enjoys the cabin experience so much in every season, and we hope you will as well. Cabin setup: Our one room dry cabin (no electricity or plumbing) located just off Route 9 is thoughtfully appointed with a full sized bed with memory foam mattress (linens provided), two armchairs, and a propane stove for heat. The cabin's property abuts hundreds of acres of national forest to explore. Parking is just off the road where you will then follow the mulched foot path about 100 yards to the cabin. If it is too muddy or snowy you will park in our driveway and walk down to the cabin from there. Amenities: We offer cooking items such as a propane grill, spatula, tongs, cast iron skillet, grate for the firepit, 2 plates, 2 mugs, 2 bowls, and utensils. Some cozy books and card games are also available. The two outdoor chairs can be moved from the porch to the nearby firepit as needed. We do provide a battery pack that can be used to charge phones (though please consider that this could run out during your stay), but you will enjoy the "unplugged lifestyle", as there is little to no cellphone service and no internet; however, a short drive into town will keep you connected. Notes: Please know that occasionally when there has been increased rainfall or snowmelt the river will be very high. While this certainly looks and sounds incredible from the cabin, it may impact your plans for wading or fishing, and of course this is unpredictable. We do not recommend very young children staying at the cabin due to the presence of the river just yards from the front door of the cabin, with a significant drop off into the rocky river. For this same reason please either refrain from drinking alcohol or very much limit your intake. We care about your safety and want you to have an amazing stay!

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Quarry Brook

4 sites · Lodging, Tents100 acres · Putney, VT

It all started on a first date in Boston....Nick had to excuse himself to take a phone call. His cow had fled its pasture. Much to Tara's surprise in that moment, this man she had just met was finishing his engineering degree at Northeastern, but was simultaneously building a homestead in Vermont. Fast forward 7 years, and here we are, building the life we only dreamed of. We yearned for simplicity. Deeper connections to our surroundings and mother nature. A calmer sense of place. The satisfaction that comes from growing food. Creating with our hands. We're a working farm and homestead. Every day at Quarry Brook is a new adventure, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re incredibly excited to share our little corner of southern Vermont and what we’re up to with you!

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Upper Shire Campsites Hudson Valley

6 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents22 acres · Hillsdale, NY

The Upper Shire Private Campsites in the Hudson Valley are on a gorgeous hill with a small pond surrounded by 22 acres of an old horse ranch. It is located in Columbia County near the Massachusetts and New York border. There are currently 5 unique camping areas located here. Each one is special due to its location on the hill. Check out our map and enjoy our spacious yet secluded campsites and our new off-grid double shower shack with hot and cold water on demand. This place has a relaxed atmosphere and is located near Catamount Ski Resort, Bash Bish Falls, Taconic State Park, Hudson NY, and Great Barrington, MA. If you plan on bringing a pet please be sure to add that fee to your booking under "extras" ($25) If you have additional guest(s) that would like to join you that fee is ($25 a night per person) and you will need to message us about how to arrange that. We have extra easy pop-up two-person tents available to rent ($15 for two nights) you can also find that option under "extras" along with bundles of firewood ($15)

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Timbertrail Farm

10 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents145 acres · Shaftsbury, VT

Come see Lake Shaftsbury State Park! This 200 year old farm is at the top of a dead end road on 150 acres. It sits in a region of Bennington County formerly called Healing Springs Vermont. The springs that flow off of West Mountain come down through the farm and across Route 7 where they feed the picturesque state park! Arrive at our 150 acre property at the top of this dead-end road.. (Please stay left all the way up to the top...the road becomes our driveway).. Step out onto this 200-year-old farm at your own private site all of which are several acres each minimum.. Walk to streams ponds and Lake Shaftsbury State Park.

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Woodland's Edge Glamping & Hot Tubs

2 sites · Lodging4 acres · Belchertown, MA

Our extra large tent can hold a family/friend group of up to 8 comfortably, but is also cozy enough for a couple's getaway. Your private campsite is on the edge of a mixed-wood forest. Deer roam free and you will surely hear the call of coyotes and owls at night. Centrally located within 10 minutes of downtown Amherst, 15 minutes to downtown Northampton, this tent is the perfect base camp to access all that this region has to offer. Flea markets and farmers markets on the weekends, malls, museums and numerous restaurants in the area should you decide to venture out for a bite to eat. Holland Glen, a popular hiking spot with waterfalls and swimming holes is a quick 3-minute drive to the trail head. It is an easy 1-mile ride to the start of the Norwotuck Rail Trail a paved bike path through wetlands and rolling farmland. Or simply stay put, unplug, and relax in one of the hammocks or enjoy our one of a kind wood-fired hot tubs! Our guests are welcome to wander around our little homestead have your coffee in the pollinator patch and watch the hummingbirds, butterflies and bees do their thing. Feed the chickens, then nibble your way through our berry patches, fruit trees and gardens and experience what it is like to live simply in New England. Cook a meal over the fire - we will provide the cast iron pans and dishes if needed. Learn more about this land: A private campsite on the edge of a woodland forest. Deer roam free and you will surely hear the coyotes call at night. Centrally located within minutes of Amherst and Northampton, this tent is the perfect base camp to this vibrant region. Relax in the hammock with a good book, play a rowdy game of corn hole, sip your coffee in our pollinator patch, tell stories by the campfire or rent our projector for the night for a fun in-tent movie!

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Berkshire Beech House

2 sites · Lodging6 acres · Monroe, MA

This tiny A frame is proudly nestled in a truly secluded camp in the Berkshires and Vermont border of Monroe, MA. Features an off grid heated and lightly electrified solar power. Enjoy the near silence in the forest with the convenience of being only 15 minutes from the town of North Adams. Relax around the cook top fire pit, go on a white water rafting adventure, hike the Appalachian trail, see Mass MoCA art, and the necessary visit to maple sugar shacks. Explore the area and you will find breathtaking views, especially if you make it up here at prime leaf peeping days.

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Sunflower Retreat

1 site · Lodging2 acres · Cummington, MA

A humble, 2-acre vegetarian family micro farm. Home to our family of five, 2 cats, 2 rabbits and nineteen chickens. Beautiful, established flower gardens, fruit trees and veggies. This is also home to Sunflower Yoga & Mindfulness where yoga and meditation are taught. The cabin is nestled in the 1 acre of woods behind our home, protected by large old pines and surrounding acres of forest. Home to many songbirds, woodpeckers, raven, deer, porcupine and the occasional black bear. A true retreat. Small, rustic cabin with electricity in the woods behind our home in the hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. You are just 300 feet from the house, but while in the woods you will have complete privacy. The woods are filled with songbirds and there is a small platform for meditation. There is no wifi in the cabin, so enjoy the ability to disconnect from it all while connecting within. The hilltown region is rich with rivers and lakes for swimming, boating and fishing and forests for hiking. We are just 30 min to Northampton and 45min-1hour from the many cultural offerings of the Berkshires. Learn more about this land: Small, rustic cabin with electricity in the woods behind our home in the hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. You are just 300 feet from the house, but while in the woods you will have complete privacy. The woods are filled with songbirds and there is a small platform for meditation. There is no wifi in the cabin, so enjoy the ability to disconnect from it all while connecting within. The hilltown region is rich with rivers and lakes for swimming, boating and fishing and forests for hiking. We are just 30 min to Northampton and 45min-1hour from the many cultural offerings of the Berkshires.

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Grateful Acres Vermont

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents12 acres · West Dover, VT

Learn more about this land: Welcome to Grateful Acres Vermont, a 420 friendly, Grateful Dead inspired camping destination in the heart of the Green Mountains. We have space available for tents, campers, and trailers. Kayaks available to rent for use at the reservoir located just up the road. WE ARE NOT A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE, just a family with some land in Vermont that we would.like to share. PLEASE OBSERVE THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT

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Winimusett Farm

4 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents28 acres · New Braintree, MA

Enjoy a tranquil weekend at Winimusett Farm, a 28 acre retreat on a nursery farm with 4 ponds, many streams and rolling fields. Stay in an off grid cozy cabin in the woods that can accommodate 2 people. Additional tent space available. The cabin includes a solar powered battery pack for charging electronics, queen mattress, wood stove, outdoor fire pit, deck and a private outhouse. Hike up to the cabin, it’s a 4 minute walk from where you park. In addition to our cozy cabin we also offer 2 other private camp sites for guests to enjoy. See other listings for those sites.

The best camping near DAR State Forest guide

Overview

About

Explore the picturesque foothills of the Berkshires when you crash at DAR State Forest. With plenty of scenic beauty to drink in, you will be feeling that rekindled connection with Mother Nature in no time. Take a little dip in the waters of Upper or Lower Highland Lakes or kick back on the shoreline and soak up the good vibes. The park offers plenty of trails that lead you through havens of hardwood-conifer and overgrown shrubs. Looking for some killer views? Climb to the top of the Goshen Fire Tower for an Instagram worthy snap of the Connecticut River Valley and a peak into five different states on the horizon. Now that is what we call a view.

Notable campgrounds

Accessible Campsites - Offering convenience and comfort, these sites cater to all visitors, ensuring an inclusive outdoor experience.
Lakeside Retreats - Immerse yourself in the beauty of the forest with a campsite by the water, perfect for a peaceful getaway.
Forest Hideaways - Secluded among the trees, these campsites provide a private haven for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.

Tips for snagging a campsite

Book Early - Secure your spot by reserving well in advance, especially for peak season stays.
Weekday Wonders - Consider a midweek visit for better availability and a quieter camping experience.
Off-Peak Opportunities - Explore the beauty of the forest during the off-season for a unique and tranquil adventure.
Explore nearby camping options - Expand your horizons by checking out additional campgrounds in the surrounding area.

When to go

The best time to visit DAR State Forest is from late spring to early fall, when the weather is warm and the park's full splendor is on display. Winter offers a snowy wonderland for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, but be prepared for chilly temperatures. Peak summer weekends can be busy, so consider a weekday visit for a more intimate experience with nature.

Know before you go

Check the Weather - Be prepared for New England's changing conditions and pack accordingly.
Parking Fees - Remember that parking fees apply from May 14 to Labor Day, with different rates for MA residents and non-residents.
Follow the Rules - Help preserve the park's beauty by adhering to the no alcohol and no littering policies.
Leash Your Dogs - Keep your furry friends on-leash to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit for everyone.
Accessibility - Take advantage of the park's accessible facilities, including trails and fishing piers, to ensure a comfortable visit for all.