Best Camping in and near Glimmerglass State Park

75% (2 reviews)

Named after a literary legend, this is an idyllic setting for outdoor explorers.

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Top-rated campgrounds near Glimmerglass State Park

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Sacred Waterfall & Quiet Camping

46 sites · Lodging25 acres · NY

NOTE: THIS IS A QUIET CAMPING AREA for reconnecting with nature. Not suitable for parties or loud groups. Kahonrakén:ra, The White Spiral Waterfall, is a world unto itself. For generations, the majestic waterfall has been revered for its spectacular beauty and power. It is considered a sacred site that has been central to local land rematriation work with the Kanienkeha:ka, also known as the Mohawks, the original inhabitants of Ioskóhare, the Schoharie Valley. Coursing between two outcroppings in a deep ravine, Kahonrakén:ra Waterfall crashes down over mossy rock shelves into a hidden pool, which then empties again into the river, running into emerald swimming holes and through dramatic clay beds. The effect is transporting. Truly, it is one of those extraordinarily beautiful spots on earth that makes you feel like you are in another world. There are two tiny cabins on the property. They are both accessed by separate footpaths through the forest, below an old red barn, surrounded by ash and walnut trees, singing birds, deer, wildflowers, and wild medicines. One cabin is in the forest, just beyond a grass circle clearing. The other is down the hill through a wildflower grove. Both sites have extra space to set up a tent if needed. The Forest Cabin is insulated with hemp, has electric lights and outlets, is bigger inside with a work desk, has Anderson crank out windows, has a bigger deck, and has two twin mattresses under the bed if you need them. The Wildflower Cabin is a bit deeper in the forest, a little smaller, uninsulated with two walls of old-school wood-pane windows that open out to the forest completely, one twin mattress under the bed and a powerstrip for light electric use. Both sites have private fire pits, solar shower stalls, fans for cooling and an oil filled electric heater for chilly nights. We do not allow partying. There is a profound healing process happening at the waterfall. At the request of the original caretakers, we ask that you to respect the sacredness of this land. Thank you! It's about a 10 minute hike down the gorge to the waterfall from the campsites. Each campsite has a private path down to the waterfall, where you can spend the day swimming, exploring the clay beds and looking for fossils in the 280 million year old gorge. In the evening, make a campfire at your fire pit and fall asleep under the stars listening to the waterfall and the river below. Be aware that the hike is steep and appropriate footwear is required. All hiking is at your own risk. Although your path to the waterfall is private and the waterfall is on private property, there may be other guests or locals that access the waterfall further down the road. There is no glass or alcohol allowed at the falls. Please be aware that you may hear your camping neighbors in the woods. For this reason, we ask that you don’t play amplified music and to keep noise down after 10pm so that your camping and local neighbors can chillax and enjoy the evening sounds of frogs, crickets, owls, and night songs of the countryside that makes Schoharie so special. In the big red barn at the entrance to the campsites there is a community room with a charging station, cold water sink, mini fridge, coffee maker, grills, and a port-a-potty for your use. There are also 5 gallon solar shower bags that you can use at your campsite. You are responsible for filling them and putting them in the sun to heat the water. :) This is a leave no trace campsite. Please take all your trash with you when you leave. And please bring your own biodegradable soap for dishes and toilet paper for the port-a-potty! Firewood is available onsite for $1 per log. Instructions for payment are in the community room next to the red silo at the barn. The wood is stacked at next to the red shed just uphill from the barn. You can also buy your own fire wood en route. We recommend that you buy kindling at the gas station on your way in. The Schoharie Valley is said to be the most fertile valley east of the Mississippi. It is still wild, unspoiled country and there are many local farms with fresh produce and organic meat within 5 miles of the house. There are several farm stands and a general store a few miles away, Scrumpy Ewe Cidery, Panther Creek Arts, and the Sap Bush Country Store and Café just up the hill in West Fulton. Mustang Valley, a wild mustang sanctuary and rescue center, is just down the road. Nearby hikes include Looking Glass Pond and Vroman's Nose, among many others.

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Steady Slope Fields and Forest

4 sites · Lodging, Tents58 acres · Delhi, NY

This land was once all pasture for grazing animals. We moved to Delaware County in November 2018 to start our family and pursue dreams of working on the land. The initial idea was to find a place we could live, garden, and raise a few animals while hosting guests and sharing the land with visitors. When we found this place on Williams Road, we loved the mix of rural and proximity to a thriving country town. We now have two kids and enjoy living in Delhi so much we hardly leave the town limits! There are wonderful restaurants, a great year-round farmers market, grocery stores, and many other services and amenities you can find listed towards the end of this guide. Our Catskill Mountain home is situated on a historic early 19th century farm site. Parts of the house might be more than 190 years old! With several additions and upgrades we think the house has lots of charm and enjoy the many modern touches. The property is overgrown pastures and a few steeper slopes with medium growth trees. After the industrial period saw this region nearly deforested, the land was granted to settlers who cleared fields and planted grass. Our immediate vicinity was knows for it’s cattle (Bovina), mostly for diary, and sheep. The agriculture in Delaware County has been on a decline since the advent of rail shipping opened New York City markets to farms in less challenging geographies. Construction of the NYC fresh water system (DEP Watershed) may have contributed to this decline, but about 60-70 years ago the majority of pastures, especially less productive parcels were abandoned to the “weed trees”. These first succession trees grew quickly in the sunny meadows and covered the hills; trees such as Ash, Hawthorn, and Norway Spruce. Fences and barns were left to return to the earth. On our property the stone walls that boarder the fields are the most stark reminder of the intensive agriculture practiced here.

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Tilden Hill Farm

16 sites · RVs, Tents155 acres · Vernon, NY

Relax at Tilden Hill Farm its a 155 acre farm raising Black Angus Cattle it has been in the Brewer family for seven generations. Founded in 1798 by Josiah Brewer, the farm has served as a grist mill, chicken farm, cheese factory. We offer several types of site selection for your comfort. Choose from our private tent camping to relaxing RV sites. Our tent sites are quiet and scenic, just a quick walk down to the pond. Some of our sites you can park next to, but a few you will have to walk ~100 yards with your belongings. Tent sites have a porta-john and homemade outdoor shower for your enjoyment! Our RV sites have full hookups: water, electric and also a dump station.Once settled in, take a meandering walk through our 4 miles of walking trails or find your way down to our pond. Water activities are plentiful: fishing for bass, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, we accommodate it all!We look forward to seeing you at Tilden Hill Farm where you can "Experience a Family Tradition"

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Reflections Homestead

3 sites · Lodging10 acres · Cold Brook, NY

I am Karl and with my wife Danielle together we own 10 acres of peacefully settled forest on the edge of over 10,000 acres of State Forest land. It is on a seasonal road. I have no registered address, but a small sign marks my access road as Jacob Lane. This is a tribute to my friends. The Amish that helped me build our off-grid cabin. It is very quiet here. My closest neighbor about a half mile away and I kind of like it that way. There are seasonal roads here that allow four wheelers that behave themselves to buzz by from time to time. The forest rangers and DEC officers that patrol here keep a tight rein on the forest and its preservation. We have one guest cabin and several places a tent or RV can park. There are no hookups. Water is a precious commodity here. We capture rainwater and filter what we drink and cook with. Please bring some potable water. We do have spring water available but it's a drive. We are currently working on a well so this may not be a permanent condition. I first came here about 15 years ago. I would like to try and see if others would enjoy what we have made our lives. Be alone or follow me on my daily adventures. I do like to talk and although I don't lie, stretching the truth is an artform I have perfected so be prepared. There is a state-run beach and picnic area about 3 minute drive away on the Hinkley Reservoir. We are about 15 to 20 minutes away from the Herkimer Diamond Mines. You can bike, hike, nature watch or just enjoy the peacefulness of the tree you chose to sit against. Down and ready firewood is everywhere if you want to bend over and pick it up. You can possess firearms on the property, but you may not discharge one without prior approval unless it's to save your life or that of another. There are places not far away that you can legally shoot and enjoy yourself. There are traditional outhouses on the property and for those that know how cat holing is allowed. Ask if unsure. No dumping tanks or portable toilets anywhere and that includes the outhouses. The state of New York has facilities at campgrounds that do a proper job with that type of waste. If you stop by, I will see you. If not go find what you seek and enjoy what has been created for everyone to pursue. Happiness. Peace be with you. Karl and Danielle

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Locust Grove Waterfall

1 site · Lodging2 acres · Oak Hill, NY

Fall asleep to the sounds of the waterfall on the Catskill creek! Escape the chaos - find peace and solace among the Catskill mountains. Located directly on the Catskill creek in the hamlet of Oak Hill, you'll be sleeping to the sounds of the waterfall just steps from the site. At the foot of the waterfall is your own personal swimming hole. Take advantage of the multiple hammock relaxation stations throughout the property and swimming in the creek. If you're up for a walk, the infamous Yellow Deli is just a mile down the road. We're just a few minutes away from Windham Mountain and various trails if you're the hiking type. Check out our "Must See" book in the tent for suggestions on places to enjoy during your stay. This campsite features a queen size bed for two. Site guidelines Bring loads of extra blankets and warm clothing. Boots are a must. Although the driveway is kept clear, car should ideally be AWD or 4WD depending on weather conditions. Consult your campkeeper. Let your campkeeper know when you are arriving so we can light up entry for you. Cleanup all common spaces when you leave. But, make yourself at home. Video Footage of the site - Instagram - @locustgroveny ***We have added a second full size glamping tent, the same size as the main tent with a queen size bed. This is only available to you when you book this site with a capacity of more than 2 people, it will never be rented to anyone else when you are there.

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Glamping Yurt in Woods of Franklin

1 site · Lodging8 acres · Walton, NY

Glamping Yurt in the woods of the Western Catskills. This gorgeous 24' Yurt includes electricity, excellent Wifi, two comfortable Queen beds (one mattress on a bed frame and one floor mattress), a refrigerator, and a pristine compost toilet. There is no running water but we provide a Berkey full of filtered water and one gallon of water for washing up in the bathroom. Sit on our gorgeous rocking chairs on the deck and grill, and stargaze from bed through the dome in the ceiling. Please also note that there are extra charges for more than 2 guests ($15/ person/ night), pets ($25/ stay), propane for heat (if needed- $25/ tank) propane for gas grill ($10) and wood bundle for outdoor fire ($15). You can add these to your booking under 'Extras' Please read through all details below to help prepare you for your stay : ) Wifi We have excellent high-speed fiberoptic Wifi. Network: Master Password: ofpuppets Note: If you are standing directly in front of the Wifi disc on the deck you may temporarily block the signal. Sound In the Yurt you should expect to hear all the sounds of nature that you hear when sleeping in a tent. While the Yurt is insulated and stays warm, sound-wise it is like a tent rather than like a house, so expect to hear the sounds of the woods and the weather during your stay. Windows The screen windows close two different ways: to keep the Yurt insulated there is a velcroed thick plastic cover that is clear. To keep out light/ for added privacy you can roll down a solid canvas flap and zip them shut. Please note that both of these things need to happen from outside the Yurt, so you may want to set them how you want them before you turn in for the night. Please reset windows to how you found them when you leave. Bathroom Our compost toilet is lined with a compostable trash bag. Please scoop sawdust from the Periwinkle Milk Crate into the toilet after each use of the toilet. You should scoop enough sawdust to completely and generously cover everything in the toilet. When you end your trip and leave the Yurt, and/or when the toilet is 2/3 full, please tie shut the compostable bag and dump the bag into our compost. Every time you use the outdoor compost, please cover what you have disposed of with either leaves or the hay provided in the center bin. (If you are only staying for 1-2 nights and would prefer not to do this, that is totally fine! Just let us know you didn’t get a chance to bring it out.) There is a pitcher with water and wash bin for brushing teeth/ washing hands in the bathroom. You can empty the wash bin outside when finished using it. We also provide all-purpose soap. Heat Note: March 2024 bookings we are including the first two propane tanks free! The Yurt is well insulated and runs on a propane heater. Please note that propane is not included in your stay and each tank is $25; you can find them under add-ons. Each propane tank will comfortably heat the yurt a night as cold as 30-degree night up to 24hrs. Decide how many tanks you'd like depending how long you are staying or how cold you expect it to be. The Yurt will comfortable heat freezing nights as well, it just will use propane more quickly. Water We provide a full Berkey full of filtered, clean water from our well with each visit. We also provide a pitcher of water in the bathroom for brushing teeth and washing hands and face. If you are staying longer than two nights, or if you expect for any reason to use more water than provided, we ask that you bring the additional water with you, keeping in mind it is a short (4-minute) hike from parking to the Yurt. In some cases with enough notice we may be able to provide additional water for your stay for an additional charge. Kitchenette We provide a Berkey full of filtered water, an electric kettle, a mini fridge and freezer, a microwave for use during your stay. We provide a gas Cuisinart Grill for use on the deck. If you plan to use the grill, please do a $10 mini-propane add-on so we can make sure there is fresh propane provided. We also provide cups, wine glasses, a French Press for coffee making, and compostable plates and bowls. Please do not put the plastic plates and mugs in the microwave. Please throw any compostable food into the compost bin or compost bag provided in the kitchenette and empty it into our large outdoor compost bin at the end of each day. Every time you use the outdoor compost, please cover what you have disposed of with either leaves or the hay provided in the center bin. Please never leave any food in the Yurt for more than one day that isn’t sealed in an airtight container. Please do not put meat or dairy products in the compost. If you bring meat or dairy products into the Yurt, we ask that you take any meat or diary trash out with you and dispose of it elsewhere. We have provided trash bags for this purpose. Please keep any meat and dairy products and trash in airtight sealed containers in the Yurt until you are able to dispose of them. Trash —-Please dispose of regular trash and recycling in our regular trash cans across from where you park. Walton automatically sorts recycling from trash so both can go in the same bins (we separate our recycling in a different bag just so the trash doesn’t contaminate it, but put it in the same bin as the trash.) —-Compost (fruit + veggie scraps, tea + coffee grounds, toilet bag) gets taken to outdoor compost bin on path to parking and covered with hay or leaves —-Meat + dairy stays sealed in an airtight container when in the Yurt and taken with you when you leave Rules 1) Please remove shoes as soon as you enter the Yurt 2) Please scoop sawdust anytime you use the toilet, and please take the toilet sawdust out to the compost bin once it is 2/3 of the way full or when you leave, whichever comes first. (If you are only staying 1-2 nights and prefer not to do this, that is fine, just please let us know you didn’t get a chance to bring out the toilet compost and our cleaner will take care of it.) 3) Please turn off all electricity, including all lights and heaters every time you leave the Yurt, especially when you end your trip. 4) Please never leave any food in the Yurt for more than one day that isn’t sealed in an airtight container. Please put any compostable food in the kitchen compost and take that compost out to the outdoor compost every couple days, covering the compost with leaves or hay once it is disposed of. Please take meat or diary trash with you when you leave. 5) Please do not put the plastic plates and mugs in the microwave. 6) Please wipe down the grill when finished use, make sure to turn off the gas when done, and please do not bring the grill inside the Yurt.

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Andes Off Grid Glamping Cabin

1 site · Lodging11 acres · Andes, NY

Welcome to this unique private off grid cabin carefully designed and built for a special and cozy Western Catskills experience! The cabin features a wood stove, outdoor shower, incinerator toilet, outdoor grill, deck, fire pit and plenty of parking. It it located in Andes near the famous Palmer Hill lookout, just 5 minutes from Downtown.

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Southern Adirondack Base Camp

5 sites · Tents1 acre · Caroga Lake, NY

Learn more about this land: 1/8th of a mile from river access, access to an endless trail system, and restaurant/bar on property with hotel accommodations. Several lakes near by, and plenty of outdoor recreation options to keep you busy in the Adirondacks!

Booked 1 time

Lakers Lodge

1 site · Lodging5 acres · New Berlin, NY

I built Laker Lodge when I was sent home from college because of Covid. It has been a great project that I've worked on with my brothers! It is completely off-grid so perfect for a weekend getaway to enjoy nature. Laker Lodge is on a 5-acre plot, has a small pond, and is surrounded by a river. There is access to my family farm 100+ acres where you can enjoy swimming, Kayaking, fishing, walking through trails, playing with the family chickens, and strolling through the grape vines, apple orchard, and Christmas trees farm. There is also a fire pit right next to the cabin to enjoy s'mores! A minute's drive away is a catch-and-release pond with plenty of bass, carp, crappie, and catfish! We hope you enjoy Laker Lodge as much as we have!

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Renee B.’s Land

3 sites · Lodging70 acres · Bainbridge, NY

Get away from it all when you stay under the stars. Located in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains, on a meadow with views down the valley. 70 acres to wander with a stream to investigate and a hill to climb, enjoying the flora and fauna. There is a Bath House available that is shared with other campsites on the property. It has a claw foot tub/shower, flushing toilet and a large sink ! We are located 2 miles from the small town of Guilford, NY that has, small picturesque Guilford Lake.

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Teardrop Glamper w/ Lake Access!

1 site · Lodging6 acres · Madison, NY

Fall in love with this super peaceful property overlooking Upper Lake Moraine! Explore the untouched 6 acres with friendly deer and wild turkeys. The site includes lake access complete with kayaks! Enjoy a cocktail and s’mores by the campfire and fall asleep to the sounds of nature in our cozy teardrop camper!

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West Canada Creek Farm

3 sites · Tents115 acres · Barneveld, NY

115 acres along the West Canada Creek. Great spots for fishing, swimming and or tubing down the river. Fishing just down the creek from the trophy waters of the West Canada Creek. Fields and woods for hiking. Also great for bird watching, have a grassy pond that is popular with various species of birds. Stay in a lean-to overlooking the West Canada Creek or pitch a tent creek side.

The best camping near Glimmerglass State Park guide

Overview

About

Immortalized as “Glimmerglass Lake” in James Fenimore Cooper’s classic “Leatherstocking Tales” novels, the storybook scenery of this state park should come as little surprise. Follow the wooded trails down to the shores of Otsego Lake, where you can picnic on the sandy beach, cool off with a swim, or rent a kayak to paddle out across the lake. Away from the water, peek inside the historic Hyde Hall, admire the Hyde Hall Covered Bridge (the oldest in the country), then head to Shadow Brook to check into Glimmerglass State Campground.

Tips for snagging a campsite

You can reserve one of 50 campsites at Glimmerglass State Campground via the Reserve America website. A 2-night minimum stay applies.
Online reservations open nine months in advance and can be made up until 3pm on the day of arrival.
Campsites can book up fast for summer and holiday weekends, so book at least three months in advance. Just six sites have electric hookups, and these spots tend to book up first.

When to go

Camping season at Glimmerglass runs from May through September, a great time for swimming and watersports. Seasonal activities take place year-round, with hiking and biking tracks transforming into snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails come winter, and boating and fishing giving way to ice skating and ice fishing. An added bonus for off-season visitors—no admission fee after Labor Day.

Know before you go

Glimmerglass State Park is set along the northeastern shore of Otsego Lake, about a 10-minute drive north of Cooperstown.
Day-use parking fees apply at all New York state parks, as well as campsite booking fees. Vehicle fees at Glimmerglass are waived in low season.
Park facilities include restrooms, picnic areas, a concession stand, a playground, and a basketball court. Accessible campsites, parking, and restrooms are available, and The Meadow hiking trail is also accessible.