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Submission
Shandaken Wild Forest contains six different parcels, each with its own distinctive character. The many remnants of past industries found here including farms, sawmills, bluestone mining and tanneries, will intrigue those interested in Catskill history. The Lower Birch Creek Road parcel is a historic Catskill mountain farmstead. The Allaben parcel is largely undeveloped forest with primitive campsites. The Rochester Hollow area contains ruins of a former estate and a spruce plantation that is the John Burroughs Memorial Forest.
The Allaben parcel contains eight designated campsites, two of which are accessible with accessible picnic tables and fire rings. The first campsite is located next to a small pond with a hardened area near the edge of the water for fishing. Continue past this campsite to the end of the road where a second accessible campsite can be found. There is an accessible seasonal port-a-john located at the cul-de-sac, adjacent to this campsite. An accessible informational kiosk is located at the first intersection, near the first accessible campsite.
Rochester Hollow has an accessible lean-to campsite (with hardened surfaces, accessible picnic table, fireplace and privy) and two designated campsites. This site is near the end of a three-mile-long gated road (Rochester Hollow Road). Access by ATV is granted only to Motorized Access Program for People with Disabilities (MAPPWD) permit holders.
Additionally, at-large primitive camping is allowed. Campsites must be at least 150 feet away from the nearest road, trail, or body of water. Camping for more than three nights or in groups of ten or more requires a permit from a Forest Ranger.
It was kind of rainy but still awesome! All the campsites have Wonderful privacy and the outhouse is maintained well
This was a great roadside camp with a decent amount of spots. Some of them are even large enough to share if the original camper is okay with that. It was convenient to camp for a night before waking up early to hike up Hunter Mountain. I will use it again in the future if I need to arrive late before a backpacking trip.
This was mine and my friends' first time primitive camping and it was so much fun! Portapotty was pretty clean and taken care of and our campsite had a nice fire pit. Would love to come back!
