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Submission
Starting May 17, 2021 the Sugar Hill Fire Tower Recreation Area has been re-opened for camping and day use. In an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 camping is limited to 26 designated sites. A self-issued permit must be filled out when you arrive. There is no reservation system, if you arrive and all campsites are full you will have to find another location to camp.
The Sugar Hill Recreation Area, located off of Tower Hill Rd, is the largest designated camping area on Sugar Hill State Forest. Available on a first-come first-serve basis, the area is a nine-acre open field for camping, with a limited number of fire rings and picnic tables. New for 2021 (in order to limit the spread of COVID-19) 26 campsites have been designated in the open field area. Upon arrival, campers must fill out a self-issued camping permit. There is no reservation system, if you arrive and it is full you will have to find another location to camp.
Other facilities in the Rec Area include; a picnic area with picnic tables and pavilion, an accessible horse-mounting platform, open horse stalls, during summer months a restroom with potable water are available, and access to the Six Nations Trail System, as well as the Sugar Hill Fire Tower. The gate is opened to vehicle traffic, and the water turned on, from the 3rd Monday in May through the 3rd Monday in October of each year.
Individual campsites are located throughout the State Forest. These 19 additional primitive designated camping sites are semi-flat spots, some are graveled parking areas, others are small openings set back in the woods on topsoil, most with no other facilities provided.
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. No trash pickup is provided. These are carry-in, carry-out facilities.
We came to climb the tower and hike on the Fingerlakes Trail. It was also fun seeing all the horses of people who were camping here. You find access to the trail by heading toward the horse stalls along the wood line. The trails pick up behind these horse stalls. We hiked the trail the Fingerlakes Trail West. We passed 2 small dried up streams so not much water views that way (it has been very dry as of late around here). Next time we'll try going East. The trail was very well marked and maintained.
I can’t believe a location of this quality is free. Very clean and well maintained. If they added some showers it would be awesome!
We went here while looking to check out the farm sanctuary. It was a really cool place to come by! It’s a pretty tight tower up top but the views where fantastic! There’s a bathroom right below the tower as well which was nice. There are currently wildfires going on in Canada which is why in the pictures you can see a good amount of haze in all directions. It’s a cool piece of history here I’d definitely recommend checking it out if your in the area!
Free campsite, very clean, found an empty spot, had a bench table, fire pit, trash can all in my spot.
Restrooms were clean, people were nice, I just signed a document, that's it.
Had nice trails for hiking.
Close to watlkins glen state park 15 min drive to the main entrance.
