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The Sugar Hill Recreation Area, located at 3360 Tower Hill Rd, Watkins Glen, NY, 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.
The Lower Evergreen Parking Lot, located off of Evergreen Hill Rd, is smaller and has picnic tables, fire rings, open horse stalls and a pit privy. New for 2021, three campsites have been designated. No trash pickup is provided. This is a carry in-carry out facility.
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.
Lean To:
Lean-to in the trees, benches and fire ring in front.
Buck Settlement Lean-to
Lean-to Camping :There are five Adirondack-style lean-tos at four different locations. Lean-tos must be shared to their capacity on a first-come, first-use basis, with no exclusive reservation allowed.
Buck Settlement Lean-to on the Finger Lakes Trail north of Templar Road and near Glen Creek;
Parks Hollow Lean-to on Mohawk Trail, north of Sugar Hill Road;
the Twin Lean-to's (Sugar Hill Lean-to #1 and #2) - on Seneca Trail, south of the Sugar Hill Rec Area;
and VanZandt Lean-to - on Seneca Trail, east of Tower Hill Road.
September 14, 2021 to September 23, 2021 the VanZandt Lean-to will be undergoing maintenance, please plan accordingly.
No trash pickup is provided. These are a carry in-carry out facilities.
3360 Tower Hill Rd, Watkins Glen, NY
FREE
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.
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.
Highly recommend! Hidden Gem, beautiful & quiet, temperature 10° lower then the village of Watkins glen where you can visit lake Seneca. Dog and horse friendly, clean bathrooms and FREE
This is a nice horse recreational area that allows free, first come, first serve camping. Throughout the camping season they have water, clean and flushing bathrooms, sites with picnic tables and fire pits. There is a fire tower you can access for a better view. The grounds are clean and there is access to garage cans, recycling bins and a sink to wash your dishes. I stayed in October and it was extremely quiet and peaceful. There are covered horse stalls as well. There are a ton of trails that are well marked and great for hiking, biking, snowmobile riding and horse back
This is a great place to visit. There are ample camping opportunities, bathrooms, lean tos, and miles of trails. The centerpiece is the fire tower, which is definitely worth a climb. The views from the top are fantastic.
