Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area

"Very nice piece of NYS land that we started to explore on a recent spring day. There are two campgrounds, one at Launt Pond at the north end of the park and another at Spruce Grove at the south end. We weren't camping on this outing, however. Instead we hiked north from Spruce Grove up Forked Mountain, and then across a spur over the East Trout Brook Rd. We then followed trails parallel to that road back to Spruce Grove. It was a 5.2 mile loop in all. The climb up Forked Mountain was quite steep, but not technical. Away from the two campgrounds we saw very few people and the trails were all heavily overgrown (but clearly blazed). This seems to be a lightly used trail network, which is so different from the nearby trails in Catskill Park. The pond was nice, though you have to pay in summer. Otherwise, we didn't see any special features such as viewpoints or waterfalls. This is a hunting area, so don't forget hi-vis gear in that season."

"This campground situated by a large lake had many pros & cons. Few of the lots are large, good for 9/10 perspn tents and have some trees between lots and the roads (#4), but most are smaller but decent if you have smaller 2/3 person tents (#13) and others are right on the road with 0 privacy (#8 & #9) but good if you want to pull through. They also have a handicap site (#20) that is pretty level itself but is also level with the bathrooms for easy access. The bathroom building in my picture hosts a decent 2 stall 2 sink women's bathroom, 2 stall 2 sink mens bathroom and a seperate singular toilet 1 sink all gender/ handicap/ family bathroom. This building also has 2 singular shower rooms that are spacious, free to use, had a handicap fold down seat, and always had hot water. Unfortunately, they are the only 2 showers for the whole 40+ site campground that over the weekends gets quite busy. They do have a separate outdoor but covered wash station for dishes. There is maintenance that drives a few times during the day making sure the doors to the bathroom are closed, but didn't check the conditions of the bathrooms that were often out of toilet paper, and sometimes had plumbing issues especially over the weekend when larger families/ groups came Saturday/Sunday. Quiet hours start at 10 pm, and there were 0 enforcing of it with no maintenance drive bys at night. Which unfortunately for our extended weekend, we had loud music parties till 2am. Cell service was mostly non-existent or spotty 1 bars throughout the grounds, which could be a pro or con. By the lake, there is a composting toilet building hosting 2 stalls-2 toilet, 0 sink for womens & 2 stall- 2 toilet 0 sink for men's but have sanitizer dispenser in each. Also, a separated changing room building, a small sanded beach area, multiple picnic tables & grills, and small floating dock to rent boats/ life jackets. On the other side of the lake, there is a fenced-in dock, with a built-in bench & and a dam good for fishing off of. There's a day-use area across the check-in cabin by the parking lot that has a small playground and a large covered patio that has 1 large grill and multiple tables, also a small wood stage and 20+ wood benches in front. There are a few water spicket posts throughout the property that I did see the caretakers test in the morning, which was comforting. The garbage situation is all outside behind the check-in cabin in 2 large green dumpsters with rails to protect from critters and 3 smaller garbage cans for sorting metal & plastic. They do not have a bear problem. There are a total of 3 toilet buildings, the compost one by the lake/ check in one. The plumbing flush one with showers in the main loop & the 3rd in a distant loop about 4 miles away from the main one by the equine camping sites with stalls for your horses, just no showers. Firepits are recently updated stone/concrete combo with built on lever pull down grate for cooking. Most sites had new picnic tables, older ones down by the lake. The 2 male caretakers (Nick was at the check-in & another gentleman who drove thru the grounds during the day) were both very friendly."

"ADA accessible spots, clean restrooms, and a great value. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!"

"A nice little campground. Sites are mostly pretty private. Bathrooms and showers are clean and well lit. Staff is friendly and helpful. Nice amenities at the lake."

"Good place to injoy your camping"