Little Pond State Campground – Andes, NY

Little Pond Campground is one of the best-kept secrets in the Catskill Park. This DEC-run campground is a natural oasis that offers stunning beauty and complete peacefulness that aid in that whole “getting away from it all” experience. Many people assume that the Catskills are more or less a smaller version of the Adirondacks. They couldn’t be more wrong. This place has a magic all its own.

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Campsites

I have always felt the single most important facet of a campground is obviously the campsites. This campground has great ones. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a bad campsite here. There are several different kinds of campsites available to offer a variety of experiences. The majority of the campsites are wooded and mostly private.

There are 19 campsites that are directly on the pond. These sites are, without a doubt, absolutely fantastic. Eleven of these are drive-ups (meaning you can drive up to them and park on your site.) These sites aren’t huge but are fairly private, where you can’t see your neighbors. There are trails from each site down to the pond. We had a little area on the shore where we could set up our camp chairs, and we still couldn’t see our neighbors.

There are eight walk-in sites located around the back end of the pond, and these sites are directly on the pond. If you don’t mind using a pit toilet or carrying all your gear to your site, these campsites are gorgeous. Most of them are really private and sit way back off the trail.

The Pond

There are no motors allowed on the Pond, but it is perfect for kayaking and canoeing. When we sat by the water, we saw either an otter or a beaver swimming the length of the pond. It was too far away to really identify which it was. The pond is crystal clear, and if wake up early on a chilly morning, you can catch the mist on the pond. It is worth losing a little bit of shuteye to catch it.

Walking Trail

There is a trail that circumnavigates the pond. It is a nice walk but nothing challenging. Fortunately, there are lots of places in the area to hike and view the enchanting Catskill scenery.

Day Use and Swimming Area

There are no lifeguards posted in this swimming area. The park has set up rules for using the swimming area safely. There is water rescue equipment onshore in the event of an accident but it is also your responsibility to swim safely and follow the rules set down by the DEC. There is an emergency telephone at the swimming facility.

• Visitors are not permitted to swim alone. At least two people 18 and older must be present to swim. Children 16 and younger must have adult supervision at times.
• Swimming is only permitted during posted hours.
• No alcohol is permitted and patrons are prohibited from drinking and swimming.
• Swim responsibly – ie: No horseplay.

Know Before You Go

Before you venture out to Little Pond Campground, there are some things you should know.

Firewood – We were not able to buy campfire wood at the campground when we visited (mid-September). The park rangers told us we could purchase firewood at the general store just outside the park. Our jaws dropped when we arrived at the store to find tiny bundles of wood priced at $9.00 a bundle. We found cheaper wood at the gas station in Roscoe.

No cell phone signal/GPS– Once we got off Route 17 and started to drive through the Catskills, we lost all cell phone service. You will need your GPS to find the campground. If you plug in your destination before you loss service, it will still get you to Little Pond Campground without a signal. There is a pay phone at the campground in case of emergencies.

Lots of Deer- We arrived at Little Pond Campground around dusk and I can honestly say that I have never seen more deer on or near the road leading there in all my life. There were easily 50 deer playing roadside Russian roulette. Use extreme caution as you navigate the constantly curving roads of the Catskills.

Bears- There are bears here and you need to take precautions when preparing and storing food. The walk-in sites have been outfitted with bear boxes to store your food. Always keep your food in containers in your vehicles and never bring food into your tent or camper. Never dispose of food in your firepit.

Getting to Little Pond Campground

Address: 549 Little Pond State Campground Road, Andes, NY 13731 

Other Places to Visit in the Area

Have you camped at Little Pond Campground? What did you think about it? Where did you camp in the park? We would love to hear from you. Please leave us a comment below.