Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground

Pelton Pond - Clarence Fahnestock State Park Campground: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer). I rate based on desire for at least a moderate wilderness type experience w at least some camp site privacy. Overall Rating: Some spots: 4 , Some grouped spots: 2 Price 2023: $23 Usage during visit: Light Site Privacy: Some sites good. Some very poor. Site Spacing: Some sites good. Some very poor. Site surface: Grass/dirt/mud Reservations: Required Campground Noise: Quiet at our spot. Road Noise: Pretty load at our spot Through Traffic in campground: None Electric Hookup: No Sewer Hookup: No Dump Station: No Potable Water Available: Yes. At bathrooms and hand pumps Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Very old and very clean. Flush toilets. Heated. Showers: Very old and very clean. Heated Pull Throughs: Some Cell Service (AT&T): 3to 4 bars Setting: Spread out through a deciduous forest Weather: 50s high Bugs: None Solar: Food in some sites. Host: Did not see a host Rig size: 40’ max. Careful which site you choose. Sites: Pictures are of some of the more private sites which can have a trailer. Some sites are grouped in open areas. These lack privacy.

We visited October 18th 2020 and the previous days rained pretty heavy so when we arrive at site #20, there were caution tape to the east of our site for the trees that had fallen. No biggie but this site is also a ditch..we hiked downwards into the site. Everyone driving / walking down the main road can look into your site. This site I would give a 1 star for zero privacy, small space for a campsite, between 2 cars & 2 tents, we did not have space to put up a hammock. We went to check in to see if we can relocate & they did offer a spot where it was shared with another site which had a party reserved. We didn't want to intrude in other parties and esp during times like these so we just stayed in our ditch. We only for 2 nights but I can see other campers getting upset if they showed up to a ditch. We can hear the trucks driving by at night, if this is a bother for you, try to get a site further in away from the entrance. 

On the other hand, our friends were at campsite #21 and it was 5 stars compared to site #20. It was a hike in but very secluded from the rest of the campers and very clean kept.

4 Stars for this campground because :

Pros - short drive from NYC, the hike around the pond is easy and beautiful, there's a beach nearby. 

Con - we just had a bad campsite so we'll know to choose another one next time.

Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, my partner and I were grateful to Fahnestock State Park for allowing hikers to camp overnight. Arriving around 5 p.m., we swam at the lake and admired a family of geese, who were carefully looking after their chicks. We then went to the bathrooms to change when a park employee asked everyone to exit the park. As we packed up our things, the employee told us we didn’t have to rush, but that the public needed to evacuate, so they wouldn’t be present when the wildlife exterminator arrived to“get rid of the geese.” We were told not to be alarmed if we heard a shotgun being fired. We were also informed that it is“normal” for geese to be killed in parks throughout NY. If innocent beings are killed in public places, the public has a right to know. While visitors can come and go to parks as they please, the geese consider these places their home to raise their babies. We contacted several local rehabilitation services, who said they do in fact relocate and rehabilitate geese. The park staff said they have not considered an alternative to killing.“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”~Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

My partner and I spent July 4th weekend here this year. Overall we had an amazing time and there were just a few instances which may turn off some campers. Will share everything here and let you guys decide for yourselves.

I had originally booked site 65 and upon arriving, was told there was an error in the system and it was double-booked. They offered me site 60 instead, which we went to survey and noticed there was no fire pit or picnic table at that site. We let the front office know and the guy we were dealing with was a little abrasive, but ultimately gave us a different site which was much nicer. Very appreciative of that as I know it was a difficult dealing with COVID and social distancing, but the initial way we were treated was a little off putting. I would absolutely try to check your site before you get there because each site varied quite a bit from the other.

On July 4th, my partner and I tried to go to the beach, but were told it was at capacity at 3 different points throughout the day. At one point we saw 4 cars pullout of the parking lot and asked the employee if we could go in now, but was still told it was at capacity. Just frustrating to deal with as it didn't seem like a clear system and we were getting pushed off.

What I loved about the site... They were clean, it was very quiet, and there were a lot of nice hikes directly from the campground. The bathrooms and showers were also pretty clean too. Lots of water spickets throughout the ground.

Overall we had a great experience and will definitely be back. not every campground is perfect and the positives definitely outweigh the negatives from the weekend we had.

Came in on MetroNorth from NYC then took a pre-arranged taxi ($25 flat rate) to the campground. Check-in was fast at the registration desk, and they sold bundles of wood for$6. The campsite (#040) was private, but was located next to the Nature Center and a water spigot, so it was not a super quiet place. The site was littered with small pieces of trash and there was a folding chair someone left open beside the firepit when we arrived... not ideal. 

However, the site itself was solid- it is surrounded by forest, and is at the top of a small ridge above Pelton Pond, so there was a pretty consistent breeze (few bugs!) and the soft sounds of bullfrogs at night. A tree with a couple medium-size dead limbs was above the ideal place to pitch the tent. The site comes with a picnic table (it was in OK shape) and a fire ring with removable grate, as well as a standing-level charcoal BBQ grill. This site and several others on the opposite (west) side of Pelton Pond had easy access to the 1.5 mile Pelton Pond hike loop. There was plenty of dry kindling around the site, which was a huge help because the wood bought from the Park hissed and didn't really get burning (damp wood? fresh cut?). 

The park rangers told us the plumbing had been re-done in the past year, so the water fountains and water spigots were in great shape and provided cold, clear water. The bathrooms were clean and well-kept (saw toilet bowl cleaner in the morning), no stalls ran out of toilet paper, and there was soap most of the time at the sinks. We did not use the showers, so can't speak to those. There are even dish washing sinks available with hot running water. 

We walked 20 min from our site to the beach across the 2-lane highway. The lake is clear and sandy (some rocks in sand on shore, but standard for imported sand), and many families seemed to have traveled up for a day trip. There are facilities and a small grill (burgers, popsicles, etc.) at the beach. 

Overall, the campsite was pleasant and it was peaceful during quiet hours (10pm-7am) on both Friday and Saturday nights. Removing one star for the lack of care at the site itself (litter, trash around when we arrived) and the poor firewood quality. I would recommend this campground to those looking for a quick trip out of the city, to people new to camping, or to use as a base to explore the Hudson River Valley if you have a personal vehicle.

Fahnestock State Park, Carmel, NY

Busy Campground on Weekends!

This park has a nice open beach on Canopus Lake with a concession area and bathhouse, which we found to be quite clean! They even have boat rentals - or you can bring your own boat to launch! If you are into fishing, there is another lake and two ponds that our neighbor campers said were great for catching panfish - one fisherman said he had caught several bass weighing over 3 pounds!!

Weekends - this park is FULL! Make sure to reserve at least two weeks out. Weekdays? You should be in luck! We stayed in site number 1, and I found it to be just wooded enough. Almost all of the sites offered privacy.... Even when the campground was full. I do feel the campground bathhouse really needed more attention... while it had clearly been painted this past year, it was very “buggy” - and did not appear to have been thoroughly cleaned since spring... (yuck!).

PRODUCT REVIEW: As a ranger for Dyrt.com, sometimes I am offered the opportunity to test and review various products. At Fahnestock State Park in New York state, I reviewed my Gregory Maven 55L Women’s backpack (see accompanying video).

Weighing in at 3 pounds 6 ounces, the Gregory Maven was a nice mid-weight pack for me to take on my yearly 2 1/2 week Appalachian Trail hike.

Normally, I like to save the best for last when I do a review; however, this time I just can’t wait to spread the news about my favorite features! The Maven has a Matrix Ventilation System, which provides exceptional ventilation on the pack’s back panel. This kept my back from being its usual sweaty mess! The second feature that blew me away was how cool my water stayed in this backpack! With other packs, the water gets warmed up from heat radiating off the hiker’s back. This didn’t happen with my Gregory pack! Every pull off my water - from the beginning of the day until hours later - provided me with a refreshingly cool drink. I actually questioned other hikers with Gregory packs to see if I was the only one experiencing this - The other hikers, who had different Gregory models, confirmed that their backs and water were staying cooler too! Added bonus: I was able to pull out the hydration sleeve and use it as a daypack a few times!

The Maven’s pockets helped me keep my pack much more organized than in the past. It has a lower sleeping bag compartment, top pocket with separate zipper areas (one has a place to attach a car key!), side pockets, hip pockets, and even pockets on the shoulder harnesses! I can’t forget the front pocket, which held the rain fly!

The pack fit was great, but do be careful to check your sizing if you are looking at both the 45L and 55L. While I am a XS/S with the 55L, I would have been a S/M with the 45L.

I used this pack for 2 1/2 weeks backpacking over 200 miles on the Appalachian Trail through the states of New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The Maven did an outstanding job keeping my possessions organized and dry as well as keeping me comfortable and happy on the trail! This will definitely be my pack of choice for future hikes!