The Outdoors · Statewide
Camp Far Enough Back on DEC State Land
Backcountry camping on DEC-managed land usually starts with the 150-foot setback and a quick check for local unit rules.
Published June 23, 2026 · Last verified June 23, 2026
A quiet state-land camp still needs a rule check before the tent goes up. Camping is prohibited within 150 feet of a road, trail, spring, stream, pond, or other water body unless the spot has a Camp Here disk. A group of 10 or more people, or a stay longer than three days in one place, needs a Forest Ranger permit.
The 150-foot habit is easy to remember once you picture the next camper. It protects shorelines, trails, water, and the person looking for a low-impact site after you leave. It also keeps a peaceful campsite from turning into a problem for hikers, paddlers, anglers, or rangers.
Before a weekend trip, look up the land unit, check posted signs at the trailhead, and choose an established or durable surface instead of a soft wet edge. The point is not to make primitive camping fussy. It is to let a small campsite stay small.
The Camp Here disk is the friendly exception to remember. If DEC has marked a spot, use that cue. If not, step back from roads, trails, springs, streams, ponds, and other water bodies before calling the spot home for the night.