Bear Spring Mountain Campground

- 512 E Trout Brook Rd, Downsville, NY 13755

For residents of the New York metropolitan area looking to truly unplug and immerse themselves in the deep wilderness, **Bear Spring Mountain Campground** in Downsville, NY, is a premier destination in the western Catskill Forest Preserve. This location is renowned for offering a rustic and authentic camping experience, coupled with an unparalleled system of multi-use trails that cater to hikers, anglers, and, most notably, equestrians. It stands out in the region as a place where the dense forest provides genuine privacy and where the dedicated staff ensures every corner of the park is maintained to the highest standard.

This isn't just a place to pitch a tent; it's a gateway to over 7,000 acres of the Bear Spring Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The campground is divided into two distinct areas: the main **Launt Pond Area**, where most amenities are centralized, and the unique **Spruce Grove Area**, a dedicated haven for horse-riding enthusiasts. Visitors frequently praise the exceptional care taken by the employees who manage the entire facility, noting the "extremely clean campground" with bathrooms and free showers that are meticulously cleaned daily. The sites themselves are thoughtfully designed, with many trees in between to provide the privacy and natural beauty that city-dwellers seek in a wilderness retreat. From clean fire pits suitable for cooking to the abundance of beautiful local wildlife, Bear Spring Mountain promises a deeply satisfying and nature-rich getaway.

Location and Accessibility

Bear Spring Mountain Campground is situated in the scenic western section of the Catskill Forest Preserve, placing it in Delaware County, one of the more tranquil corners of Upstate New York. Its address in Downsville, NY, positions it a comfortable drive away for New York City and Long Island residents seeking a weekend escape or a longer vacation.

The drive provides a beautiful transition from urban sprawl to rolling, forested mountains, making the journey an enjoyable part of the retreat. Once you arrive, you’ll find the campground tucked away in a quiet, secluded setting within the 7,000-acre Wildlife Management Area. The facility is easy to locate via major state routes leading into Downsville. Though the main campground (Launt Pond) is the hub of services, the entire park provides numerous access points to its expansive trail system. This balance of deep-woods seclusion and reasonable driving proximity makes it an accessible, genuine wilderness experience for the local New Yorker.

Services Offered

Bear Spring Mountain Campground offers a range of services designed for a rustic yet comfortable camping experience, with a focus on cleanliness and outdoor recreation support.

• Campsite Options: Offers 41 individual tent and trailer sites across two main areas: Launt Pond and Spruce Grove. The sites are generally spacious, with natural tree buffers providing privacy.
• Basic Hookups: Note that campsites are generally **dry camping only**, meaning no water or electric hookups at the sites themselves, emphasizing a more rustic experience. Water spigots are available throughout the camping areas.
• Modern Sanitary Facilities: The **Launt Pond Area** features a **shower building with free, hot showers** and **flush toilets**, which are noted by customers to be cleaned daily. The remote Spruce Grove Area has pit toilets, with campers having access to the main facilities via a short drive.
• Waste Management: A **trailer dump station** and a **recycling center** are available at the Launt Pond Area.
• Site Amenities: Each campsite is equipped with a **picnic table** and a **fire ring/grill**, suitable for preparing meals over a campfire.
• Recreation Rentals: **Rowboat, canoe, kayak, and paddle boat rentals** are offered at Launt Pond for enjoying the water.
• Campfire Supplies: **Firewood is available for sale** on-site.
• Equestrian Facilities: The unique Spruce Grove Area provides specialized **equestrian camping sites** complete with **24 horse tie stalls** and a **horse-accessible ramp**.

Features / Highlights

The biggest draw of Bear Spring Mountain is its exceptional diversity of activity and its designation as an outdoor enthusiast's paradise.

• Expansive Multi-Use Trail System: The campground serves as the gateway to over **24 miles of multi-use trails** that span the 7,000-acre Wildlife Management Area, accommodating hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers in the warmer months, and snowmobilers and cross-country skiers in the winter.
• Equestrian Haven: It is home to the unique **Spruce Grove Area**, known as one of the finest horse-riding and camping facilities in the Catskills, complete with essential tie stalls for those who bring their own horses.
• Launt Pond Recreation: The 12-acre **Launt Pond** offers a sandy **swimming beach** (unsupervised), non-motorized **boating**, and excellent **fishing** (stocked with Brown Trout every spring).
• Family-Friendly Amenities: Features a **playground**, **horseshoe pits**, and a **volleyball court** in the Launt Pond Day Use Area, making it perfect for families with children.
• Wildlife and Hunting: Located within a vast Wildlife Management Area, the park is a prime location for **birdwatching**, wildlife viewing (deer, turkey), and **hunting** during designated seasons.
• Dedicated Staff Care: Customer reviews repeatedly highlight the dedication of the small staff (Larry, Jim, and Mike), whose hard work ensures the grounds and facilities are **“extremely clean” and well-maintained**, creating a positive, welcoming environment for all guests.

Contact Information

For reservations, inquiries regarding site availability, and details on rules for equestrian camping or hunting within the Wildlife Management Area, please use the contact information below.

Phone: (607) 865-6989

Mobile Phone: +1 607-865-6989

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for Locals

For local New Yorkers, Bear Spring Mountain Campground represents a vital and accessible escape that offers a genuine disconnect from the intensity of metropolitan life. Its location in the western Catskills provides a relatively easy drive to a landscape that feels truly remote and unspoiled. This campground is especially suitable for:

• The Active Outdoors Enthusiast: With **24 miles of multi-use trails**, it provides unmatched recreational opportunities, from challenging hiking to unique horseback riding that many other campgrounds cannot offer.
• The Family Seeking Cleanliness and Space: The emphasis on **daily cleaning** of bathrooms and showers, paired with the **private, treed campsites**, assures a comfortable and hygienic environment for families.
• Those Seeking an Authentic Retreat: The **rustic, no-hookup sites** and lack of reliable cell service offer a true chance to "get away from artificial life," as noted by customers, allowing for genuine reconnection with nature and family.

Bear Spring Mountain is the ideal destination for the New York resident who appreciates a highly maintained, State-run facility that champions diverse outdoor activities. It offers more than just a place to sleep—it offers a comprehensive, clean, and unique wilderness adventure, all within the beautiful, protected boundaries of the Catskill Forest Preserve. It is a true treasure of Upstate New York, ready to be explored.

Bear Spring Mountain Campground

512 E Trout Brook Rd, Downsville, NY 13755, USA