The Catskills are rich with a history of backcountry adventure. Often known as “America’s First Wilderness,” the Catskill Mountains have held a special place in many avid outdoors people’s hearts. The lean-to and primitive camping in the Catskills are second to none. Add gorgeous hiking trails for all ability levels, peaks with superb vistas, enchanting waterfalls, cross-country skiing, fishing, mountain biking, and more; the Cats is a place to be.
Related posts: Tips for camping in the Catskills & What to think about when Lean-to Camping.
In this post are a map of Catskill lean-tos and primitive campsites.
Catskill Lean-to & Primitive Campsite Map
Click on the map or here for an interactive version of the map
Lean-tos and Primitive Campsites by Land Unit
This table is currently not complete. Check back soon for complete listing of all Catskill land units.
| Land Unit | Lean-tos | Campsites (trails) |
| Slide Mountain Wilderness | Bouton Memorial Fox Hollow Terrace Mountain | Burroughs Range Trail Phoenicia East Branch Trail West Branch Neversink River Peekamoose Table Trail Peekamoose Road Traver Hollow Giant Ledge-Fox Hollow Trail |
| Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness | Batavia Kill Elm Ridge | Batavia Kill Trail Escarpment Trail Blackhead Trail |
| Hunter-West Kill Wilderness | Diamond Notch Devil’s Acres John Robb | Spruceton Trail |
| Big Indian Wilderness | Fall Brook Biscuit Brook Seager Rider Hollow McKinley Hollow Hirschland Lean-to Belleayre Mountain Lean-to | Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail Pine Hill-West Branch Trail McKinley Hollow-Rider Hollow Trail |
| Indian Head Wilderness | Devil’s Kitchen Mink Hollow Echo Lake | Devil’s Path Echo Lake Pecoy Notch |
| Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest | Balsam Lake Mountain Beaver Meadow Lean-to Kelly Hollow Lean-to Dry Brook Ridge Lean-to Mill Brook Lean-to | Alder Lake Loop Mill Brook Ridge Kelly Hollow Loop Neversink-Hardenburgh Trail |
| Kaaterskill Wild Forest | None | Escarpment Trail |
| Sundown Wild Forest | None | See page on the wild forest |
| Halcott Mountain Wild Forest | Halcott | None |
Backwoods wanderer with a passion for backpacking, hiking, kayaking, and exploring the wilds of the Catskills and Adirondacks in New York. A Catskill 3500 Club Member and Adirondack Forty-Sixer. Climbed Mount Rainier. Professionally an Exercise Physiologist.
