Sites open for Labor Day weekend as of July 1st

Here are the available sites at Beaver Pond as of July 1st for the Labor Day Weekend trip. The Blue icons are available.

Where to get groceries

Here are some locations from Google Map to get groceries.  There are no place within walking distance of the camping grounds. The 7-Eleven we used was easy to get to & had the 7 lb bag of ice we needed.

• ShopRite                    56 West Ramapo Road, NY                            3.8 mi SE
• Stop&Shop                1581 U.S. 202, Pomona, NY                            3.6 mi S
• 7-11                           75 North Central Highway, Garnerville, NY      3.9 mi E

Free Fishing Days at Lake Welch

Here is some information to keep in mind when to go camping:

Free Fishing Days

Each year, the last full weekend in June is designated as Free Fishing Days in New York State. During those two days, anyone can fish New York State waters, and no fishing license is required. This event started in 1991 to allow all people the opportunity to sample the incredible fishing New York State has to offer. Since no license is required, it is the perfect time to take a friend or relative fishing.

Can we fish at Lake Welch?

We saw a number of people w/ fishing poles and finally found some that actually pulled in some carpies. 

This is what the NYS DEC (they monitor & make the rules on fishing in NY state) states:

Information taken from dec.ny.gov

Person 16 years and older require a license.

License Privileges and Requirements
A fishing license or combined hunting and fishing license entitles the holder to: take fish by angling, spearing, hooking, longbow, and tip ups; take frogs by spearing, catching with the hands or by use of a club or hook; and take bait fish for personal use, except that such license shall not entitle the holder to take migratory fish of the sea or to take fish from the waters of the marine district, all as provided by the laws and regulations of the Department of Environmental Conservation:

• The holder of a license shall have such license on the holder's person while exercising any privilege of that license.
• The holder of a license shall exhibit it on demand to any police officer, peace office, or the owner, lessee, or other person in control of the lands or waters on which the license holder is present.
• No license authorizes the holder to trespass upon private lands or waters or interfere with property belonging to another person

Fishing License Fees (as of June 2012)

Annual, sportsman, super sportsman, and conservation legacy licenses are valid from October 1 through September 30 each year.

Resident License Fees

Resident License Type	Fee
Senior (70+/Military Disability)	$5.00
Annual Fishing	$29.00
7 day fishing	$15.00
1 day fishing	$5.00

the fish in Lake Welch

Lake Welch is a man-made lake with a half-mile-long sandy beach in the wooded hills of the Ramapo Mountains. Originally a small body of water with farmland around the edges, Lake Welch became the large lake that it is today when a dam was completed in 1942.

Picture of lake with the dam showing at the top of the photo (fishingnotes.com gives a list of the fish you might be able to catch)

Cooking at the campsite - fire or propane?

Food at the campsite can be as simple (oatmeal, instant soup, canned food, freeze dried) or as fancy as you want to make it.

Here are some rules to abide by in any place with wild animals, don't store any food in your tent or leave out in the open during the night.

Cooking on the fire ring great but will involve more time and work (gathering wood, starting the fire, gathering more wood) and practice.

Using a combination of the wood fire & propane stove will make cooking much faster and easier.

Since most of this will be carried in the car (as opposed to carried in by backpack or bikepack), space and weight will not be much of an issue.  The two-burner stoves are easier (and more stable) than the one-burner types.

On the propane stove using your pots & pans from home will work without too much trouble. Over a wood fire, plastic handles on the pots could melt. Soot will blacken the bottom of the pots and pans (coating the bottom of the pots w/ soap makes it easier to clean off if do decide to use the fire).

Picture of what is possible:

 


propane stoves at Walmart

Sleeping on a wood deck

The wood deck is hard and if it is cold, you will feel it as it pushes thru the sleeping bag.  An inflated air mattress will make it more comfortable.  The  battery operated types will be easier to use. Be sure the batteries work or have spares with you.

Taken from the walmart.com website:
The Insta-bed air bed offers unmatched convenience and comfort, which will make you think you never left your own bed. It is ideal for holiday guests, sleepovers, weekend visitors, vacations, college dorms or weekend getaways.

Insta-bed Standard Air Bed with External 4D Battery Pump, Twin:

• 28 circular coils create a comfortable sleeping surface
• Powerful external 4D battery pump for effortless inflation and deflation
• Soft-touch flocked top holds bedding in place
• Secure press-lock valve maintains pressure
• Carry bag included
• Inflated dimensions: 74" x 39" x 9"
• Top material: Flock 0.50mm
• Side and bottom material: PVC 0.30mm
• Model# 840020

Air Mattresses at Walmart

platform sites

The 'platform' site is a 14' x 14' raised wood deck.  The fire ring has a grill, but you may prefer not to grill food directly on it.  Shade is provided by the trees.  Overall impression is good. Sites are clean and free of litter.  Sites are close enough for you to hear neighboring music or conversations if it is loud.  Don't expect to find electrical outlets or running water at these sites.  (I had no problems connecting my notebook to the internet via phone. My data connection here was better than some places in Brooklyn Heights)

watersnake at Lake Welsh

Watersnake at Lake Welsh (near the shore path). This was taken Sunday June 17th of 2012, about 1 pm.

Use the Tappan Zee Bridge. GOOGLE maps for Beaver Pond

If you are driving up from Long Island, avoid using the George Washington Bridge. All the cars that used that route added an additional 3 hours of aggrevation to the drive.  Use the Tappan Zee Bridge and drive up the Palisades Interstate Parkway.

Here are 8 rules that apply to Beaver Pond

1. An adult, at least 18 years of age, (or 21) must be the permit holder and occupy the site for the full permit period.
2. Sites allow for no more than 6 people per site and 2 vehicles. A valid camping permit must be visible on all vehicles.
3. Check-in is at 3pm and check-out is by 11am. Occupants must register when they arrive.
4. Each site allows for either two (2) tents OR one (1) unit of hard wheeled camping equipment + one (1) tent.
5. No Pets at Beaver Pond. 
6. Firewood – Help protect our campgrounds and stop the spread of tree pests. If you bring firewood, burn all of it before leaving your campsite or purchase your wood at the campground or local sources. For more information; http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7253.html and http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/28722.html.
7. NO Alcoholic Beverages - While alcoholic beverages are allowed in most NYS campgrounds without a permit, it is the responsibility of each camping party to comply with all laws and regulations. Stony Brook State Park, Wildwood State Park and Beaver Pond Campground restrict the use of alcohol and require a permit.
8. Upon discovering that a campsite or cabin occupant is a registered Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender, the Office is authorized to direct the occupant to leave the campground and may revoke the camping permit.

source of information:

Only the facts

I'm putting this together for you to get the needed information about the camping area.  Most of this is directly from the reserveamerica.com website.

Where is it?
       25 miles north of the George Washington Bridge.
       GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):
                        41.30833, -74.145
                        41°18'30"N, 74°8'42"W

The park is located on Palisades Parkway, 25 miles north of the George Washington Bridge and 10 miles south of Bear Mountain Bridge to Lake Welch Parkway. 845-947-2792

What is available?
The campground offers tent and trailer sites, as well as accommodations for larger vehicles. Each campsite has a picnic table and a fire ring. Comfort stations, showers, laundry facilities, and a dumping station are part of the campground. A protected swimming beach is available when lifeguards are on duty.


Some frequently asked questions:
1)   Are there bears?            Answer:  Yes
2)   Are there snake?            Answer:  Yes   (there are rattlesnakes, but haven't seen any yet)
3)   Are there bathrooms?     Answer:  Yes (showers also. These are cleaned by the staff)
4)   How much does it cost?  Answer:  The platform sites are $22 per night Friday to Sunday

http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/Beaver_Pond_Campsite/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NY&parkId=392