A visitor's guide to camping at Phoenicia Black Bear Campground
Linda the other owner and wife to George; will ask you when booking about your camping experience and intent. This is a real and truthful question, as many people will come up in groups of 20 or more to party all night since there are NO fixed quiet hours in parts of the campground.
Great private campground. Laid back.
Quite different. That's why people come up year after year; to get away.
This is laid out as a very social Campground.
Summer holiday weekends you should expect lines of people walking to-and-fro, sharing beers and food or queded up; waiting for a shower with their neighbors in a very friendly fashion.
The positives, the campground is well located walking distance of Phoenicia. George and Linda are welcoming and present at the campsite. The negatives overpriced for a campsite ($50 p/night for a party of three - 1 adult, 2 kids and family dog), common bathroom areas are not well kept, basically it did not matter at what time one went it did not seem to be cleaned. Not allowed to bring your own fire wood from the outside, you have to purchase on site if you want to make a campfire. Overall, a good location, though uncertain if worth the price, at least it wasn't for me.
Step one manage your expectations
If you run out of ice or beer or it's raining and you're walking to town for pizza this is the campground for you. Just as fantastic is hooking up a trout on a fly, while still watching your food cook on the fire pit.
If the first thing you do after setting up camp is NOT walking over to say, "Howdy neighbor! how are you guys doing?" This might not be the campground for you.
Third, Buy and burn only Catskill preserve, NY-DEP approved wood from the office, We will not loose our license or our trees from bugs that foreign wood brings in.
It is in a great location but the way it is run is unprofessional and they nickel and dime you for everything. The campsites are tiny and it is basically a giant parking lot. The owner charged us for 3 nights of having 3 people each night when we only had 3 people for one night. He would not give a refund and when asked he just shrugged his shoulders. They also don't accept outside wood. Bring wads of cash because that is the only thing he deals in. Not a place for kids!
First, Be kind and good to your neighbors, we're packed in tight here.
The campground is broken down into three distinct parts:
Second, Don't burn down my Campground.
That says it all.
-Kristopher & Corinne
You ARE camping! This is not a cabin rental on Air BnB, in the woods by yourself. You will camping within the city confines of the town of Phoenicia, New York. You will see cars.
If sharing food and beers around the fire with neighbored camps that you have just met, is not your thing. This might not be the campground for you.
If taking a shower when you get home and meeting friends that you will see visiting again years later and sharing great stories and hiking and fishing and never moving your car for the whole trip; this may be the campground for you.
In-between these two distinct areas, lie a buffer zone. for campers who want a quiet getaway but may want to spend a late evening around the fire. Again, manage expectations.
Years ago when we first started our monthly pilgrimages; George the owner gave us three rules:
There is no Camp store for ice or food because the supermarket is a five-minute walk away.
Expect to meet and know your neighbors well.
If we're there, we'll be on site 22 or abouts; come over share a story, borrow a hiking map and crack a beer with us and enjoy this Gem of the Catskills.
This will not, nor ever will be wilderness camping. sitting so close to the confines of the town allows for very little area for your tent but allows for something very special and
Spring, Fall and late winter camping provides almost no opportunity to see another camper.
1. Nearer to the entrance is all of the seasonal/yearly rentals and family camping. this is a very "quiet Zone" surrounding the owners Lodge-like house that sits in the center of the camp.
You are walking distance to three bars and restaurants, supermarkets, Gas Station, Cafe, hiking trail and some of the best fly-fishing you'll ever come across.
This is a gem of the Catskill region, if you know what you're getting into; this is both a Wilderness and a city experience at the same time.
Catching brown or rainbow trout is easy right on the campground's grounds with a full 1000 ft of private river access. But make no mistake there may be some people sitting on the Rocks while you're casting your fly-line, drinking a beer.
The owners George and Linda treat their visitors to this private gem, will ALWAYS treat you like an adult, IF you act like an adult.
Everytime we pull into camp it feels like Christmas morning!! George and Linda could not be more accommodating and the wave of relaxation that washes over you as you settle into camp is like no other. Whether you're fly fishing right off the Bank of the campsite or making new friends and memories, Black bear is an experience you'll take with you and will make you return again and again. Look no further, you've found your perfect get away spot.
2. The far extremities of the campground are basically made for group sites of young Partiers. you may encounter groups of twenty or more out from the city to get together with friends especially on the MASSIVELY packed holiday weekends.
Phoenicia Black Bear Campground is a US Campground based in Phoenicia, New York. Phoenicia Black Bear Campground is located at 17 Bridge St, Phoenicia, NY 12464, USA.
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