Devil's Tombstone Campground and Day Use Area

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  Dates of Operation:

  • Opening Date: May 16
  • Closing Date: September 1
• Camping Fee: $16 per night (out of state residents surcharge additional $5 per night)
• Address: NYS Route 214, Hunter, NY 12442 (directions below)
• County: Greene
• GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 42 09 24.72588N, 074 12 19.84481W 
• Campground Phone: (845) 688-7160
• Regional Office Phone: (607) 652-2032
• Make Your Camping Reservation: ReserveAmerica
• Map: Devil's Tombstone Campground and Day Use Area Map (PDF)

Firewood Restriction Map (PDF) shows the 50-mile radius from which untreated firewood may be moved to this campground. Help prevent the spread of invasive pests and diseases by following New York's firewood regulation.

Devil's Tombstone is one of the oldest campgrounds in the Catskill Forest Preserve, offering mysteries of the Devil's Tombstone and a haven for primitive camping. It is a small primitive campground with wooded sites and a small shallow lake, Notch Lake. No swimming or boating is permitted on the lake. The campground is an ideal base camp for serious hikers with trails leading to some of the highest peaks, such as Hunter with the highest historic fire tower in New York State, Indian Head and West Kill Range. Children will enjoy the playground and participating in the Junior Naturalist Program.

Amenities

24 tent and trailer sites, Notch Lake, 2 picnic areas with tables and fireplaces or charcoal grills, playground, volleyball, horseshoes, hiking trails. Swimming, boating, and showers are available at North-South Lake Campground - 8 miles away.

Campsite Restoration Project

This campground has sites that have been selected for restoration. While undergoing restoration the chosen sites will be closed. For the list of sites and more information on the project visit the Campsite Restoration Project page.

Directions

From South: NYS Thruway (I-87), Exit 19 at Kingston. Follow Route 28 West to Phoenicia. At Phoenicia, follow signs for Route 214. Campground is located on Route 214, approximately 9 miles on left.

From North: NYS Thruway (I-87), Exit 21 at Catskill. Left on Route 23 East to Route 9W South. Follow Route 9W through Catskill to Route 23A west through Tannersville. Make left on Route 214, 2 miles past Tannersville. Campground located on Route 214, approximately 3 miles on right.

Get driving direction from Google Maps 

Planning and Management

The Final Unit Management Plan (UMP) (PDF) for the campground guides the DEC's land management activities at this facility for a ten-year period, although a number of goals and objectives in the plan focus on a much longer time period. The UMP addresses specific objectives and actions for public use at this facility.

Additional Information

Area Attractions

Hunter Mountain, approximately 3 miles north of the campground, hosts ethnic festivals throughout the summer season with the sky ride operating to a fine view from the mountain. Local villages provide restaurants, shops, antique shops, and a movie theater. Tubing, paintball, go-carts, miniature golf, and a number of golf courses and horseback riding facilities are located within easy driving distance.

Historic Interest

Devil's Tombstone is located in a rugged mountain pass in the Catskill Mountains called Stony Clove. The word "clove" comes from the old Dutch work "Kloove", which means "gash or cut in the body of mother earth". It is rumored that Stony Clove was a favorite haunt of the Devil during the early days in settlement of the Catskills. One object closely associated with the Devil still survives in the campground, it is the Devil's Tombstone. The tombstone is a large boulder, approximately seven feet by five, which was probably carried down the mountain many centuries ago by a landslide or glacier.

Junior Naturalist Program

Our campgrounds become an outdoor classroom for young children (5-13) and their families. Enjoy games and activities to earn a beautiful embroidered patch.