Devil's Tombstone Campground & Day Use Area
- Dates of Operation:
- Opening Date: May 19
- Closing Date: September 4
- 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 (leaves DEC's website)
- Campground Phone: (845) 688-7160
- Regional Office Phone: (607) 652-2032
- Make Your Camping Reservation: ReserveAmerica
Check out the virtual tour for this facility! (leaves DEC website)
Devil's Tombstone Campground & 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.
Support DEC Campgrounds
Members of the public can support DEC lands, facilities, and programs through our charitable partner, the National Heritage trust (NHT). Online giving is simple and secure and fully tax-deductible. Donations to NHT directly support projects and programs that enhance facilities, expand access to outdoor recreation and environmental education, provide public land access, and protect natural resources. Donate here (leaves DEC website).
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, children's playground, volleyball, horseshoes, hunting outside campground boundaries, hiking trails. Swimming, boating, and showers are available at North-South Lake Campground - 8 miles away. * Please take note that at facilities that offer swimming beaches, there are days which lifeguards are unavailable. For the safety of our customers, these beaches will not be open and swimming will be prohibited.
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.
Featured Activities
Available at North-South Lake Campground - 8 miles away. No motorized boats are permitted. Rowboats and canoes permitted. A paved boat ramp is located at the North Lake day-use area. Rowboat, canoe, kayak and paddle boat rentals are available.
Available at North-South Lake Campground - 8 miles away. Chain pickerel, brown bullhead, pumpkinseed, black crappie and largemouth bass. Fishing licenses are no longer being sold at any of our campground facilities, but can be conveniently purchased on-line or by phone.
The very popular Devil's Path Trail crosses through the campground day use area. The trail is over 21 miles in length and links the Indian Head and Hunter-West Kill Wilderness Trail systems. The hike is considered moderate, and offers hikers breathtaking views of the Central Catskills from the Buck Ridge Lookouts - located just east of the West Kill summit. The Devil's Path is tagged with red trail markers.
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 (leaves DEC website)
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.
Rules, Regulations and Outdoor Safety
DEC campground rules and regulations
Clean your boat and equipment - help prevent the spread of aquatic invasives
Don't move firewood - help prevent of spread of invasive insects
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.
