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Mongaup Pond Campground & Day Use Area

2023 Camping Season: Please be advised that we anticipate ongoing construction of a shower building in Loop G at this facility for the 2023 camping season. All sites in this loop will be closed, and the facility will close on Labor Day. Every attempt will be made to keep construction disruptions at a minimum and we appreciate your support as we continue to improve our facilities.

tent campingtrailer campingaccessible featuresrestroomspicnic areahand launchswimminghikingfishingboating icon key

mongaup pond location map
  • Dates of Operation:
    • Opening Date: May 19
    • Closing Date: September 4
  • Camping Fee: $22 per night (out of state residents surcharge additional $5 per night)
  • Address: 231 Mongaup Pond Road, Livingston Manor, NY 12758 (directions below)
  • County: Sullivan
  • GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 41 57 26.45689N, 074 41 28.39129W
  • Campground Phone: (845) 439-4233
  • Regional Office Phone: (845) 256-3099
  • Make Your Camping Reservation: ReserveAmerica

Mongaup Pond Campground & Day Use Area Map (PDF) || DECinfo Locator

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).

view of the lake from inside a tent

Please leave your trailered boats at home! Many people do not realize that unwanted plants and other organisms can be moved by their trailered boats. You could spread these pests to Mongaup Pond, which in turn could infect Catskill Hatchery located 1.9 miles downstream from the pond. The hatchery uses water from the pond outlet, Mongaup Creek, as part of its water supply to raise 115,000 pounds of trout for stocking in state waters each year. If the hatchery became infected, undesirable organisms could be spread to waters being stocked throughout southeastern New York, or even statewide.

If you bring any type of boat to Mongaup Pond, be sure it has been completely dry for several days before you arrive and can be hand launched. Please note we are also prohibiting bait fish use in Mongaup Pond to eliminate another possible means of infection.

For additional information on invasive species and their control, go to www.ProtectYourWaters.net Or call your local DEC office. Thank you for helping to protect Mongaup Pond and Catskill Hatchery.

Mongaup Pond is located in north eastern Sullivan County. It is situated on a 120 acre lake, the largest body of water in the Catskill Park outside of the N.Y.C. reservoirs. The dense forest environment, remote location, large wooded campsites, and a lake with swimming, picnic area, and boat rentals are the attractions for most campers.

Amenities

children cooking hotdogs over a campfire

163 tent and trailer sites, picnic area with tables and grills, picnic pavilion rental, pay phones, flush toilets, hot showers, trailer dump station, recycling center, wheelchair accessible, sand beach, boat launch. Environmental and recreational programs from July to September.

accessible features

Accessible Features

Sites 72, 75, 79, 88, 90, 162, Central Comfort Station (no accessible shower in facility), Fishing Pier, Picnic Area. Full listing of DECs Accessible Recreation Destinations.

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

boating

Boating

Electric trolling motors are permitted. Rowboats and canoes allowed. Rowboat and canoe rentals available. Please note that there is no trailer boat launch available, hand-launching only.

fishing

Fishing

Fish in area include: Brook trout, chain pickerel, creek chub, golden shiner, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, yellow bullhead, and yellow perch. Fishing licenses are no longer being sold at any of our campground facilities, but can be conveniently purchased on-line or by phone.

hiking

Hiking

Mongaup Pond Campground offers many hiking opportunities. The 1.5 mile Mongaup Pond Loop trail offers campers a hike that loops around Mongaup Pond and stays within the campground. In addition, the Big Rock, Karst, Mongaup-Willowemoc and Mongaup-Hardenberg trail heads originate within the campground and connect into the 45+ mile Big Indian Wilderness and Willowemoc Wild Forest trail systems.

swimming

Swimming

Designated swimming areas are available at some DEC facilities. Based on staffing, some of these facilities may have limited swimming hours/days. For the safety of our customers, swimming will only be permitted when a lifeguard is on duty. Beach hours will be posted at facilities with swimming. To inquire, please contact the campground directly.

starry sky over the lake

Directions

If heading east on Route 17, take Exit 96 (Livingston Manor). At the end of the exit ramp, turn right onto White Roe Lake Road. Drive a short distance and turn left at the intersection of Old Route 17. Take the first left onto DeBruce Road (County Route 81/82) and travel six miles. When you come to the fork at the end of DeBruce Road, bear right onto Willowemoc Road. Drive a short distance and turn left at the intersection of Mongaup Road. Drive three miles to the campground entrance.

If heading west on Route 17, take Exit 96 (Livingston Manor). At the end of the exit ramp, turn left onto Debruce Road (County Route 81/82) and continue as described above.

Get driving directions from Google Maps (leaves DEC website)

Planning and Management

The Final Mongaup Pond Unit Management Plan (UMP) (PDF) 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

Hiking safety tips

Additional Information

children fishing in the lake with coulds overheadArea Attractions

The Catskill Fish Hatchery is 3 miles distant on Mongaup Road. Shopping centers, restaurants, theaters, and lounges are within 15 miles in Liberty, Livingston Manor and vicinity. There are a number of golf courses and horseback riding facilities. Antique shops are scattered throughout the vicinity. An amusement park and ski area are located at Holiday Mountain. Monticello Raceway is within easy driving distance. Historic attractions include the D&H Canal Locks, Fort Delaware, Minisink Battleground Memorial Park, Stone Arch Bridge Historic Park and the Sullivan County Historical Museum. The area contains five covered bridges and historic Roebling Suspension Bridge spans the Delaware at Minisink Ford. The Upper Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River, administered by the National Park Service, borders Sullivan County on the southwest. The National Park Service Visitors Center is located at Narrowsburg.

Historic Interest

In December of 1960, as an addition to the Catskill Forest Preserve, 1,310 acres of land, including Mongaup Pond were acquired. Campground construction began in 1964. On July 1, 1966, with 65 sites, the campground opened to the public. By 1968 most of the 163 sites making up the present day campground were completed.

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.