Campgrounds and RV parks near Shokan, NY

The Ashokan Reservoir itself is the anchor attraction. A paved promenade of roughly three miles runs along the southern shore of the reservoir, offering panoramic views of the Catskill Mountains, information kiosks, and bald-eagle watching. The Ashokan Rail Trail, built on the former Ulster and Delaware Railroad corridor between West Hurley and Boiceville, adds an 11.5-mile shared-use path along the reservoir's northern edge, open to non-motorized use without a DEP access permit. Anglers have plenty to work with. The reservoir supports Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, and several panfish species, and is stocked with over 16,000 brown trout every spring. A free NYC DEP watershed access permit is required, and rowboats must be approved and registered with DEP. Beyond the reservoir, the surrounding Catskill peaks offer serious hiking, and nearby Phoenicia adds tubing on the Esopus, a village center with restaurants, and access to Belleayre Mountain.

Peak camping season runs from Memorial Day through mid-October. Summer brings warm days, active river tubing on the Esopus, and the highest demand at private parks along Route 28. Weekends between late June and Labor Day book out earliest, and holiday weekends fill first. State-run DEC sites in the Catskills open reservations up to nine months in advance, which sets the booking rhythm for the region. Fall is a strong shoulder season. Foliage typically peaks across the Catskills from late September into mid-October, drawing weekend crowds to the reservoir promenade and the Ashokan Rail Trail. Nights turn cold quickly at elevation, and many private campgrounds close by mid to late October. Winter closes most tent and RV facilities in the area, though the Ashokan Rail Trail and its trailheads remain open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Spring is wet at lower elevations, with stocked-trout season drawing anglers to the Esopus and the reservoir. Black flies can be a nuisance in late spring at higher-elevation trailheads.

Roads into the campgrounds are mountain roads. Route 28 is the main artery through the valley and handles RVs well, but access lanes into private parks can be tight. Phoenicia Black Bear Campground and RV Park has a compact layout, and renters with longer travel trailers or fifth wheels should confirm site dimensions and rig-length limits before booking. Hookups vary. Private RV parks in the corridor typically offer water and electric on individual sites with a shared dump station rather than full sewer at every pad. Cell coverage is spotty once you leave the villages, and Wi-Fi, where offered, is usually clustered near the office. Black bears live throughout the Catskills. Store food inside the RV or a hard-sided container, and keep sites clean overnight.