A visitor's guide to camping at Phoenicia Black Bear Campground

Years ago when we first started our monthly pilgrimages; George the owner gave us three rules: First, Be kind and good to your neighbors, we're packed in tight here.

Second, Don't burn down my Campground. That says it all.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Step one manage your expectations 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. There is no Camp store for ice or food because the supermarket is a five-minute walk away.

This is laid out as a very social Campground. Expect to meet and know your neighbors well. 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 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 Quite different. That's why people come up year after year; to get away.

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.

The campground is broken down into three distinct parts:

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.

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.

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.

Spring, Fall and late winter camping provides almost no opportunity to see another camper.

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.

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.

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.

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.

-Kristopher & Corinne