Stretching across the western edge of New York, near Buffalo, is the Lake Erie coastline. While it’s not the most famous of the Great Lakes, it offers a low-key spot where families come to vacation every year. And if you’re a camper, waking up to views of the lake never gets old. But some of the popular campgrounds near the water’s edge don’t always have a lot of room to really spread out. That said, if you head 15 miles inland, you’ll discover the Heron Campground in the Amish countryside. This secluded campground in New York offers everything from primitive tent sites to RV camping to glamping options, while promising a peaceful stay in the woodlands.
Where This Campground Is and How Close It Is to Lake Erie
In the heart of Amish country near Sherman, New York, sits The Heron Farm & Event Center, a 400-acre working organic farm that hosts a variety of festivals and events throughout the year. More than that, the farm is home to the Heron Campground, a remote camping spot in New York. Its location in the rural countryside means you’ll be tucked away in seclusion and feel like you’re miles from the outside world. The sprawling wooded campground is a peaceful retreat where families and friends gather to spend nights under the stars.
Since it’s just under 30 minutes away from the shores of Lake Erie and about 40 minutes from Lake Erie State Park, the farm is a great place to set up base camp when spending time in western New York. And if you want to see the mighty Niagara Falls or visit Letchworth State Park, which is approximately 100 miles away, you can easily do it on a day trip. Outside of NYC, where I grew up, this is one of my favorite parts of the state, because it has some of the best waterfalls in New York.
What Makes This Campground So Secluded
Fun Fact: Lake Erie State Park, one of our picks for the most underrated state parks in New York, is only 355 acres big, meaning the Heron Campground and Farm is larger than the entire park. That said, there is more room at the farm to camp in tucked-away spaces, giving you more privacy. Adding to its seclusion, the campsite is located along a rural country road away from the busy highway, surrounded by rolling hills, wide-open meadows, and dense forests. Four miles of hiking trails allow campers to take peaceful walks through the woods, putting them closer to nature.
What to Expect When You Camp Here
No matter the type of camping you enjoy, whether tent camping, RVs, or rustic cabins, you can find it at the Heron Campground. From May to October, choose from seven RV sites with electric hookups, or you can also pick from three spots to camp from your vehicle or tent. For more seclusion, there are 10 first-come, first-served, pet-friendly walk-in spaces, surrounded by peaceful woodlands. Taking you back to basic camping, you’ll hear the nighttime sounds of the critters and rustling in the woods as you settle in for the evening. All primitive and RV sites can be found on Hipcamp.
Don’t have an RV or want more comfort? The Heron Campground has you covered, too. On Airbnb, the farm offers a four-bedroom farmhouse with an indoor hot tub, which is a great spot for families hiking the trails or skiing in the area. Furnished cabins, RVs, and vintage campers are available, too, not to mention the cozy Sanctuary Yurt. Each of these rustic glamping rentals has a picnic table for your meals and a fire pit for nighttime snuggles under the wide-open sky. Shared bathroom facilities and potable water are close to the rentals, and all you need to bring is your own bedding, towels, and cooler.
At the rustic campsite in New York, spend a relaxing day on the sandy beach, catching and releasing fish, or hiking along the four miles of wooded trails. Although Wi-Fi is available, you might not even use it. This is the kind of place where you can easily unplug from the outside world for a few days. When there is no festival or event at the farm, expect the campground to be less crowded, giving you more feelings of isolation. One past reviewer had this to say, “We came to camp for a night. It was absolutely beautiful and peaceful. The woods were clean and quiet, as no festival was in the works.”…