Nestled in the woods of Parksville, NY, 2.5-hrs from NYC, Hemlock Falls Camping offers an unforgettable and luxurious camping experience. The Catskills’ newest glamping offering, Hemlock Falls Camping provides the comfort of a warm bed and covered deck set against the beautiful backdrop of a Catskill Mountain forest. Four campsites are located in groves on the 40-acre property, spattered with a series of waterfalls, hiking trails, two swimming holes and historic fieldstone walls.
Owners Rob and Kim Eaton soft-launched their family-owned business in 2017 with two campsites. “We built Hemlock Falls based on the camping we sought for so many years,” Kim told us. In 2018, the addition of two new campsites will bring the total up to four for its first full season. Their daughter Michelle manages communications and bookings. “Our family all work toward maintaining and healing the land as it was abandoned for many years. We feel like our property is a bit more like a state park. Not super manicured, we like to keep things as natural as possible.”
The experience begins as campers park in their new parking area located just down the road from the main house, where Rob loads up their six-wheeler with guests’ luggage and supplies and delivers it straight to the campsite. Guests then check-in with either Michelle or Kim where you are given a property map with the hiking trail to your campsite highlighted and go over any questions you may have about this unique camping set-up.
Your hike into Hemlock Falls Camping starts at the Hallway of Trees, then down a winding path that leads into a lush, fern blanketed forest. All four campsites are joined by the hiking trails around the property, but are located totally separate from one another, so campers feel secluded (but not completely alone in the woods).
Beginning this summer, Hemlock Falls Camping has upgraded all their campsites: The Falls, The Fieldstone, The Glen, and The Ridge with covered outdoor camp kitchens. These are outfitted with a dual-burner propane stove, prep area, self-contained sink and cooking essentials. Everything you could need to make yourself the perfect camp meal: pots and pans, chef knife, pour over and kettle for morning coffee, skewers for the campfire, just bring food, drinks and ice!
Each canvas tent is set atop a wooden platform, then covered by an additional shelter, shielding campers from the elements and forest friends. (The extra protection over the entire platform means a wet forecast doesn’t have to ruin your weekend.) Inside, tents equipped with queen-size memory foam beds with bamboo linens, side tables, deck chairs, solar lanterns, books and games. Solar or battery powered outlets are available to allow for simple tasks like phone or speaker charging. Between the elevation and all the extra protection, it almost feels like camping in a treehouse!
Furthering the comfort factor, the deluxe sites (The Falls and The Fieldstone) come equipped with a private bathroom attached to the deck. Inside, a toilet and sink which allows camping without having to “rough it.” These larger sites also have sofa beds, accommodating up to three guests per tent. The standard sites (The Glen and The Ridge) accommodate 2 guests, and have a separate tent bathroom complete with a camp toilet.
Though most campers will come prepared and stay put, others may use it as home base for exploring Sullivan County in the Catskills. The bustling towns of Livingston Manor, Roscoe, and Liberty are all nearby.
Supply Run: Livingston Manor, NY
True, visitors to Hemlock Falls are tucked away into a private paradise, but it’s notable that Hemlock Falls is just ten minutes from the Main Street of Livingston Manor. Here you’ll find everything you need (or forgot) for camping, including a grocery, Morgan Outdoors, specialty booze and several restaurants. The Pecks Market is a great place to start, with all your general groceries and a couple basic camping/grill items like charcoal and fire-starting logs. Those looking for a more gourmet experience may head to cafe/market Main Street Farm, whose grocery section stocks produce from local farms as well as local trout. (May we suggest local grilled trout? Here’s a great simple recipe from Bon Appetit!) Last but not least, pick up booze at Upstream Wine & Spirits or award-winning Catskill Brewery, both right in town.
