Mongaup Pond Campground

Very poorly managed.
We arrived shortly after 9 pm on a Friday, and were received by very unprofessional and unhelpful staff who would not let us into the campground because it was past 9pm. The staff wouldn’t even give us time to figure out what to do next. They just stood next to our vehicle telling us we had to leave the premises right away. It was such an absurd experience.
My advise is dont camp here! If for any reason you need to interact with the staff you will find yourself with the most unhelpful and rude park rangers.

Unfortunately, I had a terrible experience with Mongaup Pond Campground. We arrived shortly after 9 on Friday evening only to be turned down by staff – we hit traffic coming from the city and understood we arrived past the check-​in time. However, staff was downright rude. It was such a terrible customer service experience – they refused to assist us with getting settled in another location and the manager refused to speak with us. We returned on Saturday to stay the night and problems with the staff and their attitudes continued.
When we relocated on Friday we ran into multiple other groups of people who had experienced the same thing – being turned down in a rude and aggressive manner.

Great and beautiful space.
If you’re looking to party all night and make noise, look elsewhere. This is for those of us who like camping in its true form: make the most of the daylight, and shut the eff up at night.
Thankfully the rangers will kick your @ss out if you disrupt the quiet. Wanna booze and party? Go elsewhere.

This place is amazing but the rangers are very kuku strict. It was our first time going there and it will be the last time we put our foot there. If you fall from the boats a few times they will take it from you. Even though the boats where so cheap and light that if you went on a side you went over board. We asked a few times to bring garbage bags it never happen. So from our bad experience here I advise people to please never ever go there!!!

1^st time camping and truly impressed. Will definately come back and bring more friends and family. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! Thanks Mongaup!!!

I am a huge fan of Mongaup Pond and plan to visit annually with friends and loved ones. I just came back from my first weekend stay at this campground and left feeling very bereft of nature and the woods. It is a very relaxing environment with plenty of friendly smiles to go around. Anyone seeking to get away from the grind or in search of leaving the concrete jungle for a few days like myself, look no further.
Remember to bring plenty of food, gear, comfortable padding to sleep on within the base of your tent, and you’ll be set for your time there. I could’ve spent a few more days here and this is coming from someone who is hardly near the woods or considers street parks nature. What sets this campground apart is the affordability of renting out sites, the variety of activities available (kayaking, canoeing, beach by the lake, fishing, hiking, grilling, etc), and the convenient locations of the restrooms and water spigots. WARNING: This place is conducive to forging indelible and unforgettable memories.
My only real caveat is if you’re looking for a campground to be boisterous, stay up late with camp buddies, and playing music, Mongaup Pond is not the place for it. The rangers who patrol the grounds enforce a 10pm quiet hour. We were chastised and warned to get evicted off the campgrounds for being too loud, when in actuality, our group was not being obnoxious and inconsiderate of our camping neighbors. One particular ranger was very surly and hellbent on ruining our camaraderie and fun. Although this rule may seem appealing for camping families and those looking for a quieter isolated experience, in our defense, we were not very rambunctious and the unfriendly eviction threats held no merit. I would’ve given this place 5 stars if it weren’t for the number of times this ranger abused his authority with us.
Hope this review helps!

This place is like luxury camping after years of camping at Clarence Fahnestock Park (Carmel, NY). Before here, camping was drinking, eating, and staring at a fire for three days. «Luxuries» include a beach, lake, lakeside camp sites, canoe rentals, clean bathrooms (by the beach) and warm showers. The ability to use the bathroom and not have to fear a spider (or Jason Voorhees) attack was worth it for me.

My favorite camping spot in NY State. I need to get back this summer!
Book early to reserve the camp sites that sit lakeside. It’s an awesome sight to behold when you unzip your tent in the morning! It’s a lovely spot, really. I have built many happy memories here.
Showers, bathrooms & water spigots onsite, so no need to rough it out. They’ve also got a little truck that comes ringing at night stocked with camping goods like mosquito repellent, candles, firewood & ice-​cream. They’ve got boat, canoe & kayak rentals. Camp sites are well situated so that you feel as if they’re completely private. Quaint trails onsite & located in a great spot to explore the Catskills.
Don’t forget to pack your food & garbage into the trunk of the car at night, or you WILL encounter a pack of raccoons who will laugh at you & steal your stuff. They’ve got bears in that part of NY, too, so you definitely want to play it safe!

Mongaup Pond Campgrounds is a New York DEC campground that is beautifully maintained and is a must-​visit for those looking to go camping.
Rates are currently $ 21/​night + $ 9.00 reservation. Be sure to reserve early as lake-​side campsites will book out quickly during the summer months. You can also purchase day passes if you wish to use their grounds, which includes BBQing, kayaking/​canoeing, sand beach, volleyball court, hiking, and more.
What really makes Mongaup Pond stand out is the beautiful pond, which many consider a lake. It is also known to be the largest body of water in the Catskills. The campsites are very large and decently private so it doesn’t feel like your living on your neighbor’s campsite. Most easily accommodates 2 tents, a cement-​walled firepit, picnic table, and plenty of additional space. Bathrooms are easily laid out so it is no more than a 2 – 3 minute walk, but hot showers (3 for men, 3 for women) are located near the front gate.
Since Mongaup Pond is very remote, there are no stores/​shops within proximity. To accommodate their guests, two trucks drive by, a blue bus that sells firewood (generally around 6pm), and a white truck serving as a mobile General Store selling a variety of camping accessories and food. During our stay, the blue bus ran out of firewood, so we had to drive to a neighboring campsite that had a very small General Store selling firewood for $ 8.75 per bushel, pretty pricey, but well worth enduring a bitter cold night. A ranger in a blue pickup truck drives around the campgrounds very frequently to make sure things are in order and safe. They are pretty friendly, so if you have any questions, just stand by the side of the road and wave them down.
I will definitely revisit Mongaup Pond campgrounds because the campsites were very roomy, and the facilities were decently clean. Do remember to bring all your supplies (food and gear) as it can be quite cumbersome to find a substitute.