Just Me And The Wilderness (And....a Car)

Post date: 2018-01-18 05:51:35

I was planning on an inaugural first-ever solo tent camping trip in Brooklyn this spring, but just learned I'll have access to a car for most of April - so I'm looking for somewhere to car camp instead. Anyone know a good place to try? (particulars inside).

So I'd say I'm a "timid, but game, beginner". I know how to actually set up a tent, I can....sort of start a campfire, and I would have all the stuff I'd need. I probably intellectually know how to do everything, or how to at least think my way out of snags; it's just that I haven't done it on my own and I'm a little nervous. A friend took me camping a couple years back and made a point of explaining everything to me, but it's just my not having had the experience of going solo that is making me fret is all, so the comfort factor of "if things mess up I can just throw everything in the car and go stay in a motel" will appease my nerves enough to jump in.

I'm looking for a place to stay for just one night to start. Hopefully somewhere where there's peace and quiet, some easy-to-moderate trails nearby, and fairly secure. I know that in April I'd be getting into whether it's freezing cold, so maybe not TOO far north...really I just want to be able to drive there, pitch the tent, explore some trails a bit, then come back and practice lighting a campfire and cooking over it, look at stars, then go to sleep, then make breakfast over the campfire again, pack up and go home with confidence that "see, you can do that!"

I'm not fussy about state/federal land vs. private land, and I'm also not fussy about whether it's woods, beach, lakeside, riverside, etc. so long as there are good hiking trails, and there aren't a ton of people (the time my friend and I went camping, it was a crowded campground and some college guys the next tent site over got blitzed drunk and blasted "Country Grammar" at like 1 am and I'd like to avoid that). I'm even comfortable with being the only one there so long as there's a ranger stand on the campground or whatever where I can check in if need be. Toilets and showers preferred, but latrines and no showers are dealable (but I think that "dig your own pit toilet and pack out your poo" is not something I'm ready for just yet; maybe next time).

I've looked into Harriman and Sandy Hook as some initial ideas; but I'm open to other suggestions, especially since I have the car. I'd be going on a weekend, if that matters.

Hit me!

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