A Guide to Glamping Off-Grid at Bellfire in the Catskills

Forest Belle Camp

When it comes to glamping sites in New York, Bellfire in the Catskills is a little unique

Bellfire is located in a sparsely populated area of the Great Western Catskills, tucked away on a 10-acre half maple forest, half wildflower meadow property bordering state land, with miles of wild forest to roam.

Minimal light pollution and wide-open skies make for breathtaking stargazing. Beautifully maintained paths and old stone walls joined by a babbling brook that slowly meanders through the generous maple forest canopy makes this an idyllic stay in the Catskills. Our carefully cared for wildflower field creates a perfect oasis for firefly season May – July. Bask in the sun, picnic, stretch or take in the wide-open sky at our new floating deck in the middle of the wildflower field.

We offer four one-of-a-kind camp sites (that we built ourselves), each unique and charming in their own way and all of them off-grid which gives our guests the chance to disconnect even more from the busy day-to-day.

Why Off-Grid Glamping?

Many people wonder why we've chosen the off-grid life for our glamping sites. Simply put, we want to intervene as little as possible with our surroundings to create a truly natural and relaxing atmosphere for our guests. Our campers are seeking to disconnect from the modern world on their stays. By being off grid, we help them resist the urge to scroll on social media and the internet, as we're all guilty of, and instead immerse themselves in the beauty of upstate New York.

What You Need to Know About Your Off-Grid Stay at Bellfire

We get a lot of questions about what to expect and what to pack for overnight stays at our upstate New York camping resort. Read on for some FAQs and other tips to prepare for your week or weekend away at Bellfire in the Catskills!

“How do I store my food?”

Excellent question! We provide 52 qt coolers to safely store your food overnight. Of course, you can always plan on bringing your own. You will need to grab some bags of ice on your way here too. It's also wise to pack some quart and/or gallon-sized plastic food bags or reusable, airtight food containers. Water from melted cooler ice can leak into some packaging and ruin food items. Sandwich bags and tupperware-style containers provide a barrier to prevent this!

Make sure the lid is always secured tightly to prevent your ice from melting faster or your food spoiling. Always clean up any leftovers. Don't leave food or food packaging laying about since it can attract unwanted forest friends and bugs. This includes chairs, grills, and firepits too.

How does the solar shower work?

The water reservoir in the solar shower is heated up by the sun during the day. Typically, it needs the whole day to get to a comfortable temperature. That said, it's best to plan your showers for the evening rather than the morning. As you can imagine, it may not warm up as much on cloudy days. The same is true for the colder months like May, September & October when the temps might only get to lukewarm.

What about bathrooms?

Don't worry. Each dwelling has its own private “loo” (much nicer than the ones found at parks and other natural areas!) that includes a a waterless composting toilet and wash station.

Is firewood provided?

We have dry camp firewood available for sale on the property, but you are also welcome to to bring your own. Starting fires can be surprisingly tricky. That's why we include fire-starting instructions with your stay guide. If you still have trouble, we're always happy to help.

How do we get our luggage to camp? From the parking area, it's a short 5-7-minute walk to the campsites. You can use one of our hand carts to transport your essentials to and from your vehicle.

While we encourage you to disconnect and immerse yourself in this beautiful environment, we realize that having a connection to the internet might be necessary to load local maps and plan your daily excursions. We've made it easy to do so via sharing the main farmhouse Wi-Fi with guests, that you can connect to while in the parking lot.

We recommend bringing the following items: towels, toiletries, bug spray, sunscreen, headlamps, flashlights, extra batteries, and comfortable shoes. It's best to have a pair of “lounge shoes” and tennis shoes. As far as clothing, pack layers. It can be chilly here in the mornings and evenings.

If you plan on using the grill, be sure to grab some charcoal. For sauna use, don't forget your bathing suit. And, if you absolutely need your phone or other electronic device during your stay, it's a good idea to bring a battery pack for charging them. Books are highly recommended too.

Double check the weather before your stay. Mountain weather can be unpredictable. Pop-up storms are not uncommon in the afternoon, especially in the summer. Pack accordingly and be prepared.

We provide drinking water and replenish it as needed during your stay. Or, you can bring your own water bottles from home.

We also provide battery-powered lanterns and each campsite is lit by solar outdoor lights. Several of our dwellings have solar panels with USB outlets for device charging with more to come in the future.

Off-grid glamping is a great way to de-stress, unwind, and relax away from the pressures of everyday life. When it comes to glamping in the Catskills Mountains in upstate New York, we hope you'll choose our laid-back, comfy forest retreat to be your home away from home for a couple of days. We hope this article helps you better prepare for your stay. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask!