Papa's Ponderosa in the Berkshires

100%

5 reviews

· Franklin, Massachusetts · 1 acre

Hosted by Bill P.

Tent site

· 12 guests max

Bill is a Star Host

Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.

Secluded camping area located in the Berkshires, surrounded by privately owned conserved land. Located minutes from the Deerfield River, Zoar Outdoor Adventures, and Berkshire East, this camping location is right off the road, but nestled behind trees and hedges for maximum privacy, while still providing gorgeous views of the valley and pasture where our neighbor's cows graze. Plenty of shade in the summer (with sun exposure between about 11am and 2pm), and fantastic leaf peeping in the fall. Amenities include a social fire pit, a cooking station with tiers, charcoal grill, folding table, firewood (when available), a restroom area, and 3 platforms to elevate your tent. There is ample room for parking (can accommodate 3 - 5 cars easily).This is a large, but private, camping area which can accommodate as few as 1 individual, or several families (up to about a dozen or so people). There are 3 elevated camping platforms for your convenience. Once you enter the driveway, the camping area is on your left. Please read below for details on amenities and other relevant information for your stay. Parking - please park toward the entrance of the lot, or on the right hand side of the camping area. "Restrooms" - There are no official restrooms on our land. We have carved out 2 separate areas in which you can go #2 (feel free to go #1 anywhere you like, so long as it doesn't negatively affect any other camper's stay - trees and vegetation love the nitrogen in urine). For #2 we have provided campers with a trench shovel and a "squatty potty" to make the experience as comfortable as possible. In accordance with LNT (Leave No Trace) protocols, please use the provided resources to dig a hole 6-8 inches deep, place the "squatty potty" over the hole, and let er' rip! Biodegradable toilet paper/wipes go into the hole as well. Once you're finished, please cover the hole with dirt, and leave a roughly 1 foot stick standing vertically to indicate that area has been used (just jam it into the ground on top of the area you used). If you've never pooped in the woods like this, its quite a liberating experience. You will find the designated areas by following the white arrows on the tress to the sections marked with large white squares (see pictures). ***Please bring your own biodegradable toilet paper/wipes)*** Fire Pit / Firewood - There is one central fire pit (as well as a cinderblock cooking station). Firewood will be provided, but in case some campers use the stockpile before we can replenish it, I would recommend bringing a small supply just in case. Behind the cinderblock cooking station there are 2 piles of wood. The pile on the left is hardwood. The pile on the right is softwood. It is recommended to start your fire with softwood and then use the hardwood (as it will burn longer). See pictures for location. Please feel free to have fun and make an enjoyable fire, but know that wood is a resource that takes time and energy to provide. There are also piles of kindling and chunks of hardwood that are available to burn (please see pictures). Cooking - We have provided several options for cooking. There is a hanging cooking rack on a tripod that can go over the fire pit (its seen better days but it still works). We have a cinderblock cooking station where you can place coals or burn down wood. It has 2 levels and a grill rack. This is great for larger pieces of meat, like ribs, that you may want to slow cook. We have also provided a Weber charcoal grill, which you can place coals from the fire in (shovel provided for moving the coals), or, please feel free to bring your own charcoal. We have provided a spatula and tongs (please leave them in good condition for the next campers). Table - We have provided a Lifetime brand 6 foot folding table. ***These amenities can be found under the black tarp located under the tree, behind the cinderblock cooking station*** - Once you are done using them, at the end of your stay, please place them back under the tarp, under the tree, behind the cooking station. That really helps us out! Trash - Please plan on removing your own trash and leaving the site as you found it. Thank you!! Items you will need to bring: -Biodegradable Toilet Paper/Wipes -Water -Food -Power Source (if desired) -Games -Music/Speaker -Matches and fire starting items Showering/Bathing - there are many local streams and ponds and rivers to dip into before you end your day, the largest being the Deerfield river. We suggest using those options. Safety Notes: -The closest major hospitals are in Greenfield and North Adams -Both Greenfield and North Adams have stores with common medical supplies (tylenol, benedryl, bandages, etc.) -If you want bring your own axe and do your lumberjack/lumberjane thing, I can't stop you, but you do so at your own risk. Cell Phones - Most providers have decent service, but it is limited (which is how we like it). Verizon gets 2-3 LTE bars, which works for texts and calls, but may struggle with streaming. Please note that the entrance to the property splits to the left and to the right. The left is the designated camping area. The drive that continues to the right is our land and is not currently meant for campers. If you chose to walk up the drive, please know there are multiple trail cams which monitor our property.

What to expect

Tent site

You'll have this Hipcamp all to yourself.

12 guests max

Campfires allowed

Firewood provided, firepit, communal. Firewood is provided when available, but please plan to bring your own.

Toilet available

Portable toilet

Pets allowed

Pets are welcome but please be aware that there are wild and domesticated animals in the area, and please be courteous to other campers

Picnic table present

No potable water

Bring your own water, purify from river or stream, purify from lake or pond. There are many rivers, streams, ponds in the area. Please bring containers and filtration.

No showers

Bathe in lake, bathe in river or stream. There are many rivers, streams, ponds in the area.

Pack it out

Please plan to remove your own trash.

Cooking equipment absent

No wifi

Laundry absent

Hot Tub absent

No playground

Things to know

Getting there

Check in: After 2:00 PM

Check out: Before 12:00 PM

On arrival: Head straight to site

Cancellation policy: Strict

Minimum nights: 1 night

Accepts bookings: 12 months out

Park at listing

No wheelchair access

Max 3 vehicles

2WD accessible

During your trip

Follow the

Leave it better

Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.

Reviews

100% Recommend6 ratings · 5 reviews

Jeremy S.

4 reviews

Recommends

· December 2024

Tent · With kids

Very simple, straight to the point and communicative host.

Kyle N.

2 reviews

Recommends

· October 2024

Dream camp near Thunder bike park

Tent · Group trip

The site was wonderful. Beautiful view, stocked with firewood, primitive yet very comfortable. Bill was also a gracious and attentive host. We loved our experience and will be back next season for more camping, and MTB adventures at Thunder mountain. Thanks for everything!!

Macie L.

5 reviews

Recommends

· October 2024

Will definitely book again

Tent

Awesome site. Private, beautiful sunrise. Dog loved running on the dirt roads. Host was very kind and timely in his responses

Mary O.

8 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2024

Tent

Had a great night at this site! It was very quiet and not hard to find. The view across the street was beautiful. The tent platforms are very close to one another but that was not an issue for us as we were the only ones on the property for the night. Thanks for hosting us!

Kateryna G.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2024

Peaceful and great view

Tent

Great site, beautiful view. Very peaceful. Loved the tent base and fire pit

Location

Franklin, Massachusetts, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy) and Mohican First Nations according to

Native Land Digital.

To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking