Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bellfire located?
We are located in Roxbury, NY beautiful Meeker Hollow – one of the best places for stargazing in upstate New York due to very low light pollution, 3 hrs drive from George Washington bridge. Please account for traffic on holidays and weekends.
Is there public transportation to the property?
No, we are only reachable by car. Sparsely populated and surrounded by outstanding natural beauty does come at the cost of lack of public transportation. That being said, we had guests that hired private transportation from Albany airport and Kingston Trailways station, just make sure you arrange for a trip back as well. 😊
What is Bellfire’s cancellation policy?
Please see Rental Agreement for details on this.
Can I bring my dog or other pets?
Yes, we allow up to 2 dogs per camp site. There is $50 pet fee and a couple of pet rules to follow:
Please pick up after your dog. Don’t leave your pet alone in the cabin or tent.
Keep your pet on a leash when outside. If your dog sleeps with you, please make sure you use the waterproof bed cover provided.
If your pet has an accident anywhere inside the dwelling, please let us know so that we can properly clean it up and prevent future accidents.
Do I need to bring my own bedding?
No, we provide clean comfortable bedding, pillows, and comforters at all dwellings.
Do you have any suggestions for a packing list?
Yes, we recommend bringing your own towels and toiletries, sunscreen, bug spray, ice for the coolers provided, charcoal for the grills provided, bathing suit if you want to use the sauna, headlamps / flashlights, comfortable shoes, battery packs to keep your devices charged. Tip: download SkyView apps and have fun getting lost in the sky on a clear night.
Do you provide firewood?
No, firewood is not included in the price of your stay, but you are welcome to bring your own. You can also purchase firewood here at $10/bundle. Your stay guide also comes with instructions on starting a campfire. 😊
Is there Wifi?
We encourage you to fully immerse yourself in our beautiful surroundings by switching off from digital connections. To support this Bellfire deliberately has no Wifi connection in camps. For practical reasons, WIfi is provided in the parking lot next to the farmhouse to assist in loading maps and or emergency situations. Please note that cell service is spotty around these parts.
Can I drive right up to my camp?
No, to ensure a truly serene and nature immersive stay, we elected to not build roads right up to camps, and have cars drive past your camp while you’re enjoying a relaxing evening by the fire. You can safely park in our designated parking lot, off-road – from there it’s a short 5-minute walk to you camp. For your convenience, hand carts are provided to help you carry luggage up to camp.
Is there electricity?
No, our campground is off-grid. There are no outlets or running water. Drinking water is provided and replenished as needed during your stay. Battery powered lanterns are provided and the camps are lit by solar outdoor lights. The Cosmic Nomad and Forest Belle both have solar panels with USB outlets for charging devices and are planning on adding a solar panel to the Birdhouse as well – this will be available for the 2023 season.
What about bears and wildlife?
Your camp is located in a natural wildlife habitat. We have seen bears, snakes, deer, chipmunks, field mice, wild turkeys & foxes. In 8 years of being here we’ve had no incidents, and we’d like to keep it that way. Please do not leave trash outside and please do not leave food inside the tents, to prevent unwanted animal guests.
Are children allowed to stay at Bellfire?
Yes, and we have not met one that didn’t have an absolutely magical time. By booking a stay here you agree to ensure that children are always supervised around the stream, any heat sources both within and outside the sites, e.g. stoves, fire pits, grills, sauna, cold dunk tank located outside of the sauna. Please note that children are not allowed in the sauna.
What are your house rules?
- Please respect the check-in and check-out times
- Follow camping rules while staying at Bellfire: no littering, do not leave fires unattended, put away food or leftovers and don't dispose of trash or leftovers anywhere else but the designated bins.
- Please do not smoke inside the dwellings.
- No parties or events
- No commercial photo shoots without prior written consent, including creating content for social media to promote products or services.
- Your stay is limited to the guests on the reservation, no day or overnight visitors are allowed.
Further details of these and more information for your stay are in our Bellfire welcome guide that is provided in print at each dwelling.
What is a composting toilet, and how do I use it?
Simply put, a composting toilet is a waterless toilet that uses a completely natural process of decomposition and evaporation, free of harmful chemicals One key thing to note is that you cannot dispose of any paper or products inside the bin. These are regularly maintained, non-smelly toilets that make camping off-grid sustainable
What about showering?
We built a sustainable and green solar heated shower cabin in the wildflower field that is shared by all guests. Please note that since the water inside tank is heated by the sun, the best time to use it would be in the afternoon when the sun has had a chance to warm up the water. Just keep in mind that during colder months like May and October, the water will likely be lukewarm at best.
I’d like to cook my own meals, what is provided inside the kitchenette?
We provide a one burner camping stove, charcoal grill (charcoal not included), tea kettle, drinking water, complimentary coffee, tea, sugar and creamer and paper cups, plates and bamboo utensils as well as a 52qt cooler for food storage. Please bring your own pots, pans and other utensils you might need to cook your meals. If you don’t want to cook, several take away options are available in town.
Are drones allowed?
Yes, but please use it respectfully and responsibly. Make sure you inform other guests on the property that you fill be flying a drone and keep away from flying the drone too low and over other guests camps.
Can I gift a stay at Bellfire?
Yes! Feel free to purchase our gift cards here: Buy Bellfire Gift Cards
How can I book the whole camp for my next event, retreat, or group getaway?
You can find all information about group bookings here: Group Bookings Info
What activities do you recommend in the area?
You can check out our local guide here Roxbury NY Local Guide including an interactive map of our local recommendations