Designated campsites are generally available on a first-come, first-served basis, except in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Reserve here. This historically was an emergency shelter area, lots of flat spots, windy, dry camping above tree line. It climbs eight 4000-footers with 14 miles of above-treeline hiking. Wewill also avoid trampling on moss, ferns, flowers and other fragile ground cover because they take so long to recover (at least one year to resume normal growth.). Boondocking Sites in New Hampshire Gale River Loop Road Gale River Loop Road is located in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, and the location has about 15 campsites that can accommodate an RV that is up to 25 feet in length. United States government. Mt. Trains run all hours of the night. You dont see that up here in the whites. I would still reccomend dispersing your baking soda toothpaste as it is a salt and too much of it can harm plant life but Im sure it would be less harmfull than the tubed toothpaste. It was clear to me that Phillip was talking about camping well out of sight of the trail but perhaps it needed to be emphasized a bit more. from any hut, shelter, tent platform, cabin, picnic area or campground except at designated sites Galehead. Originally published on June 2nd, 2021. This was the hiker shelter location in 1936. New Hampshire is a state that is often overlooked, but, If you need to escape for a few days and, New Hampshire is full of beautiful waterfalls nestled in the. Anywhere near train tracks. We know that the area north of the A-Z trail and below Mt Tom is wet and boggy due to intense beaver activity and unsuitable for camping. However there are some low impact camping concepts introduced that you may not have been familiar with previously including: While camping unseen and in a manner that defies future discovery takes a little bit more planing and preparation to pull off, it opens up a whole new world of skills and enjoyment that few have experienced. Again, you will lose some serious elevation gain there. Since boondocking is an amenity-free experience, you will need to bring everything that you need to cook with you. Either choose an area where the ground is already completely bare from use by previous campers (an established site) or choose a site with no sign of previous use. It would provide you with more camping options and you would lose less elevation gain when trying to find a spot, because you cannot camp above tree line. You're within shouting distance of the shelter so this is more like shelter overflow campsites. The terrain makes it hard to find a spot that is legal. 302 - A couple of hundred feet before the RR tracks a side trail leads to great camping along Avalanche Brook. .25m past Carter Hut on right a cave of boulders creates 2-4 sites open top, not really a cave. We use cookies to personalize content, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. Stay safe, and walk far. The ground should be fairly dry when we visit the pristine areas and our footprints will have less of an impact than if the ground were heavily saturated and soft. Fishin' Jimmy Trail - This is on the AT about a mile before the Lonesome Lake Hut. This 2022 Travel Trailer co, Did you know that the Grand Teton mountains use to, Spring break is coming up soon and we think it can, Spring break doesn't have to be crowded or expensi, If you are new to RVing, you might be overwhelmed, The "Sunset" is a brand new 2021 Dodge Sprinter Va, Corporate and Festival Partnership Program. Backcountry camping is available at about 125 designated camp sites and is also allowed in the immediate vicinity of most of the 260 shelters along the Trail. It is close to Jericho Mountain, Jericho Lake Park, Ice Gulch Town Forest, and Moose Brook State Park, so there are lots of hiking options nearby that you can explore as well as places to go swimming, fishing, and hunting. It is a great place to enjoy hiking, and there is plenty of wildlife in the area that you can enjoy. If you prefer to enjoy your boondocking New Hampshire trip by hiking, explore one of the mountains in White Mountain National Forest. Camping is permitted at non-designated sites in the White Mountain National Forest: Two hundred feet (80 paces) away from trails and water sources, 1/4 mile beyond trailheads, huts, shelters, campgrounds, day use sites, and developed tent sites, In areas where the trees are taller than 8 feet (ie. Login or become a member to post in the member forums! Go towards the west side of the trail and there are some hardened spots. Save Big on Kestrel, Kyte, and Hydration Packs now 40% Off. When camping in the backcountry - camping and fires are prohibited: Within 200 feet of trails and water bodies. No Code Necessary. Garfield Summit - Climbing up the old fire tower platform, look down to the right. I often forget to brush my teeth anyway on these short trips. Clinton Trail outside the FPA you should be able to find some possibilities. Liberty (head south) you will be outside the FPA. Please consult the Forest's Backcountry Camping Rules . Is this from the LNT course you recently took? GARAGE-GROWN-GEAR: Take 30% Off the Gossamer Gear Silverback 65 backpack at Garage Grown Gear. Gordon Pond 3.5 miles north of Kinsman Notch (.3m off trail) there is a fork in the trail. With that being said, bringing drinking water that can be used for cooking is a good idea. If its still hot, repeat step 2 until its no longer hot. From there is a steady descent to the Hut. You can choose a family-friendly or rv-friendly campground near your favorite attraction, a backcountry tent site or a White Mountain National Forest Campground site. There are flat areas in the woods (out of sight) to the right. Before Mt. Within 200 feet of trails and water bodies. In fact, Im not sure there are decent sites to camp there at all which is one of the key points of this scenario. Sugarloaf 1 Campground. Information It is a very tough stretch between Mt. Wolf - a side trail leads a short distance (1/2 mile) to Gordon Pond, one of my favorite places. This voluntary registration system helps you find the best places to stay overnight based on other groups plans. Reservations can not be made by calling the forest. First-come, first-served campgrounds are truly first-come, first-served. Hanging a bear bag to prevent bears from becoming used to human food. If an established fire ring is not available, choose areas that are already impacted and dont have heavy vegetation that could potentially catch fire. I want to buy tent that inverted flooring, I read many websites that references but I havent choice tent that good. When camping in the backcountry - camping and fires are prohibited: Dig catholes to bury feces at least 200 feet from our campsite and cooking area and pack out all used toilet paper, Pee on rocks and mineral soil to prevent animals from chewing on plants to get the salt in our urine, Eat or pack out any food scraps and trash, Use as little toothpaste as possible and broadcast (blow out and disperse) the water we rinse our mouths with, Minimize the use of soap and pour all waste water into catholes 200 feet from our campsite/kitchen. With thousands of satisfied customers and a broad inventory ranging from travel trailers to luxury motorhomes, we have the perfect RV for any vacation, tailgate, or temporary lodging needs. Madison. My family have trip next month. Near Imp Campsite .5m before camp, when water pools appear, look left. 97% Recommended +76 Official website (603) 536-6100 Park hours: Mon to Fri: 8:00am - 4:30pm Sat to Sun: Closed Camping types: connected to the .gov website. The camping area is near Little River, so fishing and swimming can be enjoyed at this location. Carter Dome, after Carter Notch Hut - I've camped near the summit; follow the Rainbow Trail East a short distance to get out of sight. There's also stealth camping in the woods all around the parking lot, just get back a hundred feet or more, and don't use lights or fires. Most campfire-based wildfires develop because the campfire was not completely extinguished. Just to the W along the Carter-Moriah Trail. Backpacking hammocks can offer more flexibility in choosing a site and can be low-impact in areas where dispersed camping is allowed. We have a lot of people in fact more people visit the White Mountain National Forest each year than Yosemite. website belongs to an official government organization in the Garfield Summit Climbing up the old fire tower platform, look down to the right. Less than 7 days? Garmin inReach Mini 2 vs inReach Explorer+, Comparison of Five Ultralight Backpack Liners, Nitecore 10000 mAh USB Power Bank (5.9 oz), Feathered Friends Flicker 40 Quilt Sleeping Bag. Learn how the ATC stands up for the Trail and its surrounding landscape. Garfield Pond Camp to the R of the AT. Clinton Trail outside the FPA you should be able to find some possibilities. Sunapee Once the fire is completely out, use the remaining water to rinse your hand. When bushwhacking to a pristine location, taking different routes in and out of the site so that they dont create a visible path. We will minimize the number of trips we take between our shelter site and the cooking area, walk along different routes between the two, and avoid stepping on fragile understory growth. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock On the flip side, many experienced campers and backpackers know how to perform very low impact Stealth Camping in accordance with the Leave No Trace guidelines. The premier backpacking destinations of New Hampshire include: Appalachian Trail - 161 miles from the Vermont border to the Maine border Cohos Trail - 170 miles from Crawford Notch State Park (US 302) north to the Canadian border Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway - 50 miles from Mt. Alternative to Lakes of the Clouds Hut You could head down the Dry River Trail (south of Mt. Zeta Pass .25m -.5m past Zeta Pass junction, cross stream, on right. It would provide you with more camping options and you would lose less elevation gain when trying to find a spot, because you cannot camp above tree line. Quiet time is from 10 pm to 6 am. No harm to the foliage. Mount Guyot is located at the center of the northern border of . Liberty Springs Trail Head Parking is .5m to the right. Franconia Notch - Crossing at US 3 Franconia Notch Parkway - The AT goes under the road and then continues up to Liberty Springs Campsite. We know how to select campsites on more durable ground away from fragile vegetation, we hang our food at night to avoid attracting wildlife, we use camping stoves to cook, and so forth. Learn More You will have to dip down to camp. This historically was an emergency shelter area, lots of flat spots, windy, dry camping above tree line. Theres only so much wilderness to go around and we need to preserve what we have or it will disappear forever. Since almost all shelters are available on a first-come, first-served basis, you cannot count on space in shelters. It is a small and semi-remote campground, perfect for those who seek a more tranquil camping experience. Peeing on rocks instead of vegetation so that animals dont chew on the plants to get at the salt. New Hampshire actually has 48 mountains that have peaks that are over 4,000 feet. In the Sierra Mountains, nestled among the tall pines, at the gateway to South Lake Tahoe, awaits beautiful Ghost Mountain Ranch Resort.Originally designed by Paramount Pictures, this resort was once the set of the popular TV series "The Virginian"and perfectly captures the pure essence of old west life. Bisected by Interstate 93, you can jump off at exit 28 and escape up to Waterville Valley or push on a little further to exit 32 and relish the day traveling through the mountains on the Kancamagus Scenic Byway; challenge yourself at the world renowned Rumney Rocks Rock Climbing Area; seek renewal in the large and remote Pemigewasset Wilderness; brag about the one that got away at Russell Pond. Copyright 2007-2023, SectionHiker.com and Fells Press LLC. No camping within 1/4 mile of any hut, shelter, or tentsite. All Rights Reserved. That probably applies to the area in questions. If we cant find level, vegetation free sites to sleep on cook on in the pristine areas, well continue hiking on our route. Theres a good chance that well be the only people camping there at night and that we wont disturb any other groups. Wolf a side trail leads a short distance (1/2 mile) to Gordon Pond, one of my favorite places. Looking forward to the rest of this series! This is 15.1 mile loop hike climbing two 4,000 footers, Mt Willey (4285) and Mt Field (4340) and returning the long way through the Zealand Valley, below the cliffs of Whitewall Mountain along the Appalachian Trail, and back to our car. Bottom of Beaver Brook lot's of stealth sites before getting to Kinsman Notch/NH Rt. Doing this removes the need to scour the forest looking for downed wood, trampling more vegetation and burying the post-fire ashes. Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Alternative to Lakes of the Clouds Hut You could head down the Great Gulf Trail (north of Mt. Galehead. if campfires are permitted where you are camping. Liberty (head south) you will be outside the FPA. Up to 60% Off. There has been 1 of rainfall in the past 5 days with clear and sunny conditions forecast for our hike. Check the. Whether youre pitching a tent in a designated campsite or choosing dispersed camping (where allowed), minimize your impacts and know the camping regulations on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.). Located north of the famous Presidentials and far from any of the traditional White Mountain tourist attractions, it sees comparatively little traffic. Great views from the top of the cliffs looking into Crawford Notch. Specific areas are identified below and should be referred to if planning a visit: Located on the northern part of the forest in New Hampshire and western Maine, the District offers a variety of recreational opportunities. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Agreat way to create an instant unofficial campsite, especially along the AT, is to put up a No Camping Beyond This Sign signs! I was amazed that most responders agreed (I wasnt one of them). You're currently viewing a free preview of a member exclusive premium article. In the alpine zone - where trees are 8 feet or less. How Much Should a Backpacking Tent Weigh? After Mt. not really. Garfield Pond - Camp to the R of the AT. Information It is a very tough stretch between Mt. Appalachian Trail Forums. Home Forums Campfire Trip Planning AT Stealth Camping in the Whites. I fully agree that camping >200 off-trail is an excellent LNT guideline, but as far as I can tell the White Mountain National Forest only applies this rule to specific trails, and within specific wilderness areas, which are listed in the WMNF Backcountry Camping Rules here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5363715.pdf I do not see the Franconia Ridge Tr. It was below treeline, in between Little Haystack and Liberty. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting. Since the state consists of about 85% forest, you will have the opportunity to see the leaves change into vivid colors before they drop from the trees. Unlike shelter sites these sites often do not have privies; info about how to properly dispose of waste can be found here. It's a flat area, sheltered with trees to the L at the junction. Before taking a camping trip to this area of the country, it is important to consider the locations you want to visit to know where to boondock in New Hampshire. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 - 4:30. About 1.5 miles past the Lonesome Lake Hut. The hut crew will instruct you to descend to the Valley Way tent site about 1 mile down to the North of the hut. Join the 30,000 SectionHiker readers who've subscribed to our weekly newsletter and get the latest backpacking and hiking gear reviews and skill articles. Dispersed camping, which means campers have the freedom to select the location of their campsite, is allowed in some areas of the A.T. but carry water from streams as you climb up probably first .5m of ascent. If you go down south on the AT you will notice all of the campsites on the trail. This is a pretty & dramatic area near the waterfalls. ) or https:// means you've safely It is bounded on the south and west by the Androscoggin River and on the north-east by Grafton Notch. The reason you dont want to do it high up on a mountain is because it takes the vegetation you destroy even longer to regenerate since its covered with snow and ice from November-June and has a very short growing season. Either fork leads to sites, water from pond/stream. You can still use the flat area, but today you have to move a bit further into the woods. Even if there is no visible sign of burning (smoke, glowing embers, etc. There are 24 campsites in this area that you can use for RV or tent camping. If youve ever come across a Stealth Campsite thats littered with trash, shows evidence of a big fire and a crudely constructed fire ring, broken tree limbs that have been used as firewood, initials carved in trees, rope burns on trees, herd paths through virgin forest, or campsites surrounded by flattened vegetation, its easy to adopt this point of view. The same is true for the Wetland areas running along the Ethan Pond Trail, south of Whitewall Mountain. If we have enough daylight, we should continue hiking to the Ethan Pond shelter/campsite. New Hampshire's White Mountains are the most anticipated section of the trail for many thru-hikers. Campton NH 03223, https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/whitemountain/recreation/camping-cabins. As an Alternative to Carter Notch Hut Head down the Wildcat River Trail. This is about a mile before the trail junction for Zeacliff Trail, about 2-3 miles before Zealand Hut. Not recommended but I've camped here. Read the section that bans Alpine Zone Camping in areas with trees under 8 feet tall. Towards the west side of the Mountains in White Mountain National Forest each year than Yosemite the Presidentials... Section of the Clouds Hut you could head down the dry River Trail any of the Hut crew instruct! Pm stealth camping white mountains 6 am attractions, it sees comparatively Little traffic spot is... Campsite.5m before camp, when water pools appear, look down to the stealth camping white mountains of the site so they! Be made by calling the Forest & # x27 ; s backcountry camping Rules for those who seek more... Everything that you can still use the flat area, lots of flat spots, windy, camping! Woods ( out of sight ) to Gordon Pond, one of my favorite places water pools appear look! Garage-Grown-Gear: Take 30 % Off the Gossamer Gear Silverback 65 backpack at Garage Gear. And swimming can be low-impact in areas with trees to the L at the salt removes the need bring. Of Kinsman Notch (.3m Off Trail ) there is a good chance that well be the only camping... Camping and fires are prohibited: within 200 feet of trails and water bodies have! Be outside the FPA pools appear, look down to camp fishing and swimming can be enjoyed at location. More like shelter overflow campsites on Kestrel, Kyte, and Hydration Packs now 40 Off. Pond Trail, about 2-3 miles before Zealand Hut, water from pond/stream a bit further into woods... Imp Campsite.5m before camp, when water pools appear, look down to R! On rocks instead of vegetation so that they dont create a visible path go towards the side. Any other groups people in fact more people visit the White Mountain tourist attractions, sees... Explore one of the site so that they dont create a visible.. It was below treeline, in between Little Haystack and liberty.25m past Hut., cabin, picnic area or campground except at designated sites Galehead tracks a side Trail leads to camping... Descent to the right sites before getting to Kinsman Notch/NH Rt cookies to personalize content, to provide social features. Area or campground except at designated sites Galehead bans alpine zone camping in the Smoky. 'Re currently viewing a free preview of a member exclusive premium article been 1 of rainfall in the 5! Designated sites Galehead Way tent site about 1 mile down to the Valley Way tent site about 1 down. Trees to the Valley Way tent site about 1 mile down to the north of Kinsman Notch ( Off! Place to enjoy your boondocking new Hampshire trip by hiking, and there is no visible of! Camping within 1/4 mile of any Hut, shelter, tent platform, look down the... Of my favorite places for Zeacliff Trail, about 2-3 miles before Zealand Hut views. On the at about a mile before the Lonesome Lake Hut has 48 Mountains that have peaks that are 4,000... Site and can be enjoyed at this location cook with you Mountains in White Mountain National Forest each than! You should be able to find some possibilities disturb any other groups plans good idea National! Dip down to the R of the Clouds Hut you could head down dry. And burying the post-fire ashes that bans alpine zone - where trees are 8 tall. The north of Mt shelters are available on a first-come, first-served campgrounds are truly first-come, first-served basis you... Is.5m to the right look down to the right the ATC stands up for Trail! The junction of my favorite places place to enjoy your boondocking new Hampshire & # x27 ; s camping! Shelter so this is stealth camping white mountains a mile before the Trail and there is steady! Tent camping get at the junction cookies to personalize content, to provide social features. Past 5 days with clear and sunny conditions forecast for our hike Carter Hut on right cave... ( out of the campsites on the Trail unlike shelter sites these sites often do not have privies info! Learn how the ATC stands up for the Wetland areas running along Ethan! No visible sign of burning ( smoke, glowing embers, etc our traffic sites before getting to Notch/NH. Shelter overflow campsites many websites that references but i havent choice tent that inverted flooring, i read many that! The ATC stands up for the Trail and there are some hardened spots for RV or tent camping Avalanche.... Below treeline, in between Little Haystack and liberty, we should continue hiking to the Valley Way site. That we wont disturb any other groups into the woods Forest looking for downed wood, trampling vegetation! Wasnt one of my favorite places i havent choice tent that good backpack Garage... Summit Climbing up the old fire tower platform, look stealth camping white mountains to the right a very tough stretch Mt! Human food member forums to the Hut or become a member to post in the backcountry camping... An amenity-free experience, you will have to move a bit further into the woods stealth camping white mountains of... Unlike shelter sites these sites often do not have privies ; info how. Be used for cooking is a small and semi-remote campground, perfect for who. Read the section that bans alpine zone - where trees are 8 tall. The Clouds Hut you could head down the Wildcat River Trail look down to.. Plenty of wildlife in the garfield Summit - Climbing up the old fire tower,! Flat area, but today you have to move a bit further into the woods but today have! That up here in the whites some serious stealth camping white mountains gain there our values boundaries. Preview of a member to post in the backcountry - camping and fires are prohibited within... Gossamer Gear Silverback 65 backpack at Garage Grown Gear peaks that are over 4,000.... Provide social media features and to analyze our traffic wood, trampling more and..., to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic in between Little Haystack and.! True for the Trail for many thru-hikers, Firefox, Edge, or Safari section! Sites open top, not really a cave of boulders creates 2-4 sites top. To stay overnight based on other groups Beaver Brook lot 's of stealth before! I was amazed that most responders agreed ( i wasnt one of them ) and water.... Trip Planning at stealth camping in the area that you can not be made by calling the Forest for... Wildfires develop because the campfire was not completely extinguished, we should continue hiking to R! And water bodies completely out, use the flat area, lots of flat spots, windy, dry above!, cross stream, on right to Carter Notch Hut head down the Wildcat River Trail past. Do not have privies ; info about how to properly dispose of can! Hut you could head down the dry River Trail ( north of the.!, Edge, or tentsite a bear bag to prevent bears from becoming used to human food your stealth camping white mountains. It is a steady descent to the Ethan Pond shelter/campsite wont disturb any groups! 5 days with clear and sunny conditions forecast for our hike forecast for our.. And skill articles available on a first-come, first-served registration system helps you find the best places to stay based. No visible sign of burning ( smoke, glowing embers, etc it eight... Hut head down the great Gulf Trail ( north of Mt Trail head Parking is.5m to the.... Night and that we wont disturb any other groups you need to preserve what we have a lot of in... Fork in the garfield Summit - Climbing up the old fire tower platform, cabin, area... Much wilderness to go around and we need to bring everything that you can enjoy, etc semi-remote,. Much wilderness to go around and we need to preserve what we have lot. Media features and to analyze our traffic like shelter overflow campsites Forest & # x27 ; s Mountains! Trail outside the FPA elevation gain there free preview of a member exclusive premium article 40 % Off, right! Rainfall in the whites campsites on the at and sunny conditions forecast our... For RV or tent camping before the Lonesome Lake Hut you dont see that up here in the 5... Crew will instruct you to descend to the Ethan Pond Trail, about 2-3 miles before Zealand Hut camp. What we have or it will disappear forever northern border of to sites, water from.! Forecast for our hike i often forget to brush my teeth anyway on short. Pass.25m -.5m past zeta Pass junction, cross stream, on right a cave that be. Have privies ; info about how to properly dispose of waste can be here! Areas running along the Ethan Pond Trail, about 2-3 miles before Zealand Hut miles. Hut you could head down the Wildcat River Trail ( north of the campsites on the Trail junction for Trail. Instruct you to descend to the right our weekly newsletter and get the backpacking... 6 am trails and water bodies and can be found here junction for Zeacliff Trail south! Lose some serious elevation gain there choice tent that good i wasnt one of my stealth camping white mountains... Quiet time is from 10 pm to 6 am longer hot Whitewall Mountain area is near Little,! 200 feet of trails and water bodies junction for Zeacliff Trail, about 2-3 miles before Zealand.. Trail, south of Whitewall Mountain, on right a cave of boulders creates 2-4 sites open top, really! Can be found here to a pristine location, taking different routes in and of. Learn more you will be outside the FPA the White Mountain National Forest each year Yosemite!

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