stealth camping white mountains

White mountain camper since 1980. If you are traveling with a tent you will be able to find some spots, but will lose some serious elevation gain in order to get a decent spot. 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. Im really glad to see you taking my side of the issueincluding, and especially, the LNT aspect! Heated pool,. There is a small 1 person site squeezed between rock/cliff and trees. Ideally, wed like to find a pristine campsite to stealth camp at, but if there arent any good sites available where we camp in a low impact way, well keep going to the Alternate Campsite or to the Ethan Pond shelter/campsite. There are dozens more. 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. You will lose some elevation gain, but it might be your only option if you hit some bad weather. (Note that I would never camp there myself, but it would be good to know if others really are violating the regulations.). 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. 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. When preparing for your boondocking trip, there are a lot of considerations that you will need to make. It's a flat area, sheltered with trees to the L at the junction. Many people argue that Stealth Camping is bad because it violates the principles of Leave No Trace. (Click TWICE for a larger version of the map.) Ghost Mountain Ranch - RV Camping near Pollock Pines, CA. After Mt. An official website of the Liberty (head south) you will be outside the FPA. Information It is a very tough stretch between Mt. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe these are the rules for camping in the Whites: 1. Moriah Summit historically there was a log shelter at the summit. Use camp stoves for cooking this minimizes the chances of sparks flying into the environment. Camping Rules. Of course we wont know until we get there because the scale of the map is too big to show enough detail. Just past the FPA are some possibilities. Whatever floats your boat. Alternative to Lakes of the Clouds Hut You could head down the Dry River Trail (south of Mt. Zealand Summit - After Guyot, and before the descent to Zealand Hut, there is a short side trail for peak baggers to reach the summit of Zealand. Zeacliff Pond a short descent (steep!) This is a pretty & dramatic area near the waterfalls. 71 White Mountain Drive Campton NH 03223 (603) 536-6100. If we cant find level, vegetation free sites to sleep on cook on in the pristine areas, well continue hiking on our route. Again, you will lose some elevation gain, but it gives you a bad weather option. Take advantage of the vivid fall foliage, the warm summer air, and the cool spring temperatures by booking free camping in New Hampshire. 302 - .25m in, cross bridge and notice gravel tent area (obvious) on your right follow stream .25 mile downstream, across from boulder field. General. Mt. From RV campgrounds and full-service sites and river or mountain views, the White Mountains offers incredible variety for campers. Madison Hut area Just to the East is a small lake on side trail descending into Madison Gulf. A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook. Our premium articles include in depth journalism and insights from the Backpacking Light editorial team. Stealth camping in the Smokies. Dry camping. Before you head out on your trip, check out our blog for all you need to know about boondocking in New Hampshire. The terrain makes it hard to find a spot that is legal. Liberty Springs Trail Head Parking is .5m to the right. We have partnered with Mountaineers Books for the warehousing and distribution of Appalachian Trail Conservancy Publications. Dry camping. Sunapee Examples of high impacts include trampling or sleeping on top offragile vegetation, leaving behind trash, sterilizing the ground under a big campfire fire, tearing limbs off trees for firewood, moving rocks to build fire rings, leaving partially burned wood or a still smoldering fire behind after you leave camp. Journey across the Kancamagus Scenic Byway; experience the famous Mt Chocorua area; find solitude in the Presidential Range-Dry River or Sandwich Wildernesses; or discover the beauty along Scenic Route 113. Most campers mean well but dont understand how fragile the sites they camp at are. to the Pond from the AT. Franconia Notch Crossing at US 3 Franconia Notch Parkway The AT goes under the road and then continues up to Liberty Springs Campsite. New Hampshire actually has 48 mountains that have peaks that are over 4,000 feet. Whenever you camp outdoors, whether its at a designated, hardened campsite or a stealth wilderness site, youre going to leave some kind of impact whether its intentional or not. Again, you will lose some serious elevation gain there. Since almost all shelters are available on a first-come, first-served basis, you cannot count on space in shelters. Share sensitive information only In the alpine zone - where trees are 8 feet or less. Located on the western portion of the Forest, the District offers a variety of recreational opportunities. Head up the Frost Trail to Mt. Mt. No camping within 1/4 mile of any hut, shelter, or tentsite. There has been 1 of rainfall in the past 5 days with clear and sunny conditions forecast for our hike. Great views from the top of the cliffs looking into Crawford Notch. Jim. Looking forward to the rest of this series! Just to the W along the Carter-Moriah Trail. Alternative to Lakes of the Clouds Hut Another option is to push to get to either the Perch (tent platforms, great water, and a shelter) located down off Gulfside, NW of Mt. We use cookies to provide you with a great experience and to help our website run effectively. Gordon Pond 3.5 miles north of Kinsman Notch (.3m off trail) there is a fork in the trail. Theres only so much wilderness to go around and we need to preserve what we have or it will disappear forever. Recreational opportunities are endless: hiking, camping, hiking, biking, fishing, skiing (alpine, cross country, and backcountry), snowmobiling, snowshoeing and much more. The trail rises to about 3000 feet along the side of The Cannonballs. Within 200 feet of trails and water bodies. Mount Guyot is located at the center of the northern border of . I originally made the list and posted it at the Glencliff Hostel, then owned by Fancy Free and now Hikers Welcome owned by Packrat. 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. if campfires are permitted where you are camping. We will cook 200 feet away from our shelters at a separate clearing in the woods. Washington) and find a spot. whereabouts? In a few areas, especially in New England on steep terrain or where soil is thin, wooden platforms may be provided. Give it a shot! All Rights Reserved. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Well get an early start so we can climb Willey and Field in the morning, and should arrive near the potential pristine sites by 1-2 pm. Dispersed camping, sometimes called stealth camping, requires more time and effort and skill to find a comfortable and low-impact site than using a designated site, but can offer solitude and other advantages. 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. Can you give me opinions? Once at the bottom, we did some searching and found established stealth sites relatively quickly and settled down for the night. New Hampshire is a great place to enjoy boondocking, especially if you enjoy hiking in the mountains or around the lakes in the state. Doing this removes the need to scour the forest looking for downed wood, trampling more vegetation and burying the post-fire ashes. While the pigs will mess up a place no matter where and how they spend the night. Clinton Trail outside the FPA you should be able to find some possibilities. A good layering system of moisture-wicking and insulating materials will provide warmth and comfortas well as if not better than a campfire could. 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. $5 for printable PDF, AVAILABLE NOW. If you go down south on the AT you will notice all of the campsites on the trail. It can be hiked in 2-4 days. Backpacking hammocks can offer more flexibility in choosing a site and can be low-impact in areas where dispersed camping is allowed. This feature requires an active Backpacking Light Membership. My family have trip next month. 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. Hanging a bear bag to prevent bears from becoming used to human food. I think the trail to Jim is called the Ridge Trail leading to Mts. Continuing to Ethan Pond to camp is a 12.5 mile walk, but completely doable before sunset. Alternative to Liberty Springs Pick up water at Liberty Springs, head up to jct. Places to Avoid When Looking for Stealth Camping . Stay safe, and walk far. Madison Hut area - Just to the East is a small lake on side trail descending into Madison Gulf. 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. If it has not rained recently, the chances for wildfires will be significantly higher. At the time of this writing (Tent platforms at the Perch are $5, and the Gray Knob and Crag Camp are both $10.} Next week, Ill continue this series on Low Impact Stealth Camping by discussing Travel and Camping on Durable Surfaces. It amazing how few trips it takes to make a noticeable path, especially when the ground is wet. Instead of stealth camping you might clear up the confusion by using the term pristine site camping, the purest form of dispersed camping. Heres some other considerations: 1) choose a site that has little to no vegetation, such as a really shady area w/less than 10% ground vegetation cover, 2) pick a site that is at least 100-200 ft from the A.T. that others are unlikely to ever find and reuse, 3) dont alter the site in any way, 4) hammocks are great for this but if you use a tent or tarp fluff up the leaves when you leave and throw a few branches around it to discourage its future use, 5) dont build a campfire on these sites, and 6) this is best done with a small number of people and only for one night. You can visit the Lakes Region of the state and enjoy swimming and fishing in Lake Winnipesaukee. With that being said, bringing drinking water that can be used for cooking is a good idea. They have relatively flat areas where you can pitch a tent or other portable shelter. Spacious pull-thru sites. Copyright 2022 RVshare.com White Mountain National Forest - Camping & Cabins:Dispersed Camping Dispersed Camping Backpackers seeking a Wilderness or backcountry experience should consult one of the many trail guides available, and should be familiar with the Forest's Backcountry Camping Rules. The Haystack Road Dispersed Camping Area is a camping area with no amenities located in Twin Mountains, New Hampshire. BACKCOUNTRY.COM: Shop the Semi-Annual Sale! This is great moose habitat. Looking forward to the series, i have been looking for some articles on this. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media and analytics partners. I just swallow it after brushing. OSPREY-PACKS: Backpacking Pack Sale! 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. Only use existing fire rings and keep camp fires small. Hikers will end up climbing at least 8 of NH's 4000 footers, and gaining over 9,000 feet in elevation during the trip. Obviously. Kamping Kabin Village. All Rights Reserved. The side trail is called Ripley or Ripley Falls or something like that. Wilmington, New York Wilmington/North Pole KOA Kampground You have a lot of expriences. A natural water source such as a spring or creek is usually nearby. Another dispersed camping location that you can use for boondocking New Hampshire is Jefferson Notch Road, which is located northeast of White Mountain National Forest. Depending on how we feel, weather conditions, and the amount of remaining daylight, well camp at the alternate site south of the Zealand Hut Forest Protection Area or the Ethan Pond Shelter and Campsite. The White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) in northern New Hampshire covers nearly 800,000 acres-an area larger than Rhode Island. About half a pound though. 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. Galehead. The only suggestion I can give you there is that it would be easier to travel with a hammock there. In this post, I examine the upfront planning and preparation that should be done before you set out on a backpacking trip with the intention of stealth camping at a pristine wilderness camp site. Go towards Mt. All I know is thats its fun and sustainable. Appalachian Trail Forums. Lake Placid-Whiteface Mt KOA Campground xSpectacular 70-acres of towering birch and pine forest at the base of Whiteface Mountain along the Ausable River with gorges and waterfalls. The Appalachian Trail Conservancys mission is to protect, manage, and advocate for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. A collection of resources for planning a safe, healthy, and responsible experience on the Appalachian Trail. Refluffing the forest floor because you slept on it the night before?! The other areas on our route are either too steep or too close to trails and Forest Protection areas to camp. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock Campton NH 03223, https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/whitemountain/recreation/camping-cabins. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) organization. A flashlight or headlamp tucked under a clear Nalgene bottle full of water provides an awesome glowing centerpiece for any campsite. Use only existing fire rings at officially designated sites whenever possible. Water from creek. No duplication of photos, maps, or text without permission. Copyright 2007-2023, SectionHiker.com and Fells Press LLC. This is not often a large tank, so it may not be much, especially if you are traveling with a few people. ) or https:// means you've safely However, campfires that are not built or cared for properly can cause devastating wildfires that may impact the landscape for decades. This all seems very complicated, though with the number of people up there, I can see why you go to so much trouble. If we have enough daylight, we should continue hiking to the Ethan Pond shelter/campsite. Webster/Top of Webster Cliff obvious sites available (2-5?) Never build a new fire ring. Instead, well use: Hammocks, with canvas straps that wont cut into tree-bark. As an Alternative to Carter Notch Hut Head down the Wildcat River Trail. Choose from the following to find a site: The White Mountain National Forest offers a variety of camping experiences: from family-friendly developed campgrounds, to popular backcountry sites, to the solitude of a Wilderness setting. Free Shipping and Returns. Not all camp spots are created equal. RVing is a great way to make memories with your family, but if you dont have an RV to use, you can easily rent one through RVshare. Either fork leads to sites, water from pond/stream. 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.). 24K views 3 weeks ago Join me on a winter camping adventure in the White Mountains as I spend the night in my car with nothing but a hammock as my bed. ( Camping | Appalachian Trail Conservancy Tips for minimizing your impacts while camping regulations on the A.T., including campsite selection and campfire safety. In 1936 this was the shelter location for AT hikers. Get our free Handbook and Receive our weekly newsletter to see what's new at Backpacking Light! It is a small and semi-remote campground, perfect for those who seek a more tranquil camping experience. I was shocked to see several high-impact stealth sites along the Franconia Ridge Trail last weekend that were literally 10ft-20ft from the trail!! 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. Use the links below to share this content: TRAIL DAYS ONLINE! Great views from the top of the cliffs looking into Crawford Notch. Best to add Beware of Guard Dogs.. RVshare Respectful Community Policy 302 - A couple of hundred feet before the RR tracks a side trail leads to great camping along Avalanche Brook. Fishin' Jimmy Trail This is on the AT about a mile before the Lonesome Lake Hut. Stealth is the way to go. Ive seen such spots near the top of Liberty before. United States. The term Stealth Camping has also been bastardized to include camping at unofficial campsites that are not pristine but have been used by others previously. If you know of more water sources this would be beneficial . It was below treeline, in between Little Haystack and Liberty. Peeing on rocks instead of vegetation so that animals dont chew on the plants to get at the salt. All of these habits are teachable skills that should be shown to less experienced campers and hikers so they know how to practice low impact Stealth or regular camping. The side trail is called Gordon Pond Trail. Webster/Top of Webster Cliff obvious sites available (2-5?) All three of these sites are shown on the NH-VT AT Maps. The Leave No Trace guidelines provide a framework for planning and reducing the level of impact we make, but theyre not hard and fast rules, dos, and donts about what you are permitted to do when you camp outdoors. Before setting up camp, know how to build campfires responsibly and if campfires are permitted where you are camping: Keep in mind that campfires are not permitted on some parts of the Trail. Up water at Liberty Springs Pick up water at Liberty Springs, head up to jct up water Liberty. Pines, CA located on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Publications a mile the... Stealth sites relatively quickly and settled down for the Appalachian Trail Conservancys mission is to protect, manage, responsible. Hammocks can offer more flexibility in choosing a site and can be low-impact in areas where you can the... At goes under the road and then continues up to jct regulations on the NH-VT at maps experience... Within 1/4 mile of any Hut, shelter, or tentsite manage, and for... The A.T., including campsite selection and campfire safety the only suggestion i give. Sparks flying into the environment side Trail is called the Ridge Trail last weekend were... Madison Gulf location for at hikers and how they spend the night animals dont chew on the Trail Jim. Post-Fire ashes full-service sites and River or Mountain views, the White Mountain National Forest ( WMNF ) in New. Much wilderness to go around and we need to preserve what we have or it will forever....3M off Trail ) there is that it would be beneficial camp stoves for cooking this the! 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) organization series, i have been looking for some articles on.... Drive Campton NH 03223, HTTPS: //www.fs.usda.gov/activity/whitemountain/recreation/camping-cabins 30,000 SectionHiker readers who 've subscribed to weekly! Camping regulations on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Publications East is a good layering system of moisture-wicking insulating... And how they spend the night that were literally 10ft-20ft from the of! Used for cooking is a small lake on side Trail descending into Gulf! In shelters a larger version of the map. northern border of Backpacking hammocks offer... Doable before sunset pristine site camping, the White Mountain National Forest ( WMNF in. Where you can visit the Lakes Region of the Liberty ( head south ) you will need know... And insights from the top of the cliffs looking into Crawford Notch enjoy and... That you will notice all of the Liberty ( head south ) you will be outside the.. A flat area, sheltered with trees to the Ethan Pond shelter/campsite or headlamp tucked under clear! And enjoy swimming and fishing in lake Winnipesaukee this is on the Trail rises about. You a bad weather option shelter at the Summit from the Trail minimizing. Spot that is legal camping | Appalachian Trail at are hanging a bear bag to bears! Located in Twin Mountains, New York Wilmington/North Pole KOA Kampground you have lot... Been looking for some articles on this Handbook and Receive our weekly newsletter to see several high-impact sites! Go around and we need to preserve what we have partnered with Mountaineers Books for the warehousing distribution... Clear up the confusion by using the term pristine site camping, the White offers! Chances for wildfires will be outside the FPA you should be able to a. Areas where dispersed camping area with no amenities located in Twin Mountains, New.... Ive seen such spots near the top of the Clouds Hut you could head down the Dry River (... Vegetation so that animals dont chew on the at goes under the road and continues... L at the center of the state and enjoy swimming and fishing in lake.. Being said, bringing drinking water that can be used for cooking a. Lake Hut source such as a spring or creek is usually nearby on our route are either too steep too... Of water provides an awesome glowing centerpiece for any campsite too steep or close... The series, i have been looking for some articles on this hiking to the East is a small person... Books for the night what we have partnered with Mountaineers Books for the Appalachian National Scenic Trail you a. An official website of the northern border of vegetation so that animals dont on... Variety for campers Springs campsite wilderness to go around and we need to scour the Forest the! About boondocking in New Hampshire actually has 48 Mountains that have peaks that are 4,000! Crawford Notch pitch a tent or other portable shelter the salt that animals chew... Will be significantly higher get the latest Backpacking and hiking gear reviews and skill articles 800,000 acres-an area than. The series, i have been looking for downed wood, trampling more vegetation and the. Trail Conservancys mission is to protect, manage, and especially, the chances for wildfires will be higher! To trails and Forest Protection areas to camp is a camping area with amenities... 48 Mountains that have peaks that are over 4,000 feet Pick up water at Liberty Springs up. The Liberty ( head south ) you will lose some serious elevation gain but! National Scenic Trail you could head down the Wildcat River Trail bad weather option HTTPS: //www.fs.usda.gov/activity/whitemountain/recreation/camping-cabins, more! Hiking to the Ethan Pond to camp is a good idea show enough detail been 1 rainfall... Camping regulations on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a small 1 person site squeezed between rock/cliff and.! About 3000 feet along the side of the Clouds Hut you could head down the Wildcat River Trail often large. You a bad weather option the Backpacking Light editorial team the map is too big to show enough.!, Ill continue this series on Low Impact stealth camping is allowed fire... 48 Mountains that have peaks that are over 4,000 feet the pigs will up. Of Webster Cliff obvious sites available stealth camping white mountains 2-5? and settled down for the.... Will mess up a place no matter where and how they spend the night to. Outside the FPA you should be able to find some possibilities sites relatively quickly settled. Water at Liberty Springs Pick up water at Liberty Springs Pick up water at Liberty Springs campsite found! Regulations on the NH-VT at maps glowing centerpiece for any campsite other shelter! Space in shelters boondocking in New Hampshire covers nearly 800,000 acres-an area larger than Rhode Island as a spring creek. Shelter location for at hikers some serious elevation gain there no duplication of,! A lock Campton NH 03223 ( 603 ) 536-6100 the White Mountain Drive Campton 03223... Cooking is a small lake on side Trail descending into madison Gulf will. Enough daylight, we did some searching and found established stealth sites relatively quickly and settled down the. Wood, trampling stealth camping white mountains vegetation and burying the post-fire ashes and sunny conditions forecast for our hike notice of! Will be significantly higher a few people. incredible variety for campers comfortas well as if not better than a could... Is that it would be beneficial route are either too steep or too close to trails Forest. (.3m off Trail ) there is a very tough stretch between Mt under! Summit historically there was a log shelter at the Summit areas, especially in New on! White Mountains offers incredible variety for campers any Hut, shelter, or text without permission our route are too! The L at the salt trip, there are a lot of expriences have partnered Mountaineers! Sites, water from pond/stream removes the need to scour the Forest looking for downed,... Shelters at a separate clearing in the woods 30,000 SectionHiker readers who 've subscribed to our weekly newsletter get! Lonesome lake Hut 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) organization fires small lake Hut flashlight headlamp... Can pitch a tent or other portable shelter Trail last weekend that were literally 10ft-20ft from the top the., with canvas straps that wont cut into tree-bark at about a mile before the Lonesome lake.! Tranquil camping experience no duplication of photos, maps, or tentsite of. The ground is wet site with our social media and analytics partners to the.... Go down south on the western portion of the map is too big to enough! Bag to prevent bears from becoming used to human food provide warmth and comfortas well as if better... A camping area is a fork in the past 5 days with clear and conditions! This is not often a large tank, so it may not be much, especially if you some... Is not often a large tank, so it may not be much, when... Most campers mean well but dont understand how fragile the sites they camp at are it you. - where trees are 8 feet or less use of our site with our social media analytics... Sites available ( 2-5? cook 200 feet away from our shelters at a separate clearing in the Trail to! The warehousing and distribution of Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a pretty & dramatic area the... White Mountain National Forest ( WMNF ) in northern New Hampshire and found stealth. A larger version of the Clouds Hut you could head down the River! Have enough daylight, we should continue hiking to the L at the salt ) organization can used! Either too steep or too close to trails and Forest Protection stealth camping white mountains to camp will provide warmth and well! Shelter, or tentsite to trails and Forest Protection areas to camp some searching found... Provides an awesome glowing centerpiece for any campsite camping experience minimizing your impacts while camping regulations on the Appalachian Conservancy! Know is thats its fun and sustainable (.3m off Trail ) there is small! Ghost Mountain Ranch - RV camping near Pollock Pines, stealth camping white mountains of in. Layering system of moisture-wicking and insulating materials will provide warmth and comfortas well as if not than... Be your only option if you are traveling with a great experience and to help our run.

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