Dispersed camping sites around South Paris, Maine concentrate in the White Mountain National Forest with eight established sites on Little Larry Road located on a forested dead-end dirt road. These primitive locations require campers to pack in all supplies and pack out all waste. Most sites contain only a basic fire ring with no facilities such as water, trash service or restrooms. The terrain surrounding South Paris features dense forest with elevation changes that create natural separation between camping areas. Winter access becomes difficult or impossible without specialized vehicles due to snow accumulation and lack of road maintenance.
What to do
Hiking from basecamp: The site at the end of Cherry Mountain Road provides direct access to the Cherry Mountain trail and connects to the Ammonoosuc Falls area. "Great location with access to the Cherry Mountain trail, and back down to Ammonoosuc Falls back down near Rt. 302," notes a visitor to Cherry Mountain Road Dispersed.
Wildlife observation: Early mornings offer the best wildlife viewing opportunities from campsites. "Beware of bears especially the right side site. Game trail heaven," warns a camper about the upper sites at White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road.
Stream access: Several sites feature water access for recreation and practical needs. "Creek runs through road near sites good for getting water to filter or washing. Trailhead at end of road," explains a Little Larry Road visitor describing the natural water sources.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: The spacing between primitive campsites creates natural seclusion. "It's easy to forget there are other people camping on other sites because they're so far apart," shares a camper at Town Hall Road Dispersed, who added "Sites were also a good distance from each other so it felt pretty private."
Multiple water features: Riverside camping locations offer swimming and fishing opportunities. "There are trout in the river and if you cross and go through the woods to the right there's some great spots to explore further," reports a Town Hall Road camper about the fishing options.
Night sky viewing: The limited light pollution creates excellent stargazing conditions. "We enjoyed a spectacular view of the Blood Super Moon from the campsite. Overall the site was open to the sky near the road yet protected from the wind," notes a visitor to Cherry Mountain Road.
What you should know
Navigation challenges: GPS services often provide incorrect directions to dispersed sites. "GPS initially took me on the wrong road - make sure you stay on Town Hall Rd no matter what the GPS says," warns a camper at Town Hall Road Dispersed.
Site selection timing: Arriving early improves chances of securing preferred locations. "We pulled in around 7:30 pm on a Sunday night and there were plenty of open spots," reports a visitor to Little Larry Road, while another notes "Came into the area after 7 PM on a Tuesday and found several open sites."
Cell service variability: Limited connectivity exists at specific sites. "Site 4 and 5 get some cell service," notes a Little Larry Road camper, while another at Hogan Road Pulloff reports "Would be really quiet if not for the road across the lake."
Tips for camping with families
Flat terrain sites: Some locations offer more level ground suitable for family setups. "We stayed on site #5 because it was flat, sunny, grassy and had a little brook," shares a Cherry Mountain Road camper about finding appropriate family space.
Private bathing areas: Riverside sites provide natural swimming options. "We found our spot which had some river access and it was gorgeous. It had an above and below spot which hosted our two tents," describes a Town Hall Road visitor.
Weather resilience: Some sites drain better during storms. "It was a great place for Rainy Camping. We went during a pouring rain storm and our site remained relatively dry. We even enjoyed a small fire the next day," notes a camper at Town Hall Road Free Camping.
Tips from RVers
Site access assessment: Road conditions limit RV size possibilities. "The road was not as bad as I anticipated. There was room for my Jeep Grand Cherokee towing a squaredrop camper to pass the very few oncoming vehicles we encountered," reports a Town Hall Road camper.
Limited site availability: Only select locations accommodate small to medium RVs. "There is a good mix of tent and small/medium camper sites. Many of the sites are right on the side of the road," advises a Town Hall Road visitor who adds "very spacious site, set back from the road, a little bumpy getting into it."
Solar power options: Few sites offer sufficient solar exposure. "If you need solar or starlink, there's only 1 or 2 viable spots. We were lucky to snag one on a Monday afternoon (last site before turnaround on FR38) and stayed all week," notes a visitor to Town Hall Road about technological limitations.
