Cabin camping near Berlin, New Hampshire offers easy access to the White Mountain National Forest and the Northern Forest Heritage Park. The area sits at approximately 1,020 feet elevation with summer temperatures averaging 70-80°F during the day and 50-60°F at night. Winter cabin camping requires preparation for temperatures that can drop well below freezing, with snowfall typically beginning in late October.
What to do
Hiking to lookout points: Milan Hill State Park Campground has a fire tower that provides panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. "Awesome park in northern NH. Lots of hiking trails and a great firetower in the park. Not too busy either!" notes Madison G.
ATV trail access: Jericho Mountain State Park Campground offers extensive ATV trails directly from the campground. "Small campground with access to a lot of ATV trails! The campground has amazing views of the lake and also had access to kayaking," explains Rebecca A.
Kayaking on calm waters: The Androscoggin River provides excellent paddling opportunities near White Birches Camping Park. "The two walk-in tent sites are very secluded and offer fire rings, picnic tables, a bear box and one of the two sites has a wooden tent platform...These sites sit right on the beautiful Androscoggin River, offering a serene backdrop for your camping adventure," describes Sarah C.
Wildlife viewing: Base Camp at Umbagog Lake State Park is known for moose sightings during early morning hours. "Moosewatching: pick up same map mentioned above from UNWR and look for the moose icons to give you a heads up where to look. Then as you drive along, look for the muddy wallows on the side of the road. You're most likely to see moose very early (sunrise) or as dusk. I saw 5 during my 5 days there," reports Jean C.
What campers like
Private sites with natural features: Moose Brook State Park Campground has campsites next to a brook that provides ambient sound. "Great campground! Very clean, private showers, working bathrooms. We stayed on campsite 3, which was right by the babbling brook. You can fall asleep to the sound of the rushing water!" shares Heather B.
Adirondack shelters: Some campers prefer the rustic shelter option at Moose Brook State Park for a cabin-like experience without full cabin costs. "Large, new Adirondack shelters and tent sites. Get the shelter....only $4 more per day ahd huge! All the facilities are phenomenally well maintained," recommends Mike K.
Cabin amenities for winter camping: Cabot Cabin provides shelter for hikers along the Cohos Trail. "This is a basic cabin accessible only from a long hike in. The cabin has a front porch with a great view, and inside a front area with a kitchen table to seat maybe 4-6 and then a small bunk room in the back with 4 large bunk platforms, two on each side," describes Justin P.
Seasonal colors: Umbagog Lake State Park offers exceptional fall foliage viewing from lakeside cabins. "I stayed here for the first time in August last year, but returned in October this year to enjoy the autumn colors. This is a lovely state park on a large lake, offering drive-in sites with and without water/electric hookups plus a number of primitive boat-in sites around the lake," notes Jean C.
What you should know
Water supply considerations: Many cabin sites require you to bring your own water or treat water from nearby sources. "I've stayed here two times, once working on the NH 4k-footer list and once along the Cohos Trail. The only downside to this campsite is that there is no water. Most guidebooks describe a sprint located closeby but potentially hazardous to reach. I've just hiked my water in each time," explains Justin P. about Cabot Cabin.
Train noise at some locations: Timberland Campground has active train tracks nearby that can affect sleep quality. "There are active tracks literally on the other side of the line of sites(lower sites are even worse as they arent at least elevated) and there are freight trains that come through regularly including all hours of the nights," warns Adam A.
Electrical service concerns: Some campgrounds experience power fluctuations during peak usage times. "The power at this place is clearly overloaded. On the weekend I was getting warnings that the voltage was in the 95v range(120v) The National Electric Code states that the lowest permissible voltage is 114 to national code at the furthest part of the line," reports Adam A. about Timberland Campground.
Limited office hours: Plan ahead for check-in as many campground offices close early. "The office has limited hours. If you arrive after 5 or 6 (depending on the day/month), you'll need to check in in the morning and won't be able to buy firewood on site," advises Jean C. about Umbagog Lake State Park.
Tips for camping with families
Heated pools for cooler days: Twin Mountain-Mt. Washington KOA offers amenities that extend the swimming season. "This campground is wonderful for camping with kids. It has a great playground and a small but nice and clean pool," mentions Arno W.
Structured activities: Twin Mountain KOA organizes regular events for children. "It even has daily events or group get together. Most free but the ones that have a cost are very cheap. It is up north so the weather is very New Englandish but even with the rain there is a gameing/indoor lounge you can hang out in," shares Lindsey R.
Fishing opportunities: Moose Brook State Park has accessible fishing spots for children. "Perfect for family camping! Fishing, swimming, river walks, biking and movie nights!" says J L.
Playground facilities: White Birches Camping Park maintains playground equipment for various age groups. "Quite a few activities for kids- bounce house, play ground and heated swimming pool. On Saturday nights around 7pm they blow up a projector for movie night which was a pleasant surprise," notes Mallory P.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for cabin campers: Rogers Campground & Motel offers cabins with various configurations. "Very large campground outside of Lancaster, NH. Offering a variety of options for camping-tents, RVs, few cabins as well as a motel," reports Ashley B.
Seasonal cabin rental options: Some campgrounds offer long-term cabin rental arrangements. "Offering a variety of options for camping-tents, RVs, few cabins as well as a motel. Offer reservations as well as seasonal options," notes Ashley B. about Rogers Campground.
Proximity to attractions: Cedar Pond Campground provides good access to ATV trails from cabin sites. "We always enjoy staying in this campground, ATV Access is a Big Plus!" shares Ron D.
Weather preparations: Cabins provide protection from unexpected weather patterns common in northern New Hampshire. "It was bitterly cold overnight (24-27 degrees), so I was grateful for my trailer, but it made for some beautiful, if foggy, mornings and brilliantly clear skies for stargazing," reports Jean C. about camping at Umbagog Lake State Park in October.
