Best Tent Camping near Bethlehem, NH
White Mountain National Forest surrounding Bethlehem, New Hampshire offers numerous backcountry tent camping options, with several notable sites within hiking distance. Guyot Shelter provides tent platforms with mountain views at 4,360 feet elevation along the Pemi Loop trail. Fourth Iron Campground, located near Crawford Notch, features walk-in tent sites along the Saco River. Cherry Mountain Road offers primitive tent camping with dispersed sites that require no permits. For those seeking established backcountry tent campsites, Ethan Pond Shelter and Nauman Tentsite provide maintained facilities within the forest, accessible only by trail.
Most tent-only sites in this region require proper preparation for backcountry conditions. Campers should bring water filters or treatment methods, as drinking water is limited to natural sources at many locations. Bear boxes are provided at several sites including Guyot Shelter and Fourth Iron, but others require proper food storage techniques. Composting toilets are available at established sites, though supplies like toilet paper must be packed in. Tent platforms at higher elevations may remain snow-covered until late spring, with full accessibility typically from June through October. Sites along the Appalachian Trail often have a $10 per person fee during peak season when caretakers are present.
Tent campers frequently use these areas as bases for multi-day hiking adventures. According to reviews, Guyot Shelter offers "tent platforms with amazing views" and includes "bear boxes located at a communal cooking area with cold spring water nearby." One visitor to Fourth Iron Campground noted that "despite its proximity to the road, the campground is quiet" with "multiple rocky beaches between the sites and river." Backcountry tent camping areas like Sawyer Pond are described as "great for beginners" but visitors are advised to "arrive early" as popular sites fill quickly during summer weekends. The region's primitive tent camping areas provide excellent access to trail networks while maintaining a sense of wilderness seclusion.