Tent camping near Canaan, New Hampshire centers primarily on the Appalachian Trail corridor with several backcountry options located within a 15-mile radius. Elevations range from 700 to 2,300 feet across the region, creating significant temperature variations between valley and ridge campsites. Water access becomes increasingly limited at higher elevation sites during August and September when seasonal springs often run dry.
What to do
Climbing access: Baker Rocks provides a convenient base camp for rock climbers heading to nearby Rumney Cliffs. "I tent camped here while doing some fishing in the area. Baker Rocks had a host of different camping options onsite including tent platforms, yurts, and cabins," notes Justin P.
Kayaking and canoeing: Squam Lakes Association maintains remote tent sites accessible only by boat or hiking trails. "Simple, but gorgeous. The association maintains about a dozen campsites in the Squam Lake area -- some hike-in and others boat-in only. There are some with tent platforms and all have fire rings," explains Shari G.
Multi-day hiking: Cardigan Campsites serves as a starting point for overnight trips. "Great spot to spend the night before a climb of Mt. Cardigan! Or after! The climb is challenging but shouldn't take too long. Great fire tower views at the top too!" reports Madison G.
What campers like
Loft shelters: Happy Hill shelter offers unique two-level sleeping arrangements. "The shelter had a ground floor and a loft but each floor could maybe fit 4-5 people comfortably," writes Justin P., adding "The loft was nice since folks could decide to sleep up there while others were down below, either cooking, arriving, or departing."
Secluded platforms: Baker Rocks provides tent platforms set back in wooded areas. "The site had a large tent platform they could fit multiple tents, a brand new picnic table, a fire ring (with a free bundle of firewood), two chairs by the fire ring, and even a few strings of solar lights around the camp area," according to Justin P.
Climbing community: The American Alpine Club's Rattlesnake Campground draws a specialized crowd. "I started climbing at Rumney about a decade before this campground was developed, and man, were we overdue for one! Maintained by the American Alpine Club, pretty much all the campers here are rock climbers," explains Les R.
What you should know
Water reliability: Many AT shelters have unreliable seasonal water sources. "There is a water source in the area but it did not have water when I visited (probably on account of the drought)," notes Justin P. about Trapper John shelter. Always carry adequate water or verify current conditions before relying on backcountry sources.
Reservation timelines: Squam Lakes Association sites require advance planning. "The sites are pricey and fill up quickly when reservations open for the year on Feb 15, but the money supports the conservation of the area via the Squam Lakes Association," according to Shari G.
Tent site availability: Availability varies significantly between locations. "There were a bunch of level tent camp sites around the shelter," reports Justin P. about Happy Hill, while noting that Velvet Rocks offers "some slightly slanted spots around the main shelter area."
Tips for camping with families
Animal encounters: Some campgrounds offer supervised wildlife viewing. "They even have animals to visit like bunnies and goats (far away from the campsites)," notes April W. about Baker Rocks, adding "Do bring bug spray, the mosquitoes at certain times of day were aggressive, as to be expected."
Bathroom considerations: Facility quality varies widely between sites. "The facilities here were great. There is a full bathhouse with individual rooms for showers and sink/toilets, with running water," reports Justin P. about Baker Rocks, while backcountry sites typically offer only basic privies.
Weather preparedness: Shoulder seasons require extra preparation. Jen S. reports about Squam Lakes sites: "We really enjoyed our stay here - we prefer tent camping and like to be secluded; we are not into RV parks. This was fantastic. Beautiful trails, excellent kayaking, quiet and serene."
Tips from RVers
Alternative accommodations: When standard RV camping isn't available, consider platform tents or yurts. "Our family of 4 visited Baker Rocks during a very rainy week and still had an amazing time. We stayed 2 nights in the double bell tent with two clean full size beds and a 3rd night in the yurt both were spacious and wonderful, among tall trees and pines," shares April W.
Campground hosts: Personal attention enhances the camping experience. "Check-in was super easy with the camp hosts who were very flexible with timing and wanted to make sure I had a great stay. The property and individual sites are deliberately designed with guests in mind," notes Justin P. about Baker Rocks.
Seasonal challenges: Fall camping requires additional considerations. Nights become significantly cooler after mid-September with frost possible at higher elevations, while most campgrounds begin closing facilities between late October and early November.
