Several established tent campgrounds surround Dorchester in New Hampshire's western region, offering campers access to the White Mountains and Appalachian Trail. Baker Rocks provides walk-in tent sites with platforms nestled among wooded areas that feel secluded despite some road noise. The Cardigan Campsites serve as a popular base for hikers tackling Mount Cardigan, with the nearby Cardigan Skyline Camps offering two tent sites for those seeking more solitude.
Tent camping areas in this region vary considerably in their amenities and access requirements. Several backcountry tent sites along the Appalachian Trail require significant hiking to reach, including Trapper John, Moose Mountain, and Velvet Rocks shelters. These primitive tent camping locations typically offer a three-sided wooden shelter alongside flat tent pads, basic privies, and seasonal water sources that may run dry during summer droughts. The Baker Rocks tent platforms include fire rings with complimentary firewood, while the more remote sites generally prohibit fires due to forest management regulations. A visitor commented that "there were a bunch of level tent camp sites around the shelter" at one of the Appalachian Trail locations.
The backcountry tent experience near Dorchester appeals primarily to hikers and climbers seeking proximity to outdoor recreation. Tent sites at AAC Rattlesnake Campground attract rock climbers accessing nearby Rumney, with one camper noting it was "finally a campground near Rumney climbing" that had been "overdue" for the area. Several tent camping options provide unique perspectives of the surrounding landscape, with Moose Mountain shelter featuring a bench overlooking a clearing in the brush. Tent campers seeking water recreation can access the boat-in and hike-in tent sites maintained by the Squam Lakes Association, though these primitive tent camping locations fill quickly when reservations open each February and require campers to bring their own drinking water or filtration systems.
$60 - $325 / night
"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."
"The campsites are private and spacious, the property is large and beautiful, close to the river. The owners are so kind and accommodating."
"Note this is a back country shelter along the AT in New Hampshire so it is entirely hike in."
"Note: This is a back country shelter site that is hike-in only on the Appalachian Trail. There can be seasonal water sources but water is not guaranteed."
"Note this is a back country shelter along the Appalachian Trail, so it is 100% long hike in with no guaranteed water and a basic privvy."
$50 - $110 / night
"The association maintains about a dozen campsites in the Squam Lake area -- some hike-in and others boat-in only."
"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."
"Note this is a back country campsite that is 100% hike in, with no guaranteed water. I tent camped here in August while doing a section hike of the Appalachian Trail. "
$85 - $125 / night
"We're so happy to welcome this property to our platform. Check them out and come back here to leave them some love!"
GuideAdorable little camp! In New Hampshire; Vermont is across the river on the north side of the property. Nice bathroom, showers, laundry room, library. Spacious lots with tables and fire rings. Some long time campers are set up.
LegendThere are 2 Big Rock Campgrounds in NH and they are very different! This is not the resort campground convenient to ATV trails, but a rustic campground offering large, level, wooded sites along the Kancamagus Highway just 2 miles east of the Lincoln Woods Visitor Center. It's a great location for exploring the sites and beautiful vistas along the Kancamagus, easy access to Franconia Notch and Lincoln, NH. Lincoln also offers a grocery store, restaurants, stores selling outdoor gear, moose tours, and adventure tours (zip/climbing).
Some of the sites are tent only, with parking separated from the tent pad/fire ring/picnic table. Others are large and level with ample space for RVs. You'll get some traffic noise, but there's less here than at places along 3 & 93.
There are no reservations; all sites are first-come, first serve and it's open from mid-May to mid-October. Bring cash or a check to pay for your campsite. It's self-service with an iron ranger. Fee (2018) is $22, an extra $5 for a second car.
Water is available. There are vault toilets and no showers. No cell phone service.
LegendI reviewed this campground last fall after visiting on the final day of the season, but I just had a chance to sty here during a peak summer weekend and have a few additional insights. Fees are now up to $20/night, still a bargain, but it comes with only the most basic amenities, i.e. vault toilets, running water at faucets, picnic tables and fire rings. Although the campground description indicates that the sites are first-come, first-served, this has changed and many of them are available online in advance. I didn't realize this and when i arrived late Friday afternoon I had 5 or 6 campsites to choose from that could accommodate my small teardrop camper; if I were tent camping, I'd have had a couple more sites available to me. The tent only sites require a short walk from the parking area.
When you arrive, each site will be labelled either Reserved or _Open. _ If it is Reserved, the dates it is reserved will be listed and they may not be contiguous. All the sites filled up Friday night.
I had site 24 which I liked. it was very large and level, with ample space for today's large tents. The water spigot was near the site next door. I could see my neighbors, but they didn't bother me. Every host site always seems to look messy with tarp-covered items and wood piles and site 24 will give you a view of the host site, but it's far enough away that you can ignore it.
If I were in a tent, I'd try for site 22. It's a walk-in site that includes 7-8 steps down, but it opens into a large open area and just a bit beyond there is a small brook, too.
The campground is just a few miles west of I-93 and the town of Woodstock. If you want to hike Mooselauke or the Kinsmans, the Appalachian Trail crosses 112 nearby. Lost River Gorge is nearby as are numerous tourist attractions/activities in Woodstock and Lincoln. Take some time to explore Cascade Park in Woodstock if you want to cool off in the river and lounge on the rocks (park on the street or in the lot that is north of 112 just before the traffic light at Rte 3 in Woodstock). While you're there, pick up ice cream at Coneheads; choose among numerous hard serve ice cream made on site (downstairs) or dozens of soft-serve flavors.
This side of 112 seems quieter than the stretch east of Lincoln. Noise level was quite low. Cell coverage is non-existent for several miles around here; you'll start to get a signal closer to Lost River Gorge in the direction of Woodstock.
ScoutPrivate Field and Woods Camping in New Hampshire is a true paradise for lovers of nature and secluded recreation. After spending several days here, I was delighted with the beauty of nature and the comfort that this unique camp offers. The first thing that catches your eye is the amazing landscape.
Situated deep in the forests, the camp is surrounded by spacious fields and wild nature. Sunrises and sunsets at this place are a real miracle that makes you forget about the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy the moment. The camp itself provides unique opportunities for close contact with nature.
The opportunity to locate your tent camp in a private field surrounded by forest creates a unique atmosphere of comfort and privacy. The absence of city noise and light pollution allows you to enjoy the silence and sounds of nature. The camp infrastructure also deserves the highest praise. Ecologically built showers and toilets provide everything you need for a comfortable stay away from civilization. Fire pits and cooking areas allow you to enjoy delicious meals cooked outdoors.
Private Field and Woods Camping in New Hampshire is the perfect place for those who want a real getaway in nature, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. I left this place with a feeling of complete relaxation and deep gratitude to the team who created this unique corner of nature.
TravelerMy first time in camping in New Hampshire, the whole area is spectacular and I felt lucky to find a spot in this campground next to the stream. There was a microburst over the campground the night I was there but the water drained down into the stream so I was not sleeping in a puddle. My site was in the row closest to the road where there was truck noise for much of the night. I recommend getting a site as far away from the road as possible.
GuideCool location right on the edge of the Dry River Wilderness. Great Basecamp for lots of hikes in the area. Some spots are right on the highway with not much tree cover in between so can be loud. Some walk in sites with platforms are further from the road
Vid is from the river off the trail that starts in the campground
GuideWalk in sites at Russel Pond are nice. spacious sites with fire pits and a picnic table. Potable water is close by along with a bear box. Bathrooms are clean and the showers are $2.50 for 5 minutes. Genuinely nice staff a close proximity to several nice hikes.
LegendWe had a last minute change of plans to our hiking trip due to a delay. We wouldn’t have the time to hike into our pre planned area before dark, so decided to set up shop here. This place was actually pretty great. Each site was pretty large and most of them had access to the river. Which had nice areas for swimming and wading. Each site had its own bear box and it was only a short hike down from the car. The park connected directly to some beautiful AT trails that we took advantage of the next day. It was also pretty cheap! $12 or $15 if I remember correctly. All self registration.
LegendThis state park campground located between Rte 302 and the Dry River in Crawford Notch is a great location for exploring family friendly trails to (Sawyer Pond, Arethusa Falls, Willard Cliffs to name a few) or longer excursions to Mt Washington and other peaks in the Whites & Presidentials. Story Land is an easy drive, too, if you have young children.
Fees are a reasonable $25/night. Facilities include clean bathrooms with showers. In addition to the full-service, handicap accessible wash house, there are vault toilets around the loop. Cell service is poor to absent throughout Crawford Notch. If you need to connect, drive south toward Bartlett or North to Bretton Woods.
Sites are spacious, level, and wooded, though some have no real demarcation between them. This can be good if you are with friends and reserve sites side by side (2 & 3; 12 & 13), Because most of the sites are on the outside of the loop or opposite sides of the road, you won't feel surrounded. There are no hookups. Site are back-in. A few of the drive-to sites include small lean-tos. In addition, there are a few sites that are more secluded, set back further in the woods and providing a tent platform as well as a fire ring and picnic table. The entire campground is close to the road, so you will hear traffic noise. Sites 27-31 are particularly close to the main road. Although sites 2-7 appear to be far from the river, it's still just a short walk. There's a formal trail to the river from the back of the loop, near 16B (lean-to). Reservations open 11 months in advance. Mid-Oct to Dec 1 sites are walk-in only. Pre-register online and bring your print-out with you to save yourself some time.
There's no camp store, though they do have firewood for sale if you see someone. During the peak season, i expect the sites fill up in advance, but this early in the season there were sites available for Friday night when I checked in (though most only for 1 night; Saturday night was definitely harder to come by). If you haven't stocked up in advance, your best bet for groceries when coming from the south/east are Grant's Supermarket at the junction of 302 & 16 or your choice of major supermarkets in Conway.
Tent campsites near Dorchester, New Hampshire generally operate from May through October, with several sites closing after the first snowfall. The region sits within the foothills of the White Mountains at elevations ranging from 700 to 1,500 feet. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during daytime with cooler 50-60°F nights, making proper sleeping gear essential even during warm seasons.
Hiking to Mount Cardigan: Cardigan Campsites serves as an excellent base for challenging day hikes. "Great spot to spend the night before a climb of Mt. Cardigan! The climb is challenging but shouldn't take too long. Great fire tower views at the top too!" notes camper Madison G.
Rock climbing access: AAC Rattlesnake Campground provides tent sites specifically designed for climbers visiting Rumney. According to Les R., "I started climbing at Rumney about a decade before this campground was developed, and man, were we overdue for one!"
Water recreation: Squam Lakes offers water-based activities from kayaking to swimming. A camper mentioned, "Simple, but gorgeous. The association maintains about a dozen campsites in the Squam Lake area -- some hike-in and others boat-in only." Water sports enthusiasts should bring their own vessels or rent from local outfitters in Meredith, approximately 10 minutes away.
Platform tent sites: Baker Rocks provides spacious wooden platforms for tents. Justin P. shared, "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."
Well-maintained backcountry facilities: Happy Hill Backcountry Shelter on the Appalachian Trail features unique sleeping arrangements. "The shelter had a ground floor and a loft but each floor could maybe fit 4-5 people comfortably... The loft was nice since folks could decide to sleep up there while others were down below, either cooking, arriving, or departing," according to Justin P.
Privacy between sites: Tent sites at many campgrounds near Dorchester provide adequate separation. A Baker Rocks camper noted, "The tent sites are within the wooded area around the property and felt very secluded. There was a bit of road noise overnight."
Water availability: Many backcountry sites have seasonal water sources that frequently dry up. At Velvet Rocks Shelter, one camper reported, "The water source here was dry during my trip which was expected during the drought (August 2022)." Always carry extra water or reliable filtration systems when visiting tent sites along the Appalachian Trail.
Reservation timing: For popular tent camping locations, booking well in advance is essential. Squam Lakes Association campsites "fill up quickly when reservations open for the year on Feb 15," according to one reviewer.
Campfire regulations: Fire rules vary significantly between locations. While Baker Rocks provides "a fire ring (with a free bundle of firewood)," most Appalachian Trail shelters and backcountry sites strictly prohibit fires year-round due to forest management regulations.
Glamping options: For families seeking more comfort, Dugout Hideaway @ Granny Clark Brook provides alternatives to basic tent camping. The site includes amenities like picnic tables, fire rings with provided firewood, and toilet facilities while maintaining a natural setting.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer animal encounters suitable for children. One Baker Rocks camper mentioned, "They even have animals to visit like bunnies and goats (far away from the campsites)." These controlled interactions provide educational opportunities without disturbing the camping experience.
Weather preparation: The region experiences significant temperature fluctuations, even in summer. Pack additional layers for children, as nighttime temperatures can drop 20-30 degrees from daytime highs, even during July and August.
Limited RV access: Most tent campsites near Dorchester are designed exclusively for tent camping with no vehicle access. RVs requiring hookups or drive-up access should look toward campgrounds in Plymouth or Rumney rather than the primitive sites surrounding Dorchester.
Parking constraints: When accessing hike-in tent sites, parking is often limited to small designated areas. Vehicles longer than 20 feet may have difficulty at trailheads leading to backcountry camping areas, particularly those serving Appalachian Trail access points.
Alternative accommodations: Many camping areas offer cabin options for those wanting more shelter than tents provide. According to Jen S. at Squam Lakes Association, "We really enjoyed our stay here - we prefer tent camping and like to be secluded; we are not into RV parks. This was fantastic."
Frequently Asked Questions
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