The White Mountain National Forest surrounds Effingham, New Hampshire with diverse camping options across varying elevations from 700 to 3,000 feet. Seasonal conditions can change rapidly, with spring mud season often continuing into late May at higher elevations. Tent camping sites typically fill quickly on summer weekends, with Sunday nights offering better availability than Fridays or Saturdays.
What to do
Fishing access points: Swans Falls Campground offers a small beach area for launching canoes and fishing the Saco River. "Small beach/canoe put in at river was nice," notes one camper, though they warn that "on weekends there's a huge line up of people putting in to float down the river, which is busy and noisy. It calms down by afternoon."
Waterfall hikes: Several short waterfall trails are accessible near Fourth Iron Campground. A reviewer mentioned the location is "near some short waterfall hikes" and serves as "a good camp point for some amazing hikes in the white mountains." The campground's location makes it ideal for day hikers wanting to explore multiple trails.
Winter activities: For those interested in cold-weather camping, Sawyer Pond offers year-round access. "It's a nice snowshoe hike in winter. I've ice-fished on the pond," shares one experienced camper. The trail is accessible even in snowy conditions, though prepare for challenging conditions as another camper notes "waist deep snow made hike in a little more difficult, post holing every 5th step."
What campers like
River swimming spots: The Saco River offers multiple swimming areas throughout the region. At Fourth Iron Campground, campers appreciate that "sites are situated just off the Sacco River and river access is easy, with multiple rocky beaches in between the sites and river. The water is clear and cold, refreshing on a warm day."
Trail connections: The region offers numerous interconnected hiking trails. The Camp Penacook Shelter demonstrates this benefit, as one hiker explains: "drop your big packs off in the shelter to mark your spot, and then finish the hike to the top with just your water bottle." This shelter's strategic location means "with a place to sleep not far below, you can stay at the summit as long as you want."
Off-season solitude: Winter and weekday camping provide peaceful experiences. One camper at Fourth Iron Campground notes it "can be very secluded in winter months, sometimes you're the only person there." Similarly, at Sawyer Pond, a visitor shared: "I visited this campsite on a Sunday night in September with my dog and it was lovely. I passed a few day hikers but was the only person camping."
What you should know
Bear safety requirements: Bear activity is common throughout the region. At Sawyer Pond, "there is one bear hang located just in front of sites 3 and 4 that is large enough to accommodate food from multiple groups. You will need rope to hang your food, however a cable is provided." Similarly, Fourth Iron Campground provides bear boxes since "this is bear country."
Water treatment needs: Most sites require water treatment. At Sawyer Pond, "water can be sourced from a small stream that flows from Sawyer Pond to Little Sawyer Pond adjacent to site 1. Be sure to treat all water taken from the pond/stream prior to consuming." Campers should pack filters or purification tablets.
Site accessibility timing: Seasonal road closures affect access to many sites. For Sawyer Pond, a camper advises to "check the White Mountain National Forest website for information about road openings in the spring and fall." At Fourth Iron, there's "a small parking lot with a sign but other than that its pretty easy to miss," so arrive during daylight hours.
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly backpacking: Sawyer Pond offers an excellent introduction to backpacking for children. One visitor shares, "This is a great beginner backpacking trip, great even for kids! The site has one shelter and 6 campsites available on the bank of Sawyer Pond." The relatively short 1.5-mile trail makes it manageable for younger hikers.
Weekday planning: Family campers should target weekdays whenever possible. At Swans Falls Campground, one family found that "sites are wooded but not a ton of space/trees in between them," making weekday visits preferable when fewer campers are present. Arrive early on weekends as sites fill quickly.
Toilet facilities: Bathroom options vary significantly between sites. Northern Nursery Brookside Campsites has "no running water, only a porta potty but it was great for a place to stay the night while exploring the white mountains." In contrast, some reviewers note more substantial facilities at other locations, like Fourth Iron's "composting Clivus toilet that was quite clean and stocked with toilet paper."
Tips from RVers
Alternative cabin options: For those seeking the best tent camping near Effingham, New Hampshire without roughing it completely, Sun Outdoors Saco Old Orchard Beach provides cabin alternatives. A visitor explains their experience: "We stayed for 3 nights in a pop-up while my mother rented a cabin. We loved that were able to stay right next to each other and were still in nice wooded sites with an awesome space for the fire."
Transportation considerations: Some campgrounds offer shuttle services to nearby attractions. At Sun Outdoors, "there is a trolley to the beach which is convenient" and "trolley will pick you up from the campground and take you to Old Orchard Beach," allowing campers to leave vehicles parked and avoid parking fees at popular destinations.
