Best Tent Camping near Enfield, NH
Backcountry tent camping opportunities abound along the Appalachian Trail corridor near Enfield, New Hampshire, with several established shelters that accommodate tent campers. Moose Mountain Backcountry Shelter and Trapper John Backcountry Campground offer primitive tent camping options within the Appalachian National Scenic Trail system. These sites provide strategic overnight locations for section hikers and backpackers traversing the White Mountains region, typically situated 3-5 miles from the nearest trailhead access points.
Most tent sites in this area feature minimal improvements beyond a cleared, relatively flat area for pitching tents. Backcountry shelters like Velvet Rocks and Moose Mountain include both three-sided lean-to structures and adjacent tent platforms or cleared tent sites. Water sources at these locations are seasonal and unreliable, particularly during late summer drought conditions. Campers should carry sufficient water or bring filtration systems, as one visitor noted that "the water source was dry during my trip which was expected during the drought." Privies are available at most established sites, though campers should pack their own toilet paper. Bear boxes are present at some locations, but many require hikers to hang food using their own rope.
The tent camping experience in the Enfield area offers genuine backcountry solitude with varying degrees of site privacy. Trapper John Backcountry Campground provides "a few spots for tenting but not a lot," while Moose Mountain features "a host of large, flat tent sites around the shelter." Many sites include benches with forest views, though few offer dramatic vistas. Tent platforms at some locations accommodate multiple smaller tents or a single larger tent. The surrounding White Mountain National Forest terrain provides excellent hiking opportunities beyond the Appalachian Trail itself. According to one camper, "the shelter did stand out with a bench overlooking a clearing in the brush with a view which was a great place to enjoy my freeze dried dinner."
