Hancock Campground and Gunstock Campground near Glen, New Hampshire provide limited options for those seeking horse-friendly camping experiences in the White Mountains region. Neither campground features dedicated horse corrals or specialized equestrian facilities according to available data. Gunstock Campground offers 250 sites accommodating tents, RVs, and cabins with amenities including electric hookups, sewer connections, and water access, while maintaining a pet-friendly policy that extends to horses with appropriate management. The campground's terrain along the Pemigewasset River creates natural boundaries between campsites that can be utilized for temporary containment solutions.
Located along the Kancamagus Highway, Hancock Campground provides access to numerous hiking trails that may permit horses, though riders should verify trail regulations before arrival. The campground's proximity to Lincoln Woods and Franconia Notch connects visitors to extensive trail systems in the White Mountain National Forest. Trail conditions vary significantly by season, with many campers noting optimal conditions during fall months when temperatures moderate and insect activity decreases. Winter camping remains available at Hancock, which operates year-round with plowed access, though equestrians should expect limited water availability and more challenging conditions for horse management during colder months.
$30 / night
"This would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area."
"Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail."
$35 - $80 / night
"Fairly extensive camp ground associated with Gunstock ski area on central New Hampshire."
"I was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect."
GuideFairly extensive camp ground associated with Gunstock ski area on central New Hampshire. We arrived without a reservation a bit after the office closed, but Elena, the manager came out to let us in and allowed us to check in. She was great. Dogs must have proof of rabies vaccine. Very nice showers. Beautiful fall colors.
RangerThis would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area. The sites here are pretty well spread out. Not ALL of them, but look around. We found what I would think is the best. The one we ended up at had stairs leading from the car down to our site. It was further away from the other sites and had the pretty much private stream running by it. The area we had for use was pretty huge, we had a giant tent 10-12 plus a pop up tent to put over the picnic table, and there was still a ton of room for the car, fire pit and general run around area for our dog. I never felt like we had to lock up everything we owned either. A short walk to the toilets from all sites. Bring a headlamp of course. TP is in the outhouses bring a spare hand sanitizer bottle to use after.
FYI there is a pretty awesome hike close by you can do. I mean you have to drive there but it wasn't far. It goes up to Mt Moosilauke. We ended up taking Beaver Brook Trail to the Cascades, checked out the shelter and headed to Moosilauke Summit. A crazy hike pretty much going up the side of a waterfall. The peak was 4,802ft. Worth it! I'd say an 8 mile trek from the car, up, and back. I included just a couple pictures to entice you since its not about the campsite! There are a TON of trails near this campsite, this would just be my favorite of the 6 or 7 we did.
GuideI was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect. This campground has nothing to do, or plenty you can do - walking, hiking, biking, and close access to all Gunstock's adventures.
TravelerMost amazing spot I’ve ever camped and not too many people. Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail.
LegendI haven't stayed here, but I checked it out on Columbus Day weekend because it's one of the few campgrounds open year-round (plowed, unlike Lafayette Place, which is walk-in) in the White Mountains. Most of the reviews talk about the walk-in tent sites, but there's more to this campground that is located along the Kancamagus Highway just before the Lincoln Woods Visitors' Center.
If you're a tent camper and don't mind carrying your gear downhill to a site, drive straight ahead to a parking lot. A few of the sites (3 & 4) are accessible from the far end of the parking lot, but for most of them you'll head down the steps in the middle with sites in two levels branching out on each side. Sites are large, but close together and although you're in the woods, there's not much to separate you from your neighbors. Even sites 10-20 are directly on the water.
Sites 22-55 are suitable for RVs and tents. Those on the back side of the loop are close enough that you can hear the Pemi River running below. A few of the sites are pull-through. There are no hook-ups, but water available via spigots and flush toilets are available - except in winter. I'd recommend sites on the back side of the loop to provide some more distance from traffic noise. I chatted briefly with a host who remarked that sites on the western end of the loop have some cell phone coverage, unlike the rest of the campground.
If you stay here, you're only a few miles from Lincoln where you can pick up any necessary supplies. This end of the Kanc your nearest hiking options are Lincoln Woods and Greeley Pond for family friendly trails, or Lincoln Woods to head into the Pemi wilderness, including peaks in the Pemi loop and Owl's Head. The Hancocks are via a trail at the hairpin on the Kanc. Franconia Notch and its many hiking trails and the multi-use trail are a short drive away.
Bring cash or a check to pay your camping fee in the iron ranger. Fees cover the first vehicle; a second vehicle is an additional $5.
LegendHancock Campground is one of 6 national forest campgrounds along the Kancamagus Highway. Campsites can't be reserved and the campground does fill up on the weekends. We were lucky to score a walk-in tent site on a Saturday in August, and while it did feel a bit like a tent city, we loved that there were no cars at the campsites. It made the tenting area feel more like a community. This is a busy campground, but lovely all the same.
We got site #19, which was one of the last sites available. It had a picnic table, fire pit, and bear box. There were awesome waterfront sites nearby, but they were taken, of course. Cost was reasonable - $22 per night. Pit toilets were near the parking area, but there was a real bathroom with a sink and a flush toilet in the car camping area. There is also a fabulous swimming hole. Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area.
Hancock Campground is a five-minute drive from Lincoln, NH, and very close to awesome hiking trails in the White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park.
ScoutI stayed at Hancock campground in mid April this year. Great clean accessible bathrooms, beautiful grounds and large campgrounds. Leashed dogs are allowed. There are both walk-in and drive up tent sites. The walk-in sites are directly next to the beautiful Pemi River. Great overall would return again.
RangerPros: Beautiful area, not a bad size campground, quiet nights (but this could be because 3 out of the 4 sites right near us were empty), free hot showers that are not dirty, lots of trails on edge of the grounds, lots and lots of tent sites, platform on campsite, pool and playground available, camp store, bike & Segway trails, quick access to some of NH’s most beautiful mountains. Staff is friendly. Cons: So many roots all over the sites, the platform did not fit our tent for 12 on it. More of the sites have very little separation from the neighboring campers near you. We explored the grounds & noted some sites that were a smidge more secluded and plan to return again sometime!
RangerSome pros and lots of cons. We stayed at a walk-in site by the river.
I never fully appreciated just how much camp hosts do. There was no ranger and no host. We arrived early on a Thursday, hopeful we could get a spot by the water. There are only two spots that are truly private in any way. They were both taken- fine. However, one of the groups had not registered and stayed until 4 or 5pm until everyone else had already set up for the day…then they left! So uncool. The site went unused because at that point, no one was going to move all their stuff. Maybe a camp host would’ve noticed that?
The sites were FILTHY with trash, dog poop and food waste. Pretty crazy considering this was supposed to be a bear area. There was also a bad smell wafting around, hmm…maybe because of the trash and dog poop? Stepping in dog poop and trying to clean off your boots is a significant bummer. The site we were stuck at also had ashes and chunks of wood all over the picnic table. Cleaning up this much in order to feel comfortable really sucked.
There was no running water at any of the pumps and the pit toilets were quite full.
There is a bridge nearby but the river covered any vehicle noise very well. It was also nice to be right off the highway and five minutes from town, yet it felt like a proper national forest experience.
There’s an upper loop with drive in sites. They didn’t seem very private and you could see the road. I wouldn’t stay up there.
Being by the river was beautiful. I would stay here again, but with more preparation for the campground’s limitations.
Camping opportunities near Glen, New Hampshire center around the Kancamagus Highway and surrounding White Mountain National Forest. The region sits at elevations ranging from 800 to 2,000 feet, creating diverse microclimates that affect camping conditions throughout the seasons. Sites along the Pemigewasset River provide natural cooling during summer months when temperatures typically range from 70-85°F during daytime hours.
Riverside relaxation: Hancock Campground offers prime waterfront sites for enjoying the Pemigewasset River. "Set up a hammock on the shoreline and have a tasty beverage before bed," suggests Mike M., who appreciated the river sounds at Hancock Campground.
Winter camping experiences: Unlike many seasonal facilities, some White Mountain campgrounds remain accessible year-round. "Stayed here for two nights in late December. Site #40 along the river was close to the bathroom yet had plenty of privacy from other sites," reports Heather B. about winter camping at Hancock.
Mountain activities: Beyond typical camping pursuits, some facilities offer adventure sports. "They have an aerial obstacle course and a mountain coaster, places to swim, music festivals, hiking, etc.," notes Kasey H. about Gunstock Campground, making it suitable for activity-focused visitors seeking horse campgrounds near Glen, New Hampshire.
Post-hike recovery: Many campers use these sites as base camps for exploring nearby mountains. "After we hiked the 4K's we were tired and needed a close place to stay for one night. Finally we found Hancock and it was very peaceful with no bothers so we could go fall asleep sound," writes Meike W.
Off-season tranquility: Autumn and early winter camping provides a dramatically different experience than peak summer. "We came at the end of October to try to hike Franconia Ridge...and we stumbled upon this campground. We were the only ones in it and we picked the site right next to the rambling river," shares Molly G. about her experience at Hancock Campground.
Accessible bathroom facilities: Campgrounds in the region vary in amenity levels. "It is so nice to have an open bathroom in the winter!" remarks Kim O., who has stayed at Hancock Campground multiple times across different seasons.
Car-free camping zones: The walk-in tent sites at certain campgrounds create a more communal atmosphere. "We loved that there were no cars at the campsites. It made the tenting area feel more like a community," explains Tara S., who visited during peak August season.
Location advantages: Proximity to both wilderness areas and towns provides practical benefits. "Beautiful area, not a bad size campground, quiet nights...quick access to some of NH's most beautiful mountains," notes Sara D. about her stay at Gunstock.
Site selection priorities: River proximity significantly affects experience quality but requires planning. "I recommend getting a site in the river side away from the street. Absolutely beautiful!" advises Lisa S. from her time at Hancock.
Insect challenges: Bees can be problematic at certain campgrounds during warmer months. "Our site was completely swarmed with bees. We checked a few vacant sites to see if maybe it was just our site, but we found them all around, including all over the cars in the lot," warns Lindsey M. about her experience at Gunstock Campground.
Timing considerations: Competition for prime spots intensifies during peak seasons. "Campsites can't be reserved and the campground does fill up on the weekends. We were lucky to score a walk-in tent site on a Saturday in August," reports Tara S. about Hancock Campground.
Site terrain variations: Many sites have natural challenges to consider. "So many roots all over the sites, the platform did not fit our tent for 12 on it," cautions Sara D. about her Gunstock experience, highlighting considerations for equestrian campers seeking level ground at horse campgrounds near Glen.
Activity planning: Some campgrounds offer structured recreational options. "We enjoyed this campground! The staff upon arrival was so nice. It was so quiet at night! Got to walk to hike Gunstock," shares Christine M. about Gunstock Campground.
Amenity access: Facility availability varies significantly between campgrounds. "Campground has a fenced in dog park, playground, showers, clean bathrooms, and laundry facilities," notes Melissa B., providing important information for families considering Gunstock.
Privacy considerations: Site selection affects the family camping experience. "Most of the sites are out in the open though, or very close together. Not so bad if you're camping in trailers or RVs, but if tent camping you won't really have any privacy in those locations," advises Melissa B. about choosing sites at Gunstock.
Site carrying capacity: The effort required to reach walk-in sites can be substantial. "These sites were carry-in only, which wasn't convenient, and it was a lot of work to carry all of our gear from the parking lot to the site," explains Lindsey M. about her Hancock experience.
Hookup availability: Utility connections vary significantly between campgrounds. "Large campsites, clean amenities, nice dog park, great store with everything you need and located near like Winni," notes Ryan P. about Gunstock Campground, which offers full-service RV sites with electricity and water connections.
Site separation: Layout differences between campgrounds affect RV camping experiences. "Nice first come first serve campground with a lot of separated sites. You'll probably want to be closer to the river because the is traffic along the road," advises Elliott B. about positioning at Hancock.
Seasonal access: Year-round camping opportunities exist but with facility limitations. "We stayed here many times, three times in the winter (it is so nice to have an open bathroom in the winter!) and a few times in the summer," shares Kim O. about Hancock Campground's four-season accessibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Glen, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Glen, NH is Hancock Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 27 reviews.
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