Dispersed camping near Groveton, New Hampshire offers primitive options in mountainous terrain with elevations ranging from 900 to 1,400 feet. The White Mountain National Forest region experiences rapid weather changes, with summer temperatures averaging 70-85°F during day and dropping to 45-55°F at night. Most free camping areas remain open from late May through October, closing during winter months when forest roads become impassable.
What to do
Hiking access points: Cherry Mountain trail system connects directly to Cherry Mountain Road Dispersed sites, which one camper noted was "about 3 miles from the highway." Another hiker mentioned it offers "great location with access to the Cherry Mountain trail, and back down to Ammonoosuc Falls back down near Rt. 302."
River activities: The Connecticut River Paddler's Trail provides dedicated boat-in camping at Maine Railroad Trestle which features "a really nice rocky beach with easy access for loading and unloading. It's also a nice spot to fish from." The site includes "a spot perched high on the hill where there is a picnic table and fire ring."
Wildlife viewing: Early mornings offer the best opportunity for spotting moose and deer. A visitor to Little Larry Road noted "beware of bears especially at the right side site. Game trail heaven." Another camper mentioned Tripoli Road's primitive sites provide "great access to hiking trails" while warning to "watch out for bears... didn't see any but saw plenty of evidence."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road, campers appreciate that "the campsites are spread out so you are not on top of each other (I think there are only 8 sites on the road)." Another reviewer noted "it's easy to forget there are other people camping on other sites because they're so far apart."
Stream access: Several sites feature water access for natural cooling and filtering opportunities. At Town Hall Road Dispersed, a camper found "we passed up a couple on the left as you first drive in as they were too steep. We found our spot which had some river access and it was gorgeous." Another mentioned "lots of options, great hiking in the area."
Night sky views: Minimal light pollution allows for stargazing opportunities throughout the region. One camper at White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road reported "great stars," while another at Cherry Mountain Road Dispersed mentioned "we enjoyed a spectacular view of the Blood Super Moon from the campsite."
What you should know
Cell service variability: Reception varies significantly across dispersed sites. At Town Hall Road Dispersed, visitors found "just enough t-mobile / starlink signal to watch streaming and message, but wouldn't be enough for remote work." Similarly, at Little Larry Road, "site 4 and 5 get some cell service."
Site security concerns: Unattended gear may not remain safe at all locations. One Haystack Road camper warned: "beware of people stealing camping gear. I left out gear to claim a spot while out hiking and came back to people having stolen some of it as well as setting up in that spot."
Seasonal road closures: Many forest roads close during winter and spring thaw. Regarding Haystack Road, a camper noted "this road is closed in winter and will open in late spring after the road has dried out and any repairs have been made. In 2019, it opened in mid-June."
Tips for camping with families
Bring portable water filters: With no potable water available, family groups should prepare accordingly. At Guyot Shelter - Dispersed Camping, campers noted "cold spring water located at the site" requiring filtering, and another mentioned it "has a nice shelter, spring, privy, platforms."
Seek riverside sites for entertainment: Natural water features provide recreation for children. One Town Hall Road camper recommended "you can drive out to the main road and be right on the river," while another described their site as having "river access and it was gorgeous."
Plan for noise levels: Some areas remain quieter than others. Cherry Mountain Road campers reported it was "super quiet and lots of privacy" where "we did not hear any other camping sounds at all." Similarly, at Scott C. Devlin Memorial, a visitor described it as "secluded and quiet" and "tucked on a knoll in a pine forest."
Tips from RVers
Size limitations: Most dispersed sites accommodate smaller vehicles only. At Haystack Road, campers noted the area has "11 numbered, wooded sites" but they are "smaller car and tent sites" where "a few were small and could just fit a tent and a car."
Level site scarcity: Finding flat parking can be challenging. One Town Hall Road camper reported "we found our spot which had an above and below spot which hosted our two tents," while another noted at Tripoli Road that "you can pick any spot, each one has a different variety with size."
Road conditions vary: Forest road quality changes seasonally. At Cherry Mountain Road, a visitor observed "as far as disbursed camping in the national forest, this place is not a decent unpaved road," while another Town Hall Road camper said "the road was not as bad as I anticipated. There was room for my Jeep Grand Cherokee towing a squaredrop camper to pass."
