Dispersed camping opportunities near Hales Location, New Hampshire extend beyond the White Mountain National Forest into surrounding areas. The region sits at elevations ranging from 700 to 4,000+ feet, creating varied camping conditions depending on location. Most rustic camping sites remain unserviced with temperatures dropping significantly at night, even in summer months when daytime highs rarely exceed 80°F.
What to do
Swimming access: Elbow Pond: Located west of Hales Location, this recreation area features a small pond with fishing opportunities. One camper reports "a nice pond with great views and good fishing" making it an ideal day activity from nearby camping areas.
Hiking to viewpoints: The Guyot Shelter area provides access to stunning summit views. A camper notes: "We got to the site, claimed our platform and hiked over to West Bond to catch a beautiful sunset." Another visitor adds that "despite being so remote, one of the busiest back country camps in the Whites."
River activities: At Town Hall Road Dispersed, campers can enjoy riverside relaxation. "We found our spot which had some river access and it was gorgeous. It had an above and below spot which hosted our two tents," reports one visitor. Another states: "You can drive out to the main road and be right on the river."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many dispersed areas feature well-separated campsites. At White Mountains Camping on Little Larry Road, a camper observed: "It's easy to forget there are other people camping on other sites because they're so far apart." Another noted this area has "8 huge, beautiful campsites in the heavily wooded Evans Notch section."
Riverside locations: Several camping areas offer water access. At Town Hall Road Dispersed, a visitor shared: "Down toward the river there was plenty of open space so we pitched there and built a fire pit. It was one of our favorite camp spots yet!"
Natural amenities: Basic sites often come with natural features. Cherry Mountain Road campers appreciate the natural setting: "We stayed on site #5 because it was flat, sunny, grassy and had a little brook." Another camper noted the exceptional quiet: "It was so quiet I could hear the sound of crow wings flapping as they flew by."
What you should know
Fire restrictions vary: Not all dispersed sites permit fires. At Hogan Road Pulloff near the Appalachian Trail, campers report "no fires allowed here," despite having "plenty of trees to hang your hammock" and "enough space to put up to 3-5 tents."
Site selection timing: Weekday arrivals significantly improve site availability. For Tripoli Road camping, a visitor noted: "A lot of sites were right next to each other so if it's crowded, you might not get a lot of privacy. However, there are little camp spots all over this road, too many to count so it's a good bet of getting one, especially on the weekdays."
Wildlife precautions required: Campers must properly store food. One camper warns about Cherry Mountain Road: "Game trail heaven" with advice to "beware of bears especially the right side site." Another Tripoli Road visitor observed: "Definitely watch out for bears though, didn't see any but saw plenty of evidence."
Tips for camping with families
Select larger sites: Some dispersed areas offer more space for multiple tents. A Cherry Mountain Road camper reports: "Just past the boulders is a large fire circle with room for 6 to 8 campers to sit around the fire."
Consider bad weather options: Some sites handle rain better than others. At Town Hall Road, one camper noted: "It was a great place for Rainy Camping. We went during a pouring rain storm and our site remained relatively dry. We even enjoyed a small fire the next day."
Look for water features: Children enjoy sites with streams or ponds. At Elbow Pond Road Dispersed Site, families appreciate that "there's a nice pond with great views and good fishing" though parents should note "the road in is pretty rough and is not recommended for sedans or lower riding cars."
Tips from RVers
Road condition awareness: Many forest roads have challenging sections. At Elbow Pond Road, a camper cautions: "Drove in on a Wednesday afternoon and drove past 4 or 5 sites, which were all occupied. Then saw a car ahead that was backing up. Long story short, they were afraid to drive across a dry wash in their new Jeep."
Site leveling challenges: Even designated sites may require leveling. A Town Hall Road camper using an RV noted: "We got lucky and snagged a perfect spot 2 miles in from the entrance sign - completely level (didn't even need our leveling blocks) and big enough for our 26ft class c."
Communication limitations: Cell service varies dramatically by location. One Town Hall Road RVer reported: "No cell service in this whole area, but some messages popped through while we were hiking. weBoost did not help. Heavily wooded area, so it's not so great for solar panels."
