Matt T.
Guide
GuideNew Discovery State Park Campground
Great state park
Most sites are secluded. There is a creepy old cemetery in walking distance. Nice showers on site !!
Equestrian Camping near Hanover, NH
8 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Hanover area campgrounds offer limited dedicated horse facilities. None of the seven campgrounds in the vicinity provide horse corrals, stalls, or specialized equestrian amenities based on the available data. Tippicanoe Campground and Gunstock Campground accommodate RVs with full hookups where horse owners might set up temporary containment, though no specific equestrian areas are designated. Campgrounds like Ramblewood Cabins and Campground feature spacious sites that could potentially accommodate horse trailers, though trailer-specific dimensions aren't specified in the data. Sites with more room for equipment typically include water and electric hookups for longer stays.
The White Mountain National Forest, approximately 45 miles from Hanover, offers more extensive trail riding opportunities. Hancock Campground, located along the Kancamagus Highway, provides access to nearby forest service trails though without dedicated equestrian facilities. The campground's proximity to multiple trail systems makes it popular with outdoor enthusiasts seeking various recreational activities. Branbury State Park Campground across the Vermont border features hiking trails and large, wooded sites with lean-tos that could accommodate small horse trailers in certain areas. Most campgrounds in the region maintain pet-friendly policies that may extend to horses with proper arrangements, though specific equestrian guidelines are not detailed in the available information.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Hanover (8)
1. Gifford Woods State Park Campground
"The park is amazingly clean, well run, located just of RT 4 and very near to Killington, Vermont. It has multiple lean-to sites which are in wooded areas."
"Each site had a fair amount of isolation and trees surrounding it, and the mosquitoes aren't too bad there either. 10 minutes away is the trail head for the Bucklin Trail (one of the most difficult trails"
2. Hancock Campground
"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."
from $30 / night
Check Availability3. Tippicanoe Campground
from $35 - $45 / night
Check Availability4. Gunstock Campground
"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."
from $35 - $80 / night
Check Availability5. Branbury State Park Campground
"The site was so scenic with a little waterfall and stream nearby. The camp staff was so nice. They kept the the bathrooms and areas so clean."
"Love to lake access, secluded camping, the hiking and remote area. Planning on revisiting next summer, even in august the nights get to a good sleeping temperature a vast majority of the time."
6. New Discovery State Park Campground
"There are even sites with stalls if you're into horses. The bathhouse looks typical and clean.
Not much cell service, but some in places.
Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion."
"There is a creepy old cemetery in walking distance. Nice showers on site !!"
from $20 - $38 / night
Check Availability7. Groton Forest Road Campground
"The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use. The bathrooms were well maintained along with the showers."
from $35 / night
8. Ramblewood Cabins and Campground
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 1 hr 11 min from Manchester, NH
- 1 hr 22 min from Burlington, VT
- 1 hr 38 min from Amherst Center, MA
- 2 hrs 3 min from Glens Falls, NY
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Hanover, NH
87 Reviews of 8 Hanover Campgrounds
SkywaystoHighways.com Y.
LegendHancock Campground
Fall Camping
This is our go to spot for late Fall and Winter camping. Just a few hard core cold weather lovers. Close to the slopes and snow shoe/snow mobile trails. Bathrooms are closed during this time. The porta potties are clean.
- ttim O.Guide
Gifford Woods State Park Campground
Gifford woods campground
Nice campground near Killington, VT. Water and dump station. Not for big rigs we have a 21 ft TT. Things were tight but doable. One of the few Vermont state campgrounds that is still open. Most close from second Monday in October until Memorial Day.
- MMarie S.
ScoutGunstock Campground
Apparently Your Reserved Site Is More of a Suggestion
⭐**Gunstock Campground: Apparently Your Reserved Site Is More of a Suggestion**
I don't believe I have**ever** left a negative Google review. I generally think that when something goes wrong, you contact the business, give them an opportunity to make it right, and most businesses are genuinely interested in doing exactly that.
Gunstock Campground has cured me of that quaint notion.
I reserved a full-hookup campsite for two nights. I was unable to make it there the first night, but arrived shortly after 7:00 a.m. the next morning. The camp store, where registration takes place, wasn't open yet, so I headed out for my planned hike— about six miles through the Belknaps, including summiting Rowe twice and Gunstock.
By the time I returned, I was utterly exhausted, starving, and actually feeling weak. My ambitions for the afternoon were modest:**eat something, take a shower, and collapse at the campsite I had paid for.**
The staff at the camp store greeted me warmly, checked me in, and sent me on my way.
I drove to my site. There was already a camper in it. Not merely*parked* there, mind you. They had apparently moved right in. They were hooked up to**my site's water and electric**, with water spraying from their ill-fitting hose connection and forming a rather impressive puddle underneath the camper.
I returned to the camp store to report that someone had apparently activated Gunstock's new**"Choose Any Site You Like"** camping plan. A staff member went down to speak with them and came back to tell me they were "packing up." Excellent! My mistake was assuming" packing up" meant**leaving**. It did not.
Apparently these campers had actually reserved a site**two rows away** that had**no water or electric**. Yet somehow, sometime after arriving the previous night, they had accidentally found themselves two rows over, in my clearly different site, connected to utilities their reservation didn't include.
We've all made mistakes. I've occasionally parked one space away from where I intended. I've never accidentally parked**two rows away, hooked myself up to someone else's electricity and water, and spent the night.**
But perhaps I lack imagination.
After they had now consumed about an hour of my afternoon— which, incidentally, is an hour I normally bill at attorney rates— I went back toward my site expecting to find it finally vacated.
And it was! Because Gunstock had moved these folks to another site**two spaces away from me**, apparently allowing them to pay for the upgrade they had already been test-driving. So the people who knowingly or unknowingly occupied my reserved full-hookup site, used the utilities, and delayed me from getting into the site I paid for were rewarded with...a nearby full-hookup site.
They never walked over to apologize. At that point, I no longer felt comfortable staying. It's difficult to relax at a campground when you've just discovered that site assignments appear to operate somewhat on the honor system— and that when someone helps themselves to your reserved site and utilities, management's solution is apparently to make sure *they* remain comfortably accommodated nearby. So I left. On my way home, I called Gunstock and asked for a refund. Surely, I thought, this would be the easy part. After all, I had paid for two nights, hadn't used the first, couldn't get into my site when I arrived for the second, waited while unauthorized occupants vacated it, and ultimately left because the entire experience had become so unpleasant.
Nope. Instead, the staff member **defended the other campers**. I was told they arrived late and "mistakenly" took my site. I was even told they supposedly **hadn't used the utilities**. This was particularly fascinating information for me to receive because **I PERSONALLY SAW THEM HOOKED UP TO THE WATER AND ELECTRIC.** I also took photographs. Including the enormous puddle underneath their camper from the leaking water connection. But apparently my eyewitness account and photographs were no match for the alternative version of events.
For my inconvenience, however, Gunstock did give me a coupon for a **free Bavarian pretzel**. So there is that.
I paid for a full-hookup campsite. Someone else occupied it and used the hookups. I lost roughly an hour waiting to access what I had reserved. The other campers were accommodated with an upgraded site nearby. I left because I no longer felt comfortable staying. And when I asked Gunstock to make the situation right, they refused to refund me and instead argued with me about things **I had personally witnessed and photographed**. The most disappointing part isn't that another camper took my site. Campers can behave badly. Businesses can't control everything their customers do. **What a business CAN control is how it responds when that happens. ** Gunstock had every opportunity to turn this into a mildly annoying story about a camping mix-up. Instead, they turned it into my first negative Google review.
But hey... **I do have that free pretzel coupon.**
- EErin M.Scout
Gifford Woods State Park Campground
Simple life at Gifford
Peaceful, quiet, relaxing space. Super friendly staff.
Nadine R.GuideGunstock Campground
Everything I Love About Camping
This was such a great campground! Before we even left we were planning on returning. It’s clean, has great facilities and a camp store with anything you need or forgot without having to go to Walmart. It’s a fun place for kids, peaceful for parents, plenty to do on site and nearby.
Adam and Suzanne B.GuideGunstock Campground
Disappointing
This is a ski resort trying to make money in the summer. The campground feels like an afterthought. Facilities were not clean Or modern. There are 2 small bathhouses for 250 sites and they are right next to each other in the middle of the campground. Sometimes only one would be open. We camped in the BW area which is just a field. Other areas have many sites very close together. We left 2 days early.
Elena A.ScoutGifford Woods State Park Campground
Highway Adjacent But Good Hiking Access
When camping in VT it is usually our goal to hike, rest, cook, and relax at camp. We live in a busy/loud city so we really love a rural spot where we can just unplug and enjoy nature. Gifford Woods has great access to the AT and the Long Trail, nice bathrooms, and kind staff... but campers beware- it is wedged between two major highways. Initially we pulled up to the site "Poplar" after driving 4+ hours and I could have cried, this site faces a large DOT/Parks Dept. parking lot with a huge building and trucks everywhere. Luckily the (very sweet) staff said they understood that this was an issue and that they do get lots of complaints about that site. They moved us to T02 which was dramatically better. Unfortunately, you can still hear trucks/car honking/ambulances from that site and I assume all other sites. I understand now that people camp here just for AT access, but I would probably not go back due to the sheer volume of the neighboring highways and quieter camping options nearby.
Marc D.GuideGunstock Campground
Great Spot
Fairly 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.
Guide to Hanover
Equestrian accommodations near Hanover, New Hampshire require advance planning as specialized facilities are limited. While no dedicated horse corrals exist within immediate campgrounds, several locations within a 45-mile radius offer sites with sufficient space for temporary containment systems. Seasonal temperature variations affect trail conditions, with summer highs averaging 75-80°F and spring often bringing muddy conditions unsuitable for riding.
What to do
Trail riding with access to White Mountain trails: The region surrounding Hancock Campground offers connectivity to numerous forest service paths. "Hancock 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," notes reviewer Tara S., who recommends arriving early to secure spots.
Winter camping and riding: For those seeking horse-friendly winter accommodations, Gunstock Campground maintains year-round accessibility. "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," shares Heather B. about nearby Hancock, confirming the viability of winter equestrian camping in the region.
Swimming with horses: Several campgrounds feature water access where permitted horses can cool off. "Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area," describes Tara S. about the swimming hole at Hancock Campground, providing natural water features where horses can refresh after trail rides during summer months.
What campers like
Spacious sites for equipment: Horse owners appreciate campgrounds with room for trailers and containment systems. "Spacious sites, hiking trails, biking trails, nice beach and grounds," reports J L. about Branbury State Park Campground, noting the generous accommodation that works well for larger equipment needs.
Bear boxes for secure storage: Campers traveling with horses need secure storage for feed. "We appreciated having a bear box on our site, especially since we couldn't keep anything in our car. It was big enough to fit our grill, cooler, trash, and bag of groceries," explains reviewer Lindsey M., highlighting storage options critical for equestrian campers bringing feed supplies.
Off-season accessibility: Many equestrians prefer less crowded times for horse camping. "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," writes Molly G., describing ideal conditions for those seeking solitude with horses.
What you should know
Limited dedicated facilities: None of the immediate campgrounds provide specific horse corrals or stalls. At New Discovery State Park Campground, "There are sites with electric hookups as well as some without. Some sites are in the middle of a grassy field while others are tucked in the trees," notes Sarah C., showing how versatility of sites can compensate for lack of horse-specific amenities.
Wildlife considerations: Bees and other wildlife create challenges for horse owners. "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," warns Lindsey M., highlighting potential safety issues that affect both people and horses.
Reservation limitations: First-come sites require strategic planning for horse trailers. "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., explaining the competitive nature of securing appropriate sites during peak season.
Tips for camping with families
Lean-to options for mixed camping: Families bringing both horses and young children benefit from structured shelter options. "Book early if you want to get a site with a lean-to!" advises Nicole E. about Groton Forest Road Campground, where "The spots were spacious with enough privacy between sites" according to Reid B., providing suitable arrangements for families with multiple needs.
Safety considerations: Teaching children proper behavior around horses requires adequate space. "Very pleasant couple who take great pride in this property. Everything is immaculate from the bathrooms, shower, clubhouse, store and grounds so you can relax and know that the kids are safe," writes David G. about Tippicanoe Campground, emphasizing the clean, controlled environment beneficial for family horse camping.
Combined activities: Families appreciate locations offering both equestrian and non-equestrian recreation. "There is a fenced in dog park, playground, showers, clean bathrooms, and laundry facilities," reports Melissa B., highlighting amenities that keep all family members engaged while some participate in horse activities.
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup locations: RV campers with horses need reliable power for extended stays. "The sites all have water, 50amp and sewer hookups. Very few tenting, mostly RVs on the well laid out grounds," explains David G. about Tippicanoe Campground, detailing essential infrastructure for horse owners traveling with living quarters trailers.
Dump station access: Extended stays with horses require waste management solutions. "There is a dump station and drinking water on site, but the spigots for the water are not threaded," cautions Laura M., providing critical information for RV travelers with horses needing longer accommodation.
Site slope considerations: Horse trailer parking requires level ground. "Some sites are so sloped I don't even know how a car would camp there," observes Laura M., highlighting terrain challenges that particularly affect larger horse trailer combinations requiring stable, level parking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Hanover, NH?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Hanover, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Hanover, NH is Gifford Woods State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
Hanover, NH?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Hanover, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 8 equestrian camping locations near Hanover, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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