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 Lincoln, NH
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No horse-friendly campgrounds are specifically mentioned in the provided data for Lincoln, New Hampshire. Based on the feature lists in the campground JSON data, none of the campgrounds listed have "horse-corral" marked as an available feature. All entries show "NO horse-corral" in their features list, indicating these campgrounds do not offer dedicated equestrian facilities. Hancock Campground, Gunstock Campground, New Discovery State Park, Groton Forest Road Campground, and Ramblewood Cabins and Campground are included in the data, but none feature horse-specific amenities.
The White Mountain National Forest surrounding Lincoln does offer some trails that permit horseback riding, but riders need to trailer their horses to trailheads as the campgrounds in the immediate area lack equestrian accommodations. Equestrians planning to visit the region should contact the White Mountain National Forest ranger stations directly for current information on horse-accessible trails and parking areas for horse trailers. Several reviews mention hiking opportunities near Hancock Campground, but none reference horseback riding or equestrian facilities.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Lincoln (6)
1. Hancock Campground
"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."
"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."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
2. Haystack Road
"It is next to the Highway on a paved fire road. So you can hear traffic. And it is paved (which is good if it’s wet and muddy elsewhere). The other spots looked amazing."
"They have a fire pit, plenty of woods around, and are free."
3. 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."
Check Availabilityfrom $35 - $80 / night
4. 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 !!"
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $38 / night
5. 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
6. Ramblewood Cabins and Campground
Check Availabilityfrom $25 - $45 / night
Drive Time
- 1 hr 8 min from Manchester, NH
- 1 hr 57 min from Burlington, VT
- 2 hrs 6 min from Lewiston, ME
- 2 hrs 18 min from Portland, ME
Equestrian Camping Reviews near Lincoln, NH
62 Reviews of 6 Lincoln 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.
- 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.**
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.
- TTaylor C.
TravelerHaystack Road
Site 11
Amazing spot, great area! Plentyyy of room. Between sites 10 & 11 is the longest distance out the bunch and enjoyed that because it was easy to run a generator at any hour of the day with no one able to be disturbed by it. Loved Haystack Road overall. Had strong AT&T reception even with 1 - 2 bars.
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.
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.
Sarah B.ScoutGunstock Campground
Everything We Wanted
Just stayed this weekend and Oh. My. God. We will 100% be back!
Miccal M.LegendNew Discovery State Park Campground
Drove through on my way past
This easy-to-access campground has made it on my list of places to stay.
There are two loops of sites, some deep in the woods with great-looking trees, others in a field, and some in between. 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.
Noticed more than a few sites that I could hang at.
Guide to Lincoln
The White Mountain National Forest offers numerous camping options near Lincoln, New Hampshire at elevations ranging from 800-1,200 feet. While dedicated equestrian facilities are limited, the region offers alternatives for those traveling with horses. Summer temperatures typically range from 50-80°F with cooler nights, creating comfortable conditions for both humans and animals during peak season.
What to do
Trail riding access points: While Hancock Campground doesn't have horse corrals, it serves as a strategic base for trailer access to nearby horse trails. "Great place to set up camp to get some 4Ks in the whites. Some lovely spots by the water. Open year round! I have stayed here many times," notes Kim O., highlighting its year-round accessibility.
Winter horse activities: When snow blankets the region, some areas remain accessible for winter enthusiasts. "Awesome winter camping. 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 her December experience at Hancock Campground.
Swimming with your horse: New Discovery State Park Campground offers water access points where equestrians can cool off after rides. "There are hiking trails right from the campground, which we always appreciate. You can also go down to the water and rent a kayak or canoe from the rangers," explains Laura M., though note that specific horse swimming areas aren't designated.
What campers like
River proximity: Waterfront camping adds value when traveling with horses that need water access. "Great for primitive camping. Beautiful area adjacent to the river. Set up a hammock on the shoreline and have a tasty beverage before bed," says Mike M. of Hancock Campground, where the riverside sites provide natural refreshment.
Secluded options: For those seeking privacy with their horses, some locations offer more secluded experiences. "We had the most perfect spot in a private site on osmore pond that was accessible only by canoe! Quiet, serene, beautiful!" reports Sambath T. about New Discovery State Park.
Off-season tranquility: Less crowded periods provide better experiences for equestrians. "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. It was amazing," shares Molly G. about her off-season experience.
What you should know
Bear safety essential: When camping with horses near Lincoln, proper food storage is critical. "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," notes Lindsey M. from Hancock.
Insects can affect horses: Be prepared for seasonal insect activity. "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., an important consideration for equestrians.
Varied terrain challenges: Groton Forest Road Campground offers different site conditions. "My girlfriend and I visited last year for a nice getaway and absolutely loved the park. The spots were spacious with enough privacy between sites," Reid B. reports, though riders should note the terrain varies significantly.
Tips for camping with families
Site selection strategy: When traveling with both horses and children, choose sites strategically. At Gunstock Campground, "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.
Multi-activity options: Some campgrounds offer alternatives when not riding. "It has pretty spacious sites, they have an aerial obstacle course and a mountain coaster, places to swim, music festivals, hiking, etc.," says Kasey H. about Gunstock Campground.
Shelter alternatives: For families with horses who prefer more structure, some parks offer unique accommodations. "The lean-to sites are really cool, and if I was tent camping I think they'd be so fun to sleep in," Laura M. notes about New Discovery State Park.
Tips from RVers
Water access challenges: RV campers with horses should note water limitations. "There is a dump station and drinking water on site, but the spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results," warns Laura M. about New Discovery State Park.
Site suitability varies: Not all sites accommodate larger rigs with horse trailers. "Each site is so different and may or may not fit an RV. Some sites are so sloped I don't even know how a car would camp there," continues Laura M., emphasizing the importance of researching specific sites.
Multi-night amenities: Ramblewood Cabins and Campground offers conveniences for extended stays with horses. "We have stayed here a few times and really enjoyed sites and hospitality!" mentions Anne G., appreciating the campground's spacious layout that can accommodate equestrian setups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near Lincoln, NH?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Lincoln, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Lincoln, NH is Hancock Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
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equestrian camping near
Lincoln, NH?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Lincoln, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 6 equestrian camping locations near Lincoln, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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