Backcountry tent camping near Littleton, New Hampshire offers wilderness experiences across the White Mountain National Forest at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 4,300 feet. Sites north of Littleton connect to the Cohos Trail system, while areas to the south provide access to Franconia Ridge. Winter conditions restrict access to most trails from November through May, with significant snowpack accumulating until late spring.
What to do
Summit Mount Pierce: Camp at Nauman Tentsite as your basecamp for day hikes to nearby peaks. "It is an easy 3 mile hike for an adult, I did it with my 5 year old in tow. The site is located just below Mt. Pierce and is tucked in the trees," notes J.W.
Sunrise viewing: Plan early morning summit trips from backcountry sites. At Guyot Shelter, campers suggest "a sunrise peak if you have the energy to get up early!" and note the "amazing views from some of the platforms."
Tackle the Pemi Loop: Garfield Ridge Campsite serves as a strategic overnight point. "Spent a great night here after hiking up from Lincoln Woods. This is a busy hub on AT," reports Jerome S., adding that the site has a "large eating area. Great water source. Clean privy."
Star-gazing: Sawyer Pond offers exceptional night sky viewing. One camper shared, "The stars were AMAZING. You do have to forage for firewood, which can be rough, but there's a fire pit right in front of the lean to. I've never seen stars like I did here, all around the pond."
What campers like
Platform camping: Many tent sites feature wooden platforms that keep tents dry. At Liberty Springs Tentsite, "tent sites are platforms, so make sure to have a free standing tent. There are a couple 'overflow' spots the caretaker may let you stay in if you can't use a platform."
Bear protection systems: Most sites include food storage options. At Garfield Ridge, "bear boxes are right next to the cooking area for overnight use," while other sites have designated bear hangs. One camper at Sawyer Pond notes "one bear hang located just in front of sites 3 and 4 that is large enough to accommodate food from multiple groups."
Winter solitude: For experienced winter campers, some sites offer unique off-season experiences. At Ethan Pond Shelter, a camper reported, "It was late March with over 4' of snow still on the ground. Shelter is in decent shape. Older but good. Super quiet. No human noise. We never saw anyone else."
Water proximity: Many sites feature nearby water sources. At Sawyer Pond, "The lake is just steps away from the camping sites and is absolutely beautiful," while at Ethan Pond, campers enjoy "beautiful sunset over the pond."
What you should know
Site availability: Popular backcountry sites fill quickly. At Cherry Mountain Road, "there are a string of tent sites on either side of the road with some right up to the intersection with Cherry Mountain trail. A few were small and could just fit a tent and a car, where some offered more space."
Spring access: Many forest roads close during mud season. For Sawyer Pond, "check the White Mountain National Forest website for information about road openings in the spring and fall."
Water treatment: All natural water sources require filtration. At Sawyer Pond, "water can be sourced from a small stream that flows from Sawyer Pond to Little Sawyer Pond adjacent to site 1. Be sure to treat all water taken from the pond/stream prior to consuming."
Toilet facilities: Composting privies vary in condition throughout the season. At Liberty Springs, there are "composting outhouses" while Sawyer Pond has "several raised smoldering toilets" though "it was evident that the site had been heavily used over the summer, as the toilet was quite full."
Tips for camping with families
Beginner-friendly options: Choose sites with shorter approach trails for kids. "Sawyer Pond was my introduction to backpacking more than 40 years ago... Either approach, but particularly the one from Sawyer River Rd, is family friendly," notes Jean C.
Multi-day adventures: Create base camps for exploring multiple summits. One camper at Nauman Tentsite shared, "Tentsite is 0.8 from the summit of mount Pierce and 1.6 from mount Jackson summit, so great base camp location."
Pack light for kids: When tent camping near Littleton with children, focus on essentials. At Guyot Shelter, one visitor notes it's a "fantastic campsite that is worth the tough trails to get to," so prepare children with appropriate loads.
Trail attractions: Look for features along approach trails to keep kids engaged. At Nauman Tentsite, hikers "stopped at Gibbs Falls on the way up" to break up the hike.
Tips from RVers
Roadside tent options: For those transitioning from RV to tent camping, look for car-accessible dispersed sites. At Cherry Mountain Road, one camper states, "We stayed on site #5 because it was flat, sunny, grassy and had a little brook. Had some passing by traffic but each site is far apart from each other."
Solar power options: Some dispersed sites offer enough clearing for solar setups. "We were able to collect sunlight onto our solar panel from the site. The camp site are all disbursed enough that we did not hear any other camping sounds at all," reports a camper at Cherry Mountain Road.
Vehicle constraints: Many forest roads have size limitations. At Cherry Mountain Road, sites are best suited for "smaller car and tent sites" with some that "could just fit a tent and a car."
