Best Tent Camping near Moultonborough, NH
Moultonborough, New Hampshire provides access to a variety of tent camping options in White Mountain National Forest, with several walk-in tent sites situated near lakes and ponds. Notable tent camping areas include Squam Lakes Association, which maintains boat-in and hike-in tent sites along Squam Lake, and Sawyer Pond, which offers secluded backcountry tent camping accessed via hiking trails. These primitive tent campgrounds are generally open from late spring through fall, though some remain accessible for winter camping with proper preparation.
Tent sites at Squam Lakes Association feature tent platforms and fire rings, with camping fees that include a bundle of firewood. Composting toilets are available but no picnic tables or drinking water, so campers need to bring their own water or a filter. At Sawyer Pond, tent platforms accommodate two free-standing tents, with fire rings and social trails connecting the camping area. Most tent camping locations near Moultonborough require visitors to practice Leave No Trace principles, with bears present in the region necessitating proper food storage. One camper noted, "Sites are a little close together but the shelter is set off a good distance from the tent sites."
Walk-in tent locations like Fourth Iron Campground offer riverside settings for primitive tent camping with minimal amenities. Tent sites feature fire rings, with some areas providing designated tent platforms or cribbing for level sleeping surfaces. The terrain varies from forest settings to lakeside locations, with some tent campgrounds offering direct water access. Seasonal considerations affect tent camping conditions, with early spring often bringing wet conditions and late fall delivering colder temperatures. A visitor commented, "The sites are pricey and fill up quickly when reservations open for the year on Feb 15, but the money supports the conservation of the area." Many backcountry tent sites are first-come, first-served, requiring campers to have backup plans during busy summer weekends.
