Best Tent Camping near Gilford, NH
Several tent camping areas surround the lakes and mountains near Gilford, New Hampshire, offering options for different styles of backcountry and primitive camping experiences. The Squam Lakes Association maintains secluded tent sites accessible by boat or hiking trails, with tent platforms at some locations and fire rings at all sites. Primitive tent camping is also available at Sawyer Pond, a 1.5-mile hike from the nearest trailhead, providing a more remote backcountry experience for tent campers.
Most tent sites in the region provide basic amenities suited for primitive camping setups. The Squam Lakes Association tent sites include composting toilets but no drinking water, requiring campers to pack in their own water or use a filtration system for lake water. Walk-in tent sites typically feature fire rings and sometimes tent platforms, though firewood availability varies by location. Paugus Brook Farm offers five tent sites with vault toilets and drinking water but prohibits fires. Weather considerations affect tent camping accessibility, with higher elevation sites sometimes inaccessible until late spring due to mud or remaining snow.
In early fall, tent campsites throughout the region offer reduced crowds and excellent hiking conditions. The tent-only sites at Sawyer Pond provide direct water access with platforms large enough for multiple tents, though visitors should plan to arrive early, especially on weekends. According to one camper, "Sawyer Pond was completely full on Saturday night" while another noted that "the sites are pretty close together but I was alone so I had privacy." Walk-in tent sites at Squam Lake provide more seclusion than drive-in campgrounds, with one reviewer describing it as "simple, but gorgeous" with campsites that offer peaceful surroundings and spectacular hiking opportunities in the nearby White Mountains.
