4 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Gunstock Campground and Ramblewood Cabins and Campground offer horse-friendly camping options near Silver Lake, New Hampshire. Both campgrounds accommodate equestrians with designated areas for horses and their owners. Gunstock provides 250 sites across its wooded property with accommodation for tents, RVs, and cabins. The campground features drinking water access, picnic tables, and fire rings at each site. Ramblewood similarly welcomes horses with spacious sites that can accommodate both riders and their animals. Both locations maintain clean facilities with showers and toilets. Sites near brooks or water features provide natural water access for horses. The secluded spots next to flowing water create a tranquil environment for both horses and campers.
Trail access from these horse-friendly campgrounds connects riders to the surrounding natural areas. Gunstock Mountain Resort offers various recreational opportunities including walking, hiking, and biking trails suitable for riders of different experience levels. The campground's location provides convenient access to mountain trails with spectacular views from the summit. Ramblewood's position allows equestrians to explore the surrounding wilderness areas. Both campgrounds require reservations, particularly during peak seasons when availability becomes limited. The campgrounds remain relatively quiet at night, creating a peaceful environment for horses and their owners. Sites with natural water features provide both aesthetic value and practical water access for horses after trail rides.
"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 Availability"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 Availability"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."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability
GuideFairly 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.
RangerThis 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. The sites here are pretty well spread out. Not ALL of them, but look around. We found what I would think is the best. The one we ended up at had stairs leading from the car down to our site. It was further away from the other sites and had the pretty much private stream running by it. The area we had for use was pretty huge, we had a giant tent 10-12 plus a pop up tent to put over the picnic table, and there was still a ton of room for the car, fire pit and general run around area for our dog. I never felt like we had to lock up everything we owned either. A short walk to the toilets from all sites. Bring a headlamp of course. TP is in the outhouses bring a spare hand sanitizer bottle to use after.
FYI there is a pretty awesome hike close by you can do. I mean you have to drive there but it wasn't far. It goes up to Mt Moosilauke. We ended up taking Beaver Brook Trail to the Cascades, checked out the shelter and headed to Moosilauke Summit. A crazy hike pretty much going up the side of a waterfall. The peak was 4,802ft. Worth it! I'd say an 8 mile trek from the car, up, and back. I included just a couple pictures to entice you since its not about the campsite! There are a TON of trails near this campsite, this would just be my favorite of the 6 or 7 we did.
GuideI was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect. This campground has nothing to do, or plenty you can do - walking, hiking, biking, and close access to all Gunstock's adventures.
TravelerMost amazing spot I’ve ever camped and not too many people. 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.
LegendI haven't stayed here, but I checked it out on Columbus Day weekend because it's one of the few campgrounds open year-round (plowed, unlike Lafayette Place, which is walk-in) in the White Mountains. 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.
If you're a tent camper and don't mind carrying your gear downhill to a site, drive straight ahead to a parking lot. A few of the sites (3 & 4) are accessible from the far end of the parking lot, but for most of them you'll head down the steps in the middle with sites in two levels branching out on each side. Sites are large, but close together and although you're in the woods, there's not much to separate you from your neighbors. Even sites 10-20 are directly on the water.
Sites 22-55 are suitable for RVs and tents. Those on the back side of the loop are close enough that you can hear the Pemi River running below. A few of the sites are pull-through. There are no hook-ups, but water available via spigots and flush toilets are available - except in winter. I'd recommend sites on the back side of the loop to provide some more distance from traffic noise. I chatted briefly with a host who remarked that sites on the western end of the loop have some cell phone coverage, unlike the rest of the campground.
If you stay here, you're only a few miles from Lincoln where you can pick up any necessary supplies. This end of the Kanc your nearest hiking options are Lincoln Woods and Greeley Pond for family friendly trails, or Lincoln Woods to head into the Pemi wilderness, including peaks in the Pemi loop and Owl's Head. The Hancocks are via a trail at the hairpin on the Kanc. Franconia Notch and its many hiking trails and the multi-use trail are a short drive away.
Bring cash or a check to pay your camping fee in the iron ranger. Fees cover the first vehicle; a second vehicle is an additional $5.
LegendHancock 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. We were lucky to score a walk-in tent site on a Saturday in August, and while it did feel a bit like a tent city, we loved that there were no cars at the campsites. It made the tenting area feel more like a community. This is a busy campground, but lovely all the same.
We got site #19, which was one of the last sites available. It had a picnic table, fire pit, and bear box. There were awesome waterfront sites nearby, but they were taken, of course. Cost was reasonable - $22 per night. Pit toilets were near the parking area, but there was a real bathroom with a sink and a flush toilet in the car camping area. There is also a fabulous swimming hole. Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area.
Hancock Campground is a five-minute drive from Lincoln, NH, and very close to awesome hiking trails in the White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park.
RangerPros: Beautiful area, not a bad size campground, quiet nights (but this could be because 3 out of the 4 sites right near us were empty), free hot showers that are not dirty, lots of trails on edge of the grounds, lots and lots of tent sites, platform on campsite, pool and playground available, camp store, bike & Segway trails, quick access to some of NH’s most beautiful mountains. Staff is friendly. Cons: So many roots all over the sites, the platform did not fit our tent for 12 on it. More of the sites have very little separation from the neighboring campers near you. We explored the grounds & noted some sites that were a smidge more secluded and plan to return again sometime!
ScoutI stayed at Hancock campground in mid April this year. Great clean accessible bathrooms, beautiful grounds and large campgrounds. Leashed dogs are allowed. There are both walk-in and drive up tent sites. The walk-in sites are directly next to the beautiful Pemi River. Great overall would return again.
RangerSome pros and lots of cons. We stayed at a walk-in site by the river.
I never fully appreciated just how much camp hosts do. There was no ranger and no host. We arrived early on a Thursday, hopeful we could get a spot by the water. There are only two spots that are truly private in any way. They were both taken- fine. However, one of the groups had not registered and stayed until 4 or 5pm until everyone else had already set up for the day…then they left! So uncool. The site went unused because at that point, no one was going to move all their stuff. Maybe a camp host would’ve noticed that?
The sites were FILTHY with trash, dog poop and food waste. Pretty crazy considering this was supposed to be a bear area. There was also a bad smell wafting around, hmm…maybe because of the trash and dog poop? Stepping in dog poop and trying to clean off your boots is a significant bummer. The site we were stuck at also had ashes and chunks of wood all over the picnic table. Cleaning up this much in order to feel comfortable really sucked.
There was no running water at any of the pumps and the pit toilets were quite full.
There is a bridge nearby but the river covered any vehicle noise very well. It was also nice to be right off the highway and five minutes from town, yet it felt like a proper national forest experience.
There’s an upper loop with drive in sites. They didn’t seem very private and you could see the road. I wouldn’t stay up there.
Being by the river was beautiful. I would stay here again, but with more preparation for the campground’s limitations.
Equestrian campers seeking horse campgrounds near Silver Lake, New Hampshire can find accommodations across the region's forested terrain. Located in central New Hampshire at approximately 550 feet elevation, Silver Lake's surrounding campgrounds provide access to lake shores and mountain trails. The area maintains moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-80°F, creating comfortable conditions for horse camping during peak season.
Mountain trail riding: At Gunstock Campground, campers can access diverse terrain suitable for various riding levels. The facility sits at the base of Gunstock Mountain with trail access directly from the campground. One visitor noted, "I was lucky to receive a tranquil, secluded spot next to a brook - perfect. This campground has nothing to do, or plenty you can do - walking, hiking, biking, and close access to all Gunstock's adventures."
Seasonal adventures: Winter camping options exist for equestrians looking to experience the area year-round. A camper at Hancock Campground shared, "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. The campgrounds were well cared for and the staff was friendly."
Water access for horses: Many sites provide natural water sources where horses can drink after trail rides. Streams and brooks run through several campgrounds, offering natural watering locations. These water features typically run clearest in spring and early summer when snowmelt feeds the waterways.
Natural separation between sites: Privacy remains important for horse campers who need additional space. At Ramblewood Cabins and Campground, visitors appreciate the layout: "We have stayed here a few times and really enjoyed sites and hospitality!" The spacious sites accommodate trailers and provide sufficient room for horses to rest comfortably.
Year-round availability: Some horse-friendly locations remain open throughout winter. A regular visitor to Hancock Campground mentioned, "I have stayed here many times, three times in the winter (it is so nice to have an open bathroom in the winter!) and a few times in the summer. Quiet, clean sites."
Riverfront locations: Sites adjacent to moving water create peaceful camping environments and provide natural white noise. One camper described their experience: "Great for primitive camping. Beautiful area adjacent to the river. Set up a hammock on the shoreline and have a tasty beverage before bed. Sites can be close together."
Reservation requirements: Peak season fills quickly at equestrian-friendly campgrounds. As one Hancock visitor warned, "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."
Bear safety considerations: Some campgrounds provide bear boxes for food storage, which proves especially important for horse campers bringing feed and treats. "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."
Wildlife and insect awareness: Local wildlife can affect camping conditions. One camper reported, "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."
Multi-activity options: Children accompanying equestrian families enjoy additional recreation options. A visitor at Gunstock Mountain Resort shared, "It has pretty spacious sites, they have an aerial obstacle course and a mountain coaster, places to swim, music festivals, hiking, etc."
Noise considerations: Some campgrounds offer quieter sections better suited for families with horses. "There is a zip line course and a metal 'slide' or coaster behind the Breezy Knolls area which can get kind of noisy between the sounds of the gear and the kids screaming. Lol. But it didn't really bother me personally."
Site selection for privacy: For families needing separation from other campers, specific areas provide more seclusion. One Gunstock visitor recommended, "I recommend the sites back in Breezy Knolls (K01-K17 I think?) and then I believe sites 203 and 205 were nice and tucked away in the trees as well."
Accessibility considerations: Horse trailers require sufficient space and access. Gunstock Campground offers "Large campsites, clean amenities, nice dog park, great store with everything you need and located near like Winni."
Hookup availability: RVers with horse trailers can find varying levels of service at local campgrounds. "Very well kept and quiet grounds. The lot I was in was not wooded but still quiet. Check in was quick and friendly. All other guests were friendly as well."
Road access and gate systems: Some facilities implement security measures affecting vehicle entry. "The campground is gated so you have to make sure you keep your key card with you whenever leaving in order to get back in."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Silver Lake, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Silver Lake, NH is Hancock Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Silver Lake, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near Silver Lake, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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