Located in northeastern New Hampshire, near the Canadian border, Stark sits at an elevation of approximately 950 feet, surrounded by northern hardwood forests and mountain streams. Camping options near Stark range from basic tent sites to fully-equipped yurts with most campgrounds operating seasonally from May through October. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing, making heated accommodations particularly valuable for off-season visitors.
What to Do
Fire tower hiking: Milan Hill State Park Campground offers hiking trails leading to a fire tower with panoramic views of the northern White Mountains. "Awesome park in northern NH. Lots of hiking trails and a great firetower in the park. Not too busy either!" notes one visitor to Milan Hill State Park Campground.
Water activities: Multiple campgrounds offer water-based recreation on rivers, ponds and lakes. At Mollidgewock State Park, "You can fish right from your site, too!" according to one camper. The campground also offers boat rentals: "They rent kayaks/canoes on the property which was fun (saw a bald eagle)," reports another visitor to Mollidgewock State Park Campground.
Wildlife viewing: The region is known for moose sightings, especially at dawn and dusk. "This area is definitely a great spot to view moose or go fishing. It is also near Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge where you can view moose and loons galore!" states a reviewer about the camping area around Errol.
What Campers Like
Private, wooded sites: Many campgrounds feature naturally separated camping spots. At Moose Brook State Park, "Sites were well spaced" and "Sites were private and staff were friendly and welcoming," note different visitors. Another camper at Moose Brook State Park Campground adds: "This state park has well maintained campsites and the group sites are in a different location, on the opposite side of the road, from the main campground which is nice."
Clean facilities: Campgrounds in the region maintain high standards for bathrooms and amenities. Jefferson Campground received praise for improvements: "The new owners have made major improvements since the spring of 2019 when they took ownership. The RV sites have full hookups and the tent area is tucked into a wooded area with wild apple trees," reports a visitor to Jefferson Campground.
Year-round yurt options: Glamping close to Stark, New Hampshire offers comfortable accommodations during all seasons. One Milan Hill visitor shared: "the yurt was great," while another mentioned "the sites were all very private" at the park.
What You Should Know
Limited services: Many campgrounds have basic amenities only. A camper at Maidstone State Park warns: "This campground is remote and it's about 45 min. to the nearest town. There is no cell service, even with a booster." Another notes: "No cellular with either Verizon or AT&T but there is limited WiFi at check in building" at Maidstone State Park.
Seasonal operations: Most campgrounds operate from May through October. At Mollidgewock, one visitor discovered: "We were informed that this was a free (by donation) campground. We stayed one night, intending for two, and in the early afternoon we were greeted by the park manager. He informed us that the park was not open, but because of the misunderstanding we were okay to stay the night."
Primitive facilities: Many campgrounds feature vault toilets rather than flush toilets. A Milan Hill camper noted: "the bathroom was just a pit toilet," while a Mollidgewock visitor reported: "The pit toilet was very clean, well-ventilated, and stocked with toilet paper and hand sanitizer."
Tips for Camping with Families
Waterslides and pools: Mountain Lake Camping Resort offers popular water features. "Pool with water slides for kids, Kayaks, paddle boats, canoes, playground with slides and a pirate ship. Strict quiet hours at 1030 make it very quiet in the evening with no worry of loud parties keeping you up," reports a visitor to Mountain Lake Camping Resort.
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer fishing access directly from campsites. At Israel River Campground, one visitor noted: "We were fortunate enough to be camped by the pond which provided adequate fishing. The river runs along the backside of the campground and has multiple access spots for campers."
Family-friendly programming: Some campgrounds organize activities specifically for children. At Moose Brook State Park, a visitor shared: "Perfect for family camping! Fishing, swimming, river walks, biking and movie nights!"
Tips from RVers
Site access considerations: Some campgrounds have limitations for larger RVs. At Jefferson Campground, one RVer reported: "Stay in a 45' motorhome for a couple nights. Going up to mt Washington to ride the cog rail." Another Jefferson visitor noted: "Some complaints that some sites weren't level, but ours was acceptable."
Full hookup availability: Several campgrounds offer complete RV services. A visitor to Israel River Campground mentioned: "The campground is 99% seasonal with only a few rental spots, a few regular weekend use spots, and about half a dozen tent sites." They also noted sites are "very tight and cramped" but "the views, the pond, and the river make it all worth it."
Winter storage options: Most campgrounds close for winter with no storage available. At Moose Brook, a camper pointed out: "While the campground is closed in the winter, the trails are open to fat biking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing!"
