5 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The campgrounds near Waterville Valley, New Hampshire offer limited accommodations for equestrians. Based on available data, none of the reviewed campgrounds feature dedicated horse corrals or specialized equestrian facilities. Gunstock Campground in Gilford permits pets and offers 250 sites for tent, RV, and cabin camping with electric hookups, water access, and sewer connections. Located approximately 40 miles from Waterville Valley, this campground provides picnic tables, trash service, and shower facilities but lacks specific horse amenities. Most campsites in the region maintain standard pet policies rather than equestrian-specific accommodations.
Trail access options for riders remain restricted near immediate campgrounds. Hancock Campground, situated along the Pemigewasset River, provides first-come, first-served sites with riverfront locations but no horse-specific facilities. The campground connects to nearby hiking trails in White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park. Horse owners traveling to the region should contact campgrounds directly regarding large animal policies, trailer parking availability, and proximity to equestrian-permitted trails. Most campgrounds in the area primarily serve hikers and general outdoor enthusiasts rather than equestrian campers. Visitors report clean facilities and accessible bathrooms at standard campgrounds, though none mention horse-friendly amenities in their reviews.
"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"There are even sites with stalls if you're into horses. The bathhouse looks typical and clean.
Not much cell service, but some in places.
Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion."
"There are hiking trails right from the campground, which we always appreciate. You can also go down to the water and rent a kayak or canoe from the rangers."
from $20 - $38 / night
Check Availability"The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use. The bathrooms were well maintained along with the showers."
from $35 / night
from $25 - $45 / night
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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.
LegendThis easy-to-access campground has made it on my list of places to stay.
There are two loops of sites, some deep in the woods with great-looking trees, others in a field, and some in between. There are even sites with stalls if you're into horses.
The bathhouse looks typical and clean.
Not much cell service, but some in places.
Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion.
Noticed more than a few sites that I could hang at.
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.
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.
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!
Most campgrounds near Waterville Valley, New Hampshire have limited options for riders with horses. The White Mountains region sits at elevations between 1,000-4,000 feet, creating varied camping conditions across seasons. Winter temperatures often drop below freezing, while summer days typically range from 70-85°F with cooler nights, requiring campers to pack appropriate gear for temperature fluctuations.
Trail riding access: Groton State Forest offers multiple trail systems, though visitors should verify which permit horses. As one visitor noted at New Discovery State Park Campground: "There are hiking trails right from the campground, which we always appreciate. You can also go down to the water and rent a kayak or canoe from the rangers."
Winter horseback activities: Some campgrounds remain open during colder months. 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... Water would have earned it five stars."
Swimming options: Several campgrounds feature water access for cooling off after riding. A visitor to Groton Forest Road Campground remarked: "The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use. The bathrooms were well maintained along with the showers."
Riverside locations: Many sites along water provide natural white noise and swimming. A camper at Hancock Campground stated: "Nice river location... We camped here Wednesday-Friday on one of the riverfront tent sites. We arrived around 11:15 am and got the last site on the river, which had a nice little opening to the water."
Privacy between sites: Certain campgrounds offer better separation for those camping with larger animals. At Ramblewood Cabins and Campground, a visitor noted: "We have stayed here a few times and really enjoyed sites and hospitality!" Another reviewer at New Discovery mentioned: "The sites are well separated and private. The grounds are beautiful and well situated to enjoy Groton State Forest."
Seasonal accessibility: Unlike some areas that close completely for winter, some campgrounds remain partially open. One Hancock visitor shared: "We came at the end of October to try to hike Franconia Ridge... and we stumbled upon this campground. We were the only ones in it and we picked the site right next to the rambling river."
Limited equestrian facilities: Most campgrounds do not have dedicated horse corrals or stabling. Call ahead to discuss trailer parking and tethering requirements.
Site terrain challenges: Many sites have natural obstacles that might require careful horse management. A camper at Gunstock Campground noted: "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."
Maintenance issues: Facility upkeep varies by season and staffing. One visitor to New Discovery State Park reported: "The Women's bathroom ran out of toilet paper and was never replaced. More upsetting was that the soap container was empty all weekend."
Wildlife awareness: Bears and bees can be problematic, requiring proper food storage and awareness. A Hancock visitor warned: "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."
Look for activity-rich campgrounds: Some locations offer family-friendly amenities beyond basic camping. A visitor to Gunstock Campground shared: "It has pretty spacious sites, they have an aerial obstacle course and a mountain coaster, places to swim, music festivals, hiking, etc."
Seek out campgrounds with amenities: Families often prefer locations with running water and flush toilets. A Hancock visitor noted: "The campground also has flush toilets, which was a big plus, since most other campgrounds in the area only have vault toilets."
Consider remote water sites: For older families, pond-side sites offer unique experiences. At New Discovery, a visitor described: "We had the most perfect spot in a private site on osmore pond that was accessible only by canoe! quiet, serene. beautiful! can't wait to go back!"
Check site dimensions carefully: Many campgrounds have variable site sizes. At Gunstock Campground, a visitor observed: "Some sites are so sloped I don't even know how a car would camp there. Some sites are out in the open grass where you just find a spot within the site that works for you."
Water hookup adaptability: Different campgrounds have various water connection systems. A New Discovery camper advised: "The spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results... Luckily, we found we could unscrew the head of the hose at the dump station and had no problem filling our tank with potable water."
Security considerations: Some campgrounds offer controlled access. A Gunstock visitor mentioned: "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 Waterville Valley, NH?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Waterville Valley, NH is Hancock Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 27 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Waterville Valley, NH?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Waterville Valley, NH, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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