Rustic camping near West Lebanon, New Hampshire centers on the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont and White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. These forest lands offer primitive camping at elevations between 1,000-2,500 feet where summer temperatures typically range from 50-85°F. Most dispersed sites remain open from late May through October, closing during mud season when forest roads become impassable.
What to do
**River adventures: Tripoli Road offers easy access to water activities during summer months. "The Pemigewassett offers tubing and kayaking put-ins. Outfitters one exit south can provide you with transportation and rentals," notes a camper.
Waterfall exploration: Trek to Texas Falls from the primitive campsites nearby for impressive cascades. A camper reports: "This area is wonderful, first Texas falls is a great place to stop and explore. Then, if you venture further up into the mountains you come upon the campsites with fire pits."
Mountain hiking: Access trails directly from campgrounds for day hikes of varying difficulty. "Nearby hiking include the Osceolas (moderate hike with beautiful views), Tripyramid, and Tecumseh. Shorter treks include Welch-Dickey (great open ledges) and Snow's Mountain (along a river with falls)."
What campers like
Secluded brook sites: Many campers prefer spots along water features for natural sound barriers and water access. "Mountain road lingers along the river. There's quite a few sites along the road. Be sure to camp at spots with established fire rings!" notes a visitor to Patterson Brookside camp.
Mountain views: Several areas feature open meadow camping with panoramic vistas. At Green Mountain Camp on Town Road 11, "The scenic beauty of this place is amazing. There are wide open views of 3 mountain ranges. There are many flowering plants, wild apple trees on the right side of the road."
Wildlife opportunities: Dawn and dusk bring chances to spot local wildlife. One winter camper at FR207 reported: "Woke up to two moose nearby the morning I was leaving," while others mention frequent bird, butterfly, and bee activity throughout the warmer months.
What you should know
Vehicle requirements: Many forest roads demand higher clearance vehicles. Reviews for FR25 warn: "All the sites were full when I visited (6 to 8 sites, approximately, but I didn't go down a couple little gravel paths to check each spot as you couldn't turn around easily)."
Bear safety protocols: Bears actively visit campsites, particularly after holidays. At Tripoli Road, "Following the July 4, 2019 holiday, the camping area was closed after bears visited campsites and got into food that was left in the open and not secured in vehicles or bear canisters."
Site closures: Rangers actively manage overused areas by blocking access. Several campgrounds show evidence of management intervention, with one camper at FR25 noting a "NFS sign posted asking people to clean up after themselves (litter and human waste) as there'd been complaints to the extent that they were considering closing the sites if people didn't do better."
Tips for camping with families
Pond locations: Elbow Pond Recreation Area offers water access for younger campers. "This is an awesome spot for camping. They have a couple different spots where you can park and walk up to your site or they have sites you can pull right up next to them. Some of the camping spots have fire pits but not all. Theres a nice pond with great views and good fishing."
Weekday visits: Family campers report better experiences mid-week when sites are less crowded. One camper noted: "Really nice spot for the weekdays, hardly anyone around and got a great site right by the river (mid-Sept)."
Pack portable toilet solutions: With limited facilities, families should prepare accordingly. A Tripoli Road camper advises: "There are port-a-potties near the western entrance, but otherwise you're on your own with cat holes or portable toilet solutions."
Tips from RVers
Limited RV options: Most primitive sites accommodate small trailers only with minimal amenities. At Last Light on Michigan Brook, access requires careful navigation: "The very last spot on the right hand side. If you've reached the closed gate you've missed the site!"
Backing challenges: Several forest roads feature tight quarters requiring technical backing skills. One camper recounted: "Had to back my trailer about a quarter mile, so they could get out. Camped in a very small spot, just barely enough room for our SUV and small teardrop to get off the road."
Security concerns: Valuables should be secured when camping in remote areas. A camper at FR25 warned: "Make sure to lock your valuables. Our Jackery, Solar panels & toilet were stolen."
