5 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Horse camping near Bolton Valley, VT includes dedicated equestrian campsites with horse stalls for visitors traveling with horses, direct trail access, and both tent and RV camping options. The campground features two main loops with various site types, some deep in wooded areas and others in open fields. Both tent and RV camping are available, with some electric hookups present. The bathhouses are well-maintained with coin-operated showers. Direct trail access is available from the campground, connecting riders to the surrounding Groton State Forest trail system. Sites with horse stalls allow equestrians to properly secure their animals while staying overnight.
The campground provides convenient access to multiple water features including Osmore Pond, Kettle Pond, and Ricker Pond, allowing opportunities for horses to access water during rides. A rail trail runs near the campground where riders can cover significant distances on horseback. The campground is typically open from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend, making it primarily a warm-weather destination for equestrians. Campsite fees are approximately $28 per night with additional $5 daily park fees per adult. Reservations are recommended, especially for equestrian sites which are limited in number. The surrounding Groton State Forest offers extensive riding opportunities with varying terrain suitable for different experience levels.
"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"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"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
"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."
"Decent bathroom situation--I've seen better and I've seen worse in Vermont."
"The park is amazingly clean, well run, located just of RT 4 and very near to Killington, Vermont. It has multiple lean-to sites which are in wooded areas."
LegendPlenty of space between sites. Decent bathroom situation--I've seen better and I've seen worse in Vermont. The (AT&T) cell phone reception was pretty good, but could be slow at times (which could be because of the area or because of the busy fall color season.)
ScoutI've stayed at 10 of the state parks of VT. Gifford Woods takes the cake in friendliness of its staff. The park is amazingly clean, well run, located just of RT 4 and very near to Killington, Vermont. It has multiple lean-to sites which are in wooded areas. Cool stone bathrooms and playing fields for kids but the highlight (for me) is access to the Appalachian Trail. The AT runs directly through this park. While on a 4 state section hike I traveled by foot through this park. The ranger gave me an ice cream, pointed me to the showers and then chatted with me for an hour about my hike so far. He also gave me a ride to the Inn at Long Trail to pick up a resupply box since I was a few days behind schedule and low on food. I'll always remember his kindness. Living just across the state line in NH, I have frequented Gifford Woods on 4 other occasions for day hiking with family. Enjoy! I sure did!
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.
GuideThis campground is the number one rated in Vermont for a reason. The staff were wonderful, the sites are pristine and picturesque, the faculties are decorated with wildflowers. We met a number of AT through hikers, who were very willing to share their adventure stories.
ScoutIf I could leave a no star rating, I would. To anyone who is looking to park there camper for the season, I recommend going elsewhere. The previous owner was a more reasonable guy and well respected. Save yourself the time and energy and do not sign a contract here, unless you want to later be told you have to leave for a reason that will not be discussed. The current owner is a dictator who likes to show favoritism. Please save yourself the trouble and try a different campground, there are plenty in the state of Vermont.
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.
New Discovery State Park Campground offers equestrian camping facilities within the scenic Groton State Forest. The park sits at an elevation of approximately 1,100 feet in Vermont's northeast kingdom region, providing access to mixed hardwood and conifer forests. Facilities are specifically designed for horseback riders with dedicated sites featuring stalls for horses and connections to extensive trail networks.
Hiking accessible trails: Numerous hiking trails branch directly from New Discovery State Park Campground. According to visitor Miccal M., the campground offers "easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion" with well-maintained trails throughout the surrounding forest.
Winter camping options: Unlike many Vermont campgrounds, Hancock Campground remains open year-round for equestrians and other campers seeking cold-weather adventures. Heather B. reports, "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."
Horse trail exploration: The rail trail near New Discovery provides extensive riding opportunities. Rick S. mentions that it runs along the campground "where you can put in many miles and not even know it," making it perfect for day-long rides through the forest.
Private campsites: Sites at Groton Forest Road Campground provide good spacing between neighbors. As Reid B. notes, "The spots were spacious with enough privacy between sites. The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use."
Water access points: Multiple ponds are available for horses and riders. Rick S. describes how "Swimming and boating is a short ride in a couple different directions, Osmore Pond, Kettle Pond, or Ricker Pond" making water breaks convenient during longer rides.
Remote shelters: For those seeking solitude with their horses, New Discovery offers secluded options. Sambath T. writes they "had the most perfect spot in a private site on osmore pond that was accessible only by canoe! quiet, serene. beautiful!"
Bathroom maintenance issues: While facilities exist, upkeep can be inconsistent at busy times. One camper at New Discovery State Park Campground 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."
Site variations: Not all sites accommodate the same equipment or animals. Sarah C. notes, "Some sites are in the middle of a grassy field while others are tucked in the trees. Site size various pretty vastly as you travel through the campground."
Water fill challenges: When camping with horses, note that some water spigots lack standard connections. Laura M. explains, "The spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results."
Remote shelter considerations: When planning horse camping trips with children, assess walk-in distances. Sarah C. advises that at Hancock Campground, "If bringing a full-sized cooler or other large/luxury car camping items be sure you are heading to a site closer to the parking area."
Wildlife awareness: Bears are present in horse camping areas near Bolton Valley. Laura M. recommends, "There are bears around the area though so please be bear smart when camping here." Many sites provide bear boxes for food storage.
Swimming options: After trail riding, cooling off is popular. Reid B. mentions the lake at Groton Forest Road Campground was "gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use," providing entertainment for younger visitors.
Site selection for equestrian RVs: RV sites vary significantly at horse campgrounds. Laura M. advises, "Each site is so different and may or may not fit an RV. Some sites are so sloped I don't even know how a car would camp there."
Water access workarounds: When filling tanks at Groton Forest Road Campground, be prepared for non-standard connections. One camper shares, "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."
Limited hookup options: Most horse campgrounds near Bolton Valley offer basic amenities rather than full hookups. While some sites have electrical connections, most equestrian-focused campgrounds prioritize trail access over RV amenities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Bolton Valley, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Bolton Valley, VT is New Discovery State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 6 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Bolton Valley, VT?
TheDyrt.com has all 5 equestrian camping locations near Bolton Valley, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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