Best Dispersed Camping near Grand Isle, VT
Dispersed camping in the Green Mountain National Forest offers several primitive options within a 1-2 hour drive from Grand Isle, Vermont. Austin Brook near Warren Falls provides undeveloped riverside sites with fire rings but no formal amenities. Lincoln Dispersed Camping areas are accessible via Forest Road 291, a somewhat primitive road requiring vehicles with decent clearance. Both areas provide authentic backcountry camping experiences with varying degrees of accessibility and minimal facilities.
Access to Lincoln Dispersed Camping requires navigating Forest Road 291, which features large puddles and rough terrain. Most visitors recommend vehicles with higher clearance, though standard SUVs like Toyota Highlanders can manage the route with care. Austin Brook sites are positioned between the Mad River and Vermont Route 100, offering easier drive-in access. Neither location provides drinking water, toilets, or waste disposal services, requiring campers to pack in all supplies and pack out all trash. Fire regulations vary seasonally, with Austin Brook typically allowing fires in established rings while Lincoln areas have more restrictions.
These primitive camping areas attract visitors seeking seclusion and natural surroundings. Lincoln Dispersed Camping features sites near a clean brook suitable for water filtering, with multiple reviewers noting the exceptional quiet broken only by "occasional dog barking from houses in the Downingville area." Austin Brook offers several streamside sites with established fire rings. According to one visitor, the Austin Brook area includes "4-5 sites, 3 picnic tables" in a setting "wedged between the Mad River and Vermont Route 100." Another camper noted that while the area has "smaller areas roughly 1-6 sites," most "have river access" and feature "nice fire rings." Several reviewers emphasized the importance of keeping these areas clean to preserve their natural character.
