Dispersed camping near Hancock, Vermont offers both free and established options within the Green Mountain National Forest. Most primitive sites lack facilities beyond fire rings. The elevation ranges from 850 to 2,300 feet throughout the region, creating significant temperature variations. Spring camping often encounters mud season conditions from late March through mid-May when forest roads may become impassable.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: Access Falls of Lana from Moosalamoo Campground trails. "There is some decent hiking from the campground, one hike of maybe 2 miles (one way) to a reservoir, and another of 3 miles (one way) to the 'Falls of Lana' (or something like that), which is really just a cascade, but nice nonetheless," notes one camper about Moosalamoo Campground.
Mountain biking: Try the pump track at Moosalamoo Recreation Area. "Moosalamoo campground has awesome bike trails with smooth trail beds and nice rolling bumps. The kind campground hosts can tell you all about the hiking and biking trails within Moosalamoo National Forest," writes a young reviewer.
Star gazing: The limited light pollution makes for excellent night sky viewing. A visitor to Lake Champagne Resort noted it's "a terrific place to enjoy the dark sky and fall foliage." Another camper at Moosalamoo mentioned, "At night, you can go out to the bicycle pump track and lay a blanket on the grassy hill against the track and look at stars in COMPLETE darkness."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Many campgrounds offer well-spaced sites. At Chittenden Brook Campground, "There's quite a bit of space between each site so you can't really see your neighbors which is excellent. The vault toilets were surprisingly clean besides the expected smell/flies."
Fresh water access: Streams and brooks enhance many camping spots. A visitor to Austin Brook described it as "a beautiful little pull off the road right on the river with tables & fire rings." At White River & Gulf Brook, campers appreciated that "We were happy to find some free dispersed camping off route 100 on our fall road trip... Loved camping next to the water and hearing the river as we slept."
Clean facilities: Even primitive sites often have well-maintained amenities. At Moosalamoo, a camper noted, "Surprisingly clean vault toilets. No showers. There are dumpsters on the way out for trash and recycling. I saw bear storage lockers but I did not use them as I had my bear keg with me."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely by location. One camper at White River & Gulf Brook advised, "Make sure you know your directions ahead of time bc no service."
Vehicle clearance requirements: Some forest roads need high-clearance vehicles. For FR207, a visitor warned, "This is not a place to go without at least 9 inches of ground clearance."
Bear precautions: Food storage is important in this region. At Chittenden Brook, a camper noted, "Didn't see any bear, but take bear food precautions regardless. Each site has a fire pit, tent platform, and picnic table. The sites were well cared for. There were two dumpsters, one for recycling and one for trash, at the end of the loop. They are bear proof and almost me proof!"
Tips for camping with families
Beach access: Lake swimming opportunities enhance family trips. A reviewer at Branbury State Park shared, "The day use section has a wonderful beach with a swimming area and boat launch. Large trees provide shade on a grassy lawn, and grills are available. The concession stand is open during day use hours."
Playgrounds: Several campgrounds have play areas for children. A Branbury visitor noted, "Spacious sites, hiking trails, biking trails, nice beach and grounds. Fishing, kayak, canoe, paddle boat and paddle board rentals. There's a nature center with all kinds of information and activities. A large playground."
Educational opportunities: Ranger programs offer learning experiences. One camper mentioned, "They have boat rentals and nature tours on the lake led by the state park faculty. When the kids get tired from swimming they're a nice beach area and playground."
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup availability: Most forest service campgrounds lack RV amenities. At Gifford Woods State Park, "Although many of the sites here are set up to accommodate large RVs and other trailers, there are also more secluded sites up the hill with trees."
Site leveling challenges: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. A Gifford Woods visitor noted, "Site 16 is one of the smaller sites and is not super level, but we were able to get the Subaru backed in and relatively level for camping."
Road access considerations: Forest roads may pose challenges for larger rigs. A visitor to Chittenden Brook cautioned, "There's a 2.5 mile dirt road with a steady incline into the camp, which my subie had no issue with, but not sure how well an RV would fair."
