The Hardwick area in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom offers primitive camping options in heavily forested settings at 1,200-1,800 feet elevation. Most sites provide minimal amenities with a focus on self-contained camping experiences. The region's camping season typically runs May through October with peak foliage viewing in late September, drawing higher visitor numbers during this period.
What to do
Canoe access camping: Green River Reservoir State Park features 27 individual campsites requiring a paddle of up to 2 miles from the boat launch. One camper notes, "We try and make our way north to Green River Reservoir every summer. It's a primitive park, perfect for paddling, wild camping, swimming, and watching wildlife." Sites fill quickly, especially for weekend stays.
Hike to remote sites: Camel's Hump State Park offers primitive camping approximately 1.5 miles into the hike with designated tent platforms. A visitor explains, "The designated primitive camping area is about 1.5 miles into the hike. If I recall it had about 10-12 sites. The area had a host who was there 24/7 and a shared area for eating and food storage."
Mountain biking access: Located near Kingdom Trails, Serenity Field provides basic tent camping with convenient trail access. According to one camper, the location is "Semi private tent only camping in a beautiful field! Can pull your car right up to the site. Super quiet and secluded. Literally feet away from kingdom trails."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Underhill State Park, campsites maintain separation for a more secluded experience. A camper reports, "Camp spots were far enough away from one another, trees helped with privacy, and the tent site had a great area to setup the tent." The park enforces quiet hours strictly.
Wilderness immersion: At Green River Reservoir State Park, the boat-in requirement creates a true backcountry feel. One visitor shared, "I love this location because you have to paddle out to a site for camping. It's private, quiet, and really gives you that 'forest bathing' escape. There is a lot of beautiful wildlife."
Simple amenities: Black Creek Maple's Nature Escape provides basic facilities for primitive camping. A visitor noted, "Clean water, fire wood and cooking rack are provided for your first night. There's extra fire wood for sale along with a sink to do dishes. A very clean outhouse and shower right on site."
What you should know
Limited water sources: Most remote sites around Hardwick require campers to carry in drinking water. At Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites, there is no potable water available, and sites require boat access. A camper advises, "Be sure to launch from cotton brook road if your site r11-27. We made the mistake of parking at little River rd the first time and the paddle to r14 from there was way too long."
Wildlife precautions: Bear activity requires proper food storage at most sites. Camel's Hump State Park provides communal food storage areas to minimize wildlife encounters. As one visitor explained, the campground has "a shared area for eating and food storage (I guess Bear's are a problem there)."
Seasonal limitations: Most tent camping near Hardwick closes by mid-October. Molly's Falls Pond State Park operates on a shorter schedule, from "Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend," with unofficial remote sites available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Tips for camping with families
Easy access options: For camping with children, Underhill State Park offers a blend of accessibility and wilderness. A camper shares, "This is the best of car camping - you get the feel of really being out in the woods, with your car a short distance away. They provide wheelbarrows for easy moving of your stuff."
Site selection for comfort: When choosing the best tent camping near Hardwick, Vermont for families, site topography matters. At Green River Reservoir, one camper observed that site #12 "was definitely not our favorite. It was difficult to find a flat tent spot, and the site seemed very overused. Our favorite spots are # 13, 24, and 30."
Bathroom considerations: Most primitive sites have minimal toilet facilities. Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites feature basic composting toilets with potential wildlife encounters. One camper warns, "The bathroom is a composting toilet that you'll share with fishing spiders the size of your hand, slam the lid before use!"
Tips from RVers
Limited RV options: The Hardwick area primarily accommodates tent camping with few dedicated RV sites. At Molly's Falls Pond State Park, the five remote campsites are designated for tent use only and require walking in, making them unsuitable for RVs.
Alternative accommodations: For those seeking more comfort than tent camping provides, some properties offer cabin options. At Black Creek Maple's Nature Escape, one visitor noted, "Weather was not cooperative and my fiancé and I were able to rent one of the cabins for our second night."
Day-use for RVers: RV travelers can access some areas for day use. Molly's Falls Pond features "a boat launch with 2 fishing platforms, plus a nearby port-o-let. Swimming is allowed off the shoreline, but is restricted at the boat launch."
