Best Dispersed Camping near Hartford, VT
Green Mountain National Forest provides several dispersed camping options near Hartford, Vermont. Primitive sites are concentrated along forest roads, particularly on FR207, which features open meadows with mountain views and brook-side locations. Additional sites can be found at Texas Falls Primitive campsites, Austin Brook, Patterson Brookside camp, and various spots along Town Road 11. Most areas consist of small clearings with established fire rings but no other amenities.
Road conditions vary significantly across these primitive camping areas. Many forest roads require vehicles with higher clearance, especially during mud season. According to one visitor, "This is not a place to go without at least 9 inches of ground clearance." Several sites are walk-in only, while others allow drive-up access. No drinking water, toilets, or trash services are available in most locations, though Texas Falls has waterless toilets nearby. Fire rings are common at established sites, and fires are permitted at most locations unless seasonal restrictions are in place. Most camping areas follow the standard 14-day stay limit typical of National Forest dispersed camping.
These remote sites offer striking scenery and quiet surroundings. Many locations provide panoramic mountain views, with some positioned alongside clear mountain brooks. Campers particularly value the open meadow sites on FR207 for sunrise and sunset views across surrounding ridgelines. A recent visitor described the experience as "beautiful fields and views" with "plenty of privacy and solitude." Others noted seasonal considerations: "Super buggy in June. No cell service." Winter camping is possible in some areas, with one camper reporting they "had the entire area to myself. Beautiful sunsets, night skies and scenery." Rangers have begun restricting access to some overused areas, with recent reports indicating "Rangers have already started to move boulders into place to block off some of the other sites."
