Best Dispersed Camping near Monkton, VT
Dispersed camping opportunities exist throughout Green Mountain National Forest near Monkton, Vermont, with several primitive sites located along forest roads and near waterways. Most sites are concentrated along Forest Roads 25, 50, 207, and near Austin Brook, offering free camping with minimal to no facilities. These areas fall under U.S. Forest Service management and typically feature simple fire rings as the only established amenity.
Many forest roads require high-clearance vehicles, with several reviews noting difficult access during wet conditions. FR207 specifically requires at least 9 inches of ground clearance, while some areas become completely inaccessible during mud season. Most sites lack drinking water, toilets, and trash service, requiring campers to pack out all waste. Fire regulations vary by location and season, with some areas permitting campfires in established rings while others prohibit them entirely. Cell service is limited or nonexistent at most sites.
The dispersed sites provide varying experiences from riverside camping to mountain views. Sites along Austin Brook feature streamside camping with easy water access. "Beautiful sites on the River but with the wet summer, we just couldn't dry out," noted one camper about FR25. FR207 offers more elevated options with panoramic vistas. "There are many spots on open fields with beautiful scenic views of the mountains," shared a visitor. Several reviews mention increasing site closures due to overuse and environmental damage, with one camper warning that "Rangers have already started to move boulders into place to block off some of the other sites" and "It won't be long before the Rangers close this area down due to abuse."
