Best Tent Camping near North Bennington, VT
Tent campers can choose various campgrounds near North Bennington, Vermont. The Green Mountain National Forest offers several primitive tent camping areas, including Seth Warner Shelter along the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail. Stratton Pond Shelter provides tent platforms and cabin accommodations for hikers, with access only via trail systems. Red Mill Brook in Woodford offers basic tent camping with minimal amenities. Maple Ridge Farm, located about 30 miles from North Bennington, provides more developed tent sites with amenities like showers and toilets.
Most primitive tent camping areas require hikers to pack in all supplies and pack out all trash. Sites typically feature ungraded natural surfaces with minimal improvements. Seth Warner Shelter accommodates 6-7 people with additional tent spots nearby. Stratton Pond Shelter includes two tent platforms, two outhouses, and approximately 16 bunk spaces. Fire regulations vary by location and season, with some areas permitting fires in established rings while others prohibit them entirely. Water sources are limited, with campers needing to filter water from streams or springs. Vault toilets or composting privies are available at shelter locations but absent at dispersed sites.
Tent-only camping areas provide direct access to extensive trail networks, including the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail. The higher elevation sites offer cooler temperatures during summer months but may remain snow-covered until late spring. One camper noted, "Seth Warner shelter is a good shelter with tent/hammock spots. There is a fire pit. The Long Trail is a very wet nasty trail but it can be dry so be careful having a fire." Another review of Stratton Pond mentioned, "The shelter is a 3.75mi hike from the nearest parking lot in winter. The lake looks great and is one of the largest bodies of water on the Long Trail." Wildlife encounters are common, with proper food storage essential to prevent bear and raccoon issues.