Matt T.
Guide
GuideNew Discovery State Park Campground
Great state park
Most sites are secluded. There is a creepy old cemetery in walking distance. Nice showers on site !!
Equestrian Camping near North Concord, VT
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New Discovery State Park Campground provides specialized sites with stalls for equestrians visiting the Groton State Forest area. The campground features two main loops, with sites situated either in wooded areas or open fields, offering different experiences for campers with horses. Sites with horse stalls are available for those traveling with equine companions. The bathhouse facilities are generally clean, though maintenance can be inconsistent during busy periods. Sites are well-separated and private, providing adequate space for both horses and camping equipment. The campground offers both electric and non-electric sites, with picnic tables, fire pits, and access to drinking water.
Trail riders can access multiple pond areas within short riding distance of the campground, including Osmore Pond, Kettle Pond, and Ricker Pond. A long rail trail connects to the campground, allowing for extensive rides without retracing steps. The campground serves as an excellent base for exploring the greater Groton State Forest area, with numerous hiking and riding opportunities directly accessible from the sites. Water access for horses is available at nearby ponds. Reservations are recommended, especially during summer weekends when the campground frequently fills to capacity. The camping fee is $28 per night plus a $5 daily state park fee per adult. The campground operates seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend, making it ideal for summer and early fall equestrian camping trips.
Best Equestrian Campgrounds near North Concord (4)
1. Hancock Campground
"This would be one of few places I find acceptable to camp, that are near other people. I usually don't like camping with 20+ other people in one looped area."
"Used the tent sides a quick hill walk down from the parking lot. River great for splashing around and nearby path to Lincoln Woods trail."
Check AvailabilityCampground full this weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $30 / night
2. Haystack Road
"It is next to the Highway on a paved fire road. So you can hear traffic. And it is paved (which is good if it’s wet and muddy elsewhere). The other spots looked amazing."
"They have a fire pit, plenty of woods around, and are free."
3. New Discovery State Park Campground
"There are even sites with stalls if you're into horses. The bathhouse looks typical and clean.
Not much cell service, but some in places.
Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion."
"There is a creepy old cemetery in walking distance. Nice showers on site !!"
Check Availabilityfrom $20 - $38 / night
4. Groton Forest Road Campground
"The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use. The bathrooms were well maintained along with the showers."
from $35 / night
Drive Time
- 1 hr 39 min from Burlington, VT
- 1 hr 52 min from Manchester, NH
- 2 hrs 20 min from Lewiston, ME
- 2 hrs 54 min from Portland, ME
Equestrian Camping Reviews near North Concord, VT
44 Reviews of 4 North Concord Campgrounds
SkywaystoHighways.com Y.
LegendHancock Campground
Fall Camping
This is our go to spot for late Fall and Winter camping. Just a few hard core cold weather lovers. Close to the slopes and snow shoe/snow mobile trails. Bathrooms are closed during this time. The porta potties are clean.
- TTaylor C.
TravelerHaystack Road
Site 11
Amazing spot, great area! Plentyyy of room. Between sites 10 & 11 is the longest distance out the bunch and enjoyed that because it was easy to run a generator at any hour of the day with no one able to be disturbed by it. Loved Haystack Road overall. Had strong AT&T reception even with 1 - 2 bars.
Miccal M.LegendNew Discovery State Park Campground
Drove through on my way past
This easy-to-access campground has made it on my list of places to stay.
There are two loops of sites, some deep in the woods with great-looking trees, others in a field, and some in between. There are even sites with stalls if you're into horses.
The bathhouse looks typical and clean.
Not much cell service, but some in places.
Easy access to a lake and a picnic pavilion.
Noticed more than a few sites that I could hang at.
- SSean F.Guide
Hancock Campground
A little cramped, great location though
Open year round. Most sites are close together with very little privacy
A few sites are pretty much right on the river which is awesome. There's a nearby swimming hole. Campground is only short drive away from an endless amount of hiking options
- Miccal M.Legend
Hancock Campground
Small but nice
I just spent a cold rainy, snowy weekend camping here in January, and had a blast. The campground is plowed, sites have their access plowed with various widths depending on the site. The sites are a little close together, and for winter there was a number of them being used.
The campground is close to Lincoln, NH so if you need supplies you can easily run into town for food and drink. It's even closer to Loon Mtn and the Pemigewasset wilderness allowing for some amazing outdoor activities.
There are many dumpsters and bear boxes throughout the campground, the walk-in sites all have bear boxes. Every site has a fire pit. The campground is easily accessible by pavement.
Laura M.LegendNew Discovery State Park Campground
Lovely, friendly campground.
There are hiking trails right from the campground, which we always appreciate. You can also go down to the water and rent a kayak or canoe from the rangers. Camp fees are $28/night, plus $5/day per adult for state park fees.
There is a dump station and drinking water on site, but the spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results. (Apparently you can’t use those if the other end of the hose is pressurized.) Luckily, we found we could unscrew the head of the hose at the dump station and had no problem filling our tank with potable water.
Each site is so different and may or may not fit an RV. Some sites are so sloped I don’t even know how a car would camp there. Some sites are out in the open grass where you just find a spot within the site that works for you. We saw fresh moose poop on a hike but sadly no moose or other wildlife. There are bears around the area though so please be bear smart when camping here.
Showers are something like $1 for 8 minutes, quarters only. The lean-to sites are really cool, and if I was tent camping I think they’d be so fun to sleep in. They have food compost bins here, but the rangers keep forgetting to unlock the bin, so you just have to ask them. There’s also a book exchange library and adorable little gnome habitats set up in the campground. We had a pleasant stay here.
Ann P.
RangerHancock Campground
Pretty but not clean
Some pros and lots of cons. We stayed at a walk-in site by the river.
I never fully appreciated just how much camp hosts do. There was no ranger and no host. We arrived early on a Thursday, hopeful we could get a spot by the water. There are only two spots that are truly private in any way. They were both taken- fine. However, one of the groups had not registered and stayed until 4 or 5pm until everyone else had already set up for the day…then they left! So uncool. The site went unused because at that point, no one was going to move all their stuff. Maybe a camp host would’ve noticed that?
The sites were FILTHY with trash, dog poop and food waste. Pretty crazy considering this was supposed to be a bear area. There was also a bad smell wafting around, hmm…maybe because of the trash and dog poop? Stepping in dog poop and trying to clean off your boots is a significant bummer. The site we were stuck at also had ashes and chunks of wood all over the picnic table. Cleaning up this much in order to feel comfortable really sucked.
There was no running water at any of the pumps and the pit toilets were quite full.
There is a bridge nearby but the river covered any vehicle noise very well. It was also nice to be right off the highway and five minutes from town, yet it felt like a proper national forest experience.
There’s an upper loop with drive in sites. They didn’t seem very private and you could see the road. I wouldn’t stay up there.
Being by the river was beautiful. I would stay here again, but with more preparation for the campground’s limitations.
- DDrew
ScoutHaystack Road
Quiet, small, flat spots
There are 11 options, each completely separated from the others. We were in spot #1 which is nothing at all like the others. It is next to the Highway on a paved fire road. So you can hear traffic. And it is paved (which is good if it’s wet and muddy elsewhere). The other spots looked amazing.
Guide to North Concord
The Groton State Forest area offers several horse-friendly camping options near North Concord, Vermont. Located in the northeastern part of Vermont, this region features extensive trail networks through mixed hardwood forests at elevations between 900-1,500 feet. Summer temperatures typically range from 55-80°F with cooler evenings, while fall brings vibrant foliage and temperatures between 40-65°F.
What to do
Trail riding on rail trails: The campgrounds near Groton State Forest connect to extensive rail trails. At Groton Forest Road Campground, campers appreciate the access to longer rides. One visitor noted, "Great for Campers and tenters. Good fishing and plenty of hiking."
Pond exploration with horses: Several ponds are accessible via horseback within the state forest. At Hancock Campground, campers enjoy water activities after riding. A reviewer mentions, "Clear, cold and deep just off the car camping area" when describing the swimming hole.
Winter camping adventures: Some horse campgrounds remain open year-round, allowing for unique cold-weather riding experiences. One camper at Hancock shared, "Stayed here for two nights in late December. Site #40 along the river was close to the bathroom yet had plenty of privacy from other sites."
What campers like
Private sites for horses and gear: Equestrian campers value space and privacy. At New Discovery State Park Campground, a visitor observed, "The sites are well separated and private. The grounds are beautiful and well situated to enjoy Groton State Forest."
Proximity to multiple water bodies: Riders appreciate having several ponds within riding distance. One camper mentioned, "There are hiking trails right from the campground, which we always appreciate. You can also go down to the water and rent a kayak or canoe from the rangers."
Seasonal flexibility: The availability of some campgrounds outside peak season appeals to serious equestrians. A Hancock visitor shared, "We were the only ones in it and we picked the site right next to the rambling river. It was amazing. Only a pit toilet- but it's worth it for the beauty and seclusion."
What you should know
Reservation requirements: During peak season (June-August), securing spots at horse campgrounds is challenging. One camper warned, "Reservations are def a plus. Can be difficult to get into on the weekend."
Facility maintenance concerns: Bathroom cleanliness can vary, especially during busy periods. A New Discovery camper reported, "The Women's bathroom ran out of toilet paper and was never replaced. More upsetting was that the soap container was empty all weekend."
Bear safety protocols: Proper food storage is essential for equestrian camping. A visitor to one campground noted, "We appreciated having a bear box on our site, especially since we couldn't keep anything in our car. It was big enough to fit our grill, cooler, trash, and bag of groceries."
Tips for camping with families
Look for riverside sites: Children enjoy water access when not riding. One reviewer at Hancock Campground recommends, "I recommend getting a site in the river side away from the street. Absolutely beautiful!"
Consider remote site accessibility: When bringing children and horses, site location matters. A camper observed, "The walk from the parking area to the shelters varies, depending what side of the pond you are camping on. If bringing a full-sized cooler...be sure you are heading to a site closer to the parking area."
Check for wildlife observation opportunities: Children can learn about forest ecology. A camper mentioned, "We saw fresh moose poop on a hike but sadly no moose or other wildlife. There are bears around the area though so please be bear smart when camping here."
Tips from RVers
Site selection for horse trailers: Not all sites accommodate both RVs and horse trailers. A visitor to New Discovery noted, "Each site is so different and may or may not fit an RV. Some sites are so sloped I don't even know how a car would camp there."
Water connections: Fill tanks before arrival as connections vary. One RVer shared, "The spigots for the water are not threaded. We tried our water bandit, with messy wet results. Luckily, we found we could unscrew the head of the hose at the dump station and had no problem filling our tank."
Electric options: Some horse campgrounds offer limited electrical hookups. A camper at Groton Forest Road Campground mentioned, "The spots were spacious with enough privacy between sites. The lake was gorgeous to swim in and had different rafts and stuff in the water for public use."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian
campsite near North Concord, VT?
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near North Concord, VT?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near North Concord, VT is Hancock Campground with a 4.1-star rating from 28 reviews.
What is the best site to find
equestrian camping near
North Concord, VT?
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near North Concord, VT?
TheDyrt.com has all 4 equestrian camping locations near North Concord, VT, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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