Cabins near Northfield Falls, Vermont offer year-round accessibility with seasonal considerations. Winter temperatures typically drop below freezing from December through February, while summer highs average in the 70s°F. Most cabin sites provide fire rings with cooking grates, though regulations on firewood vary by location. The terrain transitions from the Green Mountains to the Connecticut River Valley with elevations ranging from 700 to 1,500 feet across the region.
What to do
Paddle on motor-free waters: Ricker Pond State Park Campground offers a serene paddling experience where motorized boats are restricted. "The pond is serene and a great place to swim, paddle, explore, and fish. If you paddle or swim to the other side of the camp ground, there is a huge rock with a rope swing," notes one visitor who appreciates the tranquil water activities.
Explore historic hiking trails: Little River State Park Campground features hiking trails with hidden historic elements. "The hiking trails are really good--actually pretty steep. There are lots of old foundations hidden on the trails that are fun to discover," shares a camper who visited with five children. Trail maps are available at the park office.
Winter camping options: For experienced winter campers, Smugglers Notch State Park Campground offers off-season lean-to sites. "Free of charge during off season, you just have to call a couple weeks ahead to reserve and make sure you park in the allotted area. Hike/snowshoe in to your site as the gate is closed and the area is not plowed," explains a winter visitor who notes the excellent backcountry skiing access.
Mountain biking access: Lazy Lions Campground provides access to nearby trail systems. "Though they are nearby to Millstone Mountain Bike area, there is little else to do here," notes a camper, suggesting this location works well for mountain bikers seeking basic accommodations with trail proximity.
What campers like
Secluded water access: Camel's Hump State Park offers remote tent platforms with natural surroundings. "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," reports a hiker who appreciated the bear-safe food storage systems.
Cell service breaks: Several campgrounds in the region offer a true disconnect from digital life. At Ricker Pond State Park, one camper noted, "There is absolutely no cell service for miles, so plan accordingly." Many visitors appreciate this forced break from connectivity as a feature rather than drawback.
Adult-focused options: Lazy Lions Campground provides an adults-only environment. "Lazy Lions is a comfortable campground with an adults-only policy. Having spent time in plenty of campgrounds with screaming or unwinded children, I could see this as a positive draw for the RV'ing crowd," shares a tent camper who appreciated the quieter atmosphere despite being the only tent campers during their stay.
Privacy between sites: Mountain View Campground offers well-spaced cabin options. "We stayed in a cabin and it was absolutely wonderful. It was clean and had everything we needed. All of the buildings were meticulously kept and the staff were incredibly friendly," reports a visitor who enjoyed the cleanliness and amenities.
What you should know
Variable winter availability: While most cabin facilities close for winter, Shelburne Camping Area operates year-round. A winter visitor noted, "We came in just after it got dark. Loved town of Shelburne. Awesome little shops and great, well stocked little local grocery store." Winter cabin guests should verify heating systems and water availability before booking.
Shower operations: Most park showers require quarters. At Ricker Pond, visitors note the showers are "quarter-operated." Typical rates are 25 cents for four minutes of shower time, so bring plenty of quarters for longer stays.
Noise considerations: Traffic noise affects some locations. At Shelburne Camping Area, a camper observed, "The site is close to the highway which is convenient but it also means you hear the traffic all night." Similarly, at Mountain View Campground, a visitor noted, "While there is road noise from VT 15 it does calm down at night."
Varying water access: Little River State Park provides reservoir access, but elevation changes complicate reaching the water from some sites. "Most sites up on hill looking over lake, not easily assessable from camp site, but still had a great time. Left kayak down at beach," explains one visitor who found workarounds for the terrain challenges.
Tips for camping with families
Look for educational activities: Little River State Park Campground offers discovery opportunities beyond typical camping. "We visited here with our 5 kiddos for 2 nights late July 2016. The facilities were clean, the small playground was great, and the small boat launch and beach kept us in the water," shares a family camper who appreciated the history-focused hiking trails with foundation ruins.
Consider cabin proximity to facilities: When booking cabins with children, note bathroom distances. At Branbury State Park Campground, a visitor observed, "Across the street from the campground was access to the lake with plenty of grassy areas to hang out. And beautiful sunsets at night! A five minute hike- though it is quite a rocky, boulder-y hike- from the sites leads to a small river and swimming hole."
Reserve early for optimal sites: Family-friendly cabin sites book quickly. "I've been visiting Ricker Pond for nearly 20 years (except for the years that I don't book enough in advance and aren't able to secure a spot for my desired length of stay)," notes a regular visitor, emphasizing the importance of advance planning for prime cabin locations.
Food storage requirements: Bear-safe food storage is mandatory at many locations. A Branbury State Park visitor cautioned, "Just make sure you put your food and trash away- there are black bears in the area!" Most cabins lack secure food storage, so portable containers are recommended.
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup availability: North Beach Campground offers cabin options with proximity to RV sites. "This has been one of our favorite campsites so far. We loved being able to walk down to the beach, as well as having full hookups. We also met the nicest people here," notes an RV camper who enjoyed the combination of amenities and location access.
Extension cord requirements: For RVs at shared sites with cabins, power access may require planning. At Mountain View Campground, a visitor explained, "Logistically, there is a good place for rv parking below the garden hoop house. It is a flat long gravel area, which can access power, but you'll need an extension chord or two to reach it."
Leveling challenges: Many sites require leveling equipment. At Mountain View Campground, one RVer observed, "Our gravel pad had a slight slope to it but we were able to get level. The pad was long enough to fit our RV with just enough room to fit the car in front."
Access to local services: RVers appreciate campgrounds with proximity to town services. A visitor to North Beach Campground shared, "My husband and I stayed here in our popup in June 2018. It was nice to be so close to the city and we were able to ride our bikes everywhere easily."
