Best Tent Camping near Salisbury, VT
Green Mountain National Forest surrounds Salisbury, Vermont with several primitive tent camping options within a 30-minute drive. Michigan Brook Road Camping offers free tent sites with established fire rings along a scenic waterway. Patterson Brookside camp on West Hill Road provides walk-in tent sites along a river, while Last Light on Michigan Brook features dispersed tent camping with both drive-in and hike-in access. For those seeking more established facilities, Mount Philo State Park Campground, located about 40 miles northwest near Charlotte, offers seven dedicated tent sites and three lean-tos with views of Lake Champlain.
Most tent campsites near Salisbury feature natural, ungraded surfaces with minimal amenities. Michigan Brook sites require vehicles with decent clearance as spring conditions create rutted, muddy access roads. According to recent visitors, the dirt road along Patterson Brookside is single-lane in places, requiring awareness of oncoming traffic. Campers should bring all necessary supplies including water, as most dispersed sites lack potable sources. Bear activity occurs throughout the region, so proper food storage is essential. Forest Service sites typically allow 14-day stays and most permit campfires in established rings, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply during dry periods. Winter access is limited as most forest roads remain unplowed.
Tent campers frequently praise the privacy and natural setting of these primitive sites. One visitor noted that Patterson Brookside offers "a handful of sites along the river, each offering a slightly different experience," though cautioning that "there is no electricity, no cell coverage, no outhouses in this area." Sites along Michigan Brook are described as "not really a destination" but "great for accessibility to Killington." At Green Mountain National Forest FR25, a recent camper observed approximately 6-8 scattered sites along a small stream, though warned about potential closures due to overuse. Backcountry tent camping areas provide the most seclusion but require proper preparation for self-sufficient stays with no services available.