Best Tent Camping near Wells, VT
Tent campsites in the Green Mountain National Forest near Wells, Vermont offer a mix of dispersed and established options for campers. Little Rock Pond Group Camp & Shelters provides tent platforms and a three-wall cabin on a secluded pond, while Michigan Brook Road Camping offers more primitive tent sites along a forest service road. Stratton Pond Shelter, accessible via the Appalachian Trail, provides both shelter space and tent platforms for hikers in the backcountry.
Sites may be set on dirt, gravel, or forest duff with minimal grading, particularly at the more remote locations. Michigan Brook Road requires higher clearance vehicles during wet periods, with one visitor noting the road "gets muddy and quite rutted" in spring. Most tent campgrounds in the area allow fires and provide basic fire rings, though amenities vary widely. Little Rock Pond features a composting toilet and platforms, while sites along Michigan Brook generally lack facilities. Several camping areas charge no fees, especially the dispersed sites in the national forest, though Little Rock Pond requires a $5 per person fee collected by a caretaker.
Areas farther from Wells offer deeper seclusion but require more preparation for tent campers. Little Rock Pond stands out as a destination campground with swimming opportunities in what one visitor described as "surprisingly warm water for its altitude." The pond is also home to loons, enhancing the wilderness experience. Michigan Brook provides streamside camping with multiple tent spots near flowing water. Walk-in tent sites tend to offer more privacy than drive-up areas, particularly during peak season. A camper at Stratton Pond noted it features "2 tent platforms, 2 outhouses and at least 16 bunk spaces in the shelter," making it suitable for both tent and shelter campers hiking the Long Trail or Appalachian Trail.