Best Tent Camping near White River Junction, VT
The Appalachian Trail corridor near White River Junction, Vermont offers numerous backcountry tent camping options within a short drive. Several AT shelters with adjacent tent sites are located within 15 miles of town, including Winturri Backcountry Shelter, Happy Hill Shelter, and Thistle Hill Shelter on the Vermont side, plus Velvet Rocks and Trapper John shelters across the Connecticut River in New Hampshire. These primitive tent campsites typically feature level spots for tents surrounding three-sided shelters maintained by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
Most backcountry tent sites in this region require preparation for minimal amenities. Tent camping areas generally feature dirt or forest duff surfaces with varying degrees of levelness. Water sources at these locations are seasonal and unreliable, particularly during late summer drought conditions. According to multiple reviews, water sources at Velvet Rocks, Trapper John, and Happy Hill shelters were completely dry during August visits. Basic privies are available at most sites but lack other facilities. Campers should bring water filters, food storage systems, and pack-out bags, as bear boxes are not consistently available at all locations.
Tent campers frequently use these sites as overnight stops during section hikes rather than destination camping. One visitor noted that while tent sites around Moose Mountain Shelter offered "large, flat tent sites," the area lacked views beyond "the beautiful surrounding forest." At Winturri Shelter, a camper reported "lots of tent camping spots as you worked up the hill perpendicular to the shelter" with "decent privacy" between sites. Stony Brook Shelter stands out with "a few large tent areas where multiple tents could fit" and access to a small swimming hole downstream. During peak summer weekends, these walk-in tent sites can fill quickly, especially those closest to road crossings, while more remote backcountry tent camping areas offer greater solitude.
