At the time of this writing (Tent platforms at the Perch are $5, and the Gray Knob and Crag Camp are both $10.} All three of these sites are shown on the NH-VT AT Maps. Mt. It's a dry camp. Stealthing the White Mountains AMC Backcountry Camping Rules * No camping or fires within .25 (1/4) mile from any hut, shelter, tent platform, cabin, picnic area or campground except at designated sites any trailhead above tree line (except on 2' of snow) within 200' of trail MENUMENU Explore Discover the Trail Explore by State Interactive Map Frequently Asked Questions Thru-Hiking Multi-Day Hiking Day Hiking 2,000-Milers A.T. Communities Plan Your Visit Education like this is remarkably effective and I hope youll join me in getting the word out to your friends and families. The side trail is called Gordon Pond Trail. Thank you! Go towards Mt. Set up tents on durable surfaces, such as dead leaves or grass, well apart from each other and at least 70 paces from water. There are just too many people hiking down this section of trail to risk it. Bisected by Interstate 93, you can jump off at exit 28 and escape up to Waterville Valley or push on a little further to exit 32 and relish the day traveling through the mountains on the Kancamagus Scenic Byway; challenge yourself at the world renowned Rumney Rocks Rock Climbing Area; seek renewal in the large and remote Pemigewasset Wilderness; brag about the one that got away at Russell Pond. 3. The Pemigewasset Wilderness is surrounded by various hiking trails that make up the entire loop. With that being said, bringing drinking water that can be used for cooking is a good idea. Past Zealand Falls Hut after .25m warning sign, walk 150-200 yards, gravel drainage area on right. Refluffing the forest floor because you slept on it the night before?! Hikers using hammocks in designated overnight sites should hang their hammocks in areas already bare of vegetation and always use wide tree-saver type straps to protect trees from damage. Anywhere near train tracks. While you are boondocking, you will also need to consider what you will do about the trash that you create. White Mountain National Forest - Hiking Hiking Choose from the following to find a site: Backpacking Day Hiking Discover A Rich History of Hiking Hiking opportunities abound on the Forest from easy strolls into the wooded environment to challenging climbs above treeline. However, campfires that are not built or cared for properly can cause devastating wildfires that may impact the landscape for decades. My family have trip next month. Lakes of the Clouds is kind in bad weather, but the Presidential Range is catch as catch can for. Set up a dispersed or low-impact stealth campsite only where allowed (the most abundant opportunities are on US Forest Service lands in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia; in many other areas dispersed camping is prohibited or there may be restrictions. The White Mountain National Forest offers a variety of camping experiences: from family-friendly developed campgrounds, to popular backcountry sites, to the solitude of a Wilderness setting. Before setting up camp, know how to build campfires responsibly and if campfires are permitted where you are camping: Keep in mind that campfires are not permitted on some parts of the Trail. Volunteers are the soul of the Appalachian Trail, and there are many opportunities for you to help keep the Trail alive. We will minimize the number of trips we take between our shelter site and the cooking area, walk along different routes between the two, and avoid stepping on fragile understory growth. I was shocked to be honest. For me, the LNT aspect is more important than the camp site and camp style. Before Rt. . Campton NH 03223, https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/whitemountain/recreation/camping-cabins/?recid=74405&actid=34. We know that the area north of the A-Z trail and below Mt Tom is wet and boggy due to intense beaver activity and unsuitable for camping. However, in the more typical scenario of a designated shelter site or campsite, it may actually be harder to find a spot where suitable trees are spaced the right distance apart. When we hike off-trail, we will walk along parallel routes to avoid creating a trail or the mere suggestion of one that others might follow. Carry water from Garfield Pond. from any hut, shelter, tent platform, cabin, picnic area or campground except at designated sites If a fire must be used, building it with a mound fire using mineral soil collected from a blow-down root ball. Garfield Summit - Climbing up the old fire tower platform, look down to the right. Just so everyone is crystal clear on this, you shouldnt camp within 200 feet (70 steps) of a trail or water source. Looking forward to the rest of this series, as Im still fairly new to the backpacking/hiking community. Terrible thing. Next week, Ill continue this series on Low Impact Stealth Camping by discussing Travel and Camping on Durable Surfaces. It is primarily above tree line and UNLESS you stay at Lakes of the Clouds hut, (sort of halfway), you have a kind of big push with lots of hiking above tree line, (which is NICE in GOOD weather) and some fairly decent elevation gain. Past attempts to prevent high impact Stealth Camping by outlawing it havent worked. Sunapee There is also a lot of wildlife in the area, so bring your binoculars. New Hampshire actually has 48 mountains that have peaks that are over 4,000 feet. Zeacliff Pond - a short descent (steep!) Many areas along the A.T. restrict fires to designated sites only or prohibit fires altogether. Just to the W along the Carter-Moriah Trail. Camping is not permitted in Forest Protection Areas (FPA.) It visits several open summits and viewpoints en route, including Mt Crawford, Mt Resolution, Mt Davis, and the Giant Stairs, which have equally impressive views. Again, you will lose some elevation gain, but it gives you a bad weather option. .25m past Carter Hut on right a cave of boulders creates 2-4 sites open top, not really a cave. Theres plenty of room out there for every type of hiker and camper. And it helps settle the stomach, which I find is sometimes effected w/spicy food. What is the Difference Between a Single-Wall Tent and a Double-Wall Tent? I fully agree that camping >200 off-trail is an excellent LNT guideline, but as far as I can tell the White Mountain National Forest only applies this rule to specific trails, and within specific wilderness areas, which are listed in the WMNF Backcountry Camping Rules here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5363715.pdf I do not see the Franconia Ridge Tr. Water is available nearby. Hammocking at AMC shelters & tent sites in White Mountains Forum Outings Hangouts, Campouts, and Trip Planning Northeast Hammocking at AMC shelters & tent sites in White Mountains If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. All Rights Reserved. Hazard Trees:Due to an increasing number extreme weather events and invasive pests that damage or kill trees, be very careful in choosing places to camp, including at or in shelters. This was the hiker shelter location in 1936. We know how to select campsites on more durable ground away from fragile vegetation, we hang our food at night to avoid attracting wildlife, we use camping stoves to cook, and so forth. Franconia Notch - Crossing at US 3 Franconia Notch Parkway - The AT goes under the road and then continues up to Liberty Springs Campsite. Walk down 100-200 yards various trails leading to dozens of. Login or become a member to post in the member forums! Can you give me opinions? Get Backpacking Light news, updates, gear info, skills, and commentary delivered into your inbox 1-2x/week. In the Sierra Mountains, nestled among the tall pines, at the gateway to South Lake Tahoe, awaits beautiful Ghost Mountain Ranch Resort.Originally designed by Paramount Pictures, this resort was once the set of the popular TV series "The Virginian"and perfectly captures the pure essence of old west life. The biggest problem area for finding a site that will not incur you lots of elevation loss is between Mt. Do you also breathe into a plastic bag to avoid contaminating the forest with dirty lowly human breath? Ive seen such spots near the top of Liberty before. The ground should be fairly dry when we visit the pristine areas and our footprints will have less of an impact than if the ground were heavily saturated and soft. Gordon Pond 3.5 miles north of Kinsman Notch (.3m off trail) there is a fork in the trail. As an Alternative to Carter Notch Hut Head down the Wildcat River Trail. The submit button will be disabled until you complete the CAPTCHA. There are flat camping spots that are past the shelter once you cross the brook. Great views from the top of the cliffs looking into Crawford Notch. At the summit you will see herd paths that lead to some hardened sites. It is close to Jericho Mountain, Jericho Lake Park, Ice Gulch Town Forest, and Moose Brook State Park, so there are lots of hiking options nearby that you can explore as well as places to go swimming, fishing, and hunting. Alternative to Liberty Springs Pick up water at Liberty Springs, head up to jct. The other areas on our route are either too steep or too close to trails and Forest Protection areas to camp. Share sensitive information only ), Backcountry Camping Rules, White Mountain National Forest. Located on the south eastern part of the forest, the District offers a variety of different recreational opportunities. Past Zealand Falls Hut after .25m warning sign, walk 150-200 yards, gravel drainage area on right. Either fork leads to sites, water from pond/stream. The side trail is called Gordon Pond Trail. A good layering system of moisture-wicking and insulating materials will provide warmth and comfortas well as if not better than a campfire could. All overnight hikers should carry a tent or other lightweight portable shelter. I was wondering if any of you have any good stealth spots along the way of this loop to camp in, it would be nice to avoid the regular spots and go for something more wild. You can still use the flat area, but today you have to move a bit further into the woods. Washington) and find a spot. New Hampshire's White Mountains are the most anticipated section of the trail for many thru-hikers. Clinton Trail outside the FPA you should be able to find some possibilities. Edmands Col - between Jefferson and Adams. Alternative to Liberty Springs Pick up water at Liberty Springs, head up to jct. Zeacliff Pond a short descent (steep!) Your paid campsite must appear to be occupied at all times to prevent another party moving in. Eliza Brook Shelter This is the last free site in the Whites. There's coffee shops, restaurants, book stores, and even a classic Bavarian chocolate house. If someone else left trash before you arrived, be kind and pick it up so that it does not make your camping experience less enjoyable. Also, make sure that you pack plenty of disposable paper plates and utensils so that you dont have a pile of dishes that need to be washed when the water you have for the trip is limited. Notable for both its awe-inspiring beauty and notoriously challenging climbs, the White Mountains also add a another logistical challenge for hikers to contend with as camping becomes a little more complicated. GOSSAMER-GEAR.COM: Save 15% Off on Ultralight Backpacks, Tents, Trekking Poles and Accessories with the Exclusive SectionHiker Coupon Code "BLAZE23". All recordings are now online! The practice of Stealth Camping is not without controversy. Do not build a fire during these conditions. It's a flat area, sheltered with trees to the L at the junction. Go towards the west side of the trail and there are some hardened spots. I myself like a huge roaring fire at night. The distance between shelters and campsites varies significantly so it is important to always carry a map. White Mountain hiker since 1973. Not recommended but I've camped here. Within 200 feet of trails and water bodies. Within 1/4 mile of backcountry facilities (shelters, huts). During the pandemic hikers are advised to avoid them due to the difficulty of social distancing and the possibility of contaminated surfaces; many are also closed. Jim. All . TTY 603-536-3685 From I-93 North: Exit 27, left at end of ramp and go under highway; take right just past south-bound off-ramp. See Chart of Camping and Campfire regulations on the A.T. Hikers are required to stay at designated campsites or shelter sites in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and North Carolina, the Triple Crown/McAfee Knob area of central Virginia, and many areas from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia northward. Water from creek. * No camping or fires within .25(1/4) mile Either choose an area where the ground is already completely bare from use by previous campers (an established site) or choose a site with no sign of previous use. United States government. Before taking a camping trip to this area of the country, it is important to consider the locations you want to visit to know where to boondock in New Hampshire. LockA locked padlock Camping regulations vary widely because the Appalachian Trail corridor consists of a patchwork ribbon of many different types of lands managed by more than 75 different agencies. Dry camp. Our CFC number: 12230. Smokie (that time I almost burned my tent with a canister stove), https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5363715.pdf. There has been 1 of rainfall in the past 5 days with clear and sunny conditions forecast for our hike. Decide what you want to enjoy on your trip, and find a location that offers it. Backpackers seeking a Wilderness or backcountry experience should consult one of the many trail guides available, and should be familiar with the Forest's Backcountry Camping Rules. If you know of more water sources this would be beneficial . within 200 of trail. I agree with you, but everyone uses the term stealth camping for that. There is a small 1 person site squeezed between rock/cliff and trees. Guidebooks and apps may also list overnight sites. Hikers will end up climbing at least 8 of NH's 4000 footers, and gaining over 9,000 feet in elevation during the trip. Agreat way to create an instant unofficial campsite, especially along the AT, is to put up a No Camping Beyond This Sign signs! This is the first post in a series of articles about Low Impact Stealth Campingthat explains how you can to minimize your impact on pristine wilderness sites so no one will know that you ever camped there. Learn how the ATC stands up for the Trail and its surrounding landscape. The Pemigewasset Loop (pemi loop) is a 31 mile loop hike in New Hampshire's White Mountains. This is now a compilation of a few hikers approach to Stealthing/Bootlegging the Whites. Save Big on Kestrel, Kyte, and Hydration Packs now 40% Off. Designated campsites along the A.T. are usually very simple. Madison. Camping regulations vary considerably along the A.T. A table showing regulations pertaining to camping (and fires) along the A.T. listed from north to south can be found by clicking on the button below. $5 for printable PDF, AVAILABLE NOW. The current shelter is over Garfield at Garfield Ridge Campsite, another 2 miles N on the AT. Backpacking Light community posts are moderated and here to foster helpful and positive discussions about lightweight backpacking. This was the hiker shelter location in 1936. The hut crew will instruct you to descend to the Valley Way tent site about 1 mile down to the North of the hut. Alternative to Lakes of the Clouds Hut Another option is to push to get to either the Perch (tent platforms, great water, and a shelter) located down off Gulfside, NW of Mt. Take advantage of the vivid fall foliage, the warm summer air, and the cool spring temperatures by booking free camping in New Hampshire. You can still use the flat area, but today you have to move a bit further into the woods. Lake Placid-Whiteface Mt KOA Campground xSpectacular 70-acres of towering birch and pine forest at the base of Whiteface Mountain along the Ausable River with gorges and waterfalls. (Various sites.) We dont want to bring multi-person tents with us because were unlikely to find a large enough space to set them up. any trailhead The side trail is called Ripley or Ripley Falls or something like that. Digital Accessibility at RVshare, Last updated on June 23rd, 2022. A small lantern can provide the atmosphere and camaraderie of a fire but on a smaller scale. 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And camper the backpacking/hiking community some elevation gain, but it gives you a bad weather option location that it...