New England Camping?

L

lheiw

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Apr 27, 2008
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Hi there. This is my first post on the forum, but I've been reading it for a while, and it seems like this is the right kind of community to ask the following question:
I have been having alot of trouble finding a place to go camping. REAL camping. Not with an RV, or on a group tour. I'd just like to hike out somewhere, pitch a tent, build a fire, and relax in complete solitude. Is this even possible any more? I'm specifically looking in New England, preferably Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont. The further north the better. Does anyone have any tips for me? Thanks!
 
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Welcome to blade forums and in particular the Wilderness Skills section. We are a pretty good group of people and your in luck because a lot of us are from the New England area.

The White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire would provide exactly what your looking for. You can find the regulations online, but I am pretty sure you can camp anywhere as long as your a few hundred feet from the trail and any water source. Check out this link: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/recreation/camping/ and look at the bottom where it says backcountry camping.


You could also try the Catskills in NY. Its not technically in New England but its not far and has very similar regulations to the white mountains. There is also Adirondacks State Park in NY which is enormous. I have never been here and do not know the regulations.


Just some advice: In general, state parks have less regulation than national parks and forests have less regulations than parks. So if you find some state forests, you may have better luck finding places to camp if you don't like the Catskills, Adirondacks, or White Mountains, however, both are fabulous places and offer great views and camping.
 
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The White mountains in New Hampshire are gorgeous!! This time of year the black flies and skeeters are thick but that's what makes for REAL camping. Nothing cooler than watching bears feed, big bull moose standing in the middle of a river, and if you get lucky you might see one of our huge Mountain Lions.
Of course Fish and game deny their existence but the locals will tell you there are Mountain Lions in them there hills, there are.
Yup, if you want true New England camping the White Mountain National Forest is the place.............................Bring the bug spray though!!
 
I have camped some in the Northern Maine woods. It's a nice balance of remote area with reasonably maintained campsites (privy, rustic picnic table with tarp frame, and fire ring). I have camped on Lobster Lake and Loon Lake. Lobster gets a bit more traffic, so I would avoid holiday weekends. There are no reserved campsites -- it's first come first served, so mid week is even better. Both of these areas require a short to medium canoe paddle to get to, but I'm sure there are also hikeable areas. The following link may help.

http://www.state.me.us/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=84

Jon
 
The 'dacks are really nice but I have a place in the White mountains and that is my first love. Very little regulation and if you stay away from the part of the presidential range near and right around Mt. Washington you don't have to see anyone your whole trip and be able to camp completely alone. You can use the shelters and primitive tent sites but personally I stay away from them. Some of the wilderness areas have a few rules about dispersed camping and staying away from the trail when camping but who wants to be walked over by people when camping anyway. This is an area the size of the state of Rhode Island with very few trails and roads. You should be able to find someplace that suits your taste in backcountry camping.

KR
 
Welcome and I am glad you asked that question. Looks like I need to plan a trip to the White Mountains in the near future.
 
Couldn't help but notice this topic,cause I'm also interested in some New England camping/hunting/fishing.Particularly in VT.Any nice remote areas in the Green Mountains?
 
Thanks so much for all of your responses. I am definitely going to the White Mountains for this upcoming trip, but will keep all of the other suggestions in mind. I won't be leaving until the end of June, but I will try to take some pictures while I'm out there and post when I get back. Thanks again!
 
How many nights and do you want any suggestions as to specific places?

KR
 
wolfmann601 said:
and if you get lucky you might see one of our huge Mountain Lions. Of course Fish and game deny their existence but the locals will tell you there are Mountain Lions in them there hills, there are.QUOTE]

This is true... After living in central Vermont for 4 years I can't even begin to tell you how many I saw. My father wasn't a believer till he almost hit one while driving down the road one night. I guess those who work for fish and game don't leave the office much?
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Well if you want to go to some beautiful places in VT, try Grout pond, or Black River Reservoir both are beautiful, and remote. The Green Mountains of VT have hundreds of Trails. In Washington NH there is Pilsbury State Park which has canoe in only sites, and The White Mountains, but they tend to be a cattletrail these days, especially in the summer. Beautiful, remote, and about a billion hikers pass thru there every year (well maybe not THAT many, but enough so I only go off season now).

Or you can do Calvin Coolage State park, not quite as remote, decent Lean-to's but tons of hiking trials.

you can always check out http://www.greenmountainclub.org/ or Http://www.outdoors.org/ for more info. As for Maine, I havent been up there in so long, no idea whats nice and what has changed. The area around Kezar Lake in Lovell ME was always beautiful. Long Lake is a nice area too, but I don't think either is as remote as you'd like. :/
 
MrCoffee said:
Well if you want to go to some beautiful places in VT, try Grout pond, or Black River Reservoir both are beautiful, and remote. The Green Mountains of VT have hundreds of Trails. In Washington NH there is Pilsbury State Park which has canoe in only sites, and The White Mountains, but they tend to be a cattletrail these days, especially in the summer. Beautiful, remote, and about a billion hikers pass thru there every year (well maybe not THAT many, but enough so I only go off season now).

Or you can do Calvin Coolage State park, not quite as remote, decent Lean-to's but tons of hiking trials.

you can always check out http://www.greenmountainclub.org/ or Http://www.outdoors.org/ for more info. As for Maine, I havent been up there in so long, no idea whats nice and what has changed. The area around Kezar Lake in Lovell ME was always beautiful. Long Lake is a nice area too, but I don't think either is as remote as you'd like. :/
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Thanks for the tip MrCoffee:thumbup:
 
1st, I agree with MrCoffee's recommendation of Grout Pond in Vermont. It's pretty great. I watched a beaver construct a dam there for hours.

And yes, kr1, I'd like some recommendations for specific places in the White Mountains. I will be there for 4 nights.
 
I'll assume you have maps of the area or online guides. The first thing that comes to mind if you want to be alone is Davis path. Starts on RT 302 and you can get out several ways. You can spot cars or there is another alternative. AMC hiker shuttle This is a real useful tool in the northern forest. Another option, though you may see more people is the Pemigewasset wilderness area. You probably don't have enough time to do the loop so an in for two days and an out for two days might be better. Lots of isolated areas and side trips you can make. Again, the forest is big. Are you in great shape and want to do lots of 4000 foot peaks? or stay lower and looking for camping in secluded spots for several nights in a row?

KR
 
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