The trail rises to about 3000 feet along the side of The Cannonballs. Its unfortunate but common to find such sites right outside forest protection areas like the one directly adjacent at the liberty springs camp site. A flashlight or headlamp tucked under a clear Nalgene bottle full of water provides an awesome glowing centerpiece for any campsite. This campground uses Scan & Pay to accept on-site payment through the Recreation.gov mobile app. Save Big on Kestrel, Kyte, and Hydration Packs now 40% Off. Alternative to Lakes of the Clouds Hut You could head down the Dry River Trail (south of Mt. 71 White Mountain Drive 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. Madison. You can still use the flat area, but today you have to move a bit further into the woods. All of these habits are teachable skills that should be shown to less experienced campers and hikers so they know how to practice low impact Stealth or regular camping. Near Imp Campsite .5m before camp, when water pools appear, look left. Other options in this area are Gray Knob and Crag Camp (both Randolph Mountain Club enclosed facilities run on a caretaker basis). Thats both an LNT guideline and a WMNF regulation. When bushwhacking to a pristine location, taking different routes in and out of the site so that they dont create a visible path. Places to Avoid When Looking for Stealth Camping . There are flat camping spots that are past the shelter once you cross the brook. Its called Stealth because you want some privacy and dont want people to know you are there, but people also do it to be closer to nature, because the shelters or campsites they planned to stay at are full, or because there arent any designated campsites in the wilderness areas they visit. This is a pretty & dramatic area near the waterfalls. There are 24 campsites in this area that you can use for RV or tent camping. Water is available nearby. (Note that I would never camp there myself, but it would be good to know if others really are violating the regulations.). Our premium articles include in depth journalism and insights from the Backpacking Light editorial team. Useful stuff, so I thought I would re-post it here: AMC Backcountry Camping Rules above tree line (except on 2 of snow) These sites can be a good alternative for people who want to camp outside of designated campsites (be sure to check local regulations) because it doesnt result in another impacted site (Leave No Trace guidelines should still be followed in order to prevent a higher level of impact.). Jim. Ideally, wed like to find a pristine campsite to stealth camp at, but if there arent any good sites available where we camp in a low impact way, well keep going to the Alternate Campsite or to the Ethan Pond shelter/campsite. Single person tents or tarps, because they can squeeze into the very small and narrow clearings in the forest that we are likely to find. Garfield Pond Camp to the R of the AT. Lakes of the Clouds is kind in bad weather, but the Presidential Range is catch as catch can for. In this state, there are many options that are free to use, and many of them are located near a lake or a mountain. Washington) and find a spot. We use cookies to personalize content, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. This 2-3 day route follows trails seldom hiked by day hikers and is ideal for backpackers who want to experience the wilder side of the White Mountain National Forest. Trains run all hours of the night. Why do Waterproof/Breathable Rain Jackets Wet Out? Chittenden Brook Campground is situated in a beautiful northern hardwoods forest, approximately seven miles from Rochester, VT. A collection of resources for planning a safe, healthy, and responsible experience on the Appalachian Trail. Not all camp spots are created equal. White Mountain National Forest Campgrounds. Developed Campgrounds: All reservations must be arranged on Recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777, the National Recreation Reservation Service . A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook. My family have trip next month. Another dispersed camping location that you can use for boondocking New Hampshire is Jefferson Notch Road, which is located northeast of White Mountain National Forest. Washington) and find a spot. That its better to camp at a highly impacted site, than creating a new stealth site in a busy, high use area. Past Zealand Falls Hut after .25m warning sign, walk 150-200 yards, gravel drainage area on right. The fire danger level is moderate and expected to remain that way during our trip. In my experience, people who follow the LNT creed will do so even when spending the night in an AT shelter. New Hampshire actually has 48 mountains that have peaks that are over 4,000 feet. North Woodstock, NH 03262, 2023 White Mountains Attractions Association. Recreational opportunities seem limitless: hiking, camping, hiking, biking, fishing, skiing (alpine, cross country, and backcountry), snowmobiling, snowshoeing and much more. Once the fire is completely out, use the remaining water to rinse your hand. We will cook 200 feet away from our shelters at a separate clearing in the woods. Many areas along the A.T. restrict fires to designated sites only or prohibit fires altogether. Dispersed camping, which means campers have the freedom to select the location of their campsite, is allowed in some areas of the A.T. In 1936 this was the shelter location for AT hikers. We use cookies to provide you with a great experience and to help our website run effectively. Login or become a member to post in the member forums! Eliza Brook Shelter This is the last free site in the Whites. Get our free Handbook and Receive our weekly newsletter to see what's new at Backpacking Light! Webster/Top of Webster Cliff obvious sites available (2-5?) Either fork leads to sites, water from pond/stream. Theres a good chance that well be the only people camping there at night and that we wont disturb any other groups. Guidebooks and apps may also list overnight sites. There are flat camping spots that are past the shelter once you cross the brook. Head up the Frost Trail to Mt. Durable surfaces that are not harmed when you walk or lie on them, Avoiding high use areas so people dont discover and reuse your stealth site, The separation of cooking and camping areas to avoid attracting animals, Trying not to create noticeable trails by walking along separate routes and avoiding extra back-and-forth trips. Madison Hut area Just to the East is a small lake on side trail descending into Madison Gulf. There is a small 1 person site squeezed between rock/cliff and trees. Given the climbs and the distance, we hope to spend one night camping near the middle of our route. Education like this is remarkably effective and I hope youll join me in getting the word out to your friends and families. ) or https:// means you've safely Be certain to view the Recreation Conditions Report for the most . Seriously, like above treeline or in the krumholz? Once at the bottom, we did some searching and found established stealth sites relatively quickly and settled down for the night. If it has not rained recently, the chances for wildfires will be significantly higher. If anything, spelling out all of your assumptions is a good communication tool for involving your companions in the planning process and getting everyone on the same page. Forest Protection Area (FPA) are potentially overused or fragile areas of the Forest where use restrictions are applied. Best to add Beware of Guard Dogs.. You will have to dip down to camp. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) organization. Every campsite and situation is a little different and while the Leave No Trace guidelines can help you weigh different alternatives, you need to make your own decisions about the level of impact youll have on the local wildlife, vegetation, and other visitors you encounter. I was shocked to be honest. Visit our Bear Safety page and our Food Storage Hiker Info video for tips! Look for a freshwater spring on the NW side of the pond, a couple hundred feet from some established campsites. Learn how the ATC stands up for the Trail and its surrounding landscape. It is prohibited in many areas, so its important to know local regulations. The ridge runners have been told to ask you to move if they find you there. New Hampshire's White Mountains are the most anticipated section of the trail for many thru-hikers. This is about a mile before the trail junction for Zeacliff Trail, about 2-3 miles before Zealand Hut. 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. 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. It is a small and semi-remote campground, perfect for those who seek a more tranquil camping experience. Zeacliff Pond - a short descent (steep!) 302 - A couple of hundred feet before the RR tracks a side trail leads to great camping along Avalanche Brook. Spacious pull-thru sites. There is a small 1 person site squeezed between rock/cliff and trees. The original list has been circulating on the Internet since created in 1998. I myself like a huge roaring fire at night. Moosilauke, before descending Beaver Brook I've camped nearby the junction of the AT with the trail to Mt. Just past the FPA are some possibilities. It's a flat area, sheltered with trees to the L at the junction. its all natural, could perhaps be lighter than your toothpaste and will still leave your mouth feeling clean and fresh. Use camp stoves for cooking this minimizes the chances of sparks flying into the environment. Dry camping. We expect that 5-10% of the area will be open and covered with forest duff that is suitable for camping on. Backpacking hammocks can offer more flexibility in choosing a site and can be low-impact in areas where dispersed camping is allowed. Looking forward to the series, i have been looking for some articles on this. Day 7: Stealth site to Ethan Pond Shelter. I often forget to brush my teeth anyway on these short trips. Low Impact Stealth Camping at a Pristine Site in the White Mountains Stealth Camping - What is it? Lakes of the Clouds is kind in bad weather, but the Presidential Range is catch as catch can for stealth sites.]. Consider this a checklist of annotated questions to run through when planning a trip like this. Digital Accessibility at RVshare, Last updated on June 23rd, 2022. Quiet time is from 10 pm to 6 am. Philip Werner June 8, 2012 Leave No Trace. Region: New England (White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire) Length: 31 miles (2-4 days) See More In The App Click to sign in or create a free account. The side trail is called Gordon Pond Trail. This is now a compilation of a few hikers approach to Stealthing/Bootlegging the Whites. I think the way to mitigate and eventually curtail such behavior is through education. If you are traveling with a tent you will be able to find some spots, but will lose some serious elevation gain in order to get a decent spot. , about 2-3 miles before Zealand Hut choosing a site and can low-impact! Alternative to lakes of the forest where use restrictions are applied our website run.. 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