Campground Near Pinkham Notch

[Czechtrecker]

Can anyone recommend an inexpensive (under 20.00 a night) campground on route 16 near Pinkham Notch. I will be day hiking and just need a place to set up my tent and still be legal in the National Forest.

[Slo-go'en]

The Dolly Copp NFS campground is the only one. Don't know what they charge these days, but should be easy enough to find out. About 4 miles south of Gorham on Rt 16, maybe 10 miles north of Pickham.

There are also several private campgrounds on RT 2 east of Gorham, one of them, "the White Birches" catters to AT hikers.

[fiddlehead]

Why not just go into the woods and get off trail.
It is NF so legal as long as you aren't near water or the trail.

I've done that a few times in that area already

[Czechtrecker]

Why not just go into the woods and get off trail.
It is NF so legal as long as you aren't near water or the trail.

I've done that a few times in that area already


I thought that was not allowed in the Pinkham Notch area due to overuse.

[emerald]

Why not ask WMNF (http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/white_mountain/contact/)?

[peakbagger]

Most of RT 16 is restricted use area which means no camping within 1/4 of a mile of the road. The trails are usually marked at the 1/4 mile point. From there you need to do dispersed camping 200 feet from the trail. There are plenty of good spots along the Great Gulf trail and the southern section of the Imp trail. There are spots along the AT heading north bound (actually compass south) across RT 16 from Pinkham that many people use that are not legal. There is a general prohibition on camping in the Cutler River Drainage which is basically the area draining tuckermans and Huntingtons Ravine to Pinkham.

So if you want to camp right at the AMC Pinkham Notch facility, you are out of luck but if you are willing to walk in the woods a few minutes either north or south of Pinkham go ahead.

The Hostel at White Birches is about the best deal but its a 15 minute drive.