Cold River
Cold River Campground is located in a rustic, remote part of White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire, about 15 miles north of Fryeburg, Maine. It is a small facility with access to hiking and mountain biking trails and proximity to a small pond for fishing and canoeing. The White Mountains boast pristine forests, clear mountain streams and rivers and the tallest peaks in the Northeast. The forest encompasses nearly 800,000 acres in New Hampshire and western Maine, and is one of the most popular in the country.
More like this: reservable in New Hampshire · big rigs in New Hampshire · pets allowed in New Hampshire
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 8 |
| Host/management | 6 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
8 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 004 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 005 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 006 | 30 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes | |
| 007 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 010 | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 012 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 013 | Back-in | 40 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
| 014 | Back-in | 35 | Gravel | Full | 8 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Accessibility | Sites 004, 005, 006, 007 and 4 more are listed accessible |
Cold River is a small facility with campsites organized around one loop. Accessible restrooms and a hand pump for water are provided. Picnic areas are nearby. There are no showers or a dump station.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Season | mid-May to mid-October |
| Forest | White Mountain National Forest |
| Booking | Reserve sites online through recreation.gov or by calling toll free at 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) |
| Fees | Single Family Site Per site / per night $24.00. Extra Vehicle (Space Permitting) Per vehicle / per night $6.00 |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Fryeburg, Maine, take Highway 113 north 15 miles to the campground.
| Coordinates | 44.2644° N, 71.0133° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedBradley Brook Rx
4 mi from the campground · 1 acres
- PrescribedSouth Jackman Rx
31 mi from the campground · 39 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Ragged Mountain Equipment ↗ | 13.6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Call of the Wild RV Center ↗ | 27.1 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 34.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
AMC Cold River Camp
Worth a stop
The towns of Fryeburg, Gilead and Stow, Maine have groceries, restaurants, gas and other conveniences. Campers might enjoy a scenic day trip to the Presidential Range, which consists of the tallest mountains in the forest, including the 6,288-ft. Mount Washington, the highest peak north of the Smoky Mountains and east of the Mississippi River. The area hosts four alpine and five nordic ski areas, which provide year-round recreation opportunities such as skiing, hiking, mountain biking, outdoor concerts, interpretive trails, special events and regional and national skiing and snowboarding races.
- 2.1 miLaughing Lion Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 3 miShell Pond Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.5 miBasin Trail ↗4.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miRoyce Trail4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.5 miBickford Brook Trail4.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1 miLeach Link Trail1.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.1 miBlueberry Ridge Trail3.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 1.1 miBickford Slides Loop0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse
Trailheads within three miles
- 1.3 miMt Meader Trailhead ↗White Mountain National Forest
- 1.8 miBaldface Trailhead ↗White Mountain National Forest
- 2.1 miLaughing Lion Trailhead ↗White Mountain National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
This campground sits inside White Mountain National Forest.
- inWhite Mountain National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 946,821 acres
- 1.8 miWild River Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 24,032 acres
- 2.2 miCaribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 11,236 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Cabin and lookout rentals nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Brickett PlaceBuilding · Stow · 0.5 mi
- Fives CourtBuilding · Lovell · 7.1 mi
- Lovell Meeting HouseBuilding · Lovell · 8.4 mi
Natural features
The campground is in a pleasant mixed hardwood and pine forest, a short distance from Evans Brook and the 23-acre Basin Pond. The national forest is home to many species of northern wildlife, including moose, white-tailed deer and black bear. Almost 200 species of birds, including the rare Bicknell's Thrush, live in the White Mountains.
Recreation
The 4.5-mile Basin Trail leaves from nearby Basin Campground. Numerous other hiking and mountain biking trails lie within a short drive, including those in the Caribou Speckled Mountain Wilderness. Trout fishing is available in Basin Pond. The pond's calm waters are also ideal for canoeing.
Guidebooks for New Hampshire
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Cold River?
Sites at Cold River are reservable on Recreation.gov. Reserve sites online through recreation.gov or by calling toll free at 1-877-444-6777 (International 518-885-3639 or TDD 877-833-6777) Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Cold River?
Single Family Site Per site / per night $24.00. Extra Vehicle (Space Permitting) Per vehicle / per night $6.00
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Cold River?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Cold River have?
14 sites, including 8 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Cold River?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Cold River?
There are no showers or a dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Cold River?
Yes, pets are allowed at Cold River. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Cold River?
Sites 004, 005, 006, and 007 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 8 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Cold River?
The 4.5-mile Basin Trail leaves from nearby Basin Campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Cold River is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Basin Campground (0.5 mi), Wild River Campground (3.8 mi, first-come), and Hastings Campground (6.2 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby