New Hampshire / Carroll County / Chatham / White Mountain National Forest

Cold River

Closed — Closed for the season. Opens mid-May and operates through mid-October. Reservations available through Recreation.gov.

About

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. This small facility features 14 campsites nestled in a pleasant mixed hardwood and pine forest, a short distance from Evans Brook and the 23-acre Basin Pond. The campground includes a picnic pavilion and serves as an excellent base for exploring the eastern reaches of the national forest. The area offers exceptional outdoor recreation opportunities. Basin Pond provides trout fishing and calm waters ideal for canoeing with non-motorized boats. The 4.5-mile Basin Trail departs from nearby Basin Campground, and numerous other hiking and mountain biking trails lie within a short drive, including routes into the Caribou Speckled Mountain Wilderness. The forest is home to diverse northern wildlife including moose, white-tailed deer, black bear, and nearly 200 species of birds. The campground operates seasonally and offers reservable sites through Recreation.gov. Sites include picnic tables and fire pits typical of established National Forest campgrounds. The remote location provides a peaceful camping experience while remaining accessible to nearby Maine towns for supplies and conveniences.

Directions

From Fryeburg, Maine, take Highway 113 north 15 miles to the campground at the southern end of Evans Notch.

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