Three Ponds Shelter
Open year-round, 24 hours daily. First-come, first-served with no fees or reservations. No potable water or restroom facilities; campers must treat water from nearby sources and pack out all trash.
Special Weather Statement issued May 23 at 12:09PM EDT by NWS Gray ME
* The warm air temperatures this weekend in the mid 60s may cause people to underestimate the dangers of the cold water temperatures which are currently only in the mid 50s across Sebago Lake and Lake Winnipesaukee, and in the mid 50s in the regions smaller lakes and rivers. * The cold water temperatures can quickly cause hypothermia to anyone immersed in the water. When the water temperature is below 60 degrees, the average submerged person could loose dexterity within minutes and be unable to accomplish simple tasks. Anyone on small boats, canoes, or kayaks should plan accordingly if recreating this weekend and use extreme caution to avoid this threat. Paddle smart from the start and always wear your life jacket! * Generally light and variable winds shift to southerly today. Winds will be breezy this afternoon with some gusts up to 25 mph. If boating on large bodies of water, these strong winds can increase the likelihood of overturning your boat, canoe, or kayak due to increased wave heights.
About
Three Ponds Shelter is a rustic three-sided Adirondack-style shelter located in the Pemigewasset Ranger District of White Mountain National Forest near Rumney, New Hampshire. The shelter sits beside the scenic middle pond of the three trailside ponds, offering a classic White Mountains backcountry camping experience. With a capacity of 8 people and a fire ring for warmth and cooking, it provides basic overnight accommodation for hikers exploring this area. The shelter is reached via an easy 2.3-mile hike from the Three Ponds Trailhead, located on Stinson Lake Road just north of Stinson Lake. The trail doubles as a snowmobile route in winter, but is also open to skiers, snowshoers, and winter hikers. From the shelter, hikers can continue on an easy-to-moderate 5.3-mile loop back to the trailhead via the Donkey Hill Cut-off and Kineo Trail. This is a primitive backcountry site with no restroom facilities, no potable water, and no designated tent sites. Visitors must filter or treat water from nearby sources and pack out all trash. The shelter operates year-round, 24 hours daily, on a first-come, first-served basis with no fees or reservations.
Directions
Take Stinson Lake Road north from the Village of Rumney. The Three Ponds Trailhead is located on Stinson Lake Road just north of Stinson Lake. From the trailhead, hike 2.3 miles on the Three Ponds Trail to reach the shelter.
Location
Amenities
| Water | No |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | No |
| Dump Station | No |
| Wifi | No |
| Pets Allowed | — |
| Showers | No |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | No |
| Price | $0 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | — |
| Max Trailer Length | — |
| Big Rig Friendly | No |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Cell Service
| AT&T | Yes |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Useful Links
| USFS Three Ponds Shelter | |
| USFS Three Ponds Trailhead |
Community Posts
No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!