Weekend availability at Cold River
Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 17, 9:55 PM PTSold out 2 of the next 4 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.
- Fri, Sep 18Sold out
- Fri, Sep 25Sold out
- Fri, Oct 2Open5/8 sites
- Fri, Oct 9Open5/8 sites
Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.
Campsites & amenities
Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.
- Campsites
- 14
- Max rig length
- 40 ft
About this campground
Overview 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.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. Learn more about recreation in the national forest.Facilities 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.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. Contact Info For facility specific information, please call (802) 289-0970. Nearby Attractions 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.
Getting there
From Fryeburg, Maine, take Highway 113 north 15 miles to the campground.
Activities
- FISHING
- PICNICKING
- HIKING
- CAMPING
- BOATING
- BIKING
Nearby federal campgrounds
- Basin CampgroundWhite Mountain National Forest1 mi
- Laughing Lion TrailheadNew Hampshire2 mi
- E Royce / Spruce Hill TrailheadWhite Mountain National Forest3 mi
- Evans Notch OverlookWhite Mountain National Forest3 mi
- Shell Pond TrailheadNew Hampshire3 mi
- Shelburne South TrailheadWhite Mountain National Forest4 mi
Never miss an opening at Cold River
Popular New Hampshire campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Cold River around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.
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Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.