RE: Favorite Campgrounds in NH and why!

[garym053]

 
Continuing my favorites, we are in New Hampshire, former site of the Old Man of the Mountain! (Sniff)
 New Hampshire has some great paddling lakes! We are into kayak touring and NH just seems to have an abundance of small lakes and ponds teeming with wildlife!
 
 Favorite Campgrounds:
 Umbagog Lake State Campground, near Errol, NH. (Actually Cambridge, NH but half the maps don t show Cambridge!) This and Hermit Island in Maine are tied for my all time favorites. Every year when I make reservations for us and the other 2 couples who join us, I add on a day! This CG has both Base sites and Remote sites scattered around the lake. The lake is quite large, 7800 acres, which I think makes it the 2nd largest in NH. It is also quite shallow and warms up nicely! The CG is well run and quiet time means quiet time! Many Base Sites have W & E hook-ups. There are Moose, Osprey Loon, and Bald Eagles on this lake, and as long as you head out for some quiet paddling, you are sure to see them.
 
 Lafayette CG, Franconia Notch. Near what used to be the Old Man of the Mountain. No hookups. Quiet. Lots of hiking trails. A paved 8 mile biking and walking path runs from Cannon Mtn, past the Old Man, near the CG, near the Basin (another favorite spot) and ends near the Flume. We tried hiking the Lonesome Lake trail (runs through the CG) twice last Fall, only to be turned back by freezing rain the first time, and horizontal snow (blizzard) a week later. The Old Man didn t Fall, he went South to warmer climate!
 
 Moose Hillock, Warren, NH. Gets a mention because the first time we camped there we liked it and the second time we hated it! The difference? The first time we were in the woods close to the tent sites. had a lot of privacy and quiet. The second time we were next to the playground, and even though it was SUPPOSED to be closed until 8 am. I think parents SENT their kids there so they could sleep a little longer. That meant we had screaming kids about 20 feet from our pop-up at 6 am! It s a nice campground and that was my only complaint. If I went back I d just make sure I got a site in the area I wanted.

[BrBorns]

 garym053
Since I like to fish, I have serveral CGs I like. I will start with ColdSprings,very much family orientated,since I have a little one that works out good for her and mom. Within a  ten minute ride from the property, there are some nice places to fish from ponds to lakes and a river.. so that gives me a nice mix. Also added advantage is it is only hour and ten minutes from the house.
 
 Been to Moose Hillock... loved it. Been there three times,but as our needs change, I think we will not see it for awhile. Enjoyed being down on the rocks on the main road,especially when  the weather was in the high eighties.  The water running down over the rocks was ice cold, and there are alot of nice pools to cool off in. Found the pool at Moose Hillock to be overcrowded. Also, there are plenty of lakes in the area to go fishing.

[PI]

 garym053
Garym,
 That CG --Umbagog sounds just like what we are looking for. We also enjoy touring with the kayaks. I love being close to wildlife and kayaking is so peaceful and quiet. We will seriously consider this cg. How are the showers..I assume there are some?

[garym053]

 garym053
Hi Jeanne & Rich!
 Umbagog Lake is the wonderful! I beleive the NH parks website is www.nhstateparks.org they have some information and reservations can be made on-line.
 The showers are good, they have a new shower building with (I think) 3 shower rooms, and then the Men s & Ladie s Bathrooms each have a shower. I reccommend the new ones! The staff is friendly. If you go, inquire about taking the boat trip around the lake at night. It s the best way to see the whole lake, unless you are into long distance (40 plus miles) paddling! The Rangers take a pontoon boat out each night to check the sites and make sure everyone is set for the night.
 We will be up there from 7/18 to 7/22. If you re up there at that time give us a holler, we ll introduce ourselves! We camp there with 2 couples from Mass. My wife s brother and his wife from W. Brookfield, and my sister and her husband from Medway, MA.

[GaryWT]

 garym053
I would have to list my favorite Nh campground as Coldsprings Camp Resort.  The pool complex is great, activities, entertainment and dances all keep the kids busy.  Tons of kids of all ages, planned activities on weekend, nice owners, clean bathrooms and showers, good security, friendliest campers that I have ever seen in my 12 years of camping.

[GeneF]

 garym053
PI
 
 Lake Umbagog is one of my favorites also. I have two trips planned there this year.  We have been going there over 10 years.
 
 Word of caution on the lake and kayaking, you will find it very smooth early in the morning but a breeze generally comes up around 8 to 9 and it can be a stiff breeze. A lot would depend on the type of kayak you have.
 
 If you are an experienced kayaker, the Androscoggin River is only about 10 miles away with some white water and rapids but not bad ones.  A lot of people canoe down the river.  There are long stretches of fairly quiet water.  Access is easy in many spots as it is right along the road.
 
 Bass fishing is very good in the lake and good trout fishing in the river.
 
 Plenty of moose to see but be careful driving, especially at dusk, they like to have the roads to themselves.
 
 If you take a left out of the campground and head to Maine, you will come across some hiking trails and the Appalacian Trail.  About 10 miles up.
 
 Leave the credit card at home as there are no malls to shop.  Biggest shopping is in Errol at Cote s which has Toy s for Big Boys.  It is kind of a hardware store but main items are for hunting and fishing. There are a couple of restaurants in Errol but not fancy.
 
 Campground can be full on weekends so you should make your reservations early.  Easy to do on line.  During the week, it can be fairly empty which is when I really enjoy the place.
 
 The boat trip around the lake will be well worth it.  Plenty of loons to see and very scenic ride.  I have fished the entire lake and it is worth the ride.  And there is a pair of nesting eagles.
 
 A scenic ride over to Colebrook is worth it up through Dixville Notch.  Takes about an hour and a half to get there.  Small town but big enough to have some restaurants and gift shops.  If you are up to a longer days drive, you could drive up to Lake Frances and the Connecticut Lake area.  Very pretty area.
 
 If you decide to camp at Lake Frances, I would recommend the Lake Frances State Campground.  They have some elec and water hookups and a lot of dry camping sites.  Good fishing in the area.  Bathrooms are super nice.  Relatively new and they are kept clean.
 
 Again, you can leave the credit card at home, no shopping areas but a few general stores.
 
 The ride up to Canada might seem interesting but it is a long drive and there are no towns close to the border on either side.  Did it once, and that was enough.
 
 If you are around, say Hi.  I will be on site 1A June 18 to June 21.  Will be with two fishing buddies.
 
 
 
 Enjoy.

[garym053]

 garym053
Genef,
 Great description of Umbagog and it s surroundings! I would add that if anyone does get up to Lake Francis, give them selves a treat and have dinner at the Rainbow Grille at Tall Timbers Lodge in Pittsburg. We stayed there last Fall, when we couldn t get in to Lake Francis State Park and had the best meal we ve ever had anywhere! It s been written up in the Boston Globe, Yankee Mag, and several other travel sections.
 Every year we drive to the first put-in above the dam on Rte 16, and paddle up the Androscoggin to the Magalloway River and picnic at one of the sites opposite the Bald Eagles Nest. This year, I d like to drop a car there and put in further North on the Magalloway and paddle down the Magalloway and Androscoggin rivers.
 You are right to warn about winds as well! Last October when we stayed in a Cabin at Umbagog Lake SP, we arrived along with the remanants of a hurricaine! You would have thought you were at the ocean the waves were so big. We loaded up the yaks and went down and paddled the Pontook Res. on the Androscoggin. That s another reason I love that area so much, if the lake is too rough, there s always some place you can paddle!

[GeneF]

 garym053
Here is one that I found last year:
 
 http://www.ucampnh.com/whitsend/id4.htm
 
 Whit s End.
 
 It was recently purchased by a young eager couple who are doing a lot of fixing up.
 
 The pool is new as is the complete renovation of the bathrooms.
 
 Major drawback to this campground is the location of the bathrooms.  Because of the Bearcamp River, he is limited as to where the bathrooms can be.
 
 In some areas, it can be a hike to the baths and showers but there are some outhouses throughout the campground.
 
 Swimming in the river can be fun and there are a few river beaches in the campground.  
 
 We took a very enjoyable kayak ride down the BearCamp River out to Ossippee Lake.  Nice easy paddle.  Lots of houses along the river but it was a fun paddle.
 
 Mount Chocoura (hiking) and Chocoura Lake (small lake but a fun paddle) are not that fair away and you can easily make it to the Mall Outlets in North Conway.
 
 A drive across the Kancamangus Highway (37 miles) is very scenic and you can stop along the way to swim in the river.
 
 I am hoping to make it back there again this year.

[PI]

 garym053
Wow, Great information and I thank you. Umbagog sounds like one we need to get to. There was mention in someone s post about their sites being a tight fit for larger popups---We have a Utah ...is that too big?
 
 My husband built his kayak...it is a 17 ft. strip sea kayak. It is made with cedar and pine. It is really pretty and cuts the water nicely. He made me a shorter one but another friend made the same size and found it not as stable. So we borrow one from another friend.
 If we are there when you are ....we will definately stop in to say Hi.
 We do not make plans ahead very well. My DH owns his own business and it is hard to plan.
 
 Thanks again for the info.
 
 PI

[garym053]

 garym053
The second year we went there someone had a 40  motorhome on one of the sites, it was a little tight but it fit! Sites 42 and 43 are really nice. 41 is a tent site only. We have been in 43 for 3 years but this year we are in 01D, which is near the beach, but kind of in the midst of everything. It s pretty well run so even there should be no problems. There might be some sites that may be tight, but as I recall their web site shows site sizes. I ll go and make sure and get back to you!

[garym053]

 garym053
Sorry PI, I was wrong! They must have changed their website! Last year if you opened their site map and put your cursor on a site number, it would tell you the size and other info. It doesn t do that this year!