Cold River
New Hampshire
Free — you'll pick up right here.
Conditions: Blocked
for campground, todayAn agency closure order is in effect for this area; weather is marginal
2 factors · 2 sources
Newest 11 h ago · oldest 11 h
problem: Agency alerts
7 active alerts in White Mountain National Forest; most severe: Rattlesnake Fire – Pemigewasset Ranger District
USFSPosted Aug 15 · checked 11 h ago
caution: Weather
Rain, high 56°F / low 45°F, 100% precip — 66/100 for campground
OpenWeather11 h ago
Been out here in the last few days? One report keeps this current for everyone.
Campsite availability
Live from Recreation.gov for Cold River.
Here's your stay, mapped
Cold River
Suggested plan · check conditions before you go
Gear for the day
Meals
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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.
Directions & GPX
Facts about this campground
Where it is
- Saco Ranger District · Ranger district
- White Mountain National Forest · National forest
- Managed by
- Forest Service
Conditions
Active alerts for White Mountain National Forest as of Oct 9, 2026:
Town Hall Road Camping and Fire Restrictions
caution · posted Sep 29, 2026
Sawyer River Road Temporarily Closed
caution · posted Aug 24, 2026
caution · posted Aug 24, 2026
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
Pemigewasset Wilderness Food Storage Requirement
information · posted Aug 24, 2026
caution · posted Aug 24, 2026
Rattlesnake Fire – Pemigewasset Ranger District
critical · posted Aug 24, 2026
Source: USFS forest alerts
Nearby
- Royce TrailHiking0.5 mi
- Basin CampgroundCamping0.5 mi
- Bickford Brook TrailHiking0.5 mi
- Mount Meader Spur AHiking1.2 mi
- WM: Evans NotchRock climbing1.5 mi
- Shell Pond BoulderingRock climbing2.1 mi
- High Meadow WallRock climbing2.6 mi
- Wild River CampgroundCamping3.8 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
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