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Cold River Campground

White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire

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As of September 2026, Cold River Campground is a campground in White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire with 8 campsites. Cold River Campground is booked through Recreation.gov.

PermitSnag checks Cold River Campground for availability and tells alert holders when a site opens up.
Cold River Campground is located at 44.2644° N, 71.0133° W.

people allowed on each site: 8

Cold River Campground reservations and next available dates

September 2026

October 2026

open, tap to book on Recreation.govsold outin your alert

Stay and booking rules

Maximum consecutive stay: 14 consecutive nights
Maximum stay: 14 nights

Published by Recreation.gov for Cold River Campground, read on September 28, 2026.

Campsites at Cold River Campground

456710121314

Standard 8
Accessible 8

What an RV fits

30 ft4 sites
35 ft1 site
40 ft3 sites

Amenities

restrooms
showers
potable water
dump station

At a glance: Setting: Mountain.

Things to do: fishing, boating, hiking, wildlife, photography.

All sites at Cold River Campground, as listed by Recreation.gov

Every site is in the COLD loop.

Site	Type	Sleeps	Max RV	Access
004	Standard	8	30 ft	Accessible
005	Standard	8	30 ft	Accessible
006	Standard	8	30 ft	Accessible
007	Standard	8	40 ft	Accessible
010	Standard	8	30 ft	Accessible
012	Standard	8	40 ft	Accessible
013	Standard	8	40 ft	Accessible
014	Standard	8	35 ft	Accessible

About Cold River 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.

Rules and notices at Cold River Campground

Recreation.gov does not date these notices. We last read them on September 28, 2026. Check Cold River Campground on Recreation.gov

Notices from Recreation.gov

Two pets per site

No switching sites upon arrival

Be bear aware; keep all food out of site in approved containers or locked inside a hard-sided vehicle and remove all food from area after eating

Please Note: Site fee includes one RV with tow vehicle, tent sites include two vehicles. If space allows a third vehicle would be an additional fee paid at time of check in if you did not pay for the Extra Vehicle Add On. Vehicles must fit on the parking spur at your site.

Reserved Sites will be held until checkout time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of the second day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests.

Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.

Refunds: Refund requests made through www.recreation.gov will be charged a $10 processing fee. This fee is retained by the reservation service contractor along with the non-refundable reservation fee. All requests for the return of the non-refundable reservation fee and the cancellation fee will be declined by the campground concessionaire as they did not receive these fees (these are the fees retained by the reservation contractor, a different entity).

Visitors should be prepared for rugged trails and changing weather: Hike Safe Hike Safe

Don't move firewood: To limit the spread of invasive tree-killing pests, firewood from outside the area is not permitted. Some states have quarantines and may confiscate your firewood. Please help protect our forests from invasive species by obtaining your firewood at or near your camping destination and burning it on-site. Visit dontmovefirewood.org for more information.

Click here to learn more about White Mountain National Forest

Recreation.gov permit and campground cancellations →

Cold River Campground FAQ

How hard is it to get a campsite at Cold River Campground?

Cold River Campground is rated "Hard to Book" based on historical demand. This campground is popular and often books out weeks in advance. Your best strategy is to monitor cancellations.

How do I find last-minute availability at Cold River Campground?

Cancellations happen frequently at Cold River Campground, especially 1-2 weeks before check-in dates. PermitSnag monitors availability 24/7 and sends instant alerts when sites open up due to cancellations. This is often the best way to snag popular campsites.

How many campsites does Cold River Campground have?

Cold River Campground has 8 campsites.