USDA Forest Service · New Hampshire
Cold River
USDA Forest Service · New Hampshire, United States
- Sites
- 14
- Hookups
- 8 no hookups
- Season
- May 22 to October 11
- Max RV length
- 40 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 633 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 1
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile none · AT&T none · Verizon none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- COLD RIVER CAMPGROUND (NFSR 120) · paved · moderate degree of user comfort
- Lake
- White Mountain National Forest
- Nearest town
- Chatham
- Address
- WHITE MOUNTAIN, NH
- Phone
- 603-447-2166
- Activities
- Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Picnic Tables
14 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 9° | -15° | 42° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 29° | 12° | -20° | 51° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 39° | 25° | -3° | 58° | 11 of 11 |
| April | 52° | 34° | 20° | 78° | 9 of 11 |
| May | 67° | 47° | 31° | 88° | 1 of 11 |
| June | 73° | 54° | 45° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 63° | 51° | 92° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 76° | 61° | 52° | 94° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 72° | 55° | 44° | 85° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 57° | 42° | 31° | 73° | 3 of 10 |
| November | 40° | 30° | 1° | 65° | 10 of 10 |
| December | 32° | 16° | -7° | 50° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Basin Campground · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 21 sites
- Baldface Shelter · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi
- Wild River Campground · USDA Forest Service · 4 mi
- Hastings Campground · USDA Forest Service · 6 mi · 25 sites
- Mountain Pond Shelter · USDA Forest Service · 7 mi
All public campgrounds in New Hampshire · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.