3.8211 reviewsPrice
Varies
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
Price
Varies
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
Varies
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Check Policy
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Learn more about alerts →Camp Penacook Shelter
43.9581, -71.2688
We'll monitor this campground and alert you the moment sites become available.
Free to start · paid plans add 2-min scans
263,000+ sites monitored · Email alerts to start; SMS and in-app with an account
Learn more about alerts →Through-hikers and overnight trekkers tackling Mt. Chocorua in fall will get the most out of this stop. Mid-September to early October brings cool temps, dry trails, and peak foliage. It's free, and the east-facing shelter is a genuine relief after a hard push up a challenging tr
The tent pad has reportedly disappeared, so if the shelter's six to eight spots are full when you arrive, you're sleeping on open ground or hiking out. No potable water, no cell signal info, and reviews flag the trail as genuinely tough, this isn't a casual walk-in site.
Reference information about Camp Penacook Shelter sourced from official USFS records and forestcamping.com. View official recreation.gov page →
<p>Camp Penacook is a 3-sided shelter located on the southeast side of Mt. Chocorua, approximately 1.5 miles from the summit, off the Piper Trail. There is a small earthen tent pad located below the shelter and a pit toilet in the vicinity. The shelter holds 6-8 people and the tent pad holds one small tent. Nearby, a short distance up the Piper Trail from its junction with the shelter spur path, are gorgeous overlooks to the east on smooth granite slabs.</p>
Camp Penacook Shelter appears in our curated guides. Explore more top-rated campgrounds for the same activities and regions.
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Fall delivers the best conditions here. Mid-September through early October brings daytime highs around 45-60°F and nights between 25-40°F, with peak foliage and fewer bugs. Trail conditions are drier than spring, making ridge walks and photography more rewarding. Weekends during peak color see heavier traffic; weekdays stay quieter. Stable fall weather and clear nights make this the ideal window for overnight trips.
Summertime appears most popular; reviewers cite utility as an overnight stop then.
Potable water is not available at this site.
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