Cardigan Mountain State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Cardigan Mountain State Park is found in western New Hampshire, and it encompasses 5,655 acres of mountains and forests. The central point of the park, Cardigan Mountain, stands at 3,121 feet tall, and the park features a trail that leads to the summit. On this mountain, visitors can enjoy a stunning view of the White Mountains, including Camel’s Hump in Vermont and Pleasant Mountain in Maine. This state park is also just a two-hour drive away from Boston, Massachusetts, and it has its own lodge and campground. Nearby Cities: • Orange, NH • Groton, NH • Alexandria, NH • Hebron, NH
Spring 27-53 F
Summer 52-79 F
Fall 24-44 F
Winter 4-27 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Cardigan Mountain State Park
Cardigan Mountain State Park Campground • Water hookup: No • Electrical hookup: No • Sewer hookup: No • Wi-Fi: Yes • Pet-friendly: No • Max RV length: N/A • Other amenities: Camp store, electric vehicle charging stations, ski trails, fire rings, picnic tables, potable water, restrooms, on-site restaurant
Crescent Campgrounds
Just a few minutes from the Cardigan Mountain State Park, Crescent Campgrounds is located on Canaan Street Lake and offers wooded, quiet campsites. There are plenty of amenities and recreation on site, including boating, fishing, swimming, horseshoes, plus many activities including ceramics, campfires and s’mores, pancake breakfasts and more. Rates start at $25 per night.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wifi: no
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: boating, fishing, swimming, beach, horseshoes, air hockey, pool table and many planned activities.
Pine Haven Campground
About a half hour from the State Park, nestled at the base of the White Mountains in the Baker River Valley is Pine Haven Campground! The campsite offers a wide variety of family-friendly camping sites and has 3,000 feet of river frontage. There are a wide variety of amenities and activities for every member of your group to enjoy!
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wifi: yes
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: Separate riverfront tenting area, fishing, hiking and biking, picnic tables, fire rings, covered pavilion, heated pool, laundry room, camp store, basketball court, softball field, 3 playgrounds, horseshoe pit, propane and go kart track and rentals.
What to Do at
Cardigan Mountain State Park
Skiing is perhaps the most popular activity at Cardigan Mountain State Park, and visitors can enjoy over 50 miles of historic cross-country trails that were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Visitors can also try out hiking and skiing backpacks along with LEKI ski poles for free at the park’s Cardigan Lodge. The camp and lodge store at the park offers ecology books, local maps, and other hiking and skiing equipment items for purchase.
Inside Cardigan Mountain State Park
Known for stunning views of not just New Hampshire, but Maine and Vermont as well, there are many ways to experience the natural beauty in Cardigan Mountain State Park. Enjoy a picnic, take a hike up the summit of the mountain or opt for a less strenuous trail. You can do it all with your pet, too, because the park is pet friendly!
Hiking – Cardigan Mountain State Park is known for excellent hiking trails. There are 15 trails in the State Park, and one of the most popular is the Mount Cardigan Loop Trail. The trail leads to the 3,121-foot granite summit. The treeless summit offers stunning views of the West Central New Hampshire area, plus a panorama of Mount Monadnock and the White Mountains, Camel’s Hump in Vermont and Pleasant Mountain in Maine.
Picnicking – When you’re ready to relax and take a break from the nature fun inside Cardigan Mountain State Park, there is a picnic area perfect for it! Enjoy a snack or meal while relaxing and experiencing the natural beauty all around.
Fishing
Anglers can come to Cardigan Mountain State Park to fish for brook trout in the Applicant streams of the park. Holt Trail provides the best access to Number Seven Brook, which is a scenic stream that flows between Cardigan Mountain and Firescrew Mountain.
Geocaching
There are a couple of geocaches to find along the trails at Cardigan Mountain State Park, some of which have been found and replaced in the forests since the early 2000s. Nearly all caches placed in this park are placed by other visitors, not park staff, and geocaching is permitted throughout this state park.
Nature Watching
Birdwatching is a popular activity along the trails and at the picnic sites at this park, and common species you may see include the mourning dove, red-winged blackbird, northern flicker, northern cardinal, red-tailed hawk, American goldfinch, yellow-rumped warbler, and American robin. Predator animals in the area include wolves, coyotes, and even black bears. Moose are less commonly seen but do inhabit the area. Smaller animals you may spot include rabbits, red foxes, gray foxes, and mice. There are plenty of white-tailed deer to be found roaming the clearings.
Hiking
One of the most popular hiking trails at Mount Cardigan State Park is the challenging West Ridge Trail, which climbs 1,200 feet within one and a half miles. This trail features log staircases and wooden bridges to reach the granite summit of Mount Cardigan. Longer trails can be taken to reach the top of the mountain, including the South Ridge Trail, Manning Trail, Holt Trail, Mowglis Trail, and Clark Trail.
How to Get to
Cardigan Mountain State Park
To reach Cardigan Mountain State Park from the town of Bristol, New Hampshire, take Route 3A North for two miles, then turn left onto West Shore Road. Continue for two more miles, then continue straight onto Cardigan Mountain Road. Continue one more mile, then turn left onto North Road and then right onto Washburn Road. After another 200 yards, bear right onto Mount Cardigan Road, which will lead you straight into the park.
Entering Cardigan Mountain State Park
There is no fee to enter Cardigan Mountain State Park. There is a large parking lot on Cardigan Mountain Road, and there is no fee to park there. However, the gate to the park is typically closed in October. You can always park outside the gate and hike into the park during the off-season.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cardigan Mountain State Park
Cardigan Mountain State Park is most popular during the winter, spring, and summer seasons. In the winter, visitors can take the snow-covered ski trails while, in the spring and summer, visitors usually come to camp and enjoy the hiking trails that lead to the summit of Cardigan Mountain.
The forests found at Cardigan Mountain State Park are home to wildlife such as coyotes, bobcats, red foxes, gray foxes, and wolves. Visitors may also see white-tailed deer, rabbits, mice, and even moose or black bears at the park.
While there is a campground at Cardigan Mountain State Park, there are no campsites designated for RVs. At this campground, all campsites are designated for tents only, and vehicles are not able to access any of the sites.
Campsites at this state park can be reserved in advance online, and the general rate per night is $66. Group campsites are also available for $99 a night.
Yes. Pets are permitted at Cardigan Mountain State Park as long as they are on a leash no greater than six feet in length and they are not left unattended at any time. Pet owners are also required to clean up after their animals while in the park. Additionally, pets are not allowed inside the lodge or any of the other buildings at Cardigan Mountain State Park.