Camping & Cabins
The Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests offer a variety of camping experiences and facilities that provide varying levels of user comfort and convenience.
Developed Campgrounds often contain constructed features such as hardened camping pads, picnic tables, fire rings, and restroom facilities. Select campgrounds offer potable water. Most campgrounds offer drive-in access with parking at your camp site; Grout Pond and Silver Lake Campgrounds in Vermont are hike-in only as is the Potomac Group Campground in New York. There are no campgrounds with electrical hookups or waste dumping stations on the GMFL.
* Developed campgrounds are typically open from Memorial Day through Columbus Day.
Shelters: There are 26 Appalachian Trail (AT) shelters, 9 Long Trail (LT) shelters, 20 shelters located where the AT and LT coincide, and 4 shelters located where the North Country Trail (NCT) and LT coincide on National Forest System land in Vermont. There is one trail shelter in New York. The shelters are spaced no more than a moderate day’s hike apart and can typically accommodate 6-10 people. Majority of these shelters are three-sided and have an associated outhouse.
In addition to AT/LT/NCT shelters, the Forest Service manages five shelters on the GMNF, including: Chittenden Brook Campground Shelter (amenity located at Site 4), Grout Pond Campground Shelters (located at Sites 6 and 8), Silver Lake Campground Host Shelter, and the Moosalamoo Campground Host Shelter.
- Cabins: The GMFL has two existing recreation rental cabins in Vermont managed under permit to the Vermont Huts Association: Chittenden Brook Hut (660 feet2) and Grout Pond Hut (1,100 feet2). Both modern structures are located within existing campgrounds with propane stoves and heat, solar systems for lighting, and associated privy/pit toilets shared with the campground.
- Dispersed Camping or “backcountry” campsites are free areas where people camp outside of designated campgrounds. They offer a more rustic and solitary experience with minimal or no facilities and services. Look for and utilize established campsites, often with a fire ring, to minimize environmental impact and ensure you assess the site for hazards as they are not routinely patrolled.
Most sites are first-come, first-served, although there are several reservable camp sites available during the summer recreation season at recreation.gov.
The maximum stay is 14 days in any 30-day period regardless of your chosen camping experience.
Residential use of the National Forest is prohibited.
Know Before You Go
The Forest Supervisor may issue Special Orders and Closures that will close or restrict the use of certain areas as needed to protect public safety and natural resources. It is recommended that visitors consult the closure order list and/or check with the District Ranger station to be informed of up to date closures. Emergency closure orders will be posted as an “alert” so visitors to the Forest can reasonably be expected to be familiar with them.
Vermont—Green Mountain National Forest Special Orders and Closures
New York—Finger Lakes National Forest Special Orders and Closures
The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act authorizes federal land management agencies to charge fees at campgrounds and day-use sites to help fund the maintenance and improvement of those areas and the services they offer. Recreation fees are charged at facilities that provide certain amenities on the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests and have helped pay for improvements such as: Grout Pond Campground waterfront site improvements; law enforcement patrols; Interloken Trail repairs on the Finger Lakes National Forest; new toilets; and annual maintenance of parking areas.
Several Federal agencies have combined their recreation passes into a program known as America the Beautiful – the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. As public land managers, each agency provides different benefits and access for citizens to make the most of our most treasured places. If you are 62 years or older, or have a disability, you can qualify for a Senior Pass or an Access Pass. This entitles you to discounts on campsites and fees. These passes can be purchased online at Recreation.gov/pass. Access Passes are free of charge.
Campsite fees
Campsite fees are minimal, typically around $15 per site per night, depending on the site and available amenities.
- Campsite fees for reservable sites must be paid online at recreation.gov
- Campsite fees for first-come, first-served sites can be paid on site in cash at the fee deposit tubes located near the recreation site information board.
Campsite fees for first-come, first-served sites can now also be paid on site electronically through the Scan and Pay System available on recreation.gov.
Seasonal campers may first choose an available campsite and return to the information board to pay through the Recreation.gov mobile app. Simply scan the QR code posted on the information board and follow the instructions to reserve. Campers will then take a fee envelope, tear off the stub, and write their confirmation number and their name on the stub and clip it to the campsite post. Campers must have the Recreation.gov mobile app downloaded on their smart phone ahead of time, in order to use the Scan and Pay system.
Day-use fees
Day-use fees are minimal, typically $5 per car per day, depending on the site and available amenities. Fees for day-use are collected only at select sites; most sites are free to use.
If you have paid a campsite fee and your car is parked at your campsite, you do not need to pay the day-use fee.
Pavilion fees
Vermont
There are two reservable pavilions available at Hapgood Pond Recreation Area. Each has a $50 rental fee per day for groups of up to 35 people.
- The Hapgood Pond pavilions are not drive-up sites; users with a vehicle will need to park in the day-use area and pay the day-use fee.
- Users walking in, from a campsite or elsewhere, do not need to pay a day-use fee in addition to the pavilion fee.
- Texas Falls pavilion is free for use on a first-come, first-served basis unless prior reservations have been made to rent its use. The pavilion may be rented at a cost of $20 for 1- 20 people and $40 for 21- 40 people.
New York
The Potomac Group Campground is reservable for $20-$40 per night per group, depending on group size. The site includes a pavilion as well as several small fields suitable for group camping and can accommodate groups of 8-40 people.
- The site is walk-in only with parking located nearby; there is no day-use fee to park.
- The fee to camp at the group campsite includes the use of the pavilion.
- Day-use sites and Ranger stations have set hours of operation. Visitors do not need to “check in” at the office before camping.
- First-come, first-served campsites and dispersed campsites do not have set hours of operation or established “check-in, check-out” times. However, users are expected to pay any applicable fees within 30 minutes of arrival.
- At reservable developed campsites, there is a check out time which varies based on site. Be sure to check the information board, look online, or contact the ranger station for hours. Users can “check-in” whenever the site becomes vacant.
- At all developed campgrounds, there are quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Reservations
Select campsites and pavilions offer reservations during the summer recreation season, which generally runs from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.
Sites can only be reserved on Recreation.gov at least 4 days in advance. A 6-month rolling booking window allows users to book a reservation within 6 months of the booking date. For example, with a 6-month rolling window: if booking on January 1st, a site may be reserved any available date out to July 1st; or if booking on January 2nd, a site may be reserved any available date out to July 2nd.
Reservations cannot be made by calling the forest.
Reservations may be made at the following campgrounds:
Green Mountain - Manchester District, Vermont
Green Mountain - Middlebury/Rochester District, Vermont
Finger Lakes - Hector District, New York
First-Come, First-Served
Developed campsites that do not need a reservation are first-come, first-served. This means the first person to physically arrive at an open campsite can claim the site for the duration of their stay.
To claim a first-come, first-served developed campsite:
- First visit the information board to check for any applicable fees or instructions.
- Walk through the campsite to find an open site: no one is currently occupying the site or the numbered site post does not have any signage on it indicating the site is taken.
- Once you find a site, return to the information board to fill out a fee envelope or stub with your information and length of stay. Pay any applicable fees either in cash at the fee tube or online through the app.
- Clip the stub with your information to the site post of your chosen campsite.
Dispersed campsites are all first-come, first-served. Most will not have an information board to consult or a numbered site post. There is no need for a fee envelope or stub. Simply set up camp away from other users or developed recreation sites.
The forest is not able to manage a list of first-come, first-served site availability.
Obey any restrictions on fires.
- New York State Open Burning Regulations and Fire Danger Levels
- Vermont State Open Burning Regulations and Fire Danger Monitoring
Build fires only in fire rings, stoves, grills, or fireplaces provided for that purpose whenever possible.
Use dead or downed wood to build your fire. Do not cut live trees or transport firewood over long distances.
- Why it’s important to “buy it where you burn it.”
- Finger Lakes Special Order: Order 2011-01 Transportation of Firewood
- Green Mountain Special Order: Order 2009-01 Firewood Closure
Keep your fire small, not tall.
- Get tips about preparing a campfire safely from Smokey Bear.
Be sure your fire is completely extinguished before leaving.
- Drown, Stir, Repeat: Drown your fire with water, stir the ashes, and feel the temperature in the fire pit. If it is still warm, repeat until cold.
One of the best things you can do to help care for the outdoors is practice the Leave No Trace principles. By applying these principles, we can maintain our favorite places for generations.
The seven principles of Leave No Trace are:
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of others
Learn more about the seven Leave No Trace principles
Camping Experiences
In general, when camping on the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests:
- The maximum stay is 14 days in any 30-day period
- Know the rules of the campground, such as occupancy limits
- There are no campgrounds with electrical hookups or waste dumping stations in the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests
Residential use of the National Forest is prohibited.
Most developed campsites are outfitted with a fire ring, picnic table, and parking space, meaning users can drive directly to their site. Some developed campgrounds also provide restroom areas or tent platforms and some may accommodate RVs.
- Developed campgrounds are usually open from Memorial Day through Columbus Day.
- It is permissible to camp in most developed campgrounds outside of the operating “open” season for free. However, the campsites are not maintained outside of the standard operating season; there may be no water, restrooms, or other services provided.
- The maximum stay is 14 days in any 30-day period.
- Most sites are first-come, first-served, although there are several reservable camp sites available during the summer recreation season.
The maximum number of people permitted at a standard developed campsite is eight.
Potomac Group Campground can accommodate larger groups, up to 40 people.
Some developed campgrounds may accommodate RVs. However, in the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests, there are no campgrounds with electrical hookups or waste dumping stations.
RVs can be accommodated at the following campgrounds:
Green Mountain - Manchester District, Vermont
Green Mountain - Middlebury/Rochester District, Vermont
Finger Lakes - Hector District, New York
In addition, RV camping is:
- Not permitted if a site is walk-in only.
- Permitted on Forest Service roads and spurs, so long as the vehicle does not impede traffic and the area is not posted closed to camping.
- Not permitted on Forest Service roads when the roads are closed.
- Not permitted at trailheads or at designated day-use areas.
- Not permitted in pastures on the Finger Lakes National Forest.
Backbone Horse Campground, located on the Finger Lakes National Forest, is the only campground managed specifically for horse use within the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests.
There are eleven campsites total in the Backbone Horse Campground. Half of the campsites are open to non-horse users and horseback users. The other half are open only to horseback users from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.
All sites are first-come, first-served with a $15 fee per night. Sites are large enough to accommodate a horse trailer and there is a corral in the area.
It is permissible to camp in a vehicle on the National Forest wherever a motor vehicle is permitted for overnight use.
Car camping is:
- Permitted in developed campgrounds as long as parking is permitted at the selected campsite. If a site is walk-in only, car camping is not permitted at the site.
- Permitted on Forest Service roads and spurs, so long as the vehicle does not impede traffic and the area is not posted closed to camping.
- Not permitted on Forest Service roads when the roads are closed.
- Not permitted at trailheads or at designated day-use areas.
- Not permitted in pastures on the Finger Lakes National Forest from May 15-October 31.
Motorized travel is restricted to designated roads and trails throughout the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests. Refer to the Motor Vehicle Use Maps for a list of seasonal and special vehicle designations.
Dispersed or backcountry camping is allowed in most locations on the forest unless there is a specific closure order in place for a particular area.
Vermont—Green Mountain National Forest Special Orders and Closures
New York—Finger Lakes National Forest Special Orders and Closures
The following camping practices are recommended:
- On the Green Mountain National Forest, locate campsites at least 200 feet from trails, roads, developed recreation sites, or waterbodies including ponds, rivers, and streams
- On the Finger Lakes National Forest, locate campsites at least 50 feet from trails, roads, developed recreation sites, or waterbodies including ponds, rivers, and streams
- On the Finger Lakes National Forest, camping is prohibited in pastures May 15-October 31
- When able, use sites already managed for overnight use including designated tent platforms and established shelters
- When able, use an existing fire ring
- Share trailside shelters and keep in mind camping is limited to two consecutive days
- Do not build structures, construct furniture or dig trenches
- Do not camp in alpine or sub-alpine areas where trees are 8 feet tall or less. Help protect these fragile ecosystems!
- Please follow the principles of Leave No Trace
Good campsites are found - not made!
Long-distance hiking shelters on the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests are primitive standing structures closely located to long-distance trails. They are hike-in only with limited amenities and dispersed camping practices should be followed. The use of trailside shelters is limited to two consecutive days.
On the Green Mountain National Forest there are several trail shelters available for use along the Appalachian/Long Trail on the Manchester District and along both the Appalachian and Long Trail on the Rochester Ranger District, which are separate trails in this area. There are also several trail shelters along the North Country Trail/Long Trail as well as the Long Trail, which eventually separates from the North Country Trail, on the Rochester Ranger District.
These shelters vary from 3-sided Adirondack style shelters to more modern designs and there are even a couple of 4-sided cabins. They are all first-come, first-served and are often shared with other visitors. All of these sites have a privy nearby and a source for drinking water that will need to be treated prior to use.
The Green Mountain National Forest partners with the Green Mountain Club to provide caretakers at several high-use shelters and tent areas to help maintain the sites and provide visitor education and information.
On the Finger Lakes National Forest, there is a 3-sided Adirondack style shelter located along the North Country Trail/Finger Lakes Trail. The shelter is first-come, first-served and may be shared with other visitors. There is no privy or source for drinking water nearby.
Green Mountain - Manchester District, Vermont
Appalachian Trail/Long Trail Shelters
- Big Branch Shelter
- Bromley Shelter
- Churchill Scott Shelter
- Clarendon Shelter
- Congdon Shelter
- GMC Caretaker Hut Shelter
- Goddard Shelter
- Governor Clement Shelter
- Greenwall Shelter
- Kid Gore Shelter
- Little Rock Pond Shelter
- Lost Pond Shelter
- Melville Nauheim Shelter
- Minerva Hinchey Shelter
- Old Job Shelter
- Peru Peak Shelter
- Seth Warner Shelter
- Spruce Peak Shelter
- Story Spring Shelter
- Stratton Pond Shelter
- William B. Douglas Shelter
Green Mountain - Middlebury/Rochester District, Vermont
Appalachian Trail Shelters
- Happy Hill Shelter
- Stony Brook Shelter
- Thistle Hill Shelter
- Winturri Shelter
North Country Trail/Long Trail Shelters
- David Logan Shelter
- Rolston Rest Shelter
- Sucker Brook Shelter
- Sunrise Shelter
- Tucker Johnson Shelter
Long Trail Shelters
- Battell Shelter
- Boyce Shelter
- Cooley Glen Shelter
- Emily Proctor Shelter
- Skyline Lodge
Finger Lakes - Hector District, New York
North Country Trail/Finger Lakes Trail Shelters
- Dunham Shelter
The Vermont Huts Association operates two cabins located on the Green Mountain National Forest available for reservations. The Chittenden Brook Hut, located at the Chittenden Brook Campground, is open for year-round use. The Grout Pond Hut, located at the Grout Pond Campground, is also open for year-round use.
Backbone Horse Campground
Bingo Brook
Blueberry Patch Campground
Chittenden Brook Campground
Greendale Campground
Grout Pond Recreation Area
Hapgood Pond Recreation Area
Moosalamoo Campground
Potomac Group Campground
Silver Lake Campground
