Camping & Cabins

Camping is a favorite activity on National Forests. The Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests offer a variety of camping experiences ranging from developed campgrounds to backcountry camping (dispersed camping).

Developed Campgrounds

• If a site requires a reservation, visit Recreation.gov to reserve at least 7 days in advance. A 6-month rolling booking window allows you to book a reservation within a specified time range. The date that can be reserved updates each day. For example, with a 6-month rolling window: January 1st you could reserve out to July 1st. January 2nd you would be able to reserve out to July 2nd. And so on.
• Reservations cannot be made by calling the forest.
• Developed campsites that do not need a reservation, are first-come first-served. The forest is not able to manage a list of availability.
• Scan and Pay System available on recreation.gov. The Scan and Pay system that will be used to pay for designated first-come, first-serve sites will be available in May of 2022. Seasonal campers would first choose a campsite and return to the kiosk board to pay. 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. The QR code will be posted on the information kiosk; users will scan the QR code for the payment option they plan to stay. 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.

Long-distance Hiking Shelters

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 Trails on the Rochester Ranger District, which are separate trails in this area. These shelters vary from 3-sided Adirondack style shelters to more modern designs and there are even a couple of 4-sided cabins. These shelters are all first-come first served and are often shared with other visitors.

On the Finger Lakes National Forest, there is a 3-sided Adirondack style shelter located along the Finger Lakes Trail. Visitors must carry their own food, cooking equipment and overnight gear. Please pack out all your trash.

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 works in partnership with the Green Mountain Club to provide caretakers at several high-use shelter and tenting areas to help maintain the sites and provide visitor education and information.

Cabins

The Green Mountain National Forest in partnership with the Vermont Huts Association has a cabin located at the Chittenden Brook Campground available for reservations. The Chittenden Brook Hut (pictured) is open for year-round use and is located within the semi-remote campground on the Green Mountain National Forest. A new hut is being constructed in 2022 at the Grout Pond Campground on the Green Mountain National Forest Manchester District also in partnership with the Vermont Huts Association. Reservations for booking will be available once construction is completed.