Gale River Dispersed Camping
White Mountain National Forest
Write a Review Gale River Trail Bethlehem, NH 03574 603-536-6100 Official WebsiteGPS: 44.2432, -71.632
Overview of Gale River Dispersed Camping
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: Boondocking 101
Last Price Paid: $0
Reported by camper-730250 on 7/24/2024
Longest RV Reported: 38 feet (Class A)
Reported by Rebooting Us on 11/2/2021
Number of Sites 11
Pad Type dirt
Open Seasonally May - Oct.
Elevation 1,345 ft / 409 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
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Q&A - Ask the Community about Gale River Dispersed Camping
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 603-536-6100
Reviews of Gale River Dispersed Camping 17 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 10 Users
Last reported 7/24/2024
Confirmed by 3 Users
Last reported 10/21/2022
Confirmed by 2 Users
Last reported 5/21/2021
“Very secluded, quiet and free”
Reviewed 7/24/2024
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 5 |
Overall Rating
I am parked upon looking for a campsite at Gail River, and in the middle of the week there were plenty available. It is very buggy. So be prepared for that. But I had no problems. No one bothered me. I didn’t hear anybody else, and I felt safe.
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Verizon 5G
camper-730250 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great Place! Get Bug Spray”
Reviewed 5/24/2024
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 3 |
| Site Number: | 6 |
Overall Rating
I loved my time at this campsite. It was beautiful and there were lots of places to hike but it wasn’t too far from town, however I only stayed for a few days because the mosquitos were so bad. I work outside and deal with mosquitoes every day, but this was another level. As soon as I opened any of my doors they swarmed me until I was ... more
I loved my time at this campsite. It was beautiful and there were lots of places to hike but it wasn’t too far from town, however I only stayed for a few days because the mosquitos were so bad. I work outside and deal with mosquitoes every day, but this was another level. As soon as I opened any of my doors they swarmed me until I was back in my camper. I’m covered in bites.
The sites were big and had fire pits. Some may be big enough for an rv, but perfect for a camper van or two. I’d love to go back in the fall.
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Verizon 5G
camper-867526 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Stayed For One Night ”
Reviewed 10/21/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 6 |
Overall Rating
We slept in our tent for a night here. The weather got pretty cold but we made sure to bundle up. There was extra wood others had left stacked up. There was some trash left here from previous campers unfortunately. Everything was pretty wet from the rain earlier in the day so we weren’t able to get a fire going. We only had one vehicle... more
We slept in our tent for a night here. The weather got pretty cold but we made sure to bundle up. There was extra wood others had left stacked up. There was some trash left here from previous campers unfortunately. Everything was pretty wet from the rain earlier in the day so we weren’t able to get a fire going. We only had one vehicle drive by in the morning, he sped by twice with his music very loud and smelled of marijauna. It was definitely a little creepy for a group of girls because he was staring us down. Other than that we had a great stay!
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AT&T 5G
Kenzey would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Quiet And Beautiful Spot”
Reviewed 10/3/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 1 |
| RV Length: | 22' (Class B) |
Overall Rating
Heavily wooded area which isn’t great for solar but we had a great stay in our class B for the night. Trees are starting to turn colors in late September and it was just beautiful. Don’t let the review about thieves deter you from staying! We only saw one other car drive by during our stay. I’m sure if you leave your stuff, people migh... more
Heavily wooded area which isn’t great for solar but we had a great stay in our class B for the night. Trees are starting to turn colors in late September and it was just beautiful. Don’t let the review about thieves deter you from staying! We only saw one other car drive by during our stay. I’m sure if you leave your stuff, people might take it. But we didn’t leave the site, no one bothered us and we never felt unsafe. Hopeful for a bear siting if anything, but didn’t see any animals at all. All sites are numbered, we took number 1 and could see number 2 way down the road but didn’t go any further to check out the rest of the sites. Gravel road is very tame, cell signal with Verizon was close to zero
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Verizon
Lauren would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“PEOPLE WILL STEAL FROM YOU ”
Reviewed 9/13/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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| Days stayed: | 8 |
| Site Number: | 9 |
Overall Rating
This is a beautiful place- but I cannot give it a FULL 5 stars like I originally was going to. I was staying here on my trip through New Hampshire, and was invested in staying the full 2 weeks. I asked the ranger, and he said to “show that you are still occupying the lot, leave your camp gear up, that way no one will come and take your... more
This is a beautiful place- but I cannot give it a FULL 5 stars like I originally was going to. I was staying here on my trip through New Hampshire, and was invested in staying the full 2 weeks. I asked the ranger, and he said to “show that you are still occupying the lot, leave your camp gear up, that way no one will come and take your lot”. I work remotely, so Monday- Friday I come down the mountain and go to a local Walmart for wifi for a few hours, I come back and a man and his family not only took my lot, even though my foldable chair was there, mugs next to the fire pit, and my sleeping bag for camping was there- but they STOLE my foldable chair. They deliberately pulled their car into the opening of the lot so I could not get in, then proceeded, while my items were still there, to pull in a massive “bang bus” titled school bus, and another vehicle. When I confronted them about it, they lied and said the “ranger walked through” and gave them the ok to take my lot. The ranger ok’d taking my lot even though a person’s things were there? Even though it clearly shows a person is still occupying the lot? The ranger ok’d stealing my items as well? Ultimately, I was so disgusted with these people stealing from me, lying, and abusing the trust and basic decency that humans should have to one another, I left entirely. The system needs to be enforced more here, and lots checked up on regularly with who is staying there and for how long. not coming back again and will not recommend to anyone and everyone
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Verizon 4G
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Not for bigger RVs”
Reviewed 11/2/2021
| Days stayed: | 0 |
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| RV Length: | 38' (Class A) |
Overall Rating
We did not stay here. We had planned to stay but there were very few spots that would accommodate our 38 foot Class A. We also discovered that after the first few spots, there is very little room to turn around. We were able to get turned around after a 12 point turn at the end of the road. We did encounter a very belligerent lo... more
We did not stay here. We had planned to stay but there were very few spots that would accommodate our 38 foot Class A. We also discovered that after the first few spots, there is very little room to turn around. We were able to get turned around after a 12 point turn at the end of the road. We did encounter a very belligerent local that was not happy about us having out RV on this road.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Good and bad at the same time, if you are over 25ft combined don't count on it... ... ”
Reviewed 7/31/2021
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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| Days stayed: | 5 |
| RV Length: | 36' (Fifth Wheel) |
Overall Rating
I want to give 4 or 5 stars but I can't make the site more popular... We arrived in a Friday in August and all sites were taken, scouting for sites I asked one camper when he was leaving and I came back in the morning of the day he left to secure the spot, otherwise I would never got it here, not even 5 minutes of me arriving at least... more
I want to give 4 or 5 stars but I can't make the site more popular... We arrived in a Friday in August and all sites were taken, scouting for sites I asked one camper when he was leaving and I came back in the morning of the day he left to secure the spot, otherwise I would never got it here, not even 5 minutes of me arriving at least other 4 campers stopped by...
Some sites crowded with more than 10 cars in it...
The sites are very far apart from each other. The road is great for a dirt road (conditions will vary depending the weather and season)
Tent, car, van, or bike campers should be fine in any of the sites.
Smaller class B, or class C will fit in most of the sites, anything larger than 25ft combined will have trouble finding available spots, most sites are blocked by large boulders to prevent folks from driving in.
Far as I could see only 1 site will fit trailers larger than 30ft comfortably, any size will be good at this single site... 3 other sites may fit rigs over 25ft, rigs over 30ft will require some fine driving skills.
I could not verify other reviews mentioning feces in the sites, m site was clean.
Verizon works great at this current site and at most sites, the entire region has no or minimal coverage for t-mobile, AT&T, or Sprint
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Verizon 4G
T-Mobile
2624LuisNY would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great spot”
Reviewed 7/22/2021
| Days stayed: | 6 |
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| Site Number: | 11 |
Overall Rating
Nice and private. Sites are well spaced all along the loop road. Mostly clean. Lots of trails for hiking. The river is beautiful. Plenty of room to boondock if the sites are all full, including a big turnaround/parking area at one end of the loop and a big pulloff on Rt 3 across from the other entrance at Trudeau Road. Supplies are 15 ... more
Nice and private. Sites are well spaced all along the loop road. Mostly clean. Lots of trails for hiking. The river is beautiful. Plenty of room to boondock if the sites are all full, including a big turnaround/parking area at one end of the loop and a big pulloff on Rt 3 across from the other entrance at Trudeau Road. Supplies are 15 minutes away in Bethlehem and definitely spend a day in Littleton just up the road.
Seven-11 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Nice dispersed camping, not all vehicle accessible ”
Reviewed 5/21/2021
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 2 |
Overall Rating
12 sites available along the gale river loop road. All sites are numbered. Check the forest Facebook page to make sure the road is open depending on the time of year. Forest rangers drove past a few times but never came to chat. Sites were nicely spread out. Not all sites can be driven into. Sites 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9 you can drive a c... more
12 sites available along the gale river loop road. All sites are numbered. Check the forest Facebook page to make sure the road is open depending on the time of year. Forest rangers drove past a few times but never came to chat. Sites were nicely spread out. Not all sites can be driven into. Sites 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9 you can drive a car right into. The other sites are set back from the road and have large boulders to prevent you from pulling a vehicle into them. We camped in truck tents at site 2. There was a large mud puddle at the site entrance but the rest of the site was nice and we were able to find two level spots for the trucks.
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T-Mobile 4G
Dvanatta would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Reviewed 1/2/2021
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
| Site Number: | 1 |
| RV Length: | 20' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
This was a great spot! They were all generously space. We were there on October 13, 2020 and there was plenty of availability. It's probably busier earlier in the year. No electric or water but close to all kinds of great activities including hiking and biking!
We were there in our 20ft Airstream. No issue getting into the site.
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Verizon 4G
Denise and Steve Buck would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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noted 8/4/2024
IT is no longer Gale river campground it is now a youth camp
“Muddy And Full ”
noted 9/25/2023
Tried to stay here in my class c 31ft and couldn’t because it was full. There were a few good size sites but you have to get early to get a spot I guess. Not very many that will fit bigger rigs. Since the rain some spots were very muddy too and with a solar system this is not the idea camping spot. AT&T LTE with 1 bar most places.
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Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
- Dispersed Camping
Site Amenities
- fire ring
Pets
- pets
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