Camping options on the Wilderness Trail

[sli74]

If I hike over Bond and Bondcliff to the Wilderness Trail . . . what are my camping options on the Wilderness Trail? What is Franconia Brook Tentsite like? Any particular spots that I should look for or avoid? Thanks again,

sli74

 

[MichaelJ]

I haven't been to the new campsite, but it's less than 3 miles of flat, wide, straight walking from there to the trailhead. I'd just hike out, if that's an option. You could do it in your sleep.


It's on the other side of the river so you're at the mercy of the weather conditions compared to the big stepping stones the crews put in when they built the new site.

 

[Jay H]

Camping spot

When Eric and I hiked to Bondcliff via the Wilderness trail, I saw a lady packing up north of the trail, probably about 1/2 mile from the junction of the Franconia Brook trail and the sharp turn to the Wilderness trail. There also is supposedly an old campsite at the junction of the Bondcliff and the Wilderness trail but that might be off-limits due to the closeness to the trail.

Jay

 

[dug]

The Bondcliff/Wilderness intersection is off limits. There is a pretty reall possibility you will have a visit by a ranger.

However, the entire area is all very flat with hardwoods. It is extremely easy to find a spot 200' off the trail.

I haven't been to the new Franconia Falls site, but honestly, if I were coming down from the Bonds, and was only three miles of flat walking from the trailhead, I would just continue on. So, I would look for something before then. There are some places along the Bondcliff Trail, too.

Standard 'bear warning' in the area. I've been harassed by nighttime bears a few times in that area.

 

[MadRiver]

Seema, how are you getting to the Bonds? If you are hiking in from the north, just camp at the Mt. Guyot tentsite and then hike out the next day. From the north or from the south you can easily make Guyot, which gives you a better location with which to camp.

BTW, John, my wife, and I are planning on doing Gray Knob sometime in Nov if you are interested.

There are a few spots just south of Bondcliff that as far as I know are legal. Just after hiking down the large slab at the bottom of Bondcliff and heading into the woods, you will see a spot to your left.

 

[RoySwkr]

There are a few spots just south of Bondcliff that as far as I know are legal. Just after hiking down the large slab at the bottom of Bondcliff and heading into the woods, you will see a spot to your left.

As in the Owls Head thread, any site you can see from the trail is probably < 200' and hence illegal. You probably need to hunt in the woods beyond. There are plenty of possibilities if you are willing to do so.

 

[Warren]

I stayed at Franconia Brook last Columbus Day. It reminds me of a state park sort of campground. Serviceable, but by the weekend it was way crowded, most sites are close to the trail.

The old Camp 16 site and the general area (the whites typical 1/4 mile) are off limits to camping as is, I think, the area along the Wilderness Trail.

However as Sherpa confirmed for me up the trail towards Bondcliff from old camp 16 there are some candidates for camping. I think he spoke highly of these spots.

Just after/before the first brook crossing on Franconia Brook trail heading to 13 Falls there may be some canidates for a spot.

 

[Papa Bear]

I stayed at the Franconia Brook site in July. However I was coming down from a tough bushwhack down the east side of Owl's Head and I needed a place for an early start the next day over the Bonds and eventually over Hale to my car way over at the Hale Brook parking area on the Zealand Road. So hiking 3 flat miles was not useful since I had no car there (and in the wrong direction).

The campsite was empty mid-week. You self register and it's free (Yes, FREE!). It was perfectly nice. You get water from the stream.

Bottom line: if it's late and dark and you don't want to hike those 3 miles, it's a fine place to stay.

Where does your day start? Zealand Road? If you want to make it two days, camp at Guyot. If it's just information on a backup plan if things go very slowly, than Franconia Brook is fine for just that.

Pb

 

[sli74]

It is actually mid way on a longer backpacking trip so I will probably aim for the Franconia Brook Tentsite particularly if it is free and if on the way there I can look around and find something along the Wilderness Trail then I will but if not Franconia Brook it is . . . Thanks everyone.

sli74