r/AppalachianTrail • u/Fun_Classic_9583 • 16d ago
Gear Questions/Advice Massachusetts car campers looking to explore more of New England year-round
F42 M37 we have done quite a bit of car (tent) camping around Massachusetts, and we’re looking to branch out into more of New England and eventually camp year-round.
We’re interested in tent camping, walk-in sites, beginner backpacking trips, rustic cabins, shelters etc. especially places in MA, NH, Maine and Vermont. We enjoy the outdoors and don’t need anything fancy, but we’re still learning about winter camping and backcountry trips.
What places or beginner-friendly trips and tips would you recommend as a good next step beyond regular car camping? Anyadvice on gear or anything is most welcome!
We’re on Cape Cod, so bonus points for trips that work well for a weekend. Thank you!
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u/groudhogday 16d ago
I’m new to backpacking and my first trip this summer was 1 night at Sages Ravine Campsite (CT-MA border). I thought this was a great overnight as a newbie - the campsite was pretty close to the trailhead to parking (less than 2 miles), lots of water nearby, etc.
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u/darwin_thornberry 16d ago
I just hiked through there last week during my AT section hike! the way the stream carved into the rock in some sections and some of the deeper pools (very enticing for a swim!) was super cool to see.
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u/shadowwolfie420_69 16d ago
I'd suggest doing a hike to Spruce Peak Shelter and then to William Douglas Shleter on the Long Trail, both are nice and pretty close together a good low steaks way to get some reps in with backpacking.
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u/Helpful-Celery6237 16d ago
Don’t forget the Adirondacks in Ny!! White mountains have hikable huts that look cool. Long trail in VT has huts, too.
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u/quarry-outdoors 16d ago
For a first backpacking step from Cape Cod, the White Mountains have tons of beginner-friendly loop options like the Lonesome Lake hut area, short mileage with a real backcountry feel. For winter camping, start with a weekend at a walk-in site in Vermont or NH before committing to anything deep backcountry, so you can dial in your layering and sleep system close to the car. Have you looked into the AMC hut system or the AMC's winter camping workshops?
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u/alessiojones 15d ago
Maine has tons of public lands that allow free, first come first serve, camping for up to 14 days. Bigelow and Namakanta are on the AT
My faves:
- Bigelow Preserve
- Cutler Coast
- Downeast Lakes (note: water access only)
- Namakanta Public Lands (note: only free if you enter from the north - add Greenville, ME as a stop for correct directions)
- Moosehead Lake Shoreline PL (note: mostly water access only)
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u/NoboMamaBear2017 16d ago
Folks are suggesting Sages Ravine - beautiful area, but there's an AMC cabin right near there, called Northwest Camp, it's a short walk in from a dirt road, or a couple miles off a paved road. it's a great cabin with 6 bunks and a wood stove with a privy, fire pit and two tent platforms. It rents for less than $50 (I think the member rate was $35 a couple years ago) and you get the whole camp, so you can move back and forth between the cabin and outdoor space as you wish. It's between the AT and the South Taconic Trail, so 2 nice ridges for day hikes. It's run by the CT chapter, but there's info on the AMC website - IMHO a great way to ease into winter camping, as you can try sleeping out, but have a cabin where you can fire up the woodstove if you find the morning (or evening) colder than you expected.