Moose Brook State Park & Campground

Location: Off Route 2, Jimtown Rd, Gorham

Activities: Camping, swimming, picnicking, mountain biking, fishing, hiking nearby

Amenities: Campground, bathhouse, camp store, picnic tables, youth group area

Fees: The day-use area of the park is open full-time, 10:00am - 5:00pm, from mid-June through September 1st, weather permitting.

Admission is $4 for adults; $2 for children ages 6-11; children ages 5 and under and NH residents age 65 and over are admitted free.

Overnight Camping Fees and Information: The variety of campground sites at Moose Brook State Park, including some that are wooded, in open grassy areas, remote, or pull-through, should appeal to many types of campers. Although there are no hook-ups, recreational vehicles are welcome in sites where they fit.

Showers, swimming, firewood, and a camp store are available. The 59-site campground includes 53 sites available by reservation only; six are for first-come/first-served campers. One site is for organized youth group camping, and reservations are required.

The campground is open for reservable stays from Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend. Staffing is limited weekdays from Memorial Day weekend through June 13, 2008.

Camping Fees: Payment is required at the time of making a reservation.

Visa, Discover, and Mastercard are accepted.

Personal checks are not accepted. Family Camping Rates:

Rates cover two adults and two children on the site. Each additional adult and each additional child is charged an additional fee per night. The maximum number of adults per site is 4, except in designated areas.

$23. per site per night (w/ no hook ups)

Operation Schedule:
Day-Use Weekend: Mid-May to Mid-June

Daily: Mid-June to Labor Day

Camping:Mid-May to Mid-October

Acreage: 774 acres

Waterfront: Moose Brook

Number of Campsites: 58 sites

Pets: Pets are permitted at Moose Brook. Pets must be leashed and supervised at all times.

More Information: Day-Use
Located in the White Mountains Region, just north of the Presidential Range, Moose Brook State Park is in an area of unparalleled scenery and offers a variety of outdoor activities. The park is ideally located for fishing in the Peabody and Moose rivers. Moose Brook flows through the park, and after passing through a shallow warming pool, feeds the swimming area with cool, clear mountain water. Picnicking and swimming are enjoyed against the scenic mountain backdrop. The many trails in the park are great for exploring on foot or mountain bike.

Campground
The 56-site campground at Moose Brook is open daily from late May through mid-October. A variety of sites, including some that are wooded, in open grassy areas, remote, or pull-through, should appeal to many types of campers. Showers, swimming, firewood and a camp store are available. Reservations for campsites may be made Monday through Friday, January through mid-October, by calling the Reservation Center at 603/271-3628. Many sites are left available for those campers that prefer to camp on a first come - first serve basis. Although there are no hookups, recreational vehicles are welcome in sites where they fit.

Group-Use
Moose Brook is a great base for organized youth groups planning to hike the Presidential Range, including Mount Washington, the highest mountain in northeastern North America. A separate youth group camping area is available. Reservations for youth group camping are required and may be made Monday through Friday, January through mid-October, by calling the Reservation Center at 603/271-3628.

Youth Group Camping Rates
$5 per youth (under 18) per night. $5 per leader (1 leader for every 4 youths) per night. $25 deposit fee One adult leader for every four children is required and allowed at the above rate for overnight camping. Additional adults pay the regular service charge.

History
The 87 park acres and the surrounding 668 acres of state forest were purchased by the state in 1934. The swimming area, bathhouse, campground and administration building were built at that time and the park opened to the public in 1936. The original administration building, still in use, is an excellent example of classic Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) design and construction. The CCC was created by President Roosevelt in the early 1930s in an effort to help bring an end to the Great Depression. The CCC, often referred to as Roosevelt's tree army, was designed to utilize the country's many unemployed youths in natural resource conservation efforts. The program is responsible for much of the early state park development across America.

Mt. Washington
Moose Brook is ideally situated as a base for a leisurely day-trip or strenuous hike up 6,288-foot Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the northeast. Mt. Washington experiences some of the worst weather in the world and is the site of the highest land wind speed recorded in the world at 231 mph.

The popular summit state park can be reached several ways. The cog railway train chugs daily, during the summer/fall season, to the summit from the base station in Bretton Woods on the mountain's west flank. An eight-mile long auto road to the summit that begins in Pinkham Notch. Visitors may choose to drive their own cars or enjoy the stage service that provides a round-trip van ride and tour guide. Hikers may wish to stop at the Appalachian Mountain Club's (AMC) Pinkham Notch Camp or purchase an AMC White Mountain Guide for trail information before starting out.

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