Do your camps ever close? No, all four camps are open year round.
Where are they located? The RMC operates four shelters on the north side of Mt. Adams in the Presidential Range in the White Mountain National Forest. They are best accessed from trailheads on U.S. Route 2 in Randolph, NH, at the Appalachia parking lot or Lowe’s Store; both are several miles west of Gorham, NH. Driving time to these trailheads is approximately three hours from Boston, or an hour and forty-five minutes from Portland ME. Hiking routes to our camps are best found in our maps and guidebook, both available at our online store.
Can anyone stay at the camps, or just members? Our camps are open to everyone; however members will save considerable money on their overnight stay! You will have the option to become a member (online) when you pay your overnight fees.
Is food served? No. The Randolph Mountain Club offers a self-service experience and does not provide or cook food for guests. This keeps costs low and ensures your experience is unique!
Is the water safe to drink? Each camp has a source of water nearby. The water is untreated spring water, and it is the recommendation of the US Forest Service to always filter or treat water in the backcountry.
I want to come up this weekend. Will there be room? Our camps operate on a first-come, first-served basis. While we cannot promise space, an early arrival is the best chance of getting a spot at the camps. Typically there is space mid-week, while weekends in summer and fall are often quite busy. Should you arrive and the camps are all at capacity, please be prepared to camp within the USFS land use regulations, which can be found here.
What kind of wildlife might I encounter? Hikers and climbers will often form fond memories of glimpsed wildlife in the North Country- you may see porcupines, chipmunks, squirrels, pine martens, snowshoe hares, moose and black bears. While aggressive encounters are quite rare, be sure to give a wide berth to moose and bears should you happen to see them. There are also many beautiful song birds, some of which are quite rare. It summer it is not unusual to hear Bicknell’s thrush at tree line, along with Swainson’s thrush, yellow rumped warbler, hermit thrush, wood thrush, winter wrens, and many more in various areas.
What do I need to bring? Hikers are responsible for their own safety in the backcountry- this means you will need to do some research on the trail conditions and weather prior to your trip. The RMC operates self-service shelters, so you will need to bring your own headlamps, sleeping bags, food and cookware and much more. Crag Camp and Gray Knob do provide mattress pads, but The Perch and Log Cabin do not. Please visit this National Parks page for more information on hiker preparedness and the “10 essentials”. Our trails are very rocky and steep, so proper footware and insulative clothing is required.
Are dogs allowed at the shelters? Yes! All four RMC camps welcome dogs. Please ensure that they are under voice control at all times and be aware that the caretaker may ask you to relocate if your dog is aggressive or threatening, or if another guest has allergies. Guests who bring dogs are required to clean up after them, including hiking out waste.
Is there a wood stove? Gray Knob is the only camp with a wood stove, but it is only connected from roughly mid-September through early June. The caretaker is strictly the only one allowed to operate the wood stove. Please note that you will need to pack warm clothes even when staying at Gray Knob as the stove’s primary function is to keep the cabin dry. The heat it throws off is a happy byproduct. If you are staying at one of the other three camps, particularly in winter, you will need to be prepared for the ambient outdoor temperature as they are unheated and uninsulated.
I have additional camps-related questions. Send an email to our Camps Chair.
