At the Quiet South End of the Notch
Cold River Campground sits at the southern end of Evans Notch, about 15 miles north of Fryeburg on Route 113, just across the state line in Chatham, New Hampshire. It is one of four small White Mountain National Forest campgrounds strung along this border valley, and it shares a corner of the woods with Basin Pond and the Cold River. The setting is classic notch country: tall trees, mountain water, and the ridges of the Caribou-Speckled Wilderness close at hand.
This is a small, rustic campground with 14 sites and a picnic pavilion, the kind of place that draws anglers fishing the Cold River and hikers heading up into the wilderness trails. There are no hookups and no store, just a wooded site by the water and the basics you need to be comfortable. It is one of the larger of the Evans Notch campgrounds by site count, which makes it a good first choice if you want a reservable spot in the notch.
The Campground
Cold River has 14 sites plus a picnic pavilion that groups sometimes use. Some sites are reservable in advance through Recreation.gov, and others are held first-come, first-served, so a same-day trip is realistic if you arrive early on a busy weekend. The Cold River runs alongside, and Basin Pond is right next door, which puts both river fishing and quiet pond paddling within a short walk or drive.
As with the rest of Evans Notch, there is no cell service here. Treat it as an off-grid trip and plan accordingly.
Sites & Amenities
Each site has a picnic table, a fire ring with a grill grate, and a parking spot, and the loop shares vault toilets, drinking water, and the pavilion; you will not find showers or electric sites. Expect to pay about $30 a night, with a second vehicle adding roughly $6, and holders of the Senior or Access pass pay half. Like the other White Mountain National Forest campgrounds, Cold River is run by the concessionaire Outdoor Recreation Hospitality under a Forest Service permit (802-289-0970). Leashed dogs are fine.
15-foot mosquito zone around a campsite
Cold River and Basin sit so close together that many people treat them as a pair. If Cold River is full, drive the extra minute or two to Basin Pond, and vice versa. Both share the same season and the same trail access into the high country to the east.
Getting There
Coming from the south, Cold River is the first campground you reach: drive about 15 miles up Route 113 from Fryeburg to the southern entrance of Evans Notch. That makes it the easiest of the four to reach from Portland, a trip of about an hour and 45 minutes by way of Route 25 and Fryeburg, while Bangor campers should allow more than three hours. If you come over the notch from Gilead instead, you pass Hastings and Basin first.
Once the season ends, the Forest Service gates Route 113 and stops maintaining it, so there is no winter camping here. The gates and the campground both follow a mid-May to mid-October season; call ahead or check Forest Service alerts if you are aiming for the first or last weeks.
When to Visit
Spring
Opening weekend is mid-May, when snowmelt keeps the Cold River high and chilly. Pack a head net for the late-May black flies.
Summer
Warm days, river fishing, and full access to Evans Notch trails. Reserve ahead for weekends.
Fall
The river valley colors up from late September, frosty mornings end the bug season, and the last nights are in mid-October.
Winter
No camping. With the Route 113 gates shut, the south end of the notch is reachable only on foot or skis.
Summer for the river and fall for the color. The valley is one of the best foliage drives in western Maine.
Packing List
Cold River Campground Trip
- Tent with a rainfly that can handle valley showers
- Fly rod or spinning gear, plus a New Hampshire license for this stretch of the Cold River
- Water shoes for wading the riverbank
- A warm layer, since valley nights drop into the 40s
- Groceries and fuel bought in Fryeburg
- Head net for June black flies
- Paper map of the Caribou-Speckled trails
- Payment for the campground fee
FAQ
How many sites does Cold River Campground have?
Fourteen sites, plus a picnic pavilion. Some are reservable through Recreation.gov and others are first-come, first-served.
What facilities are there?
Each site has a table, fire ring with grate, and parking spot, and campers share vault toilets, drinking water, and a picnic pavilion. Showers and electric sites are not available.
When is Cold River Campground open?
Mid-May through mid-October. Route 113 through Evans Notch is gated closed in winter.
Can I fish or paddle nearby?
Yes. The Cold River runs alongside the campground for fishing, and Basin Pond next door is good for quiet, non-motorized paddling.
Is there cell service?
Expect none at the campground or on the notch trails. Save a map offline and leave your plans with someone before you drive north from Fryeburg.
Cold River is one of four campgrounds in the notch. See nearby Basin, Hastings, and Crocker Pond, or the overview at Evans Notch Campgrounds.
