Wellington State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Wellington State Park features New Hampshire's largest beach off the shores of Newfound Lake as well as picnic pavilions that can be used for company meetings, parties and weddings. At the state park, you can swim, hike, fish, picnic, canoe and kayak, and guests play volleyball or throw horseshoes. Location attractions near Wellington State Park include Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf and Woodman's Brewery. The park was developed after Elizabeth R. Wellington gave the Wellington Reservation to New Hampshire in 1931. The Annual Swim with a Mission Race is held at the park in July.
Spring 22-39 F
Summer 60-80 F
Fall 42-58 F
Winter 21-33 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Wellington State Park
Wellington State Park doesn't offer a campground for RVs.
What to Do at
Wellington State Park
At Wellington State Park, you can go canoeing, fishing, hiking, picnicking, swimming and kayaking. Many guests play volleyball or throw horseshoes while some visit for peaceful solitude. You can rent kayaks during the peak season or bring your own nonmotorized boats. To use motorized boats, you must launch your boat from the New Hampshire Fish and Game boat launch, and you cannot travel close to the state park.
Fishing
You can fish at designated fishing areas or from nonmotorized boats on Newfound Lake. You must have a New Hampshire fishing license, and catching Atlantic cod, oysters, clams and salmon is possible. Watch for posted signs about restricted areas.
Geocaching
The park's geocaching adventure is accessible via the Ellwell Trail parking lot. Follow the trail until you reach the fork, and find the Goose Pond sign to get started. Locate the small lock with the blue lid at Goose Pond, and follow all instructions on the posted signs.
Nature Watching
You can see wildlife from many vantage points. Many birds are visible on the trails, including various songbirds like warblers, flycatchers, robins, sparrows and thrushes. Blue jays, woodcocks, chickadees, ruffled grouses and Canadian geese may also be spotted in the park.
Stargazing
You'll find stargazing events at the state park in July. The best spot for stargazing is the beach near Newfound Lake, and you can see the planets, stars and constellations with binoculars or a telescope.
Flora and Fauna
Tree species found at the state park include poplar, hemlock, beech, maple and pine. Inside the forest, there are man-made clearings, marshes and scrub-shrub wetlands. The wildlife you'll see includes raccoons, foxes, bobcats, black bears, white-tailed deer, muskrats, beavers, rabbits, shrews, rodents, opossums, moose and snakes.
Hiking
Wellington State Park has three hiking trails. Big Sugarloaf Trail is a moderate trail spanning 4 miles. Goose Pond Trail is a moderate 1.8 miles, and Bear Mountain Trail is the most difficult at 5.7 miles.
Boating
You can canoe or kayak on Newfound Lake near the park. You cannot use motorized boats to launch your boat from the park, but you can use nonmotorized boats to get to Belle and Cliff islands.
Swimming
There is a swimming beach at Newfound Lake, but there isn't a lifeguard on duty. Read all posted signs regarding swimming to stay updated.
How to Get to
Wellington State Park
From Bristol, head west on Pleasant Street. Continue onto NH-3N/Lake Street for 2.1 miles. Turn left onto West Shore Drive and right onto West Shore Road. Turn right at the Wellington State Park entrance.
Entering Wellington State Park
You'll enter Wellington State Park via the Ellwell Trail parking lot. You cannot drive motorized vehicles, including RVs, beyond the parking lot and must travel throughout the park by foot. Pets are not allowed, and you cannot bring or operate drones. The park's peak season starts on May 28 and ends on September 6. The nonpeak season is unstaffed, and you must use the self-serve Iron Ranger to pay entry fees. There aren't warming stations or any assistance for guests during nonpeak seasons, so pay attention to posted signs for restrictions and warnings. The park is handicap-accessible with accessible parking spots, and there are bathrooms and picnic pavilions. Operating hours are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wellington State Park Entry Fee (visitors 12 and older) : $5.0
Wellington State Park Entry Fee (children 6 - 11) : $2.0
Frequently Asked Questions About Wellington State Park
The best times to visit Wellington State Park are summer and early fall since the temperatures are mild. The winter and spring are cold, and the highest temperatures are around 39 degrees.
The wildlife you'll see at the state park includes black bears, moose, snakes, foxes, bobcats, white-tailed deer, muskrats, beavers, rabbits, shrews, opossums and rodents. Birds that are at the park include woodpeckers, American goldfinches, American robins, house sparrows, black-capped chickadees, blue jays and white-breasted nuthatches.
Wellington State Park doesn't have designated RV camping spots, but campgrounds are nearby.
Wellington State Park doesn't have camping spots for RVs. Youth camping is allowed on Cliff and Belle Islands starting in mid-May and lasting until the end of summer, and you must make a reservation. You need to pay a $25 deposit when making your reservation, and you can purchase a bus pass for $35.
No, pets are not allowed at Wellington State Park.