Backcountry Camping Impact, White Mountains – A growing issue in the New Hampshire White Mountains is man made impact caused from camping. Some areas are being littered with trash and showing surface erosion from heavy usage. And campers are cutting healthy trees (above) down to build tent platforms. And in other locations campers abandon gear, leaving the forest a mess.

For future conservation to be successful in the New Hampshire White Mountains, human impact has to be controlled. A little common sense and low impact camping practices will benefit the White Mountains. Yes, backcountry camping impact has been an ongoing problem, but it is getting much worse.

Do we blame the camping impact in the backcountry on government cuts? Could the lack of roaming rangers be the reason why heavy camping impact is increasing in the White Mountains? There was a time when you would see rangers roaming the wilderness designated areas, but they seem almost non-existent now. I think it is a combination of more campers in the White Mountains, government cuts, and the lack of roaming rangers. Campers can help with this issue by cleaning up when they leave their campsite.

A few links on backcountry camping:
Backcountry camping regulations
Dispersed Camping in the White Mountain National Forest

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Erin Paul Donovan

Owner of ScenicNH Photography LLC

Erin Paul is a professional photographer, writer, and author who specializes in environmental conservation and historic preservation photography mainly in the New Hampshire White Mountains. His work is published worldwide, and publication credits include: Appalachian Mountain Club, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Backpacker Magazine, and The Wilderness Society. He has written two photo history books about the White Mountains: the East Branch & Lincoln Railroad (2018) and Franconia Notch (2024).