CampgroundsDB

Rattle River Shelter

Its sites are first-come, first-served (no reservations), and camping is free. Rattle River Shelter is a National Forest campground near Shelburne, New Hampshire.

First-come, first-served

National Forest · Shelburne, New Hampshire

National Forest
Managed by

Rattle River Shelter sits inside White Mountain National Forest. Its dispersed-camping rule, ranger offices, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.

Getting a site

Managed by
National Forest
Reservations
None, first-come
Fee
Free

Source: apps.fs.usda.gov, accessed 2026-09-30

What's there

  • ✓ Toilets

On site: Toilets.

Access and cell service

Elevation
1,329 ft

44.3785, -71.1069 in Coos. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Open in Google Maps Directions

Common questions

Do you need a reservation at Rattle River Shelter?

No. Rattle River Shelter is first-come, first-served: there is no reservation system, so arrive early to claim an open site.

How much does it cost to camp at Rattle River Shelter?

Camping at Rattle River Shelter is free.

Who manages Rattle River Shelter?

Rattle River Shelter is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

Around Rattle River Shelter

Public land · within 15 miles

Public land within 15 miles: Wild River Wilderness (6.4 miles to its center) , Moose Brook State Park (6.4 miles to its center) , Great Gulf Wilderness (10 miles to its center) , Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness (11 miles to its center) , and Jericho Mountain State Park (11 miles to its center) ; publiclandsdb.com has each unit's camping rules and boundary.

Waterfalls and swimming nearby

swimholesmap.com · within 30 miles

Nearest to Rattle River Shelter, in straight-line miles: Screw Auger Falls (waterfall, 16 miles), Jackson Falls (swimming hole, 17 miles), Arethusa Falls (waterfall, 21 miles), Diana's Baths (waterfall, 21 miles), and Diana's Baths Pools (swimming hole, 21 miles). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.

Imp Shelter Coos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Trident Col Tentsite Coos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free
 Wild River Coos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Single Site: $24 per night
 Gentian Pond Shelter Coos · National Forest · First-come
Sites
Not on record
Season
Not on record
Fee
Free

More campgrounds: camping near Shelburne and campgrounds in Coos.

Sources

First-come, first-served Free
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