Pemigewasset Wilderness
Nary a road blemishes New Hampshire's largest Wilderness, a bastion of hardwoods further insulated by a series of raggedly beautiful peaks that extend beyond the tree line and drain in-to the East Branch...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | New Hampshire |
| Size | 45,809 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 44.1344, -71.5299 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 9) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 12 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 3 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 3 dispersed campings. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 2 miGuyot Shelter ↗Dispersed camping
- 3 miFranconia Brook Tentsite ↗Dispersed camping
- 4 miThirteen Falls Tentsite ↗Dispersed camping
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedTnc W Branch 3 Rx
26 mi from the center point · 59 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 2.9 miCrawford Depot ↗Carroll, NH
- 4.5 miLovett's by Lafayette Brook ↗Franconia, NH
- 5 miFabyan Guard Station ↗Carroll, NH
- 6.3 miBartlett Roundhouse ↗Bartlett, NH
- 6.3 miGreenleaf, Abbie, Library ↗Franconia, NH
- 6.3 miFrost Place ↗Franconia, NH
- 6.4 miDow Academy ↗Franconia, NH
- 8.6 miRussell--Colbath House ↗Albany, NH
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Pemigewasset Wilderness?
45,809 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Pemigewasset Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Pemigewasset Wilderness in?
New Hampshire.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Pemigewasset Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Pemigewasset Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Hancock Campground, 1.5 miles out. 12 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
Where are the trailheads in Pemigewasset Wilderness?
The Forest Service lists 3 recreation sites here, including 3 dispersed campgrounds. Each one links to its Forest Service page.
Source: Trailheads and sites
How do I get to Pemigewasset Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 44.134, -71.530. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Pemigewasset Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Tnc W Branch 3 Rx at 26 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Pemigewasset Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 9 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Pemigewasset Wilderness?
19 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Crawford Depot and Lovett's by Lafayette Brook.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.