Rumney Rattlesnake Campground - American Alpine Club — Hotel in Rumney

*EDIT: This review is from when Tom still owned and operated the property (before the AAC buyout) *

The preeminent place to stay if your plan is to climb at Rumney for more than a single day. Considering how many people come up from Boston on day trips, you will probably have the campground mostly to yourself from Sunday night through Wed/Thursday. Fees are STILL the ridiculously low price of $10/per person/night. The water source is the black hose behind the barn as you enter, a short jaunt up from the actual tenting area. The Baker River borders the far edge of the property and is a fantastic bathing/dishwashing spot. During the day, leave your car at your site and easily walk to almost all the approach trails. Fair warning though: PAY FOR YOUR SITE BEFORE DRIVING DOWN INTO THE FIELD. As I learned the hard way, Tom, the owner, will come down a few minutes later (even though the rules posted at the entrance sort of imply that he doesn't want to be bothered after 6pm and even if it's starting to rain and you really just want to get your tent set up quick) and ask if you've paid. He can get pretty annoyed about it, but mellows out the more days you stay and interact with him while he drives his Gator 'round...

Pros: located directly across the street from the crag; no specific sites (can camp almost anywhere on the property); has a barn with tables, games, outlets (great for a rainy day); the river is close; nice host; don't have to pay to park at the crag.

Cons: Has porta-potties instead of regular or composting toilets and they are all bunched together in the sun - very toxic. We found it was better to just go across the street and use the one at the Rumney parking lot. There are fewer tables than there are groups camping so you may end up doing everything on the ground. There are no showers (the river is good for that though).

I'll probably keep staying here because of the proximity to the cliff but it could be better. I'd give it 5 stars if they had bathrooms and more tables, and that would also justify the cost in comparison to other campgrounds...

Always a treat whenever I get to stay at the Rattlesnake campground. In past years, Rattlesnake has always been an honest and trustworthy place, and that seems especially so this year. The campground itself was well maintained, they offer bathrooms for campers, potable water is available within the barn at any time, as well as Wi-Fi, and you can even get some cold brew in the office!

After speaking with the campground manager, and hearing about future ideas and contributions to this already homey campground, I couldn't help but imagine what this place is going to be like in a couple more years. With how welcoming other campers are, a beautiful beach on site, being right next to the crags, you'll be in good hands at...