The Sugarloaf Campgrounds are a pair of national forest campgrounds found on the western fringe of the White Mountains. Sugarloaf 2 Campground, also known as Area 2, is the second and larger campground located off of Zealand Road just a half-mile past Sugarloaf 1 Campground. Zealand Road is the access point for many activities like hiking, mountain biking, and fishing in the Zealand Valley. The river valley separates Mount Tom to the east and Mount Hale to the west.
Sugarloaf 2 is a basic and usually quiet campground offering 33 sites around a one-way loop. Out of the 33 sites, 14 are suitable for trailers or RVs. The remaining are tents only. There are four vault toilet facilities and two hand-pump water spigots. Bear-resistant refuse containers are also provided. It is asked and required that all food and scented material be locked up in a vehicle at night and during the day when the site is unattended due to the risk of attracting bears.
Each campsite is equipped with a large picnic table and a metal fire ring. The dense mixed vegetation provides good visual privacy between the campsites. Sites 5, 6, 9, 17, 21, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 are non-reservable and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Sites located on the outside of the loop are typically more private and preferred. However, sites that abut Zealand Road do have vehicle lights and noise that may deter some. Site 18 has a view of the Zealand River below.
Access the Trestle Trail directly from the campground. The Trestle Trail is short 1-mile loop that follows an old railway used for logging in the late 1800s along the Zealand River. This trail also connects with the Sugarloaf Trailhead, which makes it easy to walk to the trailhead from the campgrounds without having to pay for or deal with parking at the trailhead (which is crowded).
Note that firewood cannot be brought in from another area originating outside of New Hampshire or Maine. This is due to the possibility of two invasive and destructive beetle species.
Firewood can be purchased for $5 at Foster's Crossroad store near the intersection of Route 302 and Route 3.
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