Traditional campers may thumb their nose at sleeping in anything other than a tent but being able to explore the Great North Woods while keeping all the comforts of home is pretty awesome, especially when traveling with the whole family!
At the Coleman Estates, accommodations go a step beyond glamping. The ‘cabins’ here are more like house-keeping cottages. Each unit is fully furnished and stocked with appliances to make your family getaway that much easier. Your stay even includes linens for the bedrooms and bathrooms.
[See more pics of the cabins here]
With such luxuries, it’s a stretch to call this camping. However, after driving a few hours north with the family it’s a glorious thing to show up and find a clean kitchen for prepping dinner and ready-made beds to snuggle up in. Don’t get me wrong – I still love tent camping but I didn’t miss struggling with tents in the dark or lugging all that extra gear.
If you want to go the traditional route – the main campground at Coleman State Park has plenty of tent sites and an Adirondack shelter. Many of these sites can accommodate RV campers as well as ATV riders. The Visitor’s Center provides flush toilets, showers, laundry and boat rentals. The Lodge at Coleman Estates also has a park store with coffee, food items and some basic campground essentials.
[See more pics of the Coleman State Park campground here]
Either way – you’ll find the grounds and facilities throughout the park clean and well-maintained. There’s plenty of open grassy space for kids to run around (along with a playground) and it was nice to be able to watch them play from a distance. The staff is super-friendly and helpful and it’s easy to see how passionate they are about their park and providing excellent customer service.
As you might expect when staying in NH’s “Grand North,” Coleman State Park allows you to be surrounded by vast wilderness, incredible scenery and wildlife. There are trails leading right from the campground (Cohos Trail for hikers and Corridor Trails for ATVs and Snowmobiles) and Little Diamond Pond is a killer spot for fishing and kayaking, especially at sunset.
Some of our favorite spots to check out in the area are Beaver Brook Falls Wayside (located off of Route 145 in Colebrook) and Dixville Notch State Park (via Route 26 in Dixville). Both spots are just a quick drive from Coleman and offer short hikes with big pay-offs.
[See more pics: Dixville Notch State Park (waterfalls & Table Rock), Beaver Brook Falls Wayside]
This past weekend we also had the pleasure of watching family members compete in the Metallak Race; a multi-sport endurance challenge across lakes, mountains, and forests in the area. The course, which starts and finishes at Mohawk Falls, happens to pass right through the Coleman State Park campground and several scenic spots in Dixville Notch State Park.
At the end of the day it was nice to know we had a comfortable space to relax and gather with the family. Using a kitchen with utensils and appliances made the big family meal all the more enjoyable and stress-free. The deck attached to the Osprey cabin provides a great space to eat outside and after dinner the kids can run around in the yard while you get the fire going.
At night you can all gather round the campfire, roast s’mores, and watch the stars. That may be my favorite part of staying at Coleman State Park – stargazing up here is an unforgettable experience. There is so much clarity in the night sky and you can make out so many details in the Milky Way Galaxy as it passes overhead.
Post Script: There are several other state parks worth checking out in this area – like Lake Francis State Park or Deer Mountain Campground (both in Pittsburg). And – if you’re looking for a good place to swim on your way back home – stop at Forest Lake State Park in Dalton. It’s just a few minutes outside Whitefield and there’s an awesome little family beach there.
Additional Resources:
Reserve a Cabin at Coleman Estates
Reserve a campsite at Coleman State Park
Coleman Estates Cabin Photos
Coleman State Park Campground Photo Gallery
Beaver Brook Falls Wayside Photo Gallery
Dixville Notch State Park Photo Gallery
