8th Annual W1 SOTA Campout 2025
Thursday June 12th to Sunday June 15th, 2025
Location: Dolly Copp Campground off Route 16 Gorham, NH
This is an opportunity for those who participate in or have interest in the “Summits on the Air” SOTA program to meet each other, have conversation, learn and activate SOTA summits in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Dolly Copp Location GPS 44.332581, -71.219284 From Gorham, New Hampshire: Take State Route 16 south for 6 miles. Turn right onto Dolly Copp Road and travel 0.5 miles to the campground. From North Conway, New Hampshire: Take Highway 302 to Glen. Turn right onto State Route 16 north and follow for about 22 miles. Turn left onto Dolly Copp Road and travel 0.5 miles to the campground.
Beginning December 12, 2024 at 10:00AM EST (6 months prior to stay) you can make a reservation at www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232173
They also offer several First come First Serve Sites
Dolly Copp is the largest campground within White Mountain National Forest. Sites are spacious and organized into several loops. Lots of RV and tent sites. Some sites have 30amp/50 amp hookups. Coin operated showers, flush toilets, water spigots are located throughout the campground .
Standard sites are $27 per night. Senior Discount Applies with Card
Hook up sites are an extra $13.00 with no discount applied to hookup fee
The camping fee includes a combination of any two vehicles per campsite at no additional fee.
Pending sufficient space, an additional vehicle may be allowed by paying $5 extra vehicle fee, per night.
Located along the Peabody River, this site has ample opportunity for small family picnics or large group gatherings. The large picnic pavilion, originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936, was rebuilt in 1996 using many of the original timbers, along with trees planted by the same 1936 CCC crew. Located 6 miles south of Gorham, New Hampshire at the base of New England’s tallest peak, the historic Dolly Copp Campground is a large facility that accommodates a range of campers and provides access to some of the most popular hikes in the White Mountains. Lush forests, spectacular mountain views and convenience to outdoor recreation and scenic driving draw visitors from all over to Dolly Copp. The surrounding White Mountain National Forest encompasses nearly 800,000 acres in New Hampshire and western Maine, and is one of the most popular forests in the country.
Click on Dolly Copp Campground Site Map on Dolly Copp website for detailed map of campsites.
Itinerary:
Thursday June 12th : initial meet for snacks and drinks with SOTA conversation around the campfire. Tell others your SOTA activation plans. Bring any activation photos, gear, maps, etc. to share with the group.
Friday June 13th : Activating SOTA Summits during the day! Pot Luck Dinner starting at 6PM. Bring a food dish, snack or drink, utensils, etc. to share! Email me or reply back to the W1SOTA Groups.io if you plan to attend and/or what you plan to bring if you like and I’ll put out a summary list!
Saturday June 14th : More activating of SOTA Summits during the day! Eat out at a nearby restaurant. Location to be announced later.
Sunday June 15th : More activations!
Note: To help protect against flying insects and ticks, some people spray Permethrin on clothing, use bug repellents and bug nets over hats, cover body with clothing, etc. In case of rain, bring rain jackets, tarps, umbrellas, etc.
Some SOTA Summits near Dolly Copp Campground
All suggested trails are designated and maintained except as noted. Other trails to summits are possible.
Listed in order of driving time from campground - source: Google maps:
Middle Carter Mt. – W1/HA-126 - 10 points – 4 minutes to IMP Trail GPS 44.32293, -71.2169 take the IMP, North Carter and Carter Moriah trails. About 9.8 miles RT 3300ft EG.
Wildcat Mt. – W1/HA-060 – 10 points – 5 minutes to the Nineteen Mile Brook Trailhead parking for 10+ vehicles GPS 44.302205, -71.220899 About 8.6 miles RT and about 2800 ft EG. Maybe do with Carter Dome but both are steep trails to summits after you hike in about 3.6 miles to the Carter Notch area.
Carter Dome -W1/HA-004 -10 points – same trailhead parking as Wildcat Mt. 5 minutes to the Nineteen Mile Brook Trailhead parking for 10+ vehicles GPS 44.302205, -71.220899 About 9.6 miles RT and about 3300EG. Maybe do with Wildcat Mt but both are steep trails to summits after you hike in about 3.6 miles to the Carter Notch area.
Pine Mountain – W1/HA-106 – 1 point - 6 minutes to parking at Pine Mountain Trailhead on Pinkham B Road at GPS 44.353929, -71.231564. Cross Pinkham B Road and walk Pine Mountain Road toward the Horton Center Camp. Go around road gate at GPS 44.355275, -71.229279. If you want to take a more challenging steeper trail, take the Ledge Trail starting at GPS 44.362346, -71.220313. For an easier route to summit take the Pine Mountain Trail starting further down the road at about GPS 44.369003, -71.215069. Summit has an open area and remains of a fire tower. Hike the loop for nice views and a short spur trail stop at a shelter and log seat overlooking Chapel Rock. Loop hike is about 3.5 miles with 850 EG. See Alltrail map at Explore Pine Mountain Trail | AllTrails
Mt Moriah – W1-HA-073 – 10 points – 11 minutes to the Carter-Moriah Trail, Parking under power lines on Bangor Street, Gorham, NH is limited to a few vehicles GPS 44.382328, -71.169473 About 9 Miles RT and about 3300 ft EG.
Another trail – 7 minutes to Stoney Brook Trailhead. Parking for 10+ vehicles GPS 44.363283, -71.177258
Stoney Brook then Carter Moriah trails to summit. About 10 miles RT and about 2600 ft EG.
Mt. Crescent – W1/HA-110 – 4 points – about 22 minutes taking highway to lots of parking at Mt Crescent Trailhead at GPS 44.391800, -71.286268 – Or take Pinkham B Road past Pine Mt Trailhead for a short cut but rough road to route 2 Several trails to summit. About 3 miles RT with about 1300ft EG on marked trails. See Alltrails for map at www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/new-hampshire/mount-crescent-loop?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map
W1/HA-142 Mt. Success 6 points – 40 minute drive on logging Road to trailhead parking for maybe 3 vehicles on Success Pond Road GPS 44.484282, -71.076570. About 6.2 miles RT with 2000 feet EG on the Mt Success and (AT) Mahoosuc trails. Some challenging rock scrambles to open view summit. Easy to set up on rock ledge. Nice views. Can continue hiking to a popular plane crash site if you like.
W1/AM-165 Mt. Will 1 point: About 40 minutes to Mt Will Trailhead parking GPS 44.478237, -70.796375. Trailhead off Route 2, short but steep climb to summit with views from ledge on the way up.
W1/AM-041 Goose Eye Mtn. 8 points: About 50 minutes to the Carlo-Goose Eye Trailhead on Success Pond logging road GPS 44.51551, -71.0362 about 5.4 miles RT 2200ft EG. OR about 50 minutes to trailhead parking at 44.51869, -70.93567. About 10 miles RT with 2800ft EG. On the AT. Day hike access from the south via Wright Trail (trailhead on Bull Brook Rd.) or from the north via Goose Eye Trail (off Success Pond Road).
W1/HA-166 Mt Hayes 1 point – Alltrails map shows start at GPS 44.40244, -71.19876 which is about a 12 minute drive from Dolly Copp then walk road to Mahoosuc Trailhead (AT) or maybe drive to Mahoosuc Trailhead (AT) at 44.40077, -71.18873 Google maps says 40 minutes from Dolly Copp?? About 6.5 miles 1800 EG. Explore Mount Hayes via Mahoosuc Trail | AllTrails
W1/AM-084 Caribou Mtn. 2 points: Located within the White Mountain National Forest on the Maine side, accessible via trailhead on Bog Road in South Bethel or the Caribou or Mud Brook Trails from Route 113.
Other 10 point Summits close to Dolly Copp - Mt Washington, Mt Adams and Mt Jefferson – See AMC Maps or other info on the web to pick your trail to summit. Or drive up to Mt Washington for a fee!or meetings, camp-outs, conventions, hamventions, ham fests e.t.c