U.S. Forest Service · White Mountain National Forest · New Hampshire

Jigger Johnson Campground

Named after Jigger Johnson, an almost legendary north country woods boss during the regions colorful logging era, this campground is located along the Kancamagus Scenic Byway. The Swift River flows behind the campground and a short trail connects to the Russell-Colbath Historic Site. Its central location makes it ideal for hiking, biking, and other recreational activities in the National Forest.

First-come, first-servedFrom $30 per nightTents only

More like this: first-come in New Hampshire · tent only in New Hampshire

Jigger Johnson Campground
Photo from the area. Earl Mcgehee (CC BY-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesSingle Family Site Per site / per night $30.00. Extra Vehicle (Space Permitting) Per vehicle / per night $6.00

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

Seasonmid-May to mid-October
ForestWhite Mountain National Forest
BookingReservations not accepted. All sites first-come, first-served.
FeesSingle Family Site Per site / per night $30.00. Extra Vehicle (Space Permitting) Per vehicle / per night $6.00

White Mountain National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Jigger Johnson Campground10°20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 3.91 inches of precipitationFebruary: 3.25 inches of precipitationMarch: 4.30 inches of precipitationApril: 4.64 inches of precipitationMay: 4.16 inches of precipitationJune: 5.16 inches of precipitationJuly: 4.79 inches of precipitationAugust: 4.35 inches of precipitationSeptember: 4.18 inches of precipitationOctober: 5.62 inches of precipitationNovember: 4.48 inches of precipitationDecember: 4.98 inches of precipitationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 16.7°F averageFebruary: 18.1°F averageMarch: 26.5°F averageApril: 39.5°F averageMay: 51.4°F averageJune: 60.6°F averageJuly: 65.6°F averageAugust: 64.0°F averageSeptember: 57.0°F averageOctober: 45.1°F averageNovember: 34.2°F averageDecember: 23.8°F average0 in2 in4 in6 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Waterville Valley Nepp, 10 miles from the campground at 1,429 feet, station USC00278961 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 54 inches a year.

Getting there

Coordinates43.9979° N, 71.3339° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearEastern Mountain Sports ↗10.9 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗21.9 mi
RV sales & serviceBig Moose RV ↗25.2 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

JIGGER JOHNSON CAMPGROUND ~ KANCAMAGUS HIGHWAY ~ WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.2 mi
    Jigger/Colbath Link ↗
    0.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.3 mi
    Rail 'N River Trail ↗
    0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.7 mi
    Bear Notch Rd Snomo ↗
    7.9 mi trail · motorcycle, ATV, e-bike, snowmobile and 2 more
  • 0.9 mi
    Oliverian Brook Trail
    4.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 0.9 mi
    Oliverian Brook XC
    2 mi trail · snowshoe, ski
  • 0.9 mi
    Paugus Link Ski Trail
    0.2 mi trail · snowshoe, ski

Trailheads within three miles

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside White Mountain National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

Guidebooks for New Hampshire

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • New Hampshire
    Larry Pletcher and Greg Westrich, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Climbing New Hampshire's 48 4,000 Footers
    Eli Burakian, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Appalachian Trail Guide to New Hampshire-Vermont
    Cynthia Taylor-Miller, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Jigger Johnson Campground?

No. Jigger Johnson Campground is first-come, first-served. Reservations not accepted. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Jigger Johnson Campground?

Single Family Site Per site / per night $30.00. Extra Vehicle (Space Permitting) Per vehicle / per night $6.00

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Jigger Johnson Campground?

Jigger Johnson Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Jigger Johnson Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Russell-Colbath Barn (0.2 mi), Passaconaway Campground (1.8 mi, first-come), and Blackberry Crossing Campground (4.5 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby