Shapleigh Bunkhouse

This building, which was the home of noted artist Frank H. Shapleigh from 1877 to 1894, offers White Mountain visitors the opportunity to experience mountain hospitality at its best, as well as a great lodging value in a spectacular setting.

Contact Info:

Bretton Woods NH 03575

Charging station
Shuttle stop
Meeting space available
Wi-Fi
Playscape
Gear rental
No dogs allowed overnight

Shapleigh Bunkhouse

Season Dates:

Open year-round

With hostel-style bunkrooms reminiscent of those at the AMC’s celebrated high mountain huts, as well as shared amenities with the Highland Center Lodge, Shapleigh Bunkhouse is a great location for your next White Mountain adventure.

Shapleigh bunkhouse offers 16 beds in two separate bunkrooms and includes a common room for bunkhouse guests, a pantry with sink and microwave, and showers with bed linens and towels provided. Guests also have access to a refrigerator, and camp stoves may be used outside in a designated area.

Breakfast at the Highland Center Lodge is included with all bunkhouse rates, and dinner can be purchased separately. You may wish to bring your own lunch and snacks. Linens, towels, soap, and shampoo are provided to bunkhouse guests, and there is a retail store at the Highland Center with some last minute necessities. You may want to bring a headlamp for reading in the bunkrooms at night.

Nearby activities include hiking in Crawford Notch, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing at nearby Bretton Woods’ extensive network of trails, paddling, swimming, and so much more.

Cancellation Policies

Learn more about AMC’s cancellation policies for lodging and programs.

Getting Around

AMC’s Hiker Shuttle connects the Highland Center, Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, and the towns of Lincoln and Gorham with major trails to the huts, allowing hikers to start and end their trip at different points. The stop in the town of Lincoln is coordinated with Concord Coach bus service. Hiker Shuttle runs daily for most of the full-service hut season, from early June to mid-September. The shuttle operates on weekends only from mid-September to mid-October. Reservations are strongly recommended.

 

Accessibility

Shapleigh Bunkhouse is wheelchair-accessible.

 

Nearby Trails

Ammonoosuc Lake and Red Bench Trail (Easy): The trailhead is behind (north of) the Highland Center, just to the left of the storage sheds. A beautiful, mostly level, walk around the lake and view of the Presidential Range. The Red Bench Spur at the opposite side of the lake adds another 0.6 mile and offers a view of Mount Washington on a clear day.  Estimated time 30 minutes around lake, additional hour to Red Bench.

Ripley Falls (Easy): This 1-mile out-and-back hike brings you to the second-largest waterfall in New Hampshire and a great viewpoint in all seasons. The trail begins at the end of a short forest road 1 mile south of the Willey House Historic Site. From the parking area, cross the railroad tracks and follow the Ethan Pond Trail for approximately 0.1 mile. At that point the Ripley Falls Trail will diverge to the left and continue the remaining 0.4 mile to the falls. Retrace your steps to return to your car.

Arethusa Falls (Moderate): Arethusa Falls is New Hampshire’s tallest waterfall at 176 feet. The falls are a spectacular sight in any season, with opportunity to watch to ice climbers going up the frozen falls in winter. The trailhead is located just north of the southern boundary to Crawford Notch State Park on route 302. This trail follows relatively easy grades (totaling 938 feet of elevation gain over 3 miles) while running along Bemis Brook. Additional cascades can be seen by following the short Bemis Brook Trail as well. The Bemis Brook Trail splits off of the Arethusa Falls Trail near the trailhead and reconnects to the main trail 0.4 mile later. Estimated hike time is 3 hours.

Mount Willard (Moderate): Mount Willard offers spectacular views of the glacially-carved Crawford Notch for relatively little effort, clocking 3.2 miles round trip with 900 feet elevation gain. The trail begins across the railroad tracks from the Crawford Depot. After 0.1 mile, the trail will diverge. The Mount Willard Trail follows yellow blazes to the left. After a couple of shallow stream crossings, the trail begins its moderate ascent. At 0.5 mile, Centennial Pool will be on the right. From there, the trail turns left and eventually meets up with an old carriage road that will continue to the summit. Return the way you came. Estimated hike time is 2 to 3 hours round trip.

Mount Tom, Field, and Willey (Strenuous): A choose-your-adventure route to tag one, two, or all three 4,000-footers in the Willey Range. You can access Mount Tom or Field starting at the Crawford Depot, taking the Avalon Trail—at 1.3 miles, the trail splits. To the right is the A-Z trail, which will take you to the summit of Mount Tom, while to the right the Avalon Trail continues to the summit of Mount Field. The Willey Range Trail connects the two summits for a lollypop loop if you want to tag both summits, or for an added challenge, try a full traverse of the Willey Range by starting at the Ethan Pond Trail, 1.6 miles from the Willey House station, and follow that to the summit of Mount Willey and Mount Field to the A-Z Trail, Mount Tom, and back to the Crawford Depot. Check with AMC staff for more information on mileage, estimated times, and terrain.

 

Weather

The right clothing and gear are essential in the unpredictable weather of the Northeast’s mountains. Even if it feels like summer in the valleys, it can be cold and winter-like on the high peaks. Be prepared for severe weather regardless of season, dress in layers (including synthetic or wool base and insulating layers, and a windproof/waterproof outer shell), eat high energy foods, and stay hydrated.

 

Our Commitment to Sustainable Operations

AMC has a long-standing commitment to using its huts, lodges, and sporting camps as models for sustainable operations and environmental stewardship. At Highland Center and the Shapleigh Bunkhouse, we compost food scraps, use a wood boiler for heat and hot water with locally sourced sustainable firewood, have a solar panel for some electricity needs, use composting toilets in Thayer Hall, and use light fixtures that minimize light pollution.