4 Tips for Finding Free Camping Spots and Avoiding Campgrounds
Story by Mark Stephens
Sunday, May 02 2010
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Overheard one day between amiable backroad explorers:Guy 1: "i was curious about some camp spots, i like to go camping but im tired of the typical campgrounds, you kno the ones like at the state parks that you pull up to in your car, and theres 70 other spots surrounding you from all sides, i wanna get out, maybe somewhere that you can drive the ole4x4 to, or hike to, are the any basic rules or laws to just setting camp up anywhere?" (sic) Guy 2: "Welcome to the quest . . ."
Good news. Knowing how to find free, dispersed, remote, or primitive camping (that is, 1. camping somewhere that is not in an established campground or 2. "somewhere you can drive the ole 4x4 to") is as easy as opening a map and looking at the pretty colors; those colors mean something. You just need to know what you're looking at because all land is - in some way or another - spoken for and depending on the managing agency, the rules change. Not all public lands have unlimited public access all the time; you can't always just trod down a dirt road, find a clearing and proceed to dig a monstrous fire ring. An informed adventurer is a smart one.
1. Seek Out National Forest Land www.fs.fed.us
Back in 1905, Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the Forest Service, summed up the aim of the Service as "to provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in the long run." Of all public land types, National Forests remain dedicated recreation-use lands. Look for the light green patches on your topographical maps and you have your playground. In general. There are always exceptions. Some Forests employ a paid-permit system in highly popular areas, but the fee is often marginal. In these areas, it's unlikely that you can camp anywhere other than in a numbered slot (which may not necessarily be in an established campground, so the experience is still dispersed and pleasant) - however, I'm familiar with some forests in Arizona that do not implement a fee, but do limit precisely where you can camp with a numbered site system among isolated and primitive sites. 2. Locate Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land www.blm.gov
The Bureau administers 253 million acres of public land; which is 13% of the total land surface of the United States, and more than 40% of all land managed by the Federal government. The BLM carries out a vast variety of programs for conservation and management; among these is recreation. BLM lands are mandated by a multi-use plan so portions are often leased to, among other things, ranchers for grazing. Access is still shared, which means you have just as much right to enjoy the land as anyone else - unless otherwise specified by the agency. This is not to say the BLM goes willy-nilly on access rights; with expanding population and urbanization, pressures from all manner of user groups, and ever-dwindling natural resources, the job of the BLM gets harder every day. As a recreational user, I suggest engaging in positive use of BLM land by limiting your impact and respecting other visitors. 3. Avoid State Trust Lands www.land.state.az.us
The details vary from state to state, but at least you should know when you're on State Land because you most likely need to have a permit in your possession to do so. Whether anyone is checking for permits out there is up to chance. As the term "Trust" implies, this land is the State's prized nest egg. The land is always for sale. Simply read the mission statement for the Arizona State Land Department and you'll get the picture. Example? Point two on that page reads, "To enhance revenue production." Also: "State Trust Land is distinguished from the public land such as parks or national forests because all uses of the land must benefit the 13 Trust beneficiaries." The primary beneficiary is the Common Schools (K-12 public schools), which owns 87% of the land. Land sells, it goes to public education. No mention about, "To provide really sweet scenery and campsites for recreational users." Here be dragons. Be ye warned. 4. Find Other Land Types, the white spaces on the topo
For the most part, the white areas on your topo signify private land. But some of it is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, such as National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) which will most often be white. Depending on your map, they could be colored in with a light red or pink - and in many Refuges you can camp in dispersed areas free of charge, aside from any entry fee that may be in place for the particular area. Keep that in mind, because these are cool places. Private property is private property; trespassing is unlawful.
Where to Buy Good Topo Maps?You should certainly spend $20 and get a DeLorme Gazetteer for the state(s) you enjoy exploring: You can often get these at your nearest bookstore! But if you'd prefer an internet source, use Changing Hands Bookstore. - |
