Last Saturday I wrote about finding dispersed campsites on the mostly desert land of the BLM in the western states. Today, I will look at finding dispersed campsites in National and State Forests. (To understand the terms and definitions “boondocking, dispersed campsites,” etc. as used here look at Part II of this article posted last Saturday).
Though the basics of finding a campsite in forest land are similar, in a forest you don’t often get as expansive a view of the road ahead to anticipate what you are getting into. So unless you are familiar with the area that you are entering or are following reliable information, I suggest taking these preliminary steps.
First, locate the area of the forest on an appropriate map or online, then locate the local–not regional–office that administers that forest, which will have rangers that will be personally familiar with their jurisdiction. It is important that you find this office before you get to the forest as frequently the office is located in the nearest town or city, which could be several miles away from the forest itself.
Also stop before you leave the last town and survey your stores. Is your water tank full, do you have some back up jugs of water, have you dumped, do you have enough milk, cheese, salad dressing, etc, did you empty your trash, filled your propane and fuel tank(s)?
Pick up a topo map of the forest (some state forests may not have topo maps) if you plan to stay longer than a day or two or plan to return in the future. The map (costing $4 to $8) will show in accurate detail all roads, designated campgrounds, mountains, lakes, rivers, and streams, and topographical details, and are indispensable if you plan to explore the forest by tow, toad, bicycle, or on foot. Next, pick up what literature you will need, including photocopies kept under the counter. Some of the busier and more organized offices will have a three-ring binder filled with informational sheets of which you can then request a copy. This information will include directions and descriptions of campgrounds, hiking trails, viewpoints, historic sites, recreational areas, etc.
Often, however, the counter personnel will not be rangers that actually patrol the area, but office help that often do not know about dispersed camping. If they do, you are in luck, but if not seek out a ranger. Ask about dispersed camping, including what type of camping you are looking for, ie: along a stream, a single site not near others, near a trail head (sometimes camping is allowable at the trail head), near a paved road, etc. A good ranger will know where these spots are and will be able to direct you there.
If that plan doesn’t pan out. Go to plan B.
PLAN B
Find a designated campground close to the area you would like to camp in. Sometimes, depending on the time of year, you might find a cozy little forest service campground with half a dozen spaces and no one else there. Take it. However, if you are not that fortunate (that’s the fun of exploring), pick a space in the campground to spend the first night then explore with your tow or toad along the forest service roads until you find the perfect spot. Then check levelness, for overhanging branches, firm surface that can support your rig, enough room to turn around, far enough off the access road to avoid road noise or dust.
If you see multiple sites or a lot of space that would accommodate many campers, you may want to look further for a smaller site. Larger ones may attract weekenders that come out to the forest to party, which is not where you want to be. Look around for other amenities that will make your camp enjoyable, like a stream boiling with trout that you can cast into from your campsite and can also use for a non-drinking water supply, the soothing going-to-sleep sound of a bubbling brook, birds flitting among the trees, and a meadow full of wildflowers and grazing elk just beyond your site. This is not a dream fantasy. These spots are out there.
On the return trip to pick up your rig, take the most direct route if you have been wandering, continuously checking for low hanging branches, poor road surface, rocks or other obstructions in the road that could damage your undersides, tight turns or steep hills. If all is acceptable, retrieve your rig and head into your newfound private campsite.
I know this may be hard, but try to take the time on the exploration part of finding a campsite to enjoy the forest and the site-finding process. Finding multiple sites and having to decide between them is part of the fun.
The hard part comes when you are forced to leave because one of your systems needs handling. If you ran out of water, you could drive to town (or the ranger office) and bring back a few jerry jugs of water. Never dump your holding tanks in the forest. That’s a No No. To last a little longer on your gray water holding tank—usually the limiting factor–buy a sun shower and shower outdoors (but not within 100 feet of a water source).
When you leave, walk your site and pick up trash—all of it—leaving your campsite with no evidence that you have been there. Have a great trip.
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