Hike-In/Walk-in Only Campsite Trend? Why is this happening?

[Tundracamper]

All the national forest/public lands are in Appalachia, not the coast (only exception being cape lookout and parts of outer banks). They have dispersed camping and some rustic campgrounds. This is mostly a state park thing and specifically South Carolina (though Georgia has virtually no where you can bring your car).

I find the opposite is true. I think NC is somewhat restrictive in Nantahala NF...

“Dispersed camping is only allowed at designated areas.” (National Forests in North Carolina - Camping & Cabins:Dispersed Camping)


Whereas, in NGa, Chattahoochee NF has lots of campsites along the FS roads, at least more than many places I’ve visited, and you can camp pretty much anywhere...

“For those who prefer solitude and privacy, undeveloped or “dispersed” camping is allowed in most places within the forest boundary. Dispersed camping is more primitive than in developed campgrounds, with few or no facilities. You will need to Pack-it-in and Pack-it-Out.” (Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests - Camping & Cabins)

 

[ShenValleyCruiser]

I find the opposite is true. I think NC is somewhat restrictive in Nantahala NF...

“Dispersed camping is only allowed at designated areas.” (National Forests in North Carolina - Camping & Cabins:Dispersed Camping)


Whereas, in NGa, Chattahoochee NF has lots of campsites along the FS roads, at least more than many places I’ve visited, and you can camp pretty much anywhere...

“For those who prefer solitude and privacy, undeveloped or “dispersed” camping is allowed in most places within the forest boundary. Dispersed camping is more primitive than in developed campgrounds, with few or no facilities. You will need to Pack-it-in and Pack-it-Out.” (Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests - Camping & Cabins)

Asheville area has been getting rid of a lot of dispersed roadside and trail side campsite and restricting dispersed camping to be 1000ft from certain roads. Not sure about Uwharrie. VA and WV national forest are pretty open.

 

[Tundracamper]

Asheville area has been getting rid of a lot of dispersed roadside and trail side campsite and restricting dispersed camping to be 1000ft from certain roads. Not sure about Uwharrie. VA and WV national forest are pretty open.

Yeah, if you have to be 1000’ from a road, that eliminates car and RV dispersed camping. I’ve seen RVs camping in N GA mountains. Not sure why different states or districts get to run National Forests differently.

 

[Mustang03]

Perhaps a stupid question, so be kind but are there two different passes? Ine for National Parks and one for National Forests?
I want to say this was mentioned in a thread somewhere but I havent found it yet.

Please and thank you

Here's a synopsis from America the Beautiful - National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Passes | USGS Store Lots of stuff to read there...

America the Beautiful Pass (standard) = 1 year access to all national parks and federal recreation lands.
America the Beautiful Senior Pass = Lifetime access to same. (You'd have to go to the website to see if you can figure out the fee structure.)
America the Beautiful Access Pass = Lifetime access to same for those with permanent disability.

It's a deal because one pass covers a LOT of places. Some of the places where we've used our pass include: national parks/monuments, national forests, Corps of Engineers parks/campgrounds, Bureau of Land Management p/c, national recreation sites, Bureau of Reclamation sites, national wildlife reserves. I'm sure there are more, but that's the ones I remember at the moment.

Best thing about the passes is that if you don't qualify for one of the lifetime passes, the annual fee is still worth it because those entrance and camping fees can quickly add up to more than the cost of the pass. Since getting my pass in 2003, I cannot begin to estimate how much money we've saved.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Here's a synopsis from America the Beautiful - National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands Passes | USGS Store Lots of stuff to read there...

America the Beautiful Pass (standard) = 1 year access to all national parks and federal recreation lands.
America the Beautiful Senior Pass = Lifetime access to same. (You'd have to go to the website to see if you can figure out the fee structure.)
America the Beautiful Access Pass = Lifetime access to same for those with permanent disability.

It's a deal because one pass covers a LOT of places. Some of the places where we've used our pass include: national parks/monuments, national forests, Corps of Engineers parks/campgrounds, Bureau of Land Management p/c, national recreation sites, Bureau of Reclamation sites, national wildlife reserves. I'm sure there are more, but that's the ones I remember at the moment.

Best thing about the passes is that if you don't qualify for one of the lifetime passes, the annual fee is still worth it because those entrance and camping fees can quickly add up to more than the cost of the pass. Since getting my pass in 2003, I cannot begin to estimate how much money we've saved.

Thanks for the time in putting this out!

I'll check into a local office and pick one up.

 

[grubworm]

As to the OP, I was reading different articles and one particular item kept popping up and that is there are more and more of the younger people getting interested in camping and they apparently like the hike-in version of camping. One article attributed this to Millennials and why they are more prone to want this kind of camping.
I figure its good that they are getting out there because those people are going to be our future leaders and law makers, so hopefully they will enjoy camping and want to ensure that camping stays available to everyone. Sure beats the younger crowd hating camping and deciding the lands need to be turned into soy bean farms....

 

[egilbe]

All kinds of dispersed camping in the WMNF. Only problem is you have to hike to it. I know of Tripoli RD (Triple-eye is how it pronounced). Camping along it and a forest service road off RT3 that has campsites, Haystack RD. Those are the only ones I know of. The WMNF has something like 1400 miles of hiking trails, but maybe 10 miles of roads that one can vehicle camp. I did find a spot off Sandwich Notch road that has a campsite, requires 4wd and high ground clearance to get to it, but its two hours from home for me. What's the point?

 

[FishinCrzy]

there are more and more of the younger people getting interested in camping and they apparently like the hike-in

Yeah, but they are more busy supporting us old geezers collecting social security that have the time and money to now do what we want. And we want more vehicle accessible dispersed camping....dammit! I vote more different camping opportunities for everyone. I'm a boomer and you better listen! BTW, I got my first SS check last week and I'm feeling a little froggy.

 

[Mustang03]

Yeah, but they are more busy supporting us old geezers collecting social security that have the time and money to now do what we want. And we want more vehicle accessible dispersed camping....dammit! I vote more different camping opportunities for everyone. I'm a boomer and you better listen! BTW, I got my first SS check last week and I'm feeling a little froggy.

A "little" froggy?!

 

[MidOH]

Open the park to overlanding, and you'll have to open it to horses and motorcycles. If it can't handle all three, then it's a bad idea.

I'll gladly park in an RV spot, if the trade off is hiking trails and backpacking. I've paid for campsites before, even though I spent zero time at them. Was just a nice parking spot, I was backpacking for the whole week. I think it was $100 to park there in perfect safety. Compared to a trail head where I have a $75,000 rig at risk.

There's plenty of non important wilderness areas that aren't being properly used. Man made forests, man made lakes, etc. etc. Heck, when I was a kid, one of the best places for wheeling and camping used to be a land fill and chemical plant for nuclear research. Now it's a forest.