Ive done my fair share of camping but I've either stayed in campgrounds or gone to a location as a destination. I will be doing a 10 day trip with a break in the middle through some national forests and state parks. How does everyone pick sites for dispersed camping? Do you just look for existing ones? I mean that's ideal but what if you don't see any where you want to be? Is it acceptable to just camp anywhere? I obviously would try to minimize my footprint. Any help or tips would be appreciated! Thanks! Mason
Questions about dispersed camping
- Thread starter mase001
- Start date
Contributor I
I generally look for areas that have some sign of prior use, be it as a camp site, or a rest area. If nothing like that is available I'll stick to a small clearing just off a main trail. As long as you respect the area you are using and leave it cleaner than you found it you shouldn't have many issues.
I highly recommend an app called Allstays. It was 10 bucks, but it paid for itself in a few days. We fulltime travel, and use it exclusively to find our campsites. It lists tons of dispersed camping areas in NF and other areas. It has a map with icons you can filter through, and when you choose one it links to google maps or a website for more info. We find lots of free or really cheap spots this way.
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Traveler II
If you haven't see it already here is the posted guideline for Dispersed Camping: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/fishlake/recreation/?cid=stelprdb5121831
Advocate III
I grew up going on weekend trips through the Sierras, stopping when we felt like it, where it made sense. Even today I only need enough room to park and sleep if I'm passing through. There are a number of apps and websites devoted to free camping spots, many are regional so it helps to look around some.
I have this App which has helped find spots, especially in area's new to me. http://www.ultimatecampgrounds.com
Traveler II
Enthusiast III
I've used freecampsites.net. These are free or low cost camp sites.
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Enthusiast III
I have been pretty much exclusively dispersed camping the last few years, definitely is my preferred way to camp anymore. At least around here, and I am assuming it is pretty similar in most of the national forests, its really easy to find used campsites with fire rings all ready to go. Just try any given FS road and you are pretty much guaranteed to find at least couple sites. Some of my favorite campsites I've just stumbled on that way. I haven't used any of the apps/websites, but I can definitely see their utility when you are out of familiar territory.
Pathfinder I
Well we do not call it dispersed camping, we call it camping.
And normally it is picked by -
a: features around the area
b: proximity to water for swimming (if croc free) or fishing
c: has shade
d: its late and its level its camp
e: there are no others around you.
And the app wikicamps australia is awesome :)
And normally it is picked by -
a: features around the area
b: proximity to water for swimming (if croc free) or fishing
c: has shade
d: its late and its level its camp
e: there are no others around you.
And the app wikicamps australia is awesome :)
Jumping in on this topic a bit late. I've only done dispersed or primitive camping in the last year or so (e.g., BLM land or fire roads). The few times I've done an over-nighter on back roads or fire roads I was on my own and I just sleep in the rig. I only will do dispersed camping with the family in areas I'm comfortable with from a safety standpoint. Question out to the group, if you're out exploring with the family in an area you're not terribly familiar with, do you have any safety concerns staying overnight at a makeshift site you stumbled across or a turnoff? And if so, how do you mitigate them?
Benefactor
What type of threats consearn you, the four legged threats, two legged variety, or something else?
Really it's both. Not having had much experience it's always in the back of my mind, and I find my mind races with all sorts of scenarios. I'll say though, I'm more at ease when my family is not with me when disperse camping. I don't sleep clutching a knife or anything like that but I sleep more soundly knowing if anything were to happen I'm not putting my family in harm's way. A RTT would go along way to help quell some of my concerns but it's impractical at this point in time for us.
Benefactor
I find that the threat from two legged predators reduces the further from Cities you travel. Once out in nature, I have never been the victim of crime (Unless you count the monkeys, that stole my sunglasses, in Belize a few weeks back). I believe this to be a global phenomenon. When I travel to developing counties, Cities can be a little sketchy. Often, as a foreigner, you are seen as a target for crime. Once you are out in the countryside around small villages, they are just as interested in you, as you are in them. The greatest threat is people trying to meet you, and feed you the local delicacy (Hay, I'm old: I need to watch what I eat)…
I'm curious these apps that people recommend, like Allstays. If you are out in the middle of nohwere with no coverage do the apps still work? Or do you have to plan where you will be going? Sometimes it's fun to just explore and if you're in a certain area it would be great to pull up an app and see what could possibly be around. I guess this isn't really possible with those apps.
I've been using campendium.com for a little over two years now to help research sites to stay.
We do primarily boondocking and dry camping off grid. We've also been fulltime traveling for two years. In that time, we've never experienced a problem out in the wilderness. Matter of fact, I leave my home unattended out in the middle of near where many many times.
As to the OP, I tend to look for existing established campsites to do the minimum amount of environmental damage. And usually away from water sources a good distance.
That app is SO/SO. And it won't work without coverage.
Generally I think you're right - the further out you are, the likelihood of victimization is probably lower. In some instances, I've been out where I would consider it "remote" but be caught off guard by graffiti on boulders and glass bottles strewed about. Maybe I just had to drive a bit further out :)
We're not quite able to plan and execute long multi-week / month trips. I don't hate established campgrounds but depending on the time of the year, they can suck and ruin an otherwise great weekend. Definitely during the fall / winter months they're great - very quiet and peaceful. Come spring / summer, they're loud and crowded, and that's when I opt more for dispersed camping options. Just this weekend in fact, we had the misfortune to camp next to a group who were up late chatting (which I can't blame them for doing) so that night's sleep was not great. The next day, a spot across the way opened up, so we literally picked up our tent and walked it over. That second night was great; slept like a baby. The one great thing we learned this weekend was dispersed camping is allowed outside this campground so our next trip out we'll know better and have more options.
@SAC-CA-Runner
Beware that many newer phones use cell and wifi signal triangulation to get your location instead of GPS. This works well in town but as soon as you're off grid you're SOL. I have yet to find a fool proof way to determine which phones have real GPS and which fake it. Though I can say that Samsung Infuse, S3, S5 Active, & S6 from AT&T all fail to locate when they lose signal. Beware that when some fail they fail giving you and error, others fail and show you the last location fix like all is good. Not sure which mode is more dangerous.
Boort
Depends on the App AND the Phone hardware. I run Maps with Me on an old Tmobile G2 android phone. The Maps with me app lets you download maps and routing data locally for any areas you're interested in a head of time. Since the phone has an actual GPS chip on it I can get working nav out in the boonies.
Beware that many newer phones use cell and wifi signal triangulation to get your location instead of GPS. This works well in town but as soon as you're off grid you're SOL. I have yet to find a fool proof way to determine which phones have real GPS and which fake it. Though I can say that Samsung Infuse, S3, S5 Active, & S6 from AT&T all fail to locate when they lose signal. Beware that when some fail they fail giving you and error, others fail and show you the last location fix like all is good. Not sure which mode is more dangerous.
Boort
