No Reservations Camping? Spot & squat off-road?

AirCooledNut · Post by **AirCooledNut** » Fri May 22, 2009 10:30 pm

Okay, with the Bus running well and the Oregon weather being more cooperative we (my sweetie

) are getting more into camping. We have two kids (sometimes just one) so try to keep to more constructed camping grounds (running water, toilets, etc.). Personally, I like hoofing it in but that AIN'T gonna happen with my family at this time...maybe later on in life.

What's a real PITA is finding a place in a day or less time! You have to make reservations at least two days in advance or hope you're lucky enough to snag a walk-in. Yuck. I've seen others here & there where it looks like they've just taken a forest service road, found an opening, parked it and camped. I kinda like that idea and I believe I could swing it w/my family with a little extra prep, even if it's just for a one-night trip.

Has anyone camped in such...uhm...non-designated areas? How do you do it? Special permit required? What to look for? And for those in Oregon, can you recommend any locations? Our Bus is stock height and cruising in the correct Hankook truck tires, spare tire on the nose, and mild off-roading doesn't intimidate me.

Thanks

tristessa · Post by **tristessa** » Sat May 23, 2009 7:47 am

AirCooledNut wrote:I've seen others here & there where it looks like they've just taken a forest service road, found an opening, parked it and camped.

Has anyone camped in such...uhm...non-designated areas? How do you do it? Special permit required? What to look for? And for those in Oregon, can you recommend any locations?

In the Mt. Hood National Forest, that pretty much sums it up. Lots of folks (not just local Bus campers) do it that way, and AFAIK there's no permit required. I do know there's an area a bit south of Estacada where camping is only allowed in designated sites, but once you get through that it's pretty much fair game. Though if the Forest Service peeps have made an obvious effort to keep people out of a spot .. it might be good to stay out of that spot.

Pack plenty of garbage bags though, a lot of the camping spots on Mt. Hood (outside the official campgrounds) are used by people who suffer from WhiteTrash-itis; there's frequently a mess .. some of which really makes me go "WTF?" sometimes. Beercans and stuff I can kinda understand, floor lamps and televisions .. not so much.

No idea what the situation is like outside the Mt. Hood area, never done it. Mary and I stick to the designated campgrounds. We're on a trip someplace, boondocking in an unfamiliar area A) could take some time to find a spot, and B) might not be such a good idea sometimes...

bretski · Post by **bretski** » Sat May 23, 2009 7:56 am

In most National Forests, dispersed camping in non-designated sites is permitted. However, some forests are more restrictive than others. Check the websites of the National Forests in your area, and they will have the rules posted. Pay special attention to the rules on open campfires.

That said, you need to be careful...private property owners can be smack-dab in the middle of a National Forest area, and they will likely not take kindly to you parking your bus on their land.

I camp in "non-designated" sites all the time. As you travel along forest roads, you'll find the spots. They will have a small clearing, and often a fire-ring. Use these spots if you find them, as it reduces the impact of creating a "new" site. I always keep big trash bags in the bus, and do my best to pick up the trash left by others (leave it nicer than you found it, and hopefully it will prompt others to do the same).

Have fun!

Hippie · Post by **Hippie** » Sat May 23, 2009 4:23 pm

I usually just find a river access that says public hunting/fishing or whatever but not in a park.

River Rat Rob

chitwnvw · Post by **chitwnvw** » Sat May 23, 2009 8:30 pm

Hippie wrote:I usually just find a river access that says public hunting/fishing or whatever but not in a park.

River Rat Rob

In the van down by the river!

Hippie · Post by **Hippie** » Sun May 24, 2009 6:37 am

chitwnvw wrote:In the van down by the river!

OMG! I didn't think of that! heehee

gmag69 · Post by **gmag69** » Sun May 24, 2009 7:14 am

That is one thing I like about living right in the middle of a National Forest.We can just pull off any forest road and camp. You are only aloud to camp for I believe a week straight a month though. You have to leave the woods then. At least that is what I was told.

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Mon May 25, 2009 4:01 pm

Public land, dispersed camping is totally legal. All NF's and most BLM land.
Get a Delorme map book, a local national forest map and let your imagination take you to new adventures.
Also, the MHNF Website has a section for all their campgrounds. You may have missed a couple small backcountry ones that only have a few sites but limited facilities.
Also again, we usually have a couple family-compatible Oregon camps in the summer so check the Camping section. We're pretty active.

vistacruzer · Post by **vistacruzer** » Mon May 25, 2009 7:04 pm

ah yes warm camping

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Mon May 25, 2009 7:34 pm

The past 2 weekends have been absolutely glorious. Blue skies!
Don't dally.

AirCooledNut · Post by **AirCooledNut** » Mon May 25, 2009 8:47 pm

Cool, thanks volks!

Yes, we camped at the coast last weekend in a state park and this Sat/Sun on Memorial Day weekend at a US Forest campground. The missus wants to camp this next weekend so...who knows? We're sure having fun. I never, ever thought I'd be a Bus owner but now with a Rivi it sure beats the heck outta camping hinges in my Squareback

static · Post by **static** » Tue May 26, 2009 10:55 am

I camped last night in the Lassen National Forest. Free!

I parked at a "hike and bike" campsite, so it had a modern USFS toilet (no stink!) but I had to use my own table and water. As I have a Westy, no problemo.

A little ways away was an interesting couple: He was Austrian, she was Swiss. They are traveling in an old Deutz truck (aircooled engine!) with Swiss license plates and a poptop. Waaay cool.

AirCooledNut · Post by **AirCooledNut** » Tue May 26, 2009 5:45 pm

static wrote:I camped last night in the Lassen National Forest. Free!

I parked at a "hike and bike" campsite, so it had a modern USFS toilet (no stink!) but I had to use my own table and water. As I have a Westy, no problemo.

A little ways away was an interesting couple: He was Austrian, she was Swiss. They are traveling in an old Deutz truck (aircooled engine!) with Swiss license plates and a poptop. Waaay cool.

...and you'll be posting pictures of it really soon, riiiight?

static · Post by **static** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:49 am

AirCooledNut wrote: ...and you'll be posting pictures of it really soon, riiiight?

Sadly, I won't. They are traveling north though, stopping at mountains for skiing. Yes, skiing. In the summer. They are way cool.

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Itinerant Air-Cooled

No Reservations Camping? Spot & squat off-road?

No Reservations Camping? Spot & squat off-road?

Re: No Reservations Camping? Spot & squat off-road?