Roadside Boondocking

Thanks Gary. I'll print that out and stick it in our Milepost!

The BCGov't website for locating Forestry campgrounds.

http://www.sitesandtrailsbc.ca/search/search-location.aspx

The lakes district is ripe with good spots.

Little Fort...about 1/2 K past 24 turn off, is a great overnight spot. Used it. Good turning about place.

Up 24..Latremouille Lake has a rec site. As does Goose Lake. Phinetta Lake too.

100 Mile House..turn left at the BC Info building and drive on past..about 1/2 K...look left at the logs by the lake. Swing around so you can watch the birds.

Also the Save-On lot and they have wifi.

108 ..past the airport..51°45'03.8"N 121°20'48.3"W

Greeny Lake, 13 K North of Lac La Hache on Timothy Lake Rd. says pay after May 1st.

A pretty neat spot just out of Quesnel Forks...Q Forks Rec Site.

If you need to stop in Williams Lake..the Save-on lot, with wifi. Or the lot to the east, Staple..level no wifi tho.

Quesnel..about 15? Ks north..a Rest Area on a Hush Lake..is great spot.


I see you are going north from PG..I have no knowledge of the Hart. Been years since I went up that way.



Gary Haupt

As has already been mentioned above, we have stayed in Rest Areas for some shut eye (not camping!) that have signs up stating "no overnight camping". We have asked LEO's and security guards many times if we are OK to do so, and whether in Wyoming, BC, or elsewhere have been told the signs are there to enable them to be able to move undesirables along. We were never disturbed and always given the thumbs up to stay overnight irrespective of signage.

Less paperwork and involvement for them, than dealing with the carnage of an over tired driver a few miles further down the highway from enforcing based on signage.

We are meandering our way toward Alaska. Lejeune, then to Little Fort, fish across #24 to #1 and then up to Spanish and Wolverine lakes near Likely. Next is Carp Lake for a few days. After that we pretty much stick to the highway, Buckinghorse River, Tetsa River area, Liard, and on up. We lived in Alaska for many years and visit often, but northern BC is less familiar.

Tony...give me a routing and I will give you what I know of places that would work. You can do this in pm if you wish. However, just using the rest areas will be handy, no doubt. Some of them have a bit of a lean, which isn't comfy for a nights sleep. There is one just west of Hope..and the one at Merritt/Coq Highway info centre...man, they are sommmme ugly. However...there are so many options, you'll be fine.


Gary Haupt

Thanks Gary. The turn around thing will be a priority this time up. Pulling an 18' car hauler with a Prius and an UTV aboard. I can always unload the UTV and go for a looksee, but I am seeing a couple of streams that just using a pullover for the night will be the easiest.

Gary's right. There's nothing better than a quiet night on some BC back road. I've gone up some old logging roads that ended up in places to die for. Of course, I wasn't pulling a trailer so I knew I could always back out if I couldn't turn around. I will admit to wondering if there weren't a few bears watching, but I was always careful with food. It's a good way to really experience the peace and quiet of wilderness.

Those 'No Overnight' signs are a CYA..a way to move people off that seem to be parked there for more than a night. I have never..ever..been asked to not park at a rest area or other bit of real estate. There a number of awesome map books for BC, or even just Google Map it..and 'drive' the area you are wanting to overnight in...find a side road going away from the highway. The biggest thing there is turn around space. The biggest thing for people is the 'fear factor'...what about people, bears, wolves, cops, the dark, the campfire, the bugs....and, for some, these are legit fears. So..when I say..stop worrying and just go do it...I am not minimizing your fears. But...give it a try. Please.


Gary Haupt

tonymull:
That is exactly what we do. Dry camp for few days, then stop at full campground to dump holding tanks, refill and communicate with the world.
This holds true even in the lower 48.

If you got a copy of BC Backroads, Northern BC, then it will have a bunch of free forestry sites mentioned & directions to get to them.