Booning in National Forest or BLMs

Boondocking is out in the boonies, away from people and civilization, so there are no campsites. It’s also dry camping, but you can also dry camp in a campground if you pass on any hu’s. I do it all the time. Most BLM land I’m aware of is lower elevations and I spend almost all of my time in mountain national forests. So I’ll let those who use BLM land speak to it.

In the nf’s, you can just drive back in on a forest road and set up about anywhere that looks good to you. There may be some restrictions, but they’re typically signed as you go in. Or you can ask at a local ranger station to play it safe. Actually, your rig is a bit big for that sort of camping, forest roads are usually rough, unimproved, narrow and heavily treed. But you could stay out close to the pavement as long as you have room to maneuver. If you want to go back one of those roads, unhitch and scout it out with the TV first. I’ve seen some people in very awkward positions as the road deteriorated and they couldn’t maneuver or turn around.

The few times I’ve used BLM land I treat it the same as nf land. Park where I want while watching for any signs or restrictions. I’ve been doing it for about 50 years with no issues at all.

Slightly off topic - If you like National Park and state park campgrounds and haven't yet tried Army Corps of Engineers camping, check that out sometime, too. (Not boondocking, but established campgrounds that can be nicer than a good state park, and at lower rates.) Like the NF established campgrounds, you get a 50% discount if you have a senior pass (get one when you turn 62).

We're at Ives Run below Tioga, PA today - big paved site, paved roads, water & electric, great view of the lake.

The term the federal agencies (USFS & BLM) use for boondocking is "dispersed camping". Each local FS Ranger or BLM District office will have specific regulations for their area. The general guidelines are the same, but each district may have specific closed areas and other local limitations. The US Forest Service web site is a good source of info for each of the National Forrest's camping resources, or dispersed camping guidelines, such as

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/riogrande/recreation/camping-cabins/?cid=stelprdb5366585

Here's one of the best sites to find boondocking spots - http://freecampsites.net/usa/

But you are kind of big for many back country sites so you may want to look at some of the spots these guys chose -

Big class A - http://www.wheelingit.us/category/boondocking-2/

Pulling a trailer - http://www.watsonswander.com/category/boondocking-2/

sgrizzle wrote:
If you wanted to boondock in a national forest or in a Bureau Land Management areas, are there "campsites" or are you able to drive in and find a nice spot anywhere and set up camp? Obviously, I have never done this, but we think we might try it next year...we prefer State and National park campsites to the "luxury" RV sites. Thanks

echoing what others have said, it depends on the agency and region. around here, Uncle Sam has both marked dispersed camp sites, and unmarked dispersed camp sites, managed by USDA (USFS)

I seem to recall reading on the website, you can camp anywhere, as in, hike in with your tent or paddle in with canoe. drive in camp sites have to be along established roads (2-tracks mostly). for example, you shouldn't just bulldoze your way into the woods in a lifted 4x4 truck camper.

Great info! We are pretty cautious and we would definitely unhitch and explore before bouncing off into "the wilds". We are planning our trip through Colorado (I-70 this trip) and into the Moab, UT area for hiking and mountain-biking!!

I really appreciate your expertise!

Before you go, explore the area on Google Earth -- you can often spot good campsites out in the boonies -- they are usually spurs off of forest roads. Then, when you get to the area, don't tow a big rig out into the forest till you explore with a smaller vehicle -- making sure that there is a place to turn around if needed.

Be sure to make friends with the ranger in the local office, and buy a forest service map of the area -- they are very detailed.

Be careful where you go as the USFS has new rules re driving off of certain roads and two-tracks. You cannot just go "anywhere" in the National Forests any longer!

IDman, it is very sad what is happening to the forest road network. We were recently hiking in the Hoover Wilderness north of Yosemite and saw a lot of new and illegal ATV tracks through meadows and over streambeds. At very high altitudes, it will take many years for those scars to heal, because the growing season is so short.

A few lawbreakers are going to ruin it for everyone else -- the forest service is cutting back on vehicle access in a lot of areas. I don't know what else they can do -- they can't put a ranger on every road. The folks who run their quads cross-country are not the sort of people who read these forums, so there is no way to ask them to stop. They know exactly what they are doing, and they do not care.

Get a MVUM, Motor Vehicle Use Map, for the National Forest you plan to visit. The open roads are shown, and there are indicators for dispersed camping.

Dispersed Camping Roads are the area's you are looking for.

In my area travel is permitted up to 300' from the center-line of the road for the purposes of camping.