Definition of "Primitive" vs "Tent Only"

To me 'Primitive' describes the type of site, generally no hookups, loosely marked sites etc. It does refer to what method of camping on that site. In Arizona many sites are listed as Primitive, no hookups, dump station nearby. Now why would they list dump station if it was tent only?

4runnerguy wrote:

Crodad wrote:
Tent only - has electricity and water.

:h

This is a regional thing. In our experience, tent only sites in the west virtually never have either electricity or water.

But back to the OP's point, based on our experience, primitive means no water, electricity, or sewer. In some places, we've seen primitive sites with fire rings, but not outhouses. Tent only is just what it says, tents only.

Here is an example where the NFS uses the word "Primitive" in the campground description, but still lists camping trailers as potential users.

Best bet is check with the district ranger station when dealing with the USFS. Pretty much all of region 8, the southeast, the USFS primitive vs dispersed to indicate the difference between tent only, dispersed, or RV with no facilities, primitive. But there are exceptions.
As for the ACOE some of their primitive sites are tent only and NOT MARKED as such.

wxtoad,
Were you able to get to Potter's Creek. According to Recreation.gov it is closed until further notice due to last year's flooding. We always enjoyed staying there while visiting San Antonio but apparently not this year! :(

We've dry-camped and boondocked a lot in the West. We've also volunteered in those kinds of places.

We have found that 'tent only' means a specific site with no hookups and no generator noise. It 'can' have a dumpster and will have a toilet.
Tents = Quiet.

Primitive means it could or could 'not' have specific sites, no hookups and could or could not have a pit toilet. The road is usually rough and narrow. No trash dumpster. If a small RV can get to the area, they are allowed.

Dry camping can be in state parks, national parks, COE, and national forests. They 'will have' specific sites, no hookups, will have some sort of toilet and will be suitable for RVs or tents. Sometimes no trash dumpsters; sometimes yes.

Boondocking is driving out on national forest or BLM lands, find your spot and park within legal limits as determined by the facility.

I camp host in a primitive campground in Utah. It's BLM, and they use primitive in this case to mean no water, pit toilets only, and no hookups or electricity anywhere. You're basically boondocking in designated sites with pit toilets here and there.

The campground does see some big rigs come in, but it's really not designed for such and they occasionally get stuck. It's best suited to tents, but you can bring whatever you want though you may not find space for it. Only a few sites will accommodate anything bigger than a Class B, and that's not by design, just happenstance. But it's not a tent only campground, though tents are what it was designed for.

The people at that particular COE location are upset. The reason they are upset is obvious to us (but not to them): everyone else knows the correct meaning of "primitive" but these COE people do not.

However, they are not wrong when they say that "primitive" means "tents only" at their location, because they are the bosses of their location and that makes them right. In their location. Only in their location.

"You can't fight city hall." Or federal employees, either.

accsys wrote:
wxtoad,
Were you able to get to Potter's Creek. According to Recreation.gov it is closed until further notice due to last year's flooding. We always enjoyed staying there while visiting San Antonio but apparently not this year! :(

No, we haven't been to Potters Creek in a few years, so I can't say personally about it's current status. However, the recreation.gov web site says: "Attention: Potters Creek Park will be closed until further notice. The park lost many sites and received severe damage due to flooding. We cannot open again until all repairs are complete. Please be patient as the process may take a year or more to complete."

WxToad

Thanks for your comments, folks. There seems to be a consensus here. Perhaps I'll suggest to the Canyon Lake USACE that they peruse this thread. But based on their language used with me, they are typical bureaucrats with no intention of clarifying their house rules.

WxToad

I went to the COE website and it is about as nebulous as can be.
Nowhere do they say anything about tent only.
I was a public lands recreation manager for many years and primitive always meant no facilities (elec/H2o/sewer) at the campsite, but usually but not always water was available somewhere in the campground. When we had tent only sites, we called them tent only.
Since COE is out of the normal natural resource agencies and under the Army, I suppose they have their own definitions. Unlike DOI (NPS, BLM) or USDA (USFS) who manage the great majority of federal campgrounds. Still, they should be far more clear on their descriptions so that people can understand what they offer.

We have to remember here, most of these NF and COE campgrounds were built before the huge RV's we have nowadays.

And, altho' we've never been to a COE that qualifies as primitive - most have at least W/E and bathhouse - we're been to a lot of NF that have nothing but a table and fire-ring, and some not even that when we really get back in the forest. COE is nearly always on a river or lake, and a dam that generates power. So, it makes sense COE will have at least W/E ... although not every one does. We have been to a few that are less developed.