went up the mountain to Sibley Lake Campground in Bighorn National Forest to see if there any sites available because on Recreation.gov they have a few sites that are listed as First-come, First-serve. Most as expected were full, except for one site. The site number matched the First-come, First-serve site on Recreation.gov but the issue was that it was open tonight, but reserved tomorrow. This is supposed to be a first-come, first-serve site :h The campground host said it was an administrative decision. Are they allowed to do that? Seems to me they are using their position/power to reserve a site that isn't supposed to be reservable? Anyway, I didn't make a big scene because frankly I wasn't sure what all they're allowed to do and not allowed to do. Had it been a true first-come, first-serve site my son & would have stayed and spent a few nights with the rest of the family joining us in a few days.

I would have stayed the night, then watched for departing campers the next morning. Switching sites can be a bit of a hassle but it's a way to stay in the CG. If I like the CG or its location, it can be worthwhile to move. Just a possibility; doesn't work every time.

I can't speak from any experience, so this is just conjecture. It sounds like a question that really should be asked of someone at the National Park Service rather than here if you want an accurate answer of what is permitted/expected.I'd imagine that there would be a little bit of latitude for hosts (or others they report to) to do this sort of thing in at least a few circumstances. For instance, they may have had to move a camper from their reserved site because that site became unusable and needed repair or maintenance. Or perhaps there was some sort of a screw-up in the reservation system that somehow resulted in a double-booking.

rexlion wrote:I would have stayed the night, then watched for departing campers the next morning. Switching sites can be a bit of a hassle but it's a way to stay in the CG. If I like the CG or its location, it can be worthwhile to move. Just a possibility; doesn't work every time.I would have but everything else was booked for the next few days so we would have had to pack up and leave the next day. I just don’t understand how a first come site can be available today but reserved tomorrow without making any other sites a first come site. I’ll call the Forest Service tomorrow and get clarity on how things work.

The CG Host may have been holding it for a buddy of his. I've seen that before.

I'm with the others in calling the FS office. We often go in to a campground and pick a site that's open, then check with the host on when the other more desirable sites will be open, then move. If you have a good host, they will work with you and come around to tell you that the current occupants are about to leave so you can go over and grab it.

Forest Service Campground - First Come, First Serve & hosts

44 Replies

IDman
Explorer
Jun 15, 2021
The CG Host may have been holding it for a buddy of his. I've seen that before.
WhitehouseLV
Nomad
Jun 15, 2021
rexlion wrote:
I would have stayed the night, then watched for departing campers the next morning. Switching sites can be a bit of a hassle but it's a way to stay in the CG. If I like the CG or its location, it can be worthwhile to move. Just a possibility; doesn't work every time.

I would have but everything else was booked for the next few days so we would have had to pack up and leave the next day. I just don’t understand how a first come site can be available today but reserved tomorrow without making any other sites a first come site.

I’ll call the Forest Service tomorrow and get clarity on how things work.
DrewE
Explorer II
Jun 15, 2021
I can't speak from any experience, so this is just conjecture. It sounds like a question that really should be asked of someone at the National Park Service rather than here if you want an accurate answer of what is permitted/expected.

I'd imagine that there would be a little bit of latitude for hosts (or others they report to) to do this sort of thing in at least a few circumstances. For instance, they may have had to move a camper from their reserved site because that site became unusable and needed repair or maintenance. Or perhaps there was some sort of a screw-up in the reservation system that somehow resulted in a double-booking.
rexlion
Explorer
Jun 15, 2021
I would have stayed the night, then watched for departing campers the next morning. Switching sites can be a bit of a hassle but it's a way to stay in the CG. If I like the CG or its location, it can be worthwhile to move. Just a possibility; doesn't work every time.

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Forest Service Campground - First Come, First Serve & hosts

44 Replies

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