Is this legal?

It is often a case of having to set absolute rules because some people are always going to stretch what is "normal." If they say you can trim some branches, then some idiot is going to start doing major harvesting with the excuse that "well they say it is allowed" and then the park will have a hard time enforcing a citation in court because it was not specific. And then the next guy comes in and wants to trim branches on a tree on the other side. Pretty soon the campsite does resemble a parking lot.

If they flat out prohibit it, then the prohibition is clear. Unfortunately, it also takes the practicality out of all situations, even when a small branch is in the way.

So the specific answer is "No". You are not the park manager or park staff, whether it is a public or private campground. It is not your job to clear a site. You may feel they are not doing their job, but it is not your role to do it in their absence. You should notify them of the problem, and ask if they can clear it or if it is OK for you to do so.

I was at a USFS campground one time and a guy whipped out his chainsaw, stood on his trailer and started cutting away at branches way above his trailer. Then he whipped out a weed wacker and cut the ground vegetation enlarging the cleared area of the site to be about twice as big as it was. These are the kinds of people that ruin things for everyone because they have no "common sense" and don't care about anyone but themselves.

In our Texas State Parks not only can't you cut any limb but you can't even pickup limbs on the ground unless its changed since I last stayed in one.

So much of this has to do with the environment you're in. Sure, if you are in a commercial park where every plant there has been planted by the development, then yes, leave it alone. But so often we will stay at a public campground that is getting overgrown with native plants and some pruning is appreciated. So before people get all out of shape, it really depends on the park.

Just another reason I do not use state parks. Too many stupid regulations and not enough work done by the staff to keep their sites so the RV they say is allowed to be in that site can actually fit. I'm talking about trimming back some small branches with a pocket knife, not whipping out the chain saw and trimming an 8" branch. BTW, I once had a fellow "camper" tell me I couldn't place a rope around a two foot tree to anchor a line.

A: it was none of his business
B: if he had a problem, he could have notified proper authorities
C: there were actually no rules prohibiting it.
D: the price he paid for the campsite didn't make him a park ranger.

Here we go...gets popcorn...and waits...

donn0128 wrote:
Generally no. I have had to chastize a couple of people doing it. If branches are a problem, contact park staff.

x2

Generally no. I have had to chastize a couple of people doing it. If branches are a problem, contact park staff.