I am making plans for the summer -- we are headed for a remote area in a national forest where the website says, essentially, you can camp just about anywhere but please do not drive more than 300 feet off a designated roadway.Where we are going, I do not see any established boondocking sites, but I see many possibilities within 300 feet of roadways on Google Earth. Although I have done a lot of boondocking, I have never before just headed out across the landscape to establish my own new site. It seems wrong, somehow -- like a desecration of the land. No matter how carefully I drive, it will tear up the dirt somewhat.So that is my question -- do they really mean I can just strike out on my own?? Has anyone else done that? What are your thoughts about breaking new ground? Can you help me overcome my feelings of guilt and remorse? ;)Thanks in advance.

The key is the "designated roadway". not all roads within the forest are considered designated roadway. They have a map that identifies those designations.They will also tell you to stay away from meadows - go around them, not through them. I have found the 300 foot rule more restrictive than before. some of the old logging roads are not part of the "designated roadways".

korbe, that's a good point -- the Motor Vehicle Use Maps show the roads open for boondocking, often with dots on either side of the roadway on the map.By the way, after discussing those maps with rangers, I have learned that many of them pronounce the MVUM acronym as "emm-vumm."

profdant139 wrote:I am making plans for the summer -- we are headed for a remote area in a national forest where the website says, essentially, you can camp just about anywhere but please do not drive more than 300 feet off a designated roadway.Where we are going, I do not see any established boondocking sites, but I see many possibilities within 300 feet of roadways on Google Earth. Although I have done a lot of boondocking, I have never before just headed out across the landscape to establish my own new site. It seems wrong, somehow -- like a desecration of the land. No matter how carefully I drive, it will tear up the dirt somewhat.So that is my question -- do they really mean I can just strike out on my own?? Has anyone else done that? What are your thoughts about breaking new ground? Can you help me overcome my feelings of guilt and remorse? ;)Thanks in advance.Yes. We've done that many times at 2 different places in Colorado and Wyoming. Turns out we didn't really do any damage because the vegetation was extremely resilient. No fire ring, though.LS

profdant139 wrote:Can you help me overcome my feelings of guilt and remorse?No, sorry--you're on your own.But I do try to pay attention to the 'road' indications of maps - when available. And never drive through a meadow or other soft ground if there's any other way. When it's rock or sand, not so concerned.Care to indicate what area(s) you're going to explore?

My personal policy is to use established legal sites only. No guilt that way.

The 300 foot rule -- do they mean what they say?

44 Replies

cewillis
Explorer
Feb 03, 2017
profdant139 wrote:
Can you help me overcome my feelings of guilt and remorse?

No, sorry--you're on your own.
But I do try to pay attention to the 'road' indications of maps - when available. And never drive through a meadow or other soft ground if there's any other way. When it's rock or sand, not so concerned.
Care to indicate what area(s) you're going to explore?
LenSatic
Explorer
Feb 03, 2017
profdant139 wrote:
I am making plans for the summer -- we are headed for a remote area in a national forest where the website says, essentially, you can camp just about anywhere but please do not drive more than 300 feet off a designated roadway.

Where we are going, I do not see any established boondocking sites, but I see many possibilities within 300 feet of roadways on Google Earth. Although I have done a lot of boondocking, I have never before just headed out across the landscape to establish my own new site. It seems wrong, somehow -- like a desecration of the land. No matter how carefully I drive, it will tear up the dirt somewhat.

So that is my question -- do they really mean I can just strike out on my own?? Has anyone else done that? What are your thoughts about breaking new ground? Can you help me overcome my feelings of guilt and remorse? ;)

Thanks in advance.

Yes. We've done that many times at 2 different places in Colorado and Wyoming. Turns out we didn't really do any damage because the vegetation was extremely resilient. No fire ring, though.

LS
profdant139
Explorer II
Feb 03, 2017
korbe, that's a good point -- the Motor Vehicle Use Maps show the roads open for boondocking, often with dots on either side of the roadway on the map.

By the way, after discussing those maps with rangers, I have learned that many of them pronounce the MVUM acronym as "emm-vumm."
korbe
Explorer
Feb 03, 2017
The key is the "designated roadway". not all roads within the forest are considered designated roadway. They have a map that identifies those designations.

They will also tell you to stay away from meadows - go around them, not through them. I have found the 300 foot rule more restrictive than before. some of the old logging roads are not part of the "designated roadways".

Forum Discussion

The 300 foot rule -- do they mean what they say?

44 Replies

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