When you "rent" a campsight is it really "yours"

Over the July 4 weekend, we were camped at a Forest Service CG alongside Lake Isabella.

They have strict rules stating that everyone should be off the lake, and off the beach (in this area) by sundown.

Several groups, including one church group, ignored this, and stayed overnight on the beach.

I mentioned it to the CG Host who said that the beach was patrolled by BLM, not the Forest Service. The County Rangers also did nothing to discourage the illegal campers, and we felt like intruders trying to access the beach area!

They, also, didn't pay to camp there, but we had to pay the Forest Service rate to dry camp.

There are signs all over the place stating that beach camping in that area is not allowed.

Methinks I'm going to haul my boat back from there, and find someplace else to go.

This is one issue that Alabama State parks don't normally deal with. Many, not all rangers are Certified law enforcement. They can and will arrest you right on the spot. No multi-levels to go through to solve a problem.

I liked that.

amandasgramma wrote:
That's why we don't camp on the west side of the Cascades. We did have a problem at a Idaho Power campground.

:h

Idaho Power has a campground West of the Cascades? Where's it located?

That's why we don't camp on the west side of the Cascades. We did have a problem at a Idaho Power campground. Have always been told that if we have a problem, to take it to the camp host at the other park. We took our problem to the camp host, he called the sheriff. The sheriff came and told ME if there was any more problems, that WE would be kicked out. I was so stunned!!!!!!! We haven't been back.....debating whether we would EVER go back. BTW -- the other campers that were a problem...... we staff from a local university from the west side of the Cascades. yeah.....good examples!

I've seen plenty of folks kicked out of Parks, but as a rule little will be done unless one puts in a complaint about it. Sitting around observing that "no one's doing their job" is useless.

Folks get kicked off "dipersed" areas, too...a few years ago I saw one such bunch get evicted from the National Forest within an hour of their having set off a single string of firecrackers. Somebody evidently called it in, because it wasn't in an area where there were regular patrols of any kind.

It depends on the camp. Usually rangers may not be able to eject a group no matter how obnoxious they. This is because the offending camp can always say that none of them are sober enough to drive, so their stuff isn't going anywhere... and after the ranger leaves, the result is the person whom they thought turned them in gets their stuff vandalized.

Thankfully in SPs here and a lot of CGs, the ranger then calls the local sheriff, who brings the paddy wagon, arrests the whole group, then has the local tow company with the super-sized truck come in to finish the job.

We have a beautiful state park close by but it has turned into a "party park". State Park rangers drive by during the day and could care less and don't even bother at night. Thinking about notifying upper management to see if they care. Any other ideas that might be helpful?

Have you actually tried to talk to the Rangers and explaining the same thing you said here? I have found that they are very good at applying the rules to everyone and those who don't, are instructed to either obey the rules or get out......even at night! Give them the opportunity to do their job. If they don't....then go to "upper management".

Ron

Party parks are party parks because they allowed to be party parks.

Not sure what you mean by "notifying upper management" - but that "upper management" should mean just that - going beyond the park organization - whoever the Superintendent is - is not doing the job ......


Jay

All the rangers over here care about is whether you have that damn Discover Pass. We do not go to any WA state parks because of that.
Yes, it is getting worse at close in public facilities. Federal ones are better as they say call the local PD or county sheriff.