Making your own campsite anywhere
Question:
My wife and I will be driving through the high Plains (anywhere from Kansas up to the Dakotas and Wyoming). I have been thinking about carrying along a tent and doing some primitive camping along the way in hidden locations. I have ZERO interest in staying in a designated campground… we live in the country and enjoy the stars and solitude, and on the road we darn well need a good night’s sleep. In that context, going to a campground with lights, noise, beer drinkers up til 2 am, etc, is just insane. Here on the Great Plains we have a LOT of remote areas easily accessible by dirt roads, and devoid of houses. And perhaps half of the houses still standing are abandoned, due to the corporatization of ranch/agribusiness and migration of rural folks into towns. However it’s one thing for me to drive these remote areas and another to pick a spot and stay there for 10 hours, so I want to figure out some sort of strategy and at least talk to anybody that’s done this sort of "random camping". My thought is to scout out an area in the failing light just before dusk. This way, if somebody -is- within several miles, they aren’t alarmed by seeing headlights crawling around in the distance. I get a couple of miles away from the main highway, find the smallest road that looks like it won’t see any traffic (a utility road is best), try to pull off into a stand of trees, if available. Finding a road near a tributary (near the bottom of a valley, as opposed to a ridge) would likely provide the best shot at such a setup. Then camp. No fires, no lights, no noise. No trash left behind. Pack up & leave at dawn. I’m not going to argue about the private property issue… if I’m going to get trolled about that, I won’t respond. Private land holdings on the high plains often exceed 10,000 acres, and are often owned by banks and the agricultural sector. Rural folks are surprisingly friendly and our intention is to politely leave if someone stumbles on us and we’re not wanted. I guess another possibility is to find an -old- rural cemetery (easy to find on USGS quad maps) and set up in a back corner somewhere, providing there are no houses around and the car can be parked where it doesn’t attract attention from whatever road services the area. Yet another possibility is to find public land (these are marked on DeLorme maps) and just plunk down there. No-nos of course would include camping on tribal land, a wildlife refuge, or anywhere near a house. So…. that’s my start. Does anyone do this? Is there any "refined" or experienced advice? How does the philosophy change once you get into the mountains of Montana and Wyoming and you’re not near a national park? What’s the experience like out East? The best suggestions I’ve been able to find regarding this kind of camping have been from a cycling page: http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/index.htm MJ
Response:
>My wife and I will be driving through the high Plains (anywhere from >Kansas up to the Dakotas and Wyoming). I have been thinking about >carrying along a tent and doing some primitive camping along the >way in hidden locations. I have ZERO interest in staying in a >So…. that’s my start. Does anyone do this? Is there any >"refined" or experienced advice? How does the philosophy >change once you get into the mountains of Montana and Wyoming >and you’re not near a national park? What’s the experience >like out East? The best suggestions I’ve been able to find >regarding this kind of camping have been from a cycling page: > http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/index.htm
Keep in mind that when bicycle touring, a person on a bicycle is perceived as non-threatening, much more so than the same person in a car. Don’t know why, but cyclists get a lot more latitude for roadside camp, in my experiences. On a bicycle, with a small number of friends, we never had any trouble finding a place to camp in various parts of rural New England or western NS. Friends have gone across the US this way. People do tend to get worked up if you don’t ask permission to stay on land they perceive as theirs (not just on the deed, but their area). In many small towns, any unusual behavior by strangers would get reported to the authorities. Where you are talking about staying farther away from houses, I don’t know, but my recommendation would be to ask at the nearest house. On our bicycle trips, we always asked at a nearby house, except for one night we stayed at an abandoned ski area grounds (no one for miles). Never turned down, at times directed to a better spot or invited for breakfast the next day. When you do this, people will often want to ask you about where you have been, where you are going, etc. While this is nice, a little "street smarts" is good, and you should imply that friends and family are aware of your travels and you are planning to check in with or meet someone soon. Hate to sound paranoid, but better that than the slight chance of reading about something bad in the paper. Happy trails, Gary (net.yogi.bear) at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom
Response:
I do it all the time. The key is ATTITUDE. Most all private property is marked or fenced. I avoid that, but have stayed there when I run into the farmer/rancher and ask first. They are usually friendly when asked first. Other than that, common sense rules. A little respect and consideration goes a long way. Talk to locals about sites. We found some absolutely AWESOME places near Panguitch Lake, Utah where one could just pull through with a camp trailer. Others were a little farther off and suitable for tenting. The lady at the marina told us about them. Tons of places on public land. WITH THE DRY CONDITIONS, REMEMBER THE FIRE RULES APPLY TO PEOPLE OUT IN THE WOODS, TOO. DRY, DRY, DRY OUT THERE NOW. On the last trip to Panguitch, we had NO fire, and we were staying in a campground. A fire in the woods woulda drawn Smokey as fast as a jar of honey. I look for places that have been used before, and don’t blaze a trail to make a new one. There are plenty of the already been used ones. Sounds like you have a good grasp, and some basic values. Trouble is, many people go where they want, trash the place, tear up the countryside, leave their garbage and disposable diapers (well, the label says disposable, right) and act like idiots. That makes it harder for the rest of us. With you moving along quickly, I see no problems. And if there is, just say sorry and move along. Enjoy. Steve
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My wife and I will be driving through the high Plains (anywhere from > Kansas up to the Dakotas and Wyoming). I have been thinking about > carrying along a tent and doing some primitive camping along the > way in hidden locations. I have ZERO interest in staying in a > designated campground… we live in the country and enjoy the > stars and solitude, and on the road we darn well need a good > night’s sleep. In that context, going to a campground with lights, > noise, beer drinkers up til 2 am, etc, is just insane. > Here on the Great Plains we have a LOT of remote areas easily > accessible by dirt roads, and devoid of houses. And perhaps > half of the houses still standing are abandoned, due to the > corporatization of ranch/agribusiness and migration of rural > folks into towns. However it’s one thing for me to drive these > remote areas and another to pick a spot and stay there for 10 > hours, so I want to figure out some sort of strategy and at > least talk to anybody that’s done this sort of "random camping". > My thought is to scout out an area in the failing light just > before dusk. This way, if somebody -is- within several miles, > they aren’t alarmed by seeing headlights crawling around in the > distance. I get a couple of miles away from the main highway, > find the smallest road that looks like it won’t see any traffic > (a utility road is best), try to pull off into a stand of trees, > if available. Finding a road near a tributary (near the bottom > of a valley, as opposed to a ridge) would likely provide the > best shot at such a setup. Then camp. No fires, no lights, > no noise. No trash left behind. Pack up & leave at dawn. > I’m not going to argue about the private property issue… if > I’m going to get trolled about that, I won’t respond. Private > land holdings on the high plains often exceed 10,000 acres, > and are often owned by banks and the agricultural sector. > Rural folks are surprisingly friendly and our intention is to > politely leave if someone stumbles on us and we’re not wanted. > I guess another possibility is to find an -old- rural cemetery > (easy to find on USGS quad maps) and set up in a back corner > somewhere, providing there are no houses around and the car > can be parked where it doesn’t attract attention from whatever > road services the area. > Yet another possibility is to find public land (these are marked > on DeLorme maps) and just plunk down there. No-nos of course > would include camping on tribal land, a wildlife refuge, or > anywhere near a house. > So…. that’s my start. Does anyone do this? Is there any > "refined" or experienced advice? How does the philosophy > change once you get into the mountains of Montana and Wyoming > and you’re not near a national park? What’s the experience > like out East? The best suggestions I’ve been able to find > regarding this kind of camping have been from a cycling page: > http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/index.htm > MJ
Response:
"> > So…. that’s my start. Does anyone do this? Is there any > "refined" or experienced advice? How does the philosophy > change once you get into the mountains of Montana and Wyoming > and you’re not near a national park? What’s the experience > like out East? The best suggestions I’ve been able to find > regarding this kind of camping have been from a cycling page: > http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/index.htm > MJ
Once you get to public land ( blm, fs) you can do what is called dispersed camping, or camping with out an official site. The only considerations would be fire regulation, proper waste disposal and whether specific areas within the local have a subset of regs prohibiting it. That would be in the case of a special recreation zone or something like that. Check with each forest you plan to go through. National parks, monuments, grasslands and recreation areas will have different rules on dispersed camping. penny
Response:
I do this all the time. You seem to have the right approach. It works pretty much everywhere in the US, Canada & Mexico from my experience. Just be careful. I try to stop before dark and leave early, depending on the location.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My wife and I will be driving through the high Plains (anywhere from > Kansas up to the Dakotas and Wyoming). I have been thinking about > carrying along a tent and doing some primitive camping along the > way in hidden locations. I have ZERO interest in staying in a > designated campground… we live in the country and enjoy the > stars and solitude, and on the road we darn well need a good > night’s sleep. In that context, going to a campground with lights, > noise, beer drinkers up til 2 am, etc, is just insane. > Here on the Great Plains we have a LOT of remote areas easily > accessible by dirt roads, and devoid of houses. And perhaps > half of the houses still standing are abandoned, due to the > corporatization of ranch/agribusiness and migration of rural > folks into towns. However it’s one thing for me to drive these > remote areas and another to pick a spot and stay there for 10 > hours, so I want to figure out some sort of strategy and at > least talk to anybody that’s done this sort of "random camping". > My thought is to scout out an area in the failing light just > before dusk. This way, if somebody -is- within several miles, > they aren’t alarmed by seeing headlights crawling around in the > distance. I get a couple of miles away from the main highway, > find the smallest road that looks like it won’t see any traffic > (a utility road is best), try to pull off into a stand of trees, > if available. Finding a road near a tributary (near the bottom > of a valley, as opposed to a ridge) would likely provide the > best shot at such a setup. Then camp. No fires, no lights, > no noise. No trash left behind. Pack up & leave at dawn. > I’m not going to argue about the private property issue… if > I’m going to get trolled about that, I won’t respond. Private > land holdings on the high plains often exceed 10,000 acres, > and are often owned by banks and the agricultural sector. > Rural folks are surprisingly friendly and our intention is to > politely leave if someone stumbles on us and we’re not wanted. > I guess another possibility is to find an -old- rural cemetery > (easy to find on USGS quad maps) and set up in a back corner > somewhere, providing there are no houses around and the car > can be parked where it doesn’t attract attention from whatever > road services the area. > Yet another possibility is to find public land (these are marked > on DeLorme maps) and just plunk down there. No-nos of course > would include camping on tribal land, a wildlife refuge, or > anywhere near a house. > So…. that’s my start. Does anyone do this? Is there any > "refined" or experienced advice? How does the philosophy > change once you get into the mountains of Montana and Wyoming > and you’re not near a national park? What’s the experience > like out East? The best suggestions I’ve been able to find > regarding this kind of camping have been from a cycling page: > http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/index.htm > MJ
Response:
Little known fact about most Midwestern towns. Almost all have a city park, rodeo ground, ball diamond,fair grounds or war memorial grounds at the edge of town with camping sites. You will need to go to the local cafe/resturaunt/coffee shop and spend money to find someone that knows who is in charge of the camping spots. Many are free unless you need electricity. Sometimes the local police will even arrange the evening’s stay if you don’t look like a hobo/axe killer. However, don’t bother asking the man on the street as most won’t even know that there is such a thing; even if they live 2 blocks away. These are holdovers from the Depression when lots of people "traveled rough" looking for work or opportunities. Once you know to look for them, they turn out to be much nicer and more plentiful than WalMart parking lots. The concept is the same. Don’t stay too long. Stay where you can be watched (protected and supervised.) Add to the local economy if you can. And get out of town as soon as you are done. tt
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My wife and I will be driving through the high Plains (anywhere from > Kansas up to the Dakotas and Wyoming). I have been thinking about > carrying along a tent and doing some primitive camping along the > way in hidden locations. I have ZERO interest in staying in a > designated campground… we live in the country and enjoy the > stars and solitude, and on the road we darn well need a good > night’s sleep. In that context, going to a campground with lights, > noise, beer drinkers up til 2 am, etc, is just insane. > Here on the Great Plains we have a LOT of remote areas easily > accessible by dirt roads, and devoid of houses. And perhaps > half of the houses still standing are abandoned, due to the > corporatization of ranch/agribusiness and migration of rural > folks into towns. However it’s one thing for me to drive these > remote areas and another to pick a spot and stay there for 10 > hours, so I want to figure out some sort of strategy and at > least talk to anybody that’s done this sort of "random camping". > My thought is to scout out an area in the failing light just > before dusk. This way, if somebody -is- within several miles, > they aren’t alarmed by seeing headlights crawling around in the > distance. I get a couple of miles away from the main highway, > find the smallest road that looks like it won’t see any traffic > (a utility road is best), try to pull off into a stand of trees, > if available. Finding a road near a tributary (near the bottom > of a valley, as opposed to a ridge) would likely provide the > best shot at such a setup. Then camp. No fires, no lights, > no noise. No trash left behind. Pack up & leave at dawn. > I’m not going to argue about the private property issue… if > I’m going to get trolled about that, I won’t respond. Private > land holdings on the high plains often exceed 10,000 acres, > and are often owned by banks and the agricultural sector. > Rural folks are surprisingly friendly and our intention is to > politely leave if someone stumbles on us and we’re not wanted. > I guess another possibility is to find an -old- rural cemetery > (easy to find on USGS quad maps) and set up in a back corner > somewhere, providing there are no houses around and the car > can be parked where it doesn’t attract attention from whatever > road services the area. > Yet another possibility is to find public land (these are marked > on DeLorme maps) and just plunk down there. No-nos of course > would include camping on tribal land, a wildlife refuge, or > anywhere near a house. > So…. that’s my start. Does anyone do this? Is there any > "refined" or experienced advice? How does the philosophy > change once you get into the mountains of Montana and Wyoming > and you’re not near a national park? What’s the experience > like out East? The best suggestions I’ve been able to find > regarding this kind of camping have been from a cycling page: > http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/index.htm > MJ
Response:
(a lot) Hello – I tried to reply to you by email but it failed – have you got another email address I could try? Leigh….
Response:
Not to worry. I always travel with my two friends. Smith and Wesson. Never had to call on them. The crazies like to stay in town where the pickins are easier. And if you want to see some REAL nutcases, go to the campgrounds. Steve
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> In this day and age….with all the nut cases running around I would > think(and prefer) to play it safe and stay in a campground. IMHO MIKE > My wife and I will be driving through the high Plains (anywhere from > Kansas up to the Dakotas and Wyoming). I have been thinking about > carrying along a tent and doing some primitive camping along the > way in hidden locations. I have ZERO interest in staying in a > designated campground… we live in the country and enjoy the > stars and solitude, and on the road we darn well need a good > night’s sleep. In that context, going to a campground with lights, > noise, beer drinkers up til 2 am, etc, is just insane. > Here on the Great Plains we have a LOT of remote areas easily > accessible by dirt roads, and devoid of houses. And perhaps > half of the houses still standing are abandoned, due to the > corporatization of ranch/agribusiness and migration of rural > folks into towns. However it’s one thing for me to drive these > remote areas and another to pick a spot and stay there for 10 > hours, so I want to figure out some sort of strategy and at > least talk to anybody that’s done this sort of "random camping". > My thought is to scout out an area in the failing light just > before dusk. This way, if somebody -is- within several miles, > they aren’t alarmed by seeing headlights crawling around in the > distance. I get a couple of miles away from the main highway, > find the smallest road that looks like it won’t see any traffic > (a utility road is best), try to pull off into a stand of trees, > if available. Finding a road near a tributary (near the bottom > of a valley, as opposed to a ridge) would likely provide the > best shot at such a setup. Then camp. No fires, no lights, > no noise. No trash left behind. Pack up & leave at dawn. > I’m not going to argue about the private property issue… if > I’m going to get trolled about that, I won’t respond. Private > land holdings on the high plains often exceed 10,000 acres, > and are often owned by banks and the agricultural sector. > Rural folks are surprisingly friendly and our intention is to > politely leave if someone stumbles on us and we’re not wanted. > I guess another possibility is to find an -old- rural cemetery > (easy to find on USGS quad maps) and set up in a back corner > somewhere, providing there are no houses around and the car > can be parked where it doesn’t attract attention from whatever > road services the area. > Yet another possibility is to find public land (these are marked > on DeLorme maps) and just plunk down there. No-nos of course > would include camping on tribal land, a wildlife refuge, or > anywhere near a house. > So…. that’s my start. Does anyone do this? Is there any > "refined" or experienced advice? How does the philosophy > change once you get into the mountains of Montana and Wyoming > and you’re not near a national park? What’s the experience > like out East? The best suggestions I’ve been able to find > regarding this kind of camping have been from a cycling page: > http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/index.htm > MJ
Response:
??? Then don’t go on anyones property!! There are PLENTY of remote places to camp where no one will bother you. I kinda like the fact that you all are frequenting the public campgrounds. Less people in the remote wilderness…. And I don’t mean any offense by that! If you like public/private campgrounds thats great. Not a thing wrong with that. I just prefer to be away from all the hustle and bustle of those places. (As seen on a similar thread in here recently. Something about BIG LIGHTS and NOISE.) Darrin
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->In this day and age….with all the nut cases running around I would >think(and prefer) to play it safe and stay in a campground. IMHO > That would be MHO also. > I spent a year or so homeless as a young adult, let out of the foster care > system with a few hundred dollars. Bought a tent and some good shoes. > Camping somewhere without permission would bring back some unpleasant memories. > I don’t care how remote you think you are, that IS someone’s property so be > prepared to get run off. My experience is this usually occurs as soon as your > all set up and dead tired. > If a landowner is going to be irate at a young girl by herself, then put > yourself in the same position. > I also worked as a census worker in a rural area and without even getting > myself recognized, would face dogs and shotguns first. > I’d rather sleep in a Wal-Mart parking lot (smacking hand that wrote that) than > camp somewhere without permission.
Response:
>In this day and age….with all the nut cases running around I would >think(and prefer) to play it safe and stay in a campground. IMHO
That would be MHO also. I spent a year or so homeless as a young adult, let out of the foster care system with a few hundred dollars. Bought a tent and some good shoes. Camping somewhere without permission would bring back some unpleasant memories. I don’t care how remote you think you are, that IS someone’s property so be prepared to get run off. My experience is this usually occurs as soon as your all set up and dead tired. If a landowner is going to be irate at a young girl by herself, then put yourself in the same position. I also worked as a census worker in a rural area and without even getting myself recognized, would face dogs and shotguns first. I’d rather sleep in a Wal-Mart parking lot (smacking hand that wrote that) than camp somewhere without permission.
Response:
In this day and age….with all the nut cases running around I would think(and prefer) to play it safe and stay in a campground. IMHO MIKE
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> My wife and I will be driving through the high Plains (anywhere from > Kansas up to the Dakotas and Wyoming). I have been thinking about > carrying along a tent and doing some primitive camping along the > way in hidden locations. I have ZERO interest in staying in a > designated campground… we live in the country and enjoy the > stars and solitude, and on the road we darn well need a good > night’s sleep. In that context, going to a campground with lights, > noise, beer drinkers up til 2 am, etc, is just insane. > Here on the Great Plains we have a LOT of remote areas easily > accessible by dirt roads, and devoid of houses. And perhaps > half of the houses still standing are abandoned, due to the > corporatization of ranch/agribusiness and migration of rural > folks into towns. However it’s one thing for me to drive these > remote areas and another to pick a spot and stay there for 10 > hours, so I want to figure out some sort of strategy and at > least talk to anybody that’s done this sort of "random camping". > My thought is to scout out an area in the failing light just > before dusk. This way, if somebody -is- within several miles, > they aren’t alarmed by seeing headlights crawling around in the > distance. I get a couple of miles away from the main highway, > find the smallest road that looks like it won’t see any traffic > (a utility road is best), try to pull off into a stand of trees, > if available. Finding a road near a tributary (near the bottom > of a valley, as opposed to a ridge) would likely provide the > best shot at such a setup. Then camp. No fires, no lights, > no noise. No trash left behind. Pack up & leave at dawn. > I’m not going to argue about the private property issue… if > I’m going to get trolled about that, I won’t respond. Private > land holdings on the high plains often exceed 10,000 acres, > and are often owned by banks and the agricultural sector. > Rural folks are surprisingly friendly and our intention is to > politely leave if someone stumbles on us and we’re not wanted. > I guess another possibility is to find an -old- rural cemetery > (easy to find on USGS quad maps) and set up in a back corner > somewhere, providing there are no houses around and the car > can be parked where it doesn’t attract attention from whatever > road services the area. > Yet another possibility is to find public land (these are marked > on DeLorme maps) and just plunk down there. No-nos of course > would include camping on tribal land, a wildlife refuge, or > anywhere near a house. > So…. that’s my start. Does anyone do this? Is there any > "refined" or experienced advice? How does the philosophy > change once you get into the mountains of Montana and Wyoming > and you’re not near a national park? What’s the experience > like out East? The best suggestions I’ve been able to find > regarding this kind of camping have been from a cycling page: > http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/index.htm > MJ
Response:
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