What's your Camping Bible?
September 8, 2010 10:12 AM Subscribe
What do you recommend for United States remote camping guides?
my favorite local place, North Hero State Park, defines "remote camping" as $5/person/night, with porto's in lieu of the usual facilities.
That's a best-case scenario; give me everything. We are targetting the Northern border of the U.S., from Vermont to Washington state.
my favorite local place, North Hero State Park, defines "remote camping" as $5/person/night, with porto's in lieu of the usual facilities.
That's a best-case scenario; give me everything. We are targetting the Northern border of the U.S., from Vermont to Washington state.
I'm not sure if you're talking about boondocking or if you'd like to stay in cheap but legitimate places to camp. I'm more the cheap camper type but here are the things that work for me.
1. DeLorme, as OHenryPacey says. Invaluable.
2. Boondocking guides like that one online [not much there yet actually] or on public lands [not as easy to find in the Northeast]. There are a few sites with some decent information about this practice like this one or this one.
3. AAA has a set of camp books which have a lot of camping options ranging from the KOA stuff to more bare bones stuff. When I first started using them you could find free-ish places to stay most everywhere, but in the last ten years state parks have started charging higher general fees. That said, they're good to have handy, easy to carry, and they can give you an idea of where other local camp spots might be.
posted by jessamyn at 11:17 AM on September 8, 2010
1. DeLorme, as OHenryPacey says. Invaluable.
2. Boondocking guides like that one online [not much there yet actually] or on public lands [not as easy to find in the Northeast]. There are a few sites with some decent information about this practice like this one or this one.
3. AAA has a set of camp books which have a lot of camping options ranging from the KOA stuff to more bare bones stuff. When I first started using them you could find free-ish places to stay most everywhere, but in the last ten years state parks have started charging higher general fees. That said, they're good to have handy, easy to carry, and they can give you an idea of where other local camp spots might be.
posted by jessamyn at 11:17 AM on September 8, 2010
The parks/recreation/forestry departments of most states have websites detailing what's available for camping.
Also, there's the federal site, from which you can identify fed forest/wilderness lands. Many of them allow primitive camping without fees, on the "leave no trace" proviso. Here's an interactive map:
http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/map/finder.shtml
posted by IAmBroom at 12:01 PM on September 8, 2010
Also, there's the federal site, from which you can identify fed forest/wilderness lands. Many of them allow primitive camping without fees, on the "leave no trace" proviso. Here's an interactive map:
http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/map/finder.shtml
posted by IAmBroom at 12:01 PM on September 8, 2010
You know national forests allow camping anywhere not excessively close to water, right? You'll need a fire permit if you want a fire, but if you don't you're set.
posted by devilsbrigade at 12:13 PM on September 8, 2010
posted by devilsbrigade at 12:13 PM on September 8, 2010
Remote camping with porta potties? I am confused.
When I car camp, I hate to be trapped in campgrounds. Or anywhere with facilities and people. Find the local Forest Service or BLM office (online or in person) and ask for their dispersed camping guide. If you show up at the local office, they'll just hand out a photocopied booklet with maps.
posted by terpia at 3:19 PM on September 8, 2010
When I car camp, I hate to be trapped in campgrounds. Or anywhere with facilities and people. Find the local Forest Service or BLM office (online or in person) and ask for their dispersed camping guide. If you show up at the local office, they'll just hand out a photocopied booklet with maps.
posted by terpia at 3:19 PM on September 8, 2010
terpia, I'm guessing the OP meant "pit toilets", but I'm not sure.
Me, I think a trowel & some toilet paper qualify as pretty portable.
;-)
posted by IAmBroom at 1:54 PM on September 9, 2010
Me, I think a trowel & some toilet paper qualify as pretty portable.
;-)
posted by IAmBroom at 1:54 PM on September 9, 2010
You could check out anything related to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).
That's as remote as I can think of and it's right on the Canada border in MN. Pack everything in, only legal travel in canoe or on foot (a few lakes do allow motors up to 25hp, but not many), campsites have only a firegrate with many having a pit toilet, pack everything out (including trash), no cell phone coverage, you can go for days without seeing another soul in many areas...
Bwca.com is one resource with a friendly message board.
posted by thatguyjeff at 9:00 AM on September 10, 2010
That's as remote as I can think of and it's right on the Canada border in MN. Pack everything in, only legal travel in canoe or on foot (a few lakes do allow motors up to 25hp, but not many), campsites have only a firegrate with many having a pit toilet, pack everything out (including trash), no cell phone coverage, you can go for days without seeing another soul in many areas...
Bwca.com is one resource with a friendly message board.
posted by thatguyjeff at 9:00 AM on September 10, 2010
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it has topo maps, shows campsites, and parks,points of interest, rockhounding sites, paddle and bike routes and road maps (including undeveloped roads and some trails).
Once you get out west and into the big national forests there is ample camping along many forest roads and along rivers. I seldom have to pay for an overnighter, but it's minimal amenities and it's best to be very low impact (pack it in pack it out, break up fire rings if fire is even allowed, dig a pit toilet, etc.).
posted by OHenryPacey at 10:40 AM on September 8, 2010