OK being new to the rv owners club, where do you go boondocking? Just find a place in the woods? Get shot at by the land owner? A little help from the guys here in PA, where do you go? State Park tent sites? Or is this something that I have to travel into New York for? West Virginia maybe? How do you find these places? Tent camping you just hike back a trail for a few miles and viola! But it's a little different towing 26 feet of trailer? Wal Mart is out....

Well, I don't know if the same rules apply in the east, or in California, but generally out west, in less populated states, we have what is called "dispersed camping on public land." Dispersed means you can set up a tent or trailer camp virtually anywhere outside of a specified campground except where you you'd be causing a public hinderance or hazard. Public land refers to any state public land (Idaho in this case), BLM lands, US Forest Service land, National Recreational Land (like the Sawtooth National Recreation Area). There are a few exceptions to the above statement, such as designated Wilderness Areas, military bases, and nuclear test and research sites (and who'd ever want to camp there). Since Idaho is about 70 percent public land, we have a ton of dispersed camping.

In Idaho, you can take your trailer across private land via Sportman Access routes and find some terrific sites along rivers, etc. Some of these sites even have concrete fire rings. Rules for dispersed camping pretty much universally state that you must pack out everything you take in. That means, of course, not leaving the contents of your grey or black water tanks, not leaving any trash or wet garbage behind (not even buried). Nobody polices these sites except the users, so there is no trash pick-up, no dump sites, no water pumps or spigots or power boxes, no bear boxes, etc. No, you can't legally clear a timber stand to make a parking space, but you can pick up slash and other fallen trees for firewood, fire conditions permitting.

During EXTREME fire danger periods, the USFS, BLM, or whoever may limit or prohibit dispersed camping in the affected areas.

Check out the following website: http://www.rv-camping.org/Boondocking.html

Even though I've written about western policy, I hope it gives you some ideas for your area.

Jim

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1967 17' Hi-Lo Bon Voyage (1967-1969)
1969 19' Hi-Lo Bon Voyage (1969-2011)
2004 27' Hi-Lo TowLite (2010-present)
2007 Chevy Suburban

Thanks! I didn't even know where to look. We have many state parks but most have designated camping. There are a few national parks that I can look into. This is a great start, thanks again...if not I guess I'll just have to camp in Idaho....Yee Haw!! Road trip!!

The US Forest Service operates a large number of campgrounds too. They have picnic tables, fire pits and usually toilets (the "pit" kind), and often, but not always, potable water.

Here's a link I use a lot: Federal recreation, camping and tour reservation information - Recreation.gov I THINK you can find information on campgrounds that are not set up for reservations here too.

- Jack

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Hi-Lo 1707T
2005 F150 4x4 KR SCrew

Check out Allegheny National Forest, they may have some areas there. If the Rainbow People can go there and set up for a month it must be boondocking area. We own 100 acres in northern Clarion County where we go, in fact, we will be going this weekend for the last family campout.

Sweet! I did find five sites down here in the state forest. I'm even going to try to steak out a couple of good state park primitive sites that I can get my rig into.

Cool Vannoch, here we have a boondocking area in the state refuge area and grass lands that is just for boondocking.

SD! Sounds like another road trip......Yahoo!!!!!!

I would recommend Cherry Springs State Park near Coudersport, PA. Pennsylvania State Parks - Cherry Springs Dark Skies - PA DCNR

I camped there earlier this month. If you like to view the stars, this is an excellent location. Cherry Springs is an International Dark Sky Park.

There are about thirty camping sites available, all primitive. There are flush toilets on the astronomy field side of the park. Reservation are not permited.

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Thankful


1998 21TL
2005 Silverado

Now that is awesome! I will definitely be going there. Jeanine and I were talking this weekend about the stars, there were clear nights both nights. Thanks!