How do you find a good place to camp?

S

sketchbag

Banned
Joined
Oct 1, 2007
Messages
915
I dont mean designated camping grounds, but remote area's without "neighbors". I'm sure a lot of it is word of mouth, but in lieu of that, how do you find your favorite spots?
 
trial and error. Lots of day hikes. There was too many people in the last spot though. Good thing my dogs are obnoxious and run everyone else off.
 
Definitely why I prefer areas that are designated as Wilderness Areas or Natl Forests. You can camp pretty much wherever you want. Just hike a ways in, head off the trail and look for a good spot.
 
tknife said:
Definitely why I prefer areas that are designated as Wilderness Areas or Natl Forests. You can camp pretty much wherever you want. Just hike a ways in, head off the trail and look for a good spot.
Click to expand...

Around here we have 2 difft things. Wilderness and then Back Country.

In the back country a lot of places you have these shelters. This one is a 2.7 mile walk back in:
chike13.jpg


In the back country you can also camp anywhere you want but you can also have Mt. Bikes.

Wilderness
bog5.jpg

Hike22.jpg

KFSods37.jpg
 
JackBauer24 said:
trial and error. Lots of day hikes. There was too many people in the last spot though. Good thing my dogs are obnoxious and run everyone else off.
Click to expand...
I agree
Explore!!
And of course word of mouth
When I was in high school I would pretty much explore the Sierra Nevadas for 3 months
With my trusty 2WD Dodge Ram 50 truck
It's all about the forest/logging roads if you want the FREE camping
FR 12N32A for example

I prefer National Forests so I can blast my gatts at will
Wilderness areas guns are prohibited
Although I think they are changing that soon :thumbup:
I wonder if there if the top of Half Dome is gonna be littered with .22 shells some day

If anyone wants to know any cool spots in the Sierra Nevadas, let me know;)
I made it about .9 miles on the Rubicon Trail in my bug out Bronco back in 98............

Hollow Dweller====>
That little shelter is cool
I have never seen any like that
I know there are forest/fire lookout towers you can rent now
I wanna rent one someday
I like your kettle set up :thumbup:
Old skool, Mt. Man style
"I don't need no stinkin' 48 dolla' OlicampTitanium Kettlewith no-drip spout!!!!"
titaniumkettle_cu_3-4kettle.jpg
 
Trent Rock said:
I prefer National Forests so I can blast my gatts at will
Wilderness areas guns are prohibited
Click to expand...

Hey Rock! Are you thinking about National Parks?

Can't speak for out your way but in the Federal wilderness land here not only can you have guns but you can hunt too.:thumbup:
 
You can hunt many of not all national forests, as well as wilderness areas. Not so with national parks.

For example, the San Juan national forest is open to hunting, as is the Weminuche Wilderness (which is a part of the San Juan).
 
hollowdweller said:
Hey Rock! Are you thinking about National Parks?

Can't speak for out your way but in the Federal wilderness land here not only can you have guns but you can hunt too.:thumbup:
Click to expand...
Yeah...you're right
I just read an article today about allowing people with CCW's in National Parks
I think it also applies to wilderness areas
Firearms were first banned in national parks in the 1930s in a bid to curb poaching. The current rules, implemented under President Ronald Reagan in the early 1980s, allow visitors to national parks and refuges to possess firearms so long as they are "rendered temporarily inoperable or are packed, cased or stored in a manner that will prevent their ready use."
Click to expand...
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2008/2008-05-01-10.asp

I don't have a CCW because they SB DA don't like me too much :eek:
(and the current DA stopped issuing them a few months ago..He even took away a CCW for a JUDGE who had his permit for 20 yrs!!)
Oh well
As long as I can blast on National Forest land I'm cool with the current rules
 
When I am in the backcountry, I just stop when I want to stop and find a good campsite. There are very few restricted areas, and I rarely have neighbors.

Trent Rock - You need to move over here where the Sheriff is friendlier. I picked up my CCW today.
 
Trent Rock said:
Yeah...you're right
I just read an article today about allowing people with CCW's in National Parks
I think it also applies to wilderness areas
Click to expand...

I looked this up earlier tonight when it came up on another forum.

From http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/trails/welcome.shtml

"Both state and federal laws apply on National Forest System lands, so you also need to check on the state laws and county ordinances which may apply to the area you will be visiting. You also need to be in compliance with any general federal laws and regulations about weapons (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), etc). The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) and many commercial publications provide this information.

The only regulations specific to use of weapons imposed by the Forest Service is that you cannot discharge a weapon within 150 yards of any structure/development or occupied area, within or into a cave, across or on a road or body of water, or in any manner that endangers a person. You also cannot use any tracer or incendiary ammunition. Forest Service regulations require that you also comply with all State laws regarding the use of firearms while hunting.

If you are planning on visiting a designated Wilderness Area, the Regional Forester or Forest Supervisor has the option to implement a special local order which additionally prohibits the mere possession of a firearm within that Wilderness Area. So you should contact the Forest Supervisor's office to find out whether such a restriction has been imposed."

In other words, unless such a special local order is in effect then firearms are permitted to be carried in Wilderness Areas, provided that Wilderness Area isn't in a National Park. As long as it's on National Forest or BLM land then the state laws apply.

As to where I go to camp, I'm live where there are thousands of square miles of National Forest, Wilderness Areas and BLM land. It's not hard at all to find a good spot to get away.
 
I've been wondering this for a while, but what are the laws on fires within nat'l forests, and wilderness areas? I've never seen anything saying they're NOT allowed, so I've just assumed they are legal.
 
grab yourself a Crown Land map from the Provincial Ministry of Natural Resources (called the Ministry of Conservation in Manitoba I believe), if you are a Canadian citizen you can camp on any crown land for up to three weeks at a time for free on one site unless otherwise posted.

old logging roads offer great access to get you into the crown land as a lot of it has been logged at some time or another...
 
k-spar said:
I've been wondering this for a while, but what are the laws on fires within nat'l forests, and wilderness areas? I've never seen anything saying they're NOT allowed, so I've just assumed they are legal.
Click to expand...

That depends on the specific National Forest/Wilderness Area. Fires are allowed in some and not in others, and what's permissible can change during the year depending on the fire danger. As an example, in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of the Bighorn Mountains "Campfires, other than a self contained stove, are not allowed above 9200 feet elevation. Campfires below 9200 feet must be built on a fire blanket or in a fire pan so that they are not directly on the ground or not built within 300 feet of lakes, streams or trails."

You can go to http://www.fs.fed.us/ to look at the rules for the particular NF/WA you're interested in going to.
 
sketchbag said:
I dont mean designated camping grounds, but remote area's without "neighbors". I'm sure a lot of it is word of mouth, but in lieu of that, how do you find your favorite spots?
Click to expand...

I started with State parks and eventually found my way into the BWCA.
Camping just isn't camping anymore unless the canoes loaded and I'm checking the map for the next portage.

I don't know how far you are from Quetico but you have a real gem in that, if you haven't done it before and you like a challenge Quetico may just be the ticket for you.

Good luck
Helle
 
so I am not trying to hijack this thread, but it seems to have turned into a thread about regulations, so here goes.

Can you target shoot in a place that allows hunting? The link posted by HD claims that "it is recommended you leave your firearms at home if you are not hunting" however is that a rule or just a suggestion?

I don't like to hunt but enjoy shooting and would like to do it in the outdoors.


I usually just walk until I get tired and then look for a clearing that would not have a lot of wind, would be soft enough to sleep on and has a good place to sit around a fire. Its often hard to find all three of these conditions.
 
Last edited:
mckrob said:
grab yourself a Crown Land map from the Provincial Ministry of Natural Resources (called the Ministry of Conservation in Manitoba I believe), if you are a Canadian citizen you can camp on any crown land for up to three weeks at a time for free on one site unless otherwise posted.

old logging roads offer great access to get you into the crown land as a lot of it has been logged at some time or another...
Click to expand...

Cheers! Thats probably exactly what I need!


I started with State parks and eventually found my way into the BWCA.
Camping just isn't camping anymore unless the canoes loaded and I'm checking the map for the next portage.

I don't know how far you are from Quetico but you have a real gem in that, if you haven't done it before and you like a challenge Quetico may just be the ticket for you.

Good luck
Helle
Click to expand...

I havent done much canoing, but I'm seriously considering getting one so that I can do some more. Manitoba has so many lakes and rivers, it'd be insane not to have one :D

Gonna have to start a thread on how to buy one, cause I dont know **** about picking one out.
 
sketchbag said:
Cheers! Thats probably exactly what I need!




I havent done much canoing, but I'm seriously considering getting one so that I can do some more. Manitoba has so many lakes and rivers, it'd be insane not to have one :D

Gonna have to start a thread on how to buy one, cause I dont know **** about picking one out.
Click to expand...


You can't go wrong with anything from Swift or Langford Canoe, also both companies are Canadian. I've got a York River made in Peterborough, ON, and an old hand made cedar strip/canvas tripper's canoe built in Quebec. Unfortunately York River is now out of business, my next will be either a Swift or a Langford. There are different canoes for different purposes (solo, whitewater, tripping, etc), these manufacturers also offer some great multi-purpose models. Depends what you plan to do with it I guess, and how light you want to go.
 
Well I would just stop walking look for a comfy spot with a nice view and set up camp.
 
andrew7978 said:
so I am not trying to hijack this thread, but it seems to have turned into a thread about regulations, so here goes.

Can you target shoot in a place that allows hunting? The link posted by HD claims that "it is recommended you leave your firearms at home if you are not hunting" however is that a rule or just a suggestion?

I don't like to hunt but enjoy shooting and would like to do it in the outdoors.


I usually just walk until I get tired and then look for a clearing that would not have a lot of wind, would be soft enough to sleep on and has a good place to sit around a fire. Its often hard to find all three of these conditions.
Click to expand...

you cannot discharge a weapon within 150 yards of any structure/development or occupied area, within or into a cave, across or on a road or body of water, or in any manner that endangers a person
Click to expand...
You can target shoot anywhere in a National FOREST as long as you follow the rules above
Some forests actually have a "designated shooting area"
Although they seem to be shutting more down then they open
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top