How to find bush/woods places

[Enkrig]

Hi,

I'm wondering how to you guys usually find outdoor places to goof around? "Goof around" might mean camping overnight or practice bushcraft/survival skills, for example. I recently moved here (rural NJ) and I find that the land is either privately owned or it is a state park and thus there are always people around and you are limited in what can do.

Just wondering...

 

[Sullie]

I guess some people might have to travel further than others to find remote areas. I am fortunate to have an abundance of wilderness in any direction from my home. Maybe you will get more help if you change the post to ask the question specific to your area and find some guys close by.

Good Luck

 

[Big_jack]

Hi,

I'm wondering how to you guys usually find outdoor places to goof around? "Goof around" might mean camping overnight or practice bushcraft/survival skills, for example. I recently started and I find that, around me (rural NJ), the land is either privately owned or it is a state park and thus there are always people around and you are limited in what can do.

Just wondering...

It really helps where you live. I'm near MIchigan which is like 1/3 federal land. You can go for days without seeing people if you want. I imagine NJ is harder but look for federal reserve land.

 

[Bob W]

First, I got the heck out of the midwest and moved to a state with sufficient public land, first to Arkansas and now here in rural New Mexico. Not only do we have abundant public land, but the human population density is low enough that strict visitor control isn't necessary. No-trace backpacking and backcountry camping is allowed on the vast majority of land, off-trail hiking is the norm, and permits aren't necessary except in rare cases (National Parks for example).

Second, the BLM land management maps are an incredible resource. They show national forests (USDA), national parks and monuments (US Dept of Interior), federal wildlife refuges (US Fish and Wildlife), state parks, state forests, state wildlife areas, national grasslands (USDA), Army Corps properties (US Dept of Defense), and BLM land (US Dept of Interior). They are nowhere near as detailed as 7.5 minute topo maps, but for general navigation showing property lines, major drainages, and roads they work pretty well.
If visiting a particular national forest, stop at the forest service ranger offices for a forest-wide map showing roads, general property lines, and major geographic features. There are also sometimes more specific maps for each ranger district that show hiking trails, scenic spots, and better road details (knowing ahead of time which roads are vehicle accessible can save hours of frustration).

Third, when on public land (or a guest on someone else's private property) I follow a strict no-trace ethic. Fires are burned to white ash, fire pits are filled in with the sod replaced, and living trees are never marred - for examples. Artifacts and fossils can be photographed but never moved, looted, or destroyed. And I never camp within sight of a trail or road - for my own privacy and security, but also as a courtesy to other visitors.

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I'm unfamiliar with New Jersey as far as outdoor recreation. But I know there are state parks, some of them large enough to provide some opportunity for backcountry exploration. Check Google Maps for other types of parks and public land: county parks, wildlife areas, city properties.

And of course if you're in New Jersey it's a given that you aren't far from several other states, states that may provide better opportunities. Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Vermont, New Hampshire...

Looking at the New Jersey map, something I've maybe never done before, I see a lot of public land and parks. And some of them look large enough to keep a person busy for weeks. Wharton State Forest, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge...

 

[Bob W]

you are limited in what can do.

If you intend to chop trees, build permanent shelters, and construct giant fire rings... there's a perfect place for that. Your own private property. :thumbup:

Always leave public land as you found it. Nothing sucks worse than 'exploring' a new place and finding trash, trampled vegetation, and abandoned fire rings...

Undoubtedly I'm preaching to the choir again.

 

[sideways]

Land use is governed by laws and regulations. Both federal and local

On public land you are limited by those rules and regulations. They don't make exceptions.

On private land you are a bit more free in what you can do but even there you can't do whatever you want.

If what you want to do is outside the scope of what's allowed of public land but within the scope of whats allowed on private land you have 2 choices.

a) Get your own land

or

b) Find someone who will allow you to do the things you want on their land

 

[c.t.smith]

Yup i walk out my back door and Im there

 

[gadgetgeek]

Depends all on what you want to do, and what you do. If you work in an industry where you can trade work for private land access, that's an idea, otherwise, there is nothing wrong with LNT camping. In fact it can be an interesting challenge, leave the big bonfires to other times.

Also explore your state parks, get to know the rangers. I bet there are a few places no one goes, and there while there are not exceptions, there might be some guidance on what's appropriate. You might find that there are areas that are publicly accessible that are not advertised as it were. I changed careers so I can play outside, that's a bit extreme, but it worked for me. But even then I don't get to do "whatever" so you might find that you can practice one skill in one place, and another somewhere else.

 

[leghog]

Please leave all public lands alone. LNT. Leave only footprints. Take only pictures. When I go in behind you, I should not know you where ever there.

 

[Teyler79]

Move too Norway! Step outside😊

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[running bird]

I'm from NJ too and there really aren't many places to do that around here, the only once that comes to mind would be the Round Vally camp sites.
That's probably the best your going to get in our state.

 

[Enkrig]

The Round Valley Reservoir is very close to where I live and go there often to hike around. I haven't tried camping there yet however; thanks for the note.

Have you had better luck with anywhere around in PA or NY?

 

[Bob W]

The Round Valley Reservoir is very close to where I live and go there often to hike around. I haven't tried camping there yet however; thanks for the note.

Check the regulations for the state forests, state conservation areas, and wildlife refuges in your area - there are many of them on the map.
You may not be able to camp overnight, but they could be great places for exploring and practicing L-N-T backcountry skills. And since they aren't "parks" by name, they're probably less developed and have fewer visitors.

 

[22-rimfire]

Hi,

I'm wondering how to you guys usually find outdoor places to goof around? "Goof around" might mean camping overnight or practice bushcraft/survival skills, for example. I recently moved here (rural NJ) and I find that the land is either privately owned or it is a state park and thus there are always people around and you are limited in what can do.

Just wondering...

I would suggest that you first get the DeLorme Gazetteer for NJ and surrounding states. Use them. Obviously bushcraft activities in State Parks are restricted at best. Still fun to go there for a weekend camp out. Just play by the rules. Look at national forests in the east versus BLM land in the west.

The Gazetteers have been one of my main researching methods as well as serving as a launching point for exploring rural areas. They are really quite good. Once you find what you might be looking for, you can often go on line and find more detailed information. But the paper copies really rule, but not much good for carrying on a trail. When they first came out, I made it a rule to purchase one for each state that I frequent and usually adjoining states.

You question is much like "Where can I hunt deer?" and it is tough to answer it directly.

I guess it is all a matter of degree in terms of your intended use and frequency. I find it really nice just to get out and do some day hiking within a couple hours of where I live. In your case, you might look to Pennsylvania. The State Game lands are pretty open to wandering and you really don't see many people using them except before and during hunting season.