In Bulgaria the primitive camp in the wilderness is possible ... when it is raining even you may find out a shelter to do it ...

Благодаря. Jama

Ah to be in the wide open spaces! I admire you and you're right, it's not stealth camping. Traditionally it is called 'Wild Camping', but never the less it is great to be out out there, no matter what you call it.

Jamawani, most excellent pictures and thread!

I think good maps are essential for touring. Gazetteers and USFS maps provide a lot of excellent detail most state or regional maps leave out.

I find abandoned state campgrounds with regularity where I ride and tour; map reading a small-scale map can give you incredible detail as Jamawani has so generously described in this thread.

I think of the common notion of 'stealth' camping as advanced by many in Bike Forums is more 'furtive' camping. Case in Point: A lot of great places to camp are at river bends where the road winds relatively close to the campsite. would die-hard 'stealth' campers like stokell avoid a river bend camp because it isn't 100% concealable?


As Jamawani describes, there's PLENTY of places to legally camp where 'stealth' is not required. I STILL like to conceal my campsite to reduce its visual impact and attention it garners... what type of camping is that?? who really cares. I choose to be less conspicuous regardless of where I pitch camp for the night.

cheers, Jamawani. great photoessay and explanation of the nuances of public land use for camping purposes.

Just a question. Have any of you "wild" or "stealth" campers run afoul of land owners, or law enforcement while camping ?

BCD -

What part of "public lands" did you miss?
The very reason that I posted was to show that there are plenty of free places to camp on public lands
without risk of running afoul of the law.

I will admit to poaching "closed for the season" campgrounds on my bike.....

If I roll up to a primitive DNR campsite, that has the outhouses locked and the pump handle removed for the season, I might very well not pay the pipe. This may be bad form, but I feel justified being a fee scoflaw in this case and simply camping on public lands.

Previously developed campsites are favored over camping on undisturbed terrain under 'Leave no trace' low impact protocols. I think this legitimizes the use of a closed for the season campsite by bicyclists. IMO.

Abandonded, left to fallow state campgrounds are a different beast. SO neat to find out there, and a good map can lead you to them!

and have never run into an issue.

Beko -

I'm with you on closed campgrounds. But - - - many national forests allow tent camping in closed campgrounds for free. They say so on their websites. Not so for state parks, etc.

I have a confession to make. I have an element of scofflaw in me, too. I came up in a time when the defining feature of a campground fee was whether on not there was drinking water available in the campground. I still use that as a rule of thumb. If the campground is dry - no moolah. (With the exception of certain desert national parks)

Public agencies are increasingly catering to larger and larger RVs and developing campgrounds accordingly. The Army Corps of Engineers is one of the worst offenders - really into activities that include massive internal combustion engines and taking the kitchen sink along with you. But I suspect I am wandering into another subject area. Rant, rant.

Stealth camper here!

I never stealth camp on private, marked, signed, improved or fenced land. Further I arrive late, leave early, don't have a fire and stay out of sight. Following the stealth code, it would be impossible to 'run afoul' of anyone.

Just as a matter of interest, trespassing is only chargable if you refuse to leave when asked. Even a gypsy or wild camper would have the courtesy to move when asked, so that wouldn't be trespass either.

Now, just where would law enforcement come in? I guess you'd have to refuse to leave.

Jake, I hear you!

Please be aware that some people don't listen, learn or comprehend well. They have set ideas about what they consider to be trespassing, and no amount of law or logic will change their mind. These people may have guns, so keeping a very low profile is a good thing and not stealth camping in certain places makes a lot of sense.

That said, where I stealth in Canada and Europe for the last 15 years, I am well received, and have had no problem with land owners or even the law. Actually, I've never seen either, but if I did I would do what you suggest and move on.

You'd think right here in the Dallas area, there's not anything like that. But about an hour's drive to the north, there is the LBJ National Grasslands, which is generally open to camping. And there's some National Forest scattered around east Texas that you wouldn't normally think of.

Just a point of clarification; this applies only in private unposted areas. (at least in Minnesota). If legally posted you can be cited with no warning.

None. I apologize, I should have asked in a new thread. I have read journals where tourists camped in grave yards, ball feilds, building sites, etc... it is to these people my question was directed.

Great post and pics Jamawani - very informative and inspirational. Thank you.

BCD -

And apologies from me, too.
Sometimes I forget to take my "Anti-Jerk" pill.

Professor,
This is a masterpiece and deserves its own website. A Ken Kifer sort of thing.

Please make it happen.

Airwick

Air -

You are too kind.
I hope you are 100% recovered and that your doogies are all doing swell.
Is there some reason that Agape retired from riding?

I think we have had similar journeys in touring.
When we started out things were simpler, less in the way of gizmos -
And far less in camping stuff, traffic, and the general rat-race.

Now, with the advent of cell-phones and mini laptops -
We can take it all with us - and many folks do.
In fact, the "presumption" is that you will stay plugged in - 24/7.

I must confess, that I usually lie to get some peace and quiet.
It is much easier to say, "There just isn't any cell service for miles."
Rather than, "Sorry, but I'm gonna refuse to return calls for 3 months."

Call me ornery.
Hell, if you wasn't a Publican, we'd be just alike.
All my best to the furry kids.

Jama

I'm sending ACA a link so they'll consider it for bicycle bits. It really is marvelous.

Agape is a trooper, but she's getting a little long in the tooth. She enjoys riding, but not like the old days.

Not a republican, but a conservative :) They are not the same these days, unfortunately.

Hank

On your post you only quoted the part about enforcement, not the paragraph before:

That doesn't sound like trespass to me.

The Rockies have always been a great place for camping free. With a car or a bike, lots of open space. Not so for the east coast with a few exceptions, one being West-by-god-Virginia. Reminds me of the west in terms of freedom. Lots of National forest, dirt roads and a wilderness uncommon in the east. If it were not for WV I would truly dislike living here.

Actually, Balto -

There's a lot more than you think. The C & O Canal Trail gets you into some quiet territory very quickly. West of Harpers Ferry it gets really nice. And west of Hancock it gets sublime.

But there's more. Maryland has state wildlife management areas - many of which permit camping. While not exactly random - outside of hunting season, you are likely to be the only one there.
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/allwmabyregion.asp

Same goes for Virginia and for Penna state forests.
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry...Guidelines.pdf

Here are three:
MD - Deal Island on the Eastern Shore
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclan...n/dealmap.html
(Call about the kayaker site on Broad Creek)
PENNA - Michaux State Forest
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry...s/michaux.aspx
VA - Highland WMA
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/wmas/detail.asp?pid=28

I apologize. I mis-read your post.
Your first paragraph describes what you specifically would / wouldn't do.
Your second paragraph seemed like a generic description of "tresspassing".
I now understand you meant these together, and I agree with your statements.

Ok, so I've looked this over some more and it's just very impressive and simply must be published.

Informative, well written, great pictures and best of all, extremely helpful.

Either you publish it or I will steal it and make it my own.

Options, are what? The CG site, or self host so it doesn't get lost.

Your call.

For now, anyway. :)

Airwick

Camping along the C & O is only in designated areas.

I grant you that the camping is in designated sites; however, the campsites are every 5 miles, there is zero car camping, and on weekdays you are likely to be the only one there. For just outside of Washington, DC - it's about as good as it gets.