There can be some restrictions to where to camp in in Forest Service areas and state parks, so always double check with the local ranger. You really don’t want to find out out there. Call the local ranger in advance to inquire about locked gates. If so, you are likely to meet locked gates. Have your route planned out in Google and zoom out in CalTopo to find out if you will be going through private land on the way to your spot. Land Management - This filter shows you in color coding who owns the land you will be camping on. Start applying relevant filters (overlays) in the Map Builder to the right ONE, MAX. Please note that CalTopo doesn’t place a pin in your coordinates like Google Map does, but you will get to the exact coordinates when zooming in. Paste the coordinates into the search field and enter. (CalTopo has an app for Android phones, but it is far more user-friendly on a desktop) FreeRoam app and PublicLand app are great on-the-go alternatives for a quick overview of public land). CalTopo is a backcountry map which offers an overlay feature including a topographic map of the country and many useful details about the conditions of the area you wish to explore. You may have to zoom in and out a few times near your pin to make sure there is a forest road connecting the main roads to your pin.Ĭopy the coordinates of your favorite spot and open in a new window in your browser. Half of them might not be accessible.Īsk Google for the directions to the pins from your home, just to get a feel for the road access. Look for clearings off forest roads or sand banks on rivers and lakes. Once you have decided on an area, use Google Maps satellite view to scout a potential camping spot. The more private and rural, the better, so we often avoid any popular sight. It could also be natural or cultural sights drawing our attention, such as hot springs, abandoned pueblos, spectacular views, hiking trails and so on. In the winter, we look for milder temperatures in the south and avoid elevation. In the summer we look for water or elevation for cooler temperatures. A deciding factor for us is usually weather. If you want to find your own spot (or check out the area of a known spot), I recommend you do the following:ĭecide on the area you’d like to explore. How to find a dispersed camping spot using Google Maps and CalTopo: (I just came across this website with mapped out camping spots of all types that might be a good place to start in addition to Google map searches). It felt like dispersed camping, but the campgrounds were easy to find via Google or local camping books and we always had easy access to the sites. We started out in very primitive designated camp sites (unmarked sites in designated camping area, often found in State Parks) that usually had a vault toilet and maybe a fire ring and grill. ![]() ![]() If you are not sure if you're ready yet, I suggest starting out with some primitive camp sites or camping with friends. But you have to be self-sufficient to a great extent when it comes to food, water, shelter, gas, etc, as well as packing everything in with you (leave no trace behind). There are lots of dispersed spots to find with easy access. A trail-rated or 4x4 vehicle is recommended, but far from always necessary. You will find no amenities and no marked sites. ![]() ![]() It’s the opposite of designated or developed camping (camp spots/campgrounds/camp sites). Dispersed camping means setting up camp anywhere you’d like on public land. What is dispersed camping and what does it require?īut first, you need to make sure you are ready for dispersed camping.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |