We’d rather take our chances at finding a designated campsite than see an area get shut down completely, as we’ve seen happen in places like Nevada and Arizona. While some think that the switch to designated dispersed camping in their favorite areas is a bummer, we are happy to see ranger districts using tools and management strategies to help keep these popular camping areas open. Some ranger districts implement other rules at the same time as designated dispersed camping, including shorter stay limits (to give more people the opportunity to camp in the popular spots), check-ins with on-site camp hosts, and other restrictions to keep the area clean and easier to manage. Photo courtesy of Todd Stiles, Bridger-Teton National Forest. In many places, this leads to a quieter, more comfortable experience for however long you choose to stay. They offer some privacy, meaning that unlike the wilder world of dispersed camping, you shouldn’t get unexpected or close neighbors. On the plus side, designated campsites are usually well spaced out. There’s no squeezing into a tiny spot that will just fit your rig you have to move on and find somewhere else to spend the night. There is a finite amount of campsites in an area with designated dispersed camping, and once they’re gone, they are gone. While this doesn’t equate to an unlimited number of places to camp, it does give flexibility to where you can set up, especially if you have a small camper. With dispersed camping, you are free to camp anywhere that you can responsibly access, so long as you’re not harming the natural resources, respect all posted rules, and stay away from water sources. The most obvious impact is that there will be fewer campsites available than there once were. When an area switches from dispersed camping to designated dispersed camping, it impacts those who use that space-especially people who were used to enjoying it before the changes were made. Other areas that have recently moved to or proposed to move to designated dispersed camping include portions of the Sawtooth National Forest in Idaho and Deschutes National Forest in Oregon. They are rolling out a new designated dispersed camping plan this summer, with full implementation planned in 2022. In addition to the same challenges the Forest Service faced in Bridger-Teton, the ranger district at Crested Butte reports that they struggled with campers setting up on too steep of slopes, on unstable soil, or too close to water sources. They switched over to mandatory designated dispersed campsites, reduced stay limits during peak months, and installed new signs to combat these issues.Ĭrested Butte, Colorado, has also seen an influx of visitors and some of the management issues that come with overuse. District ranger Todd Stiles shared that management challenges in these places included overcrowding, trash, natural resource damage, unattended campfires, and negative wildlife interactions. Why Are Some Camping Areas Switching to Designated Dispersed?Ĭamping areas that are switching to designated dispersed are doing so for several reasons, but it is most often associated with the amount of use the area gets.īridger-Teton National Forest, for example, decided to implement designated dispersed camping in popular areas like Toppings Lake and Shadow Mountain. Instead of camping anywhere in the area, campers must set up in a designated site, usually marked with a sign or placard. ![]() The difference is that they have distinct and defined campsites that campers must use. With that definition in hand, what are designated dispersed camping areas? Like dispersed areas, they are vehicle-accessible camping outside of a campground on public land, without amenities. Those who prefer to boondock, which is to camp without amenities, often seek out dispersed camping areas because they are free to use, usually are located in beautiful natural areas, and typically have generous stay limits (anywhere from three days up to a month or longer). Nomad View Dispersed Camping | Wall, SD – Photo by: Cramepete
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