Boondocking in Wayne National Forest

[Seraphim]

WNF was a disappointment, as far as dispersed camping in a vehicle goes. Beautiful country, and if one wants to backpack and camp out in the wilds, it's great. Not so much in a camper, however, unless you want to hit a campground.

First, so little if the land in that national forest is actually national forest land. The road use map we downloaded from the NFS site shows most of the land is owned by people or companies, or belongs to other public services that follow NFS rules.
The area is a patchwork of owners, so you're never sure which is NFS land and which is not. The road use map helps, but is not a detailed map.

Most of the unimproved roads that would permit a vehicle access are marked 'no motor vehicles'. I marked one spot on a Topo map that appeared to be a location accessible by motor vehicle, and which permitted dispersed camping. It was a neat area, but off the hard packe dirt road it was deep mud.

The area is very ATV friendly, but the ATV roads restrict larger motor vehicles from using them. A lot of the roads only access non NFS lands.

Then there's the strip mining. Actually, I wonder why they bothered making it a national forest anyway.

But. It is good for backpackers. Just not dispersed parking in a motor vehicle.

Enjoyed ourselves; but then the computer wiped all the photographs from my camera, without bothering to save them first.

Oh well.

 

[bobbert]

I used to go to Hocking College in Wayne Ntnl' Forest,&nbsp;particularly in Nelsonville. I spent a lot of time therein going mountain biking. Most of the roads through the Nelsonville area are unimproved with deep ruts. Too much ATV &amp; dirt bike activity. Right now the hunters are there too &amp; will offer a dirty-look or three if they see you in their "territory", whatever. One decent area is access of State Route 78, near Buchtel.<div>Another decent area with better roadways is Door Run, off of State Route 33. But again, too many noisy ATV's.<br><div>I agree with your statement about the coal mining issue; why would they bother making it a NFS area anyways?&nbsp;</div><div>Thanks for the report&nbsp;</div></div>

 

[Seraphim]

Thanks for the info. We only had a day to check out the access areas. But now we have an idea what we're looking at, we can use the road use map and a topographic map to scout areas. Mostly, though, it looks like we'll have to do with campgrounds with the van.

 

[bobbert]

Where ya' heading to?

 

[Seraphim]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Nowhere at the moment... we just enjoy boondocking.&nbsp;Allergic to campgrounds.&nbsp;Spent a lot of time in Hocking Hills as a kid, in the 60s. Retiring in about a year and a half, then try to hit the road.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><img border="0" hspace="0" alt="" align="baseline" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Pyhbfo1XbM0/Tt04AC7UdqI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/xQJ8ofIIDEo/s512/dw.jpg"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;<em>Computer wiped about about 84 photos I took yesterday. Left this one of DW and a couple others.</em></p>

 

[rvwandering]

&nbsp;I know how you feel Jerry, We haven't had much luck trying to boondock in the eastern forests - too much underbrush ,private land and hilly terrain. It so much easier west of the Mississippi. <br>&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;I'm a little worried about all of the changes being made concerning vehicle access on forest roads and the need to have permits. That could really put a stop to our meandering along and finding a nice spot in the forest when we decide to stop for the day.<br>

 

[Seraphim]

Part of the problem we encountered we're all the 'wildlife areas' in the forest, which weren't under the auspice of the NFs. You could park off the main road, but not drive back along the road. You can't camp along the road, Oslo camping in the van is out.

Going to check out some of the NFs in Kentucky to see if they're different.

We, too, like the setup out west. Drive to a remote spot, park, and there you are...

 

[bobbert]

That is one of the nicest pictures of Cedar Falls that I've ever seen!

 

[karl]

Nice pic.<br>&nbsp;I'm heading in that direction in January, and I am also allergic to RV type campgrounds, walmarts, truck stops- prefer rustic,quiet, alone.<br>Not having lots of luck searching online - many seem to close in the winter, or are geared to "tourists" (spending money )rather than "travelers"(enjoying the view). It appears that those that advertise well are less interesting to me than the NP land and Mom and Pop campgrounds.<br>Been looking along NC and Tenn border as I will be near Bat Cave NC for a bit.<br><br>

 

[Seraphim]

<SPAN id=post_message_1271293780>That is one of the nicest pictures of Cedar Falls that I've ever seen!</SPAN>&nbsp;

<br><br>Thanks.&nbsp; That's probably the most water I've ever seen coming over it. I really am bummed about the pics I lost, though. Had some nice ones along Ash Cave as well.<br><br>karl - let us know what you find out about the area. Curious about the possibilities there.<br>

 

[butterfly]

<p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Jerry, If you do a search for Wildcat Hollow Primitive Weapons Hunting Area you'll find info &amp; directions for a small, primative, little-used campground near Burr Oak State Park.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Tahoma"></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Tahoma">I've been there for a look-see.&nbsp; There were a group of campers there that warm late fall evening.&nbsp; If you'd be lucky enough to have the place to yourselves, it's a nice spot imo.</font></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Tahoma"></font>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;"><font size="3" face="Tahoma">Judy</font></p>

 

[Seraphim]

Thanks - we'll check it out. I wonder if hunters will have it this weekend - we've got the time off together and thought we'd head out somewhere. Maybe after the first of the year when hunting season is over. I'll so the search.

 

[Ryan24]

The northern part of the mark twain is similar to this. A lot of residential and resort areas, but roads away from campgrounds are very narrow and steep. If the weather is rainy, as it was when I went, best to avoid these if your van is not built for it.&nbsp;

 

[Seraphim]

Thanks, Ryan.&nbsp; It looks like the rules differ a bit out our direction than they do in the western states.&nbsp; Less freedom (availability of areas)&nbsp;to drive and park.<br><br>I found the road use maps for Cherokee NF.<br><br><A href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cherokee/maps-pubs/?cid=stelprdb5304816" target=_blank>http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cherokee/maps-pubs/?cid=stelprdb5304816</A><br>