DISPERSED CAMPING IN TENNESSEE

[VJG1977]

<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->&nbsp;The last time I camped at LBL was in 1978. I had a 74 Ford pickup with a shell on the back, it rained for 3 days, ended up sleeping in the back all weekend.&nbsp; I was in the army then so I was prepared: a good book, some C-rations and a cooler full of beer.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am getting the hang of locating accurate information about dispersed camping on state forest land. &nbsp;</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal">First go to the US FOREST SERVICE HOME PAGE.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/" target="_blank">http://www.fs.fed.us/&nbsp;</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then find the state you want to camp in.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/map/state_list.shtml#Tennessee" target="_blank">http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/map/state_list.shtml#Tennessee</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area is a United States National Recreation Area located in Kentucky and Tennessee between Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake. The south entrance is off Hwy 79, 5 miles from Dover, Tn.&nbsp;</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.lbl.org/" target="_blank">http://www.lbl.org/</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">LBL REGULATIONS</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Short List</p> <p class="MsoNormal">For Back country camping must have permit, can only stay 14 days at 1 site, must move at least 1 mile between sites.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.lbl.org/VCRulesGate.html#back" target="_blank">http://www.lbl.org/VCRulesGate.html#back</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">MAPS</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.lbl.org/VCMaps.html" target="_blank">http://www.lbl.org/VCMaps.html</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->&nbsp;CHEROKEE NATIONAL FOREST</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Cherokee National Forest mostly lies within eastern Tennessee, along the border with North Carolina.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/cherokee/" target="_blank">http://www.fs.usda.gov/cherokee/</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">REGULATIONS</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/f...null&amp;position=Welcome.Html&amp;ttype=deta" target="_blank">http://www.fs.usda.gov/cherokeenationalforest/reg</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333; background:#FFFDEE">Dispersed camping outside of developed campgrounds is permitted at no charge. Camping in this manner is limited to 14 days and the site must be occupied once every 24 hours</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:#333333; background:#FFFDEE">CONTACTS</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/cherokee/about-forest/contactus" target="_blank">http://www.fs.usda.gov/contactus/cherokee/about-forest/contactus</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">MAPS</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/cherokee/maps-pubs" target="_blank">http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/cherokee/maps-pubs</a></p>

 

[Seraphim]

Biggest problem I've found in the Midwest NFs is where one can camp in a vehicle. Sure, you can hike in the forest and camp, but there are no places to legitimately park and sleep. Technically you can do so, but only on land in the NF that is actually owned by the NFS; and that may a small percentage, and that percentage has few roads to drive down. Just checked out Hoosier NF this past week and it's the same. Found primitive sites: $8 electric $6 not, but no goodlaces (yet) to pull over and sleep in the vehicle.

If you can find a "pull off" that is not a trailhead, you can pull over and sleep there, as long as you are not blocking a road and are no more than 30 feet from the road.

We saw no such pull offs.

 

[dicktster]

<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mornin ya'll, I've been camping in the NFS-Cherokee on the Tn./Ga. border for close to a year on and off.&nbsp; A couple couple/3 wks at a time, found lots of places.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br>

 

[xterra423]

<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mornin ya'll, I've been camping in the NFS-Cherokee on the Tn./Ga. border for close to a year on and off.&nbsp; A couple couple/3 wks at a time, found lots of places.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br>

would you care to list those locations please and thank you

 

[Wabbit]

Hi xterra423, this post is 5+ years old. Just an FYI in case Dickster is no longer around and they don't respond. You might want to head over to the newcomers corner subforum and intro yourself. Hope you get some leads on your inquiry and looking forward to more posts from you.

 

[karl]

One of those locations is Tumbling Creek, near Copperhill, there is a good chance dickster is there now. TC was a campground, but the forest service no longer cares for the site. There are also numerous spots along the road suitable for camping. It is in NF and 14 day rules apply. there are many miles of NF roads in the surrounding area, and several semi remote campgrounds.