Finding boondocking sites

[maki2]

If you have paid for app membership for those campsite reviews you can then post an update yourself when you find a site that is not suitable upon arriving there. If you have not paid then you can’t be part of that ongoing “team effort” for posting reviews to help keep information up to date.

 

[WanderingRose]

A lot on there are side streets, business areas, and little turnoff on the side on a highway. Not my type of overnight site

When traveling day to day, wanting to boondocki rather than get into a campsite, I learned that a place to park for the night was sometimes just that…a place to park, utilitarian rather than meeting aesthetic desires.

Part of the flexibility of a no-or-few-reservations approach to travel.

Other times my place to park was along a river or bubbling creek, or something more scenic.

It worked for me, and was much preferable to spending a lot of time online trying to find the “perfect” spot to overnight.

 

[Willy]

I realize that it's the people that screw things up for others, but the apps can make it easier to do so since they make it easier for the bad eggs to find good spots to trash. Unfortunately, the area I was in was subject to 'dirty politics' wherein conservation elected to do nothing in order to drum up enough outrage to shut the whole place down permanently.

 

[maki2]

It usually comes down to annual allocated budget expenses. Ongoing major cleanup cost = $$$$. Shutting down a problem area cost = $. The dirt in the dirty politics is the trash disposal costs. People get fired when operating costs constantly exceed budgets. It is hazardous duty

 

[rruff]

A lot on there are side streets, business areas, and little turnoff on the side on a highway. Not my type of overnight site

Just for convenience I stayed overnight at one of the well reviewed popular BLM sites north of Lake Havasu last spring. What a hole. I'd rather be in a Walmart parking lot, but that is "illegal" almost everywhere now, as towns have ordinances against it.

Parking on private property of any sort for free is usually a matter of getting away with it, so best to pick an obscure site that no one else knows or cares about... and good luck.

 

[bullfrog !]

Just for convenience I stayed overnight at one of the well reviewed popular BLM sites north of Lake Havasu last spring. What a hole. I'd rather be in a Walmart parking lot, but that is "illegal" almost everywhere now, as towns have ordinances against it.

Parking on private property of any sort for free is usually a matter of getting away with it, so best to pick an obscure site that no one else knows or cares about... and good luck.

Yes we have been spoiled because we are old enough to have been able to stay in remote places usually away from populated areas. With things like Starlink and 4x4 vans many more have had access lately but it has always been a progression of hikers and horseback riders to bikers to ATVs to UTVs to drones and all wheel drive vehicles.

 

[INTJohn]

Yes we have been spoiled because we are old enough to have been able to stay in remote places usually away from populated areas. With things like Starlink and 4x4 vans many more have had access lately but it has always been a progression of hikers and horseback riders to bikers to ATVs to UTVs to drones and all wheel drive vehicles.

Time 4 regression:
2 feet; backpack and a tarp.

jonny boi jus sayin

 

[maki2]

It is easy for those of us who are baby boomers to pass the buck instead of realizing WE ourselves, our very own generation, are the cause of the increase in more people out camping. You could blame it on our parents but they did not have access to birth control pills. In addition we are the parents of that next generation who are out there making the rules.

 

[bullfrog !]

Time 4 regression:
2 feet; backpack and a tarp.

jonny boi jus sayin

Yeah I would definitely need some specialized walking sticks that I could use to get up once I fell down! Lol!!! I carry a small water bottle on my daily walks as the larger one was getting too heavy to take! I’d have to limber up my hands to tie the tarp up! lol!!! Funny thing is I still have all that stuff! Golden years, yeah, right!

 

[INTJohn]

It is easy for those of us who are baby boomers to pass the buck instead of realizing WE ourselves, our very own generation, are the cause of the increase in more people out camping. You could blame it on our parents but they did not have access to birth control pills. In addition we are the parents of that next generation who are out there making the rules.

Actually, I think the argument can be made that it did start with the boomers parents. During the boom time ‘50s of the post WW2 generation.

Everyone was working and ready to enjoy their lives after experiencing the Great Depression and upon young adulthood, World War 2.

Once the 50s arrived it was time to experience the Good Life and that is when the vacation & recreational lifestyle began. This included camping.

INTJohn

 

[rruff]

Yes we have been spoiled because we are old enough to have been able to stay in remote places usually away from populated areas. With things like Starlink and 4x4 vans many more have had access lately but it has always been a progression of hikers and horseback riders to bikers to ATVs to UTVs to drones and all wheel drive vehicles.

Been camping here since xmas eve... no humans have come anywhere near me on the ground, and I've seen zero people camping at all. And I even have 1 bar via Visible some of the time I don't know why no one has ventured here on their SxSs, as it isn't a dead end, but I'm glad! Been in the 70s daily too, and the forecast for the next 2 weeks says more of the same.

Maybe it's the gawdawful long washboard road, plus treacherous terrain...

 

[Sky King]

Helicopter, the ultimate ATV They go over washboard 2 tracks very smoothly

 

[WanderingRose]

That looks like a beautiful spot, rruff.

Even tho I appreciate tho am not a fan of the desert, snakes, tarantulas, etc.

The washboard road may well be a deterrent, and intended to be so, like Chaco is.

 

[rruff]

Rattlesnakes and tarantulas are sleeping in winter, but the spiders are harmless regardless... I like seeing them.

Serious wind last night and today, 40 mph gusts!... but at least it's warm.

I dropped tire pressure to 22psi and drive 40-50mph when possible on the washboard, and it isn't too bad.