Free Boondocking in Iowa

[VanTrekker]

<p><img style="width: 394px; height: 274px; float: left;" rel="lightbox" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5o3HJrIv1Io/UKAJQo5kcBI/AAAAAAAAD5Y/UTJi9NhNjxc/s1600/Buck+Creek2.jpg" class="bbc_img" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Buck Creek Park near Garnavillo Iowa (25 miles n. of Dubuque)<br /><br /><br />I&nbsp;spend a fair amount of time in cheap county campgrounds ($8 - $10 / night including electricty) or better yet, $0 for primitive camping on government owned land.&nbsp; There is no need at all for stealth... Talk about less stressful!&nbsp; And here's why....<br /><br />1)&nbsp; No local police to deal with - just county sheriffs - and they know you are camping.&nbsp; They are probably HOPING your vehicle is there just for camping.&nbsp; (v.s. the infamous Iowa rolling meth labs)</p><p>2)&nbsp; No inquisitive neighbors.&nbsp; Mrs. Kravitz (the nosey neighbor from "Bewitched")&nbsp;does not live around here.</p><p>3) Rural public hunting and fishing areas&nbsp;most often allow for free camping.&nbsp; Iowa law is no more than 14 days (out of each 28) in one location.<br /><br />4)&nbsp; Clean water.&nbsp; Ok, it's not exactly drinking water but I would not hesitate to shower using trout stream water.&nbsp; It's very clean.&nbsp; (Don't drink it though).&nbsp; Most fishing areas are great for finding raspberries and blackberries in the spring.<br /><br />5)&nbsp; Fish.&nbsp; The limit for trout is 5 per day.&nbsp; If you don't mind a lot of the same kind of food, you can easily catch plenty of high&nbsp;quality protein most every day during the April - November months.<br /><br />6)&nbsp; The trout streams and WMA areas are very&nbsp;clean and safe. Many also have portapotties or "one holer" outhouses.&nbsp;<br /><br /><br /><br />Why does the DNR not mind if you camp for free&nbsp;at these Wildlife Management Areas?&nbsp; Last weekend one of the guys I spoke with said it is partly because the regular campers and the DNR often&nbsp;help each other and having people around helps cut down on sketchy&nbsp;folks setting up meth labs, etc.<br /><br /><br />V.T.</p>

 

[rvwandering]

&nbsp;Thanks for the tip!

 

[sl1966]

Thanks .... that looks so very doable! What are the average temps like in the Summertime there?<br /><br />

 

[VanTrekker]

During the summer days it can vary from around 85 to 100 degrees (with some humidity).&nbsp; Most often it is around 87 or so at the evening meal time in late June and July... Even on the days when&nbsp;the temp&nbsp;got to 100 (we did have a HOT summer), I could still get a good night's sleep after dark by running the roof vent and box van although sometimes it wasn't till 2:00 AM...<br /><br />Iowa can get pretty hot and stuffy during the summer but if you sleep in the camper every night, you acclimate...&nbsp; From June - September (plus or minues) low temps are usually above 50.&nbsp; <br /><br />I used to be the world's biggest air conditioning wuss but this year I learned how easy it is to live without it.&nbsp; <br /><br />V.T.