Camping and Cabins

Many people enjoy the solitude and primitive experience of camping away from developed campgrounds and other campers. Dispersed camping is the term used for camping anywhere in the National Forest OUTSIDE of a designated campground. Dispersed camping means no services (such as trash removal) and little or no facilities (such as tables and fire pits,) are provided. Some popular dispersed camping areas may have toilets.

There are extra responsibilities and skills that are necessary for dispersed camping. It is your responsibility to know these before you try this new experience. Camping rules and regulations apply to make your experience safe, and to keep the natural resources scenic and unspoiled for other campers.

Visitors are primarily responsible for their own safety.

• Groups of over 75 people who wish to use the forest, need to obtain a special use permit. Permits can be obtained at the nearest District Office. NOTE: Due to COVID-19, groups larger than 10 people are discouraged from congregating.
• There is privately owned land within the forest boundaries so be sure to not encroach on private land.
• You need to be self-contained. No amenities are provided, such as water, restrooms or trash cans.
• You may camp in a dispersed area for up to 30 days. After 30 days, you must move at least 5 road miles for camping in another dispersed area. Campers may not return to the same campsite within the calendar year.
• Please place your campsite at least 100 feet from any stream or other water source. Showers can be locally heavy and occasionally have been known to produce 5 to 10 inches of rain in a few hours. Such storms will cause flooding in the rivers and tributaries within the forest. These same streams will usually be dry in the late summer and early fall. Carry water or a water filtration device with you.
• Keep a Pack-In Pack-Out camp. Follow Leave No Trace guidelines.
• Contact the local Forest Service office to see if any restrictions, especially fire restrictions are in place.

Choose a previously used site to minimize your impact in the forest. If an existing campsite is not available, follow these Leave No Trace guidelines:

• Camp on bare soil if possible, to avoid damage or killing plants and grass.
• Do NOT camp within 100 feet of any water source, plants near water are especially fragile.
• Do not camp in the middle of a clearing or meadow; try to make your campsite less visible so that other visitors will see a "wild" setting.
• Do not try to level or dig trenches in the ground at your campsite. Pick a tent site that is already level with good drainage.
• Do not drive on meadows to access your camping site.
• Drive on existing roads to prevent resource damage.
• To prevent resource damage, please keep your campsite within 150 feet from a roadway.

Please use existing sites and fire rings. Wood permits are not needed for usage on the forest. The National Forest has wildfires each year. Many of these are caused by human activity, typically escaped campfires from dispersed campers

• Use existing fire rings if they exist. Minimize the scarring of new rocks, soil, and plants by using existing fire rings.
• Select a site that is not in a meadow or clearing, that is not next to a tree with low overhanging branches, and that is at least 100 feet away from any water source to protect fragile vegetation.
• Clean an area and make a ring of rocks about two feet in diameter.
• Collect only dead wood that is on the ground. Do not cut branches from live trees.
• Before you leave a campfire, make sure is it completely extinguished. I.e. you should be able to put your whole hand into the ashes without being burned and it should be cool to the touch. Stir the ashes to make sure all embers have cooled. This is very important! Many forest fires are caused by abandoned campfires that were not completely put out.

Dispersed camping means no bathrooms and no outhouses. That means extra care has to be taken in disposing human waste. To dispose of feces, dig a hole six (6) inches deep at least 100 feet away from any water source. When you are done, fill the hole with the dirt you dug up and take your toilet paper with you to dispose in a proper waste container. Never defecate or leave toilet paper on top of the ground. It could easily get into the local water source and contaminate it.

When toilet facilities are closed or unavailable...

Bacteria and viruses found in human feces are known to cause hepatitis, salmonella, giardia, and other gastro-intestinal diseases. Remember, the water in the rivers and lakes you visit may flow into your own drinking supply.

As more and more people enjoy parks and protected areas every year, packing out human waste is likely to become a more common practice to ensure long-term sustainability of our shared lands.

Number One:

Move at least 200 feet away from any water sources, trails, parking areas and campsites. Urine has little direct effect on vegetation or soil.

Women should pack out or bury toilet paper after peeing. Don’t leave TP flowers on the ground. Carry two zip close bags... turn one inside out to use as a glove to grab toilet paper, turn the bag right-side-out and zip it closed, enclosing the used TP inside. Place this bag inside the second sandwich bag to double bag it. This sealed bag can join the rest of your trash to be packed out.

Number Two:

Your options for dealing with number two are simple: You can dig a hole and bury waste, or you can pack it out.

There are several EPA-approved, commercially produced pack-out systems available that are easy to use and sanitary for backpacking/hiking use.

Dig a Cathole:

In most locations, burying human feces in a cat hole in the correct manner is the most effective method and most widely accepted method of waste disposal.

Move at least 200 feet (about 70 steps) away from any water sources, trails, parking areas and campsites. Select an inconspicuous site where other people will be unlikely to walk or camp. 

Choose a sunny site with rich soil that’s free from roots and large rocks. Sunlight and soil help your waste decompose faster. If camping in the area for more than one night, or if camping with a large group, cat hole sites should be widely dispersed. Don’t go to the same place twice.

Use a trowel, stick or rock to dig a hole that is 4–6 inches wide and 6–8 inches deep.

After you’ve done your business, fill in hole with the original dirt and completely cover it using natural materials.

Use toilet paper sparingly and use only plain, white, non-perfumed brands. Toilet paper must be disposed of properly! It should either be thoroughly buried in a cat hole or placed in plastic bags and packed out.