Dispersed Camping Guidelines

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 and designated dispersed camping spots.

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.

Rules for Dispersed Camping

• Groups of over 75 people who wish to use the forest, need to obtain a special use permit. There is no fee and permits can be obtained at the nearest District Office.
• You need to be self-contained. No amenities are provided; such as water, restrooms or trash cans. Pack out what you pack in.
• You may camp in a dispersed area for no more than 14 days in a 30-day period. After 14 days of camping on the Forest, you must move off of the Forest for at least 16 days.
• Please place your campsite at least 100 feet from any stream or other water source.
• Be Bear Aware. There are bears on the National Forest, so camp accordingly.

The best way to find out what areas are open to dispersed camping is to contact the nearest District Office to the area you wish to visit. Typically, dispersed camping is NOT allowed in the vicinity of developed recreation areas such as campgrounds, picnic areas, or trailheads. Many people drive out on Forest Service roads into the woods and find a clearing or a spot near a stream or with a view of the mountains. Do not drive on meadows to access your camping site. Drive on existing roads to prevent resource damage. Dispersed camping is allowed in a one-mile perimeter away from campgrounds and 100 feet from any stream. To prevent resource damage please keep your campsite within 300 feet from a roadway.

If you are going to an area where others have camped before, pick a site that has been used before. Plants, soil and wildlife are impacted by new campsites so using existing ones will minimize your impact in the forest. If there is no existing campsite, then 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.

Always check to see if there are any fire restrictions in place before starting a campfire. If it is safe to do so and we do have fire restrictions place, please use existing sites and fire rings. If wood is transported home for personal use, pick up a permit at the nearest District Office.

The National Forest has wildfires every year. Many of these are caused by human activity, typically escaped campfires from dispersed campers. Campfires are allowed when you are dispersed camping unless there are fire restrictions in effect due to high fire danger conditions. It is your responsibility to know if fire restrictions are in effect before you go camping.

Tips for Safe, Low Impact Campfires

• 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, that is at least 100 feet from any water source to protect fragile vegetation.
• Clean an area and make a ring of rocks about two feet in diameter.
• If you don't bring your own firewood collect only dead wood that is on the ground. You should not cut branches off of live trees. If a popular camping area does not have dead wood on the ground, please bring your own firewood. The animals, insects, and micro-organisms in the soil need rotting wood on the ground to survive.
• Make sure you bring plenty of water to extinguish your campfire.
• And, before you go to bed each night or leave after your visit, make sure campfire is it completely out. Drown, Stir, and Feel. You should be able feel the fire with the back of your hand to make sure the fire is completely extinguished; 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 out.

Dispersed camping means no bathrooms and no outhouses. That means extra care has to be taken to dispose of 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 of in a proper waste container. Never defecate or leave toilet paper on top of the ground. It is disgusting, makes the area look unsightly and can easily get into a local water source and contaminate it.

Trash

As Woodsy Owl says, 'Give a hoot, don't pollute'. Dispersed campsites do not typically have trash services. It is extremely important to take your trash with you when you leave. Pack out what you pack in. 

Water

We used to be able to take a cup and drink directly out of the sparkling creek, a rushing waterfall, or a clear, deep lake. There is NO safe water source anymore. With an increasing population and increased visitation to our National Forest, water sources have been contaminated with invisible micro-organisms that can make people very ill and even kill them in some cases. Giardia is a common contamination that has been spread through improper toileting and wild animals to many water sources. It will cause diarrhea, cramping, and other physical problems.

The only way to ensure that water from any undeveloped source is safe is to treat it. That means heating it until it comes to a rolling boil, using water purification tablets or a water purification filter. Water from faucets in developed recreation areas has been tested and is safe to use without treating.

If you follow these tips you can save a safe, low impact, primitive camping experience. Thank you for helping care for YOUR National Forest.