How To Go Dispersed Camping?

Some people grow up doing car camping, camping in RV’s and going to campgrounds where people are packed together like sardines to maximize the profit of the private campground. These experiences can be a lot of fun if you like the campground that you are in and your neighbors are friendly and respectful. However, at some point you may want to have more of a true wilderness experience.

Camping National, State Or Provincial Parks

You may begin to branch out from the parking campgrounds to doing some more backcountry camping in National or State (Provincial) parks. These experiences are much closer to experiencing what nature has to offer. The services tend to be “rustic” at most. Some have a toilet (“boom box”) somewhere on the campsite and the trails and portage routes may be clearly marked and well serviced. There might be bridges going over swamps and rivers and there may be well-established campsites with a fire ring, grill, and maybe even a table. All of these kinds of backcountry camping will certainly get you away from the crowds. To provide for these services usually, a minimal fee is required.

How To Go Dispersed Camping

How do I go dispersed tent camping? Look at a map and point to an area that is not a national park, state, provincial or privately owned. Travel into this area and find a clearing where you can pitch a tent and have a camp fire. Don’t expect any amenities or other services. You will need to dispose of your own waste and garbage properly. Though there may be some general laws, everything else is up to you and using common sense. These areas are free and you usually do not need to register if you live in the country.

Dispersed Camping What To Bring

There are many areas where you can disperse camp near a vehicle. That being said when it comes to dispersed camping this is where the humble tent reigns supreme. I say this because the majority of places for dispersed camping can only be accessed by foot, horse, or canoe/kayak. Having a lightweight set up has its obvious advantages. As well, keeping meals simple yet tasty helps add to the enjoyment of the experience.

It is very important to check the weather in the area you will be camping in. Some areas may be surprisingly hot or cold for the time of year. While it helps to be prepared for anything, weather forecasts do tend do be generally accurate so knowing what the weather will be like can help with planning.

Since you may be entering remote wilderness areas, you know doubt have experience camping in these areas already. If that is the case you may not need to read much of what is said here. If you have done car camping but would like to experience a more wild setting than it is important to bring someone who is experienced. At the very least one should be well prepared and have respect for the dangers involved. One should have some map skills in addition to bringing a GPS. Becoming well acquainted with the area you will be visiting is essential before entering it.

Instead of getting into all the items, you could potentially bring, in some ways it’s important to discuss the items you should not forget.  To illustrate the importance of this I recall a camping experience.  My father was one who kept extensive camping lists. He would go over and over the list until he made sure we had everything. This is a good practice of course. However, I remember on one occasion we drove to our campground and unloaded all these items from the van into the canoe. Then at the very last we went to get the paddles. To our dismay we had forgotten them! We weren’t going anywhere until we could find some paddles. We probably could have gotten along fine without a lot of items but the paddles were essential to our trip. So if your camping involves any canoeing, don’t forget the paddles. Other items that we would consider essential for dispersed camping would be:

• First aid kit
• lighter(s)
• t.p.
• tent
• tarp/painters sheet
• food/freeze-dried or otherwise easily transportable.
• water filter
• fish line & hook
• knife
• spoon/fork
• cup
• plate/bowl
• rope
• duck tape
• super glue
• thread/needle
• flashlight
• bug spray/net
• rain jacket/pants
• weather appropriate clothing
• good hiking shoes
• map/GPS
• hat/sunscreen
• good ax /sharpening stone
• garbage bags
• toothbrush
• pot/pan
• Thermarest or similar
• weather appropriate sleeping bag

Dispersed Camping In The United States

Dispersed camping is the official term used in the U.S. to describe camping outside of a designated campground. Many times these are remote areas that do not provide what a typical campsite would, such as toilets, fire pits, electricity, garbage and waste disposal (although there are exceptions to the rule). The advantage to this situation is generally speaking throughout Americas forests dispersed camping is free.

If you are wanting to go camping in any of these forests how should one go about doing it? Here are a few steps that could be taken:

• Look up all available information on dispersed camping regulations in the area you will be visiting. Most lands in the USA for dispersed camping is managed by either the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the United States Forest Service (USFS). Each of these management arms has its own regulations for dispersed camping. You can go to their websites that are provided on the interactive map. Another way to gather regulation information is to contact the ranger’s office in the area you will be going into. They will be able to provide you with any additional information on regulations. The ranger’s office contact information can be found on the same websites.
• The next step you can take is to look up any information on trails and established campsites that are already in use. This can be done by going to the BLM or USFS website and seeing if they have any available maps and location explanations on where you can go. You can also scour the internet for local hiking, canoeing, wildlife conservation, and camping organizations. Many times you will find maps and much help in being able to plan a workable trip.
• At times you can also check out internet forums that discuss the topic of dispersed camping in the area you are wishing to go. Sometimes there is invaluable information provided on where to go and many helpful links to maps etc. It is important though to be cautious and verify as best you can any info that you are provided on these forums.
• Visit the district office and ask the ranger for a map.

Where Can You Camp For Free In America?

The two main areas where free or dispersed camping is permitted is in National Forest Lands or BLM Lands. These areas are free to camp on. While BLM lands and National Forest lands are generally friendly towards dispersed campers this “friendliness” varies by state and by area. Some states do not have a lot of public land or public forest. Some states primarily provide state-owned campsites or national forests. These areas usually do not provide many dispersed camping opportunities. There are sometimes “primitive camping” opportunities however usually a fee is charged and while primitive there are many times some basic amenities provided.

Other areas that allow for dispersed camping may still require a permit at certain times of the year. Or they may require a permit to have a fire during certain times of the year. It is important to check to see if there are any restrictions on the date you are planning on going. As well at times you must abide by certain area rules such as camping within a certain distance of a public road, particularly if you are using a vehicle. Other areas require camping a certain distance from water particularly for example when digging a “cat hole” it must be a certain distance away from your camp, from any roads, lakes or streams. Other areas that tend to not provide dispersed camping are county parks and city parks. Another area is wildlife management areas or WMA’s. These are all state-run and camping is sometimes allowed but sometimes not. Rules and regulations vary from state to state.

Can you have a fire while dispersed camping?

Fires are generally permitted on both BLM lands and Forest Service Lands. However it is generally encouraged to use available campsites and camping rings. If one must have an open fire the individual is expected to be responsible. He cannot leave the fire unattended and must completely douse the fire before leaving. Any rocks that were used to build the pit must be spread out when complete to return things to their natural setting as best as one can. In some states, a firebox, or only a gas stove may be permitted. It is important to check with the correct authorities to verify whether this is required. For reference purposes a firebox is a metal box or pan that can be used to contain the fire. It has the advantage of leaving absolutely no trace of a fire on the ground and is mobile. On most lands it is permitted to take wood from the area. The wood must be either dead and standing or dead & down on the ground. In many areas wood is not allowed to transport into or out of the area. This can introduce harmful pests into areas that have not been affected.

How long can you camp in one spot?

On BLM and National Forest lands the general time that you can stay in one spot camping is 14 days. After that period you must move to another area to camp. This distance varies. For the Forest service one must travel at least 5 road miles to another area to camp. This time frame can vary from state to state and area to area, but where otherwise stated 14 days is the norm. On all lands you can not put up any permanent structures.

Crown Land Camping In Canada

Dispersed camping in Canada is called wild or crown land camping. Canada is a huge landmass and as a result there are many opportunities for wilderness camping. 89% of Canada’s land area is known as Crown Land. By law you have the right to camp anywhere that there is crown land so long as there are no signs posted limiting access for various reasons. Before you get excited about the prospect of camping, much of that 89% is practically inaccessible unless you have a floatplane at your disposal. True there are many dirt roads and logging roads that can help you access these areas, however knowing where to go once your there can be a real challenge. However, for those who are determined and adventurous, there are many, many great wild camping opportunities.

Of the 89% of crown lands, 41% is federal and 48% of it is provincial. This doesn’t really change the fact that it is still crown land, although there may be a variance from province to province on what they will allow. For example stay times vary. Some provinces may allow one to stay on a site for 14-21 days. Yukon allows one to stay on a site for up to 400 days so long as no permanent structures are erected.

On some of these crown lands, protected wilderness areas have been set up. These establish the fact that no development will ever take place in these areas. As well, motorized activities are restricted or outright banned in these preserves. Fires are usually restricted in these areas to established rings and the use of fireboxes. Some of these protected areas are closer to cities and provide great opportunities to experience the wild closer to home.

If you are wanting to go camping in any of these forests how should one go about doing it? Here are a few steps that could be taken:

• The first thing you can do is look at google maps. Google maps will show you all the areas that have very little population density. It will also show you where all the National, Provincial, and Wilderness areas are located. You can then narrow your search down by asking google if there is any information available about any of these areas.
• You can visit the provincial government website that manages crown land. Crown Land in Canada is managed by the Department of Natural Resources. If you visit my dispersed camping map there are links provided to various websites and maps that show where crown land is.
• You can purchase the Backroads Mapbook. This is a map book that is available to most provinces. It extensively shows many of the backroad trails and roads that are not easily visible on google. It incorporates a lot of local knowledge into their maps as well. It is a great resource for anything backwoods. The map book also differentiates between National, Provincial parks and protected Wilderness areas.
• You can call the province for specific information on the area you are wanting to visit. With protected wilderness areas usually, there is information available for activities that are allowed or restricted.
• Sometimes you can find maps on specific rivers or areas that can aid you in navigating the terrain. You can check at the local public library for free information on these areas. Mountain Equipment Co-op is an outdoor store that has a section for books and maps. You can often find the information you are looking for there.

Here is a quick overview of the rules for camping on crown land in the Canadian Provinces:

• Nova Scotia – Camping on Crown Land allowed – Camp Duration allowed 21 Days max – Fire pit anywhere allowed (except wilderness reserves fire box or established rings only) – Dead or down firewood allowed – Permit required for non-residents – Crown land map
• New Brunswick – Camping on crown land allowed – camp duration allowed – 21 days max – fire pit anywhere (except when specified no fires) – dead or down firewood allowed – permit required for non-residents – references map – Rules fact sheet
• Newfoundland – Camping on crown land allowed – camp duration max 21 days – fire pit anywhere (except when specified) – dead or down firewood only – permit required for non- residents – crown land map – crown land camping help Reddit
• Quebec – camping allowed on crown land – camping allowed on zec/wilderness areas see forum link – fire pit anywhere (unless otherwise specified) – dead or down firewood only – 21 day camping duration max – Permits may be required for non- residents and for camping in a Zec
• Manitoba – camping allowed on crown land – fire pit anywhere (unless otherwise specified) – dead or down firewood only – 21 day camping duration max – permits may be required for non – residents – mapbook – further reading
• Saskatchewan – camping on crown land allowed – fire pit anywhere (unless otherwise specified) – dead or down firewood only – 21 day camping duration max – crown land map
• Alberta – camping on crown land allowed – fire pit anywhere (unless otherwise specified) – dead or down firewood only – 14 day camping duration max – distance from water 100m – resources and further reading – back roads mapbook
• British Columbia – camping on crown land allowed – fire pit anywhere (unless otherwise specified) – dead or down firewood only – 14 day camping duration max – distance from water 100m – some areas require a permit see here

Canada has many National and Provincial parks available to all for recreational opportunities. These parks provide more of a framework for camping. They offer campgrounds for Rv’s and other types of car camping. These campgrounds are generally run uniformly from park to park. They provide showers and bathrooms, campfire rings, and grills, sometimes there are electrical hookups provided, and garbage collection. In many of these drive-in campgrounds there is a backend for backcountry camping. These provide many opportunities for getting a more wild experience. There are usually canoe camping or hiking routes that are maintained by park or volunteer staff. Wood fall is usually cut and removed, footbridges repaired and many of the sites have basic toilets, and firepits. Many of these sites require a minimal fee to access.

So the following was an overview of dispersed camping in the U.S. and wild camping in Canada. These are two great countries that have had the foresight to preserve vast areas of their forests and lands. It is good that this is a value that these people hold as important, otherwise many of these areas would be exploited and ruined. If you are a Canadian or American than you need to at least try camping to get an idea of why millions do it every year.

Visit our Dispersed/Wild Camping interactive map.