US Forest Service
Learn about camping and boondocking in national forests and grasslands.
Cold Camp, Lytle Creek, CA
This is a single "yellow post" campsite located along the north side of Lytle Creek Road right at the fork with Cold Water Canyon. The campsite is long enough for full sized motorhomes and fifth-wheel trailers to get into, albeit with some skill backing into the 90-degree turn from the road.
Kelly’s Pond Campground
This is officially a "tent only" campground, where campers must utilize the adjacent parking area and walk into the camping units. However, many vehicle-campers use the adjacent parking area, which provides a wide area, to set up camp. The area is primitive with no potable water or electricity. The official campground has eight (8) campsites with picnic tables, fire rings and lantern posts.
Shell Oil Road Hunters Camp
One of the more popular hunters camps in Sam Houston National Forest, this campground comes with a porta-potty and a trash can, although ironically, it has more trash on the ground than those that do not come with trash cans. It's also one of the smaller hunters camps in the forest.
Forest Road 217A Hunters Camp
This hunters camp is open for anyone to camp in, even though it was originally intentioned for game hunters. It has no amenities, not even trash cans. It's also a popular place for local horseback riders, so expect to see horse droppings on the ground. During hunting season, this campground gets packed.
Bouton Lake Campground
This small campground offers seven (7) primitive campsites with picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern post at each site. There is also a vault toilet. While this campground is located on US Forest Service land, the west half of Bouton Lake is on private property, and the property owner will let you know when they are displeased.
Neches Bluff Overlook, Weches, TX
This small campground and viewing area is offered for free by the U.S. Forest Service. All it appears to offer is a vault toilet and a viewing deck overlooking the Neches River bottomlands. There is not even a trash can, a sign posted requires you to pack all your trash out.
Thompson Grove Picnic Area
This is officially a picnic area though the information kiosk says that camping is allowed with a 14-day maximum stay. There are no campsites, it's just a dirt lot where most vehicles park along side the railing. It's a narrow parking lot large enough for small to medium-sized RVs.
Spring Creek Dispersed Area
Spring Creek Dispersed Area Named for a tiny creek that roughly parallels I-84, Spring Creek Dispersed Area is an area of Wallowa-Whitman National Forest popular with campers, hikers, and hunters. Forest road NF-21 takes you into the heart of the area where you will find numerous other roads branching off it, leading you to dozens of free, boondocking sites that offers lots of quiet, privacy, and the experience of Nature at its finest. This area of the forest lies along a mountain range, and elevation here ranges from 3,000 to 4,000 feet. You’ll experience temperatures in the 70s mostly, with ... Read more
Rules for Recreation on US Forest Service Land
These are the full set of regulations adopted by the US Forest Service regarding prohibited activities inside national forests, national grasslands, and other properties they manage.
Windmill Designated Camping Area
Windmill Designated Camping Area, Sedona, AZ Crowding seems to be a recurring issue, with some reviewers noting the Forest Service’s increased enforcement on dispersed camping in Sedona, leading to crowded group lots throughout the forest. One visitor emphasizes the challenges of finding a spot due to the high demand, despite the ample open space in the surrounding area. Noise levels are generally reported as reasonable, with instances of tranquility disrupted by unexpected disturbances. One camper recounts a peaceful Sunday morning marred by noisy tourists, particularly a group of balloon enthusiasts who crowded the campsite while packing up their balloons. While ... Read more
