At just past midnight, the sound of a patrol vehicle’s two-way radio, along with red and blue lights dancing around inside our rooftop tent, woke us from a deep slumber. “Gunnison County Sheriff’s department, is anyone in the vehicle?” was the last thing we had expected to hear after settling in for the night at a nice campsite – complete with fire ring – just off the main road.
We thought we’d parked on national forest land, but it turned out that we’d accidentally entered a church camping area adjoining public land. In our haste to get settled, we’d missed a small sign nailed to a tree back at the turnoff from the main road.
Few things can ruin a dispersed camping or RV boondocking trip more than being forced to move after you’ve set up camp, especially if it’s late at night. Luckily this has only happened to us a couple of times over the past few years we’ve dispersed camped across North America. When it did, it was usually because we had failed to pay attention to our map or missed visual cues indicating we weren’t on public land.
How Trespassing Mistakes Can Occur When Dispersed Camping
Most campers and RVers don’t set out to intentionally trespass, yet still many are issued citations each year – or if they’re really lucky, are simply asked to move on and camp elsewhere. One common misconception which causes campers to run afoul of the law is the belief that all national forest land is open to the public.
Within the one hundred fifty four national forests and twenty grasslands that are managed by the USFS, there are many different users, some whom have exclusive access rights to certain areas, such as for mineral extraction or lumber cutting. The REI article “Guide to Understanding Public Lands” explains some of the different public land areas and how recreational use is governed.
There are also private in-holdings inside many national forests, and even within the boundaries of national parks. Sometimes these areas are marked with signage or fencing, but often they’re not, sometimes leading to accidental trespassing by people who are engaged in recreational activities.
How to Avoid Camping at Restricted Areas on Public Land
Even if you’re sure that you’re on public land, such as BLM land where dispersed camping may be allowed, you still can end up getting a citation if you fail to check the local usage rules. An example of this would be if you were camping in the Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico, and failed to read the rules regarding dispersed camping.
These rules prohibit camping more than 300′ off main roads or near any water source. Many public lands have similar rules that restrict camping near streams or off main roads, so make sure you call or visit the website of the local US Forest Service ranger district, park or BLM land office website, and familiarize yourself with the rules specific to the area you plan on visiting.
Ways To Avoid Accidentally Trespassing on Private or Restricted Land
Pay Attention to Visual Clues as to Land Status
Many states now officially recognize the color purple, when painted on fence posts and other objects along a boundary, as the equivalent of “no trespassing” signs. If you see fence posts or trees painted with this color, avoid these areas, as they are most likely private land. Other clues that indicate you’re no longer on public land include the presence of dwellings, barns, farm machinery and ranch signs above entrances.
Visible logging activity, trees flagged with colored tape and parked forestry equipment may indicate that you’re in an area where logging is taking place and where camping and recreating is temporarily restricted.
When in Doubt, Double-Check Land Status
Since we’ve started using the “elite” version of onX Offroad, we’ve had no issues with accidentally camping on private or restricted land. There was one occasion, not too long ago, when we did end up camping somewhere we weren’t supposed to. In Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in west Texas, we drove right past an “Area Closed” sign, which was blocked by another vehicle in front of it.
At the self-registration station, a few miles inside the wildlife management area, there were no notices of the area being temporarily restricted, so we made camp that night, blissfully unaware of the temporary closure.
The next day when we came across the game warden and manager of the WMA, he informed us of our mistake. He wasn’t especially upset after we told him about the blocked sign, and welcomed us to return when the area was again open to the general public. Sometimes mistakes like this can occur, even if you think you have all the best resources at your disposal.
Using GPS Mapping Applications to Avoid Trespassing When Camping
Perhaps the best way to avoid trespassing while dispersed camping or boondocking is to use a GPS mapping app, such as onX Offroad or Gaia GPS. The paid version of both include maps which can be downloaded for offline use and which show most boundaries of national forest land, state, and national parks. onX Offroad’s “elite” plan, which currently costs $99 per year, goes one step further and lists the names of private and public landowners, along with more detailed boundary information for public lands.
Areas You Should Always Avoid When Camping
Even if the area you’re visiting is open to dispersed camping, there may be parts that you want to avoid for your own safety. In our post 10 Dangers of Dispersed Camping we mentioned avoiding areas where there are dead trees, steep drop-offs, areas prone to flash flooding and near trails with heavy OHV vehicle use. Other areas to avoid are pipeline right-of-ways, railroad easements, lumber or mining “haul roads”, and areas frequented by shooters for target practice.
What to Do if You’re Approached by a Landowner or Law Enforcement
Mistakes can happen, even to those who try to do their best to follow all the rules for dispersed camping and boondocking. If you do make a mistake and are approached by a landowner or law enforcement, simply be polite and apologetic and assure them you’ll be on your way at once.
On one occasion, when we accidentally camped on a private ranch in New Mexico, (just a few yards off of BLM land), the landowner allowed us to stay in return for a promise that we’d clean up after ourselves and not make a campfire. Most situations in which you’ve genuinely made a mistake can be resolved amicably – if you have the right attitude and good manners.
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