The Campsite List ...

[SixFiddy]

I continue to scour all the sites taking note of all the great camping suggestions we all contribute, but I am still having a heck of a time finding TRUE enduro camping. I don't understand why we pay to camp when we have the kind of bikes that take us away from it all. Unless riding with the chums, I would prefer to be the only person around, and because it is not owned by anyone, where I set up the tent should be free! Remember them good ol' days of free camping, roam where you may? Seems like we are losing touch with them days.

If there is an organized way this site comes together (ie. Layin' Down the Tracks), are there any riders out there that could suggest FREE camp spots out in the "back 40"? Tell us where to go and the general area and how to access the back roads.

I leave for Belize on the GS in two weeks (from Vancouver Island), will be on 'er for 4 months. I am allergic to hotels and pay camping , help me camp in some fun spots where most don't go!

[TUCKERS]

If you are in Los Angeles and have a dual sport here is a good one:
Highway 39 north up past San Gabriel dam. Go past fork and bridge on right to off road staging area on right. Have bike inspected and get a pass (it's free). Go another half mile north to gate on left (Rincon Shortcut) Thirteen miles up that trail is a picnic table on a knoll in the wilderness, another thirteen miles gets you to Angeles Crest Route 2. It's a great overnighter, camping there and exploring. Take water! There are NO SERVICES, nothing. Nearest grub is Newcombs and that's thirteen miles of trail and ten miles of paved road away. If you park a vehicle most anywhere up 39/2 you need an Adventure Pass, which I am sure all AdvRiders have!

[the Luz]

Originally Posted by BeemerChef

This is a Campground about 12 miles south of Sedona on 179. Passes Hwy #17 and the Ranger's Office.
Lat 34.40
Long 111.42
$15 a night which sounds a bit pricey but this is the Sedona area, closer to town the fees go up to $50+!!!
Water, outhouses, no showers BUT a great creek with a pool within feet for your daily bath...
Great Hosts, Patrick and his wife with a lot of knowledge about the area.
Great place to camp if you are going to sightsee the area or do some hiking.
You can read more detailled info here...

Be well... Ara & Spirit

close to Jerome is the Mingus Mountain campground. Potato patch is close to the road, but ~4 miles up a dirt road is the good place. Site 25 is right on the edge overlooking the whole valley. It didn't have water, but I think it's been "improved". Great place and relativly close to Jerome.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by 40miledesertrat

I mention this place only due to location and the quality of the shower. If you find yourself near Winslow and decide to stop, this is the place to camp.



Homolovi Ruins State Park CG
Located at 35.031314, -110.646512. Just off Highway 40
$12.00 a night
very few campers
great shower included in the price
close to Route 66/highway 40
good food at the nearby truck stop
some semi interesting ruins to visit
go North, South, East or West from here and it's all good.

Cheers,

40mile

It's been 25 years so pardon my soft brains. But that sure reminds me of the old KOA Two Guns Az campground I stayed at.

[JimmyUK]

Originally Posted by MarkN

We have something like this in the Europe area as a sticky. I think it's a good idea.

Mark

Where, WHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Maddaddy]

If you're going throug Canada here is a great site.

http://aardvark.gov.bc.ca/apps/recst/

[Squeaky]

A few notable campsites from a trip two years ago...

Sonora, TX
Caverns of Sonora
Primitive camping $11
General store, tour of the caverns extra $$



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Bottomless Lakes State Park (~12 miles from Roswell, NM)
$10 primitive or $14 for water & electric with the sound of humming RVs to disturb you
The lakes are awesoe, there's a visitors center that has interesting info about how the lakes were formed, and the view from the primitive camping area at night is outstanding.




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Roper Lake State Park
Safford, AZ
Scenic, although lots of RVers
Near the Coronado National Forest, which is a great run up the mountain.



The view from the campground:



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Palo Duro Canyon State Park
(near) Amarillo, TX
Dubbed the "Grand Canyon of Texas"

[Northwestcape]

I love boondock camping, no people, no crowds, noise etc. As I recall you must camp something like 200ft from the nearest waterway. Most inland creeks, rivers and lakes are warm enough for your morning dip, I myself have often cleaned up in Lake Michigan or Lake Superior (a bit cooler but refreshing none the less). You can pickup a State map at any one of 80 State police posts in Michigan (No Charge).

Michigan State Forest Campgrounds. See dispersed camping below.


http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365-32926--,00.html

State Forest Rustic Campground fees:
State Forest Campgrounds remain open all year, but access is limited by snow. Fees to be paid and placed in fee pipes on the day of your arrival.

• $15 per night
• Semi-modern, ORV, and Equestrian Campground - $20 per night
• Group rate - $6.00 per person, per night within Rustic Group Campgrounds

Undesignated/Dispersed Camping
Requires a camp registration card. Registration cards may be obtained at any DNR Office.

• No charge

Dispersed Camping

You can camp anywhere on State Forest Property as long as: the property is not posted "No Camping" you are more than one mile from a designated State Forest Campground you follow all State Land Rules You must also post a Camp Registration Card (PR 4134) at your campsite. To obtain a Camp Registration Card, contact your local DNR Office or e-mail us at DNR-FMD-TREES to request copies be mailed to you.** ** We are unable to fax or e-mail the permit because it is printed on two-part perforated weatherproof card stock. Sawyer

[camfarm]

Hwy 36 and Hwy 281, Lebanon, KS

Proceed North on 281. Located at the intersection of AA Road and 191 Road, accessible by a turn-off from US Hwy 281 approximately a mile north of the town.

Lebanon is located at 39°48′38″N, 98°33′22″W (39.810492, -98.556061).

Municipal Park, free, open space, Chapel, marker. Farmhouse nearby on private land. No hassles (Arrive late/leave early).







The Skinny: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geograp..._United_States http://www.geocities.com/mapguygk07/..._geocenter.htm

[bluepoof]

To get away from the bustle of the San Francisco Bay Area:

Del Valle Regional Park. (link to google map)
* ~8 miles south of Livermore, CA
* $25 for a tent site (standard for Bay Area parks, sadly)
* Store/flush toilets/showers/fire pits/etc
* Site 41 in particular is spacious and right on a wonderful section of the creek

[QED]

I ran across this place in So Oregon on Hi 199 just south of Cave Junction. I didn't stay but it looked terrific. Grass was green, swimming hole, facilities, and bikes only. It's just 10 bucks and includes a teepee if there are any left. Best of all keep going south on 199 and you'll hit 101 on the California coast.
SPARKPLUGS MOTORCYCLE CAMP
37380 Redwood Hwy. O'Brien, Or
541-596-2691

[clint999]

This is the rock condo that you will get at "Valley of Fire", Nevada (Arch Campground, the best one!) for $14 a night which also includes the Park's entry fee. Hot showers, head, water, NO power, very nice people. 15 miles from Overton, the city.
Lat 36.25
Long114.33

You can read much more about it here , (a true to form ride report on my website!), feel free with questions, we have been camping for 5 months now... 6 months a year the past 20 years with over a million miles... and I will go back to my favorite spots and start posting them... many free!

If you are coming from the West do the route through Lake Mead National Park!!! 50 miles of pure heavenly riding... have camera and many batteries!!!

[bluepoof]

Here are a couple of new reviews!

Balmorhea State Park, TX

Location:
P O Box 15
Toyahvale TX 79786
(432) 375-2370



Date of visit:
May 2008

Weather:
It was very windy the night I stayed there, but even the locals were commenting about it so I don't think that's usual.

The weather was otherwise great; high 80s during the day and a low of about 55F.

Campground Condition:
* The campsites are very close together but on a Thursday night, the place was pretty empty.

* Each site has a fire pit, a charcoal grill, a water faucet, a concrete parking pad, and a sheltered concrete pad that has a picnic table. My neighbors pitched their tent on this concrete pad but I set up camp outside of the shelter area.

* The bathrooms are in great shape, including a huge handicap-access bathroom that has a toilet, sink, and very clean shower all in one room. The "normal" showers are also OK but not as clean.

* I didn't notice any place to buy firewood, but I camped during a fire ban. Maybe the ranger station normally sells firewood.

What to do:
(copied from the below website)

Along with motel-type accommodations, the park's main attraction is a large (77,053 sq. ft.) artesian spring pool that is open daily and fed by San Solomon Springs. The springs also fill a 'cienega' (desert wetland) and the canals of a refugium, home to endangered species of fish, assorted invertebrates, and turtles. The pool differs from most public pools in several respects: the 1 3/4-acre size, the 25-foot depth and the 72 to 76 degree constant temperature. It also has a variety of aquatic life in its clear waters. With a capacity of more than 3 1/2 million gallons, the pool has plenty of room for swimmers, while offering a unique setting for scuba and skin diving.


More info:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/f...rks/balmorhea/

My photos:
(sorry if they're too big)

[bluepoof]

Lake Fausse Pointe State Park, Louisiana

Location:
5400 Levee Road
St. Martinville, LA 70582
337-229-4764 or 888-677-7200 toll free
For reservations, call 1-877-CAMP-N-LA (877-226-7652) toll free.

NOTE: My AAA map of Louisiana marks the road leading south to the park from Henderson, LA as being gravel. It also marks the road leading south FROM the park to Charenton, LA as being paved. In reality, it was the exact opposite.

The road from Henderson to the park is wonderfully paved, sweeping, and open.



The road going south towards Franklin is gravel -- loose at first but then it's nicely packed and is really quite beautiful.



Date of visit:
May 2008

Weather:
Very nice; a little warm when I got there (high 80s) and, of course, humid. Overnight it was probably in the high 60s or low 70s.

NOTE: This is a swamp -- bring bug repellant!! I was eaten alive by mosquitos in the 5 minutes it took between taking off my motorcycle jacket and unpacking the Deet.

Campground Condition:
* The campsites are large and well-kept. They're fairly close together (you can see your neighbors) but there are a lot of trees that provide some visual barriers.

* Each site has a fire pit, a charcoal grill, a water faucet, a concrete parking pad, a picnic table, and electricity. The tent sites all have a little flat sandy spot for pitching the tent. If you get a waterfront site (no extra charge; first come, first serve), the site also has a little wooden deck with a sitting area overlooking the lake.

* There are also cabins available, with running water, electricity, and A/C. I think they were $90/night. I saw the outsides of them while out walking around but didn't go in.

* The bathrooms are in great shape. The women's bathroom had 3 showers and 6 toilet stalls. The sink area had warm and cold water, soap, and air dryers.

* I didn't notice any place to buy firewood, but I didn't ask at the entrance station.

What to do:
There are three walking trails and a canoe trail available:

Trail A -- 3/4-mile nature trail
Trail B -- 1.6-mile nature trail
Trail C -- 3.3-mile nature trail
7-mile canoe trail

(Canoes can be rented at the park)

There's also a cool-looking playground, lots of group picnic sites, and a really awesome little water park area for kids. I wanted to go play in the water park.



I did the .75-mile nature walk since it was getting towards dark. In just that short amount of space, I saw tons of birds, armadillos, turtles, and alligators. It was great!

More info:
http://www.crt.state.la.us/parks/ilakefaus.aspx

My photos:



Looking from the tent at the private deck:



View from the deck...note alligator in the middle of the photo!

[mechnoman]

This would be a good one..just off the Cabot Trail..in an area called Meat Cove...excellent chowder at the Chowder Hut....