National Park Restrictions

[JaSAn]

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere.

More National Parks will require tickets for entry and/or popular activities this year:

https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/national-parks/national-park-reservations-2022/

 

[Machinebuilder]

The Great Smokey Mountain NP is also talking about parking permits, part of it would close all of the "informal" roadside parking.

This would greatly impact many users, I used to kayak and roadside parking is all that is available.

I haven't gone to the park in a few years, I can go to the National forests and not be herded in to smaller and smaller places.

 

[AWG_Pics]

Inevitable -- at least until the current enthusiasm for going camping wanes, if ever. We just did 19 nights boondocking in Death Valley and only once had someone camp about a quarter mile away. Otherwise it was solitude. That was only possible due to 4WD and our pop-up. When permits are required, sometime in the future, if we are still camping there are plenty of empty places with real beauty to go.

 

[ski3pin]

Massive crowds and the damage they do or a reservations system or other restrictions. Nobody's going to be happy and I wouldn't want to be the person in the spotlight bringing these changes.

 

[Beate]

AWGPics, # 3: where did you boondocking? Hopefully not in the Nationalpark, because you know it is not allowed. And as you make it public here, lots of other people think they can do the same. You'd be happy that no Parkrancher had found you.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

AWGPics, # 3: where did you boondocking? Hopefully not in the Nationalpark, because you know it is not allowed. And as you make it public here, lots of other people think they can do the same. You'd be happy that no Parkrancher had found you.

Is that something new? Is there a reference to the regulation?
Boondocking (with certain restrictions) has been permitted at DVNP for as long as I can remember.

 

[ntsqd]

There's long been rules about where you can boondock and where you can't in DVNP (usually locally signed), but I've not heard of this being changed to not allow it at all. If it has, good luck with enforcing that!

 

[PaulT]

See the following re backcountry camping in DVNP.

https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/camping.htm
https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/backcamp.htm

Paul

 

[AWG_Pics]

AWGPics, # 3: where did you boondocking? Hopefully not in the Nationalpark, because you know it is not allowed. And as you make it public here, lots of other people think they can do the same. You'd be happy that no Parkrancher had found you.

I think you have it wrong. Boondocking and undeveloped site camping are allowed in much of Death Valley National Park. (See Sage, Thom and Paul's comments above.) And I am happy to talk to a park ranger anytime. I respect and admire them. Park enforcement staff are some of the most knowledgeable folks I have talked to in the parks.

 

[Beate]

AWGPics, and all other writers here:
I think I have to agree that I was wrong. I now read all the rules for boondocking in DV and found that is really possible. But let me explain it: we where in DV so often, always driving an RV and camping. And we always got the information, that boondocking is not allowed. But to say: we never asked a parkranger! And as we love to stay as alone as possible, we always stayed at Wildrose CG. There we always where the only guests.
Sorry about it.

 

[AWG_Pics]

AWGPics, and all other writers here:
I think I have to agree that I was wrong. I now read all the rules for boondocking in DV and found that is really possible. But let me explain it: we where in DV so often, always driving an RV and camping. And we always got the information, that boondocking is not allowed. But to say: we never asked a parkranger! And as we love to stay as alone as possible, we always stayed at Wildrose CG. There we always where the only guests.
Sorry about it.

No problem. I share your sentiments about needing to respect the rules and only boondocking in a manner that has minimal impacts.