Camping in National Parks and Beyond

Last week, President Barack Obama designated three new national monuments.  Why not parks, forests, refuges or wilderness areas?  How do they differ – and what happens if I want to hike and camp?

Use policies on public lands are confusing. Here, we break down 6 common designations to guide you to more amazing days, adventures and campsites.

National Forests (and Grasslands)

National forests balance the preservation of land for recreation and beauty with the sustainable utilization of natural resources. Entry is free and many provide lengthy networks of dirt roads and countless entry points into the backcountry.

Allowed: hiking, camping, limited dispersed camping, biking, motorized vehicles (on designated trails/roads), hunting, fishing, logging (with license), livestock grazing, horseback riding

Prohibited: regulations differ from forest to forest; fire danger should always be checked.

Best for: extended trips into the vast backcountry.

Managed by: Forest Service, Department of Agriculture

Total area: 190,000,000 acres in 154 forests

National Parks

Unlike national forests, national parks don’t harvest resources commercially; everything within the park is protected.  Though they require an entry fee—generally $15 to $20 per vehicle—the America the Beautiful Pass offers bang-for-your-buck annual access to all properties. Many national parks have designated campgrounds. While some allow dispersed camping in backcountry areas, a permit commonly needs to be purchased in advance.

Allowed: hiking, camping, horseback riding (varies from park to park), biking, motorized vehicles (on designated trails/roads). Additional permits often required for backcountry travel.

Prohibited: logging, hunting, commercial fishing, grazing, dispersed camping (with exceptions).

Best for: easy access to spectacular scenery

Managed by: National Parks Service, Department of the Interior

Total area: 84,000,000 acres in 59 parks

National Wildlife Refuges

Originally created to protect endangered species, these conservation areas are home to some of the most unique and diverse ranges of wildlife in the country.  Cabins and campgrounds exist in some locations; expect to pay an entrance fee.

Allowed: hiking, hunting, fishing, boating (with exceptions)

Prohibited: dispersed camping, motorized vehicles (depending on location)

Best for: wildlife watching.

Managed by: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior

Total area: 150,000,000 acres (plus 418,000,000 acres of Marine National Monuments) (fws.gov) in 555 refuges

BLM Lands

To date, no merger of the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service has passed, despite the two agencies’ similar dedication to multi-use (recreational and resource-based), sustainable yield operation. BLM lands exist prominently in the West and, in comparison, offer the most unrestricted access to public lands. Although fee campsites exist, entrance is free and no-fee camping is plentiful on BLM land.

Allowed: hiking, camping, dispersed camping (14 day maximum), motorized vehicles (on designated roadways), biking, fishing, hunting, logging (with permit), livestock grazing

Prohibited:

Best for: free car camping, OHV use.

Total area: 245,000,000 acres

Managed by: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior

Wilderness Areas (including Wilderness Study Areas)

“A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”  -Wilderness Act, 1964

These undeveloped gems can exist within any of the aforementioned designations; regulations differ by location.  The following are generally true:

Allowed: hiking, dispersed camping, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, sometimes with a (often free) permit/signing a ledger:

Prohibited: motorized vehicles, bicycles, roads, logging, mining, livestock grazing,

Best for: true isolation

Total area: 107,500,000 acres in 762 wilderness areas

Managed by: Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Parks Service, or Forest Service

National Monuments

National monuments are protected as they contain significant historic, pre-historic or cultural value.  National parks can be protected simply for their beauty.  Encompassing destinations from the Statue of Liberty to Devil’s Tower, regulations vary significantly from site to site. Most national monuments are operated similarly to parks.

Best For: Historic and cultural enrichment

Managed by: Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Parks Service, Forest Service, NOAA

Editor’s Note: Though the above information helps preliminary planning, usage and availability change seasonally and from place to place.  Checking in with local ranger stations is imperative for up-to-date information that includes fire restrictions.