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thatbaldwinlife Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011 Posts: 759 Location: Out exploring
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 6:28 am Post subject: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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We are going to do a road trip this July up north a bit and was wondering if you Washington guys know the availability of dispersed camping around this route? We have a campsite on the first night at Cougar Rock near Paradise but after that, we want to just pull off on a gravel road and find a place for the night. Last time we tried along the Washington coast area, we were denied by locked gates and angry property owners. Would rather not camp in campgrounds if possible as I go a bit ballistic at generators and yappy dogs.
Probably gonna be gone 5-6 days, depending on how long my dad can stay at my house with my dog.
Any suggestions are welcome! |
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tschroeder0 Samba Member
Joined: April 14, 2008 Posts: 2096 Location: Boulder CO
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 7:37 am Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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I have camped without issue at the various trailheads just above Levenworth...and man! what a hidden gem that whole area is, such a beautiful place. have fun! |
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thatbaldwinlife Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011 Posts: 759 Location: Out exploring
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 7:51 am Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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Good to hear.
I have not spent a lot of time around Mt. Rainer as there has been so much to see in Oregon and we are super excited about the trip.
thanks
nate |
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dsdunbar Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2014 Posts: 564 Location: Crozet VA
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:45 am Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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Goldtooth,
I just joined the Facebook Group "Vanagon Ninja Camping" which is precisely the type of info you are looking for. If you have FB, request to join the "closed" group and maybe you can get some pointers for your trip (there is an interactive map with drop pins on locations people have used and recommend).
-Dana _________________ '89 2WD Westy "Grey Goose" - Manual 4spd
Crozet VA
Vanaru EJ25, Peloquin |
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thatbaldwinlife Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011 Posts: 759 Location: Out exploring
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 10:02 am Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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Thanks! I do not FB but I can have my wife check it out.
nate |
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Microbusdeluxe Samba Member
Joined: July 26, 2003 Posts: 977 Location: Bellingham, WA
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 10:22 am Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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I see you have the letter D marked near Sedro Woolley on Highway 20, or as it's also know the North Cascades Highway. While there is an Arco with cheap gas just East of town, there's no real good camping there.
Where you want to camp on highway 20 is at trailheads in the Ross Lake Recreation area. Easy Pass and Lake Ann/Maple Pass are good sites well enough off the road. Further east of Washington Pass (good overlook) you'll find Cutthroat Lake trailhead on the left. Good stealth camping there. _________________ '69 Squareback RIP
'65 21 window deluxe sold before the price spike, damn it.
'70 rhd bay now a taxi in South Sudan
'81 Westy sold
'89 hightop Westy Joker syncro 16" now with Bostig! |
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thatbaldwinlife Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011 Posts: 759 Location: Out exploring
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 10:33 am Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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The A,B,C,D markers mean nothing, just points I put in there to make Google follow the roads I wanted. We have no plans after the first night and no mileage allowances per day. If we drive 20 miles one day, that is fine too!
thanks for the heads up on the camp spot!
nate |
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newfisher Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2012 Posts: 1764 Location: The wet spot--Oregon
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 11:06 am Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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I have a sneaky spot with a swimming hole along Hwy 12 just North of Packwood if you decide to take the Southern Route. PM me if you go that direction and then North through the Park. |
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Merian Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014 Posts: 5212 Location: Orygun
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 12:09 pm Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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no dispersed in any Nat'l Park in the PNW; easy to find dispersed camping in all Nat'l Forests
also on BLM land but it can be hard to find BLM land on maps or on roads _________________ .... |
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Ahwahnee Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2010 Posts: 9776 Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 12:37 pm Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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As a general rule - in USFS lands (National Forests) if there is no signage prohibiting an activity (parking, camping, hiking, etc) then it is allowed.
Common sense must be used but except for some designated wilderness areas, most of the National Forest is yours to enjoy. Even in wilderness areas the posted restrictions are often not very onerous - dogs, ATVs & (my favorite) no hang-gliders. |
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williamM Samba Member
Joined: August 07, 2008 Posts: 4333 Location: southwest Arizona
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 12:43 pm Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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I've googled "free camping" and found a few dedicated web sites to free or cheap spots- and you can add your discoveries too. _________________ some days I get up and just sit and think. Some days I just sit.
opinion untempered by fact is ignorance.
Don't step in any! |
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climberjohn Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2005 Posts: 1840 Location: Portland Orygun
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 1:09 pm Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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That looks like a very nice route.
Suggestion: get the Benchmark road atlas for Washington. It is by far the best series of mass for the entire state. (and other states other than Washington, for that matter.)
And as mentioned above, you can almost always camp for free on national forest lands for BLM property.
Thew first few pages of the Benchmark books have pages that show land ownership, though it's very much zoomed out and small-scale. _________________ '86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often. |
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thatbaldwinlife Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011 Posts: 759 Location: Out exploring
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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It is definitely the national park area (rainer) that i am worried about. We have boondocked in Oregon plenty and I am glad to hear most of Washington is available also.
nate |
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Merian Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014 Posts: 5212 Location: Orygun
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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you'll need to go into the adjacent Nat'l Forests or stay in a designated CG in Ranier Nat'l park _________________ .... |
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chris_d Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2016 Posts: 31 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 5:30 pm Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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Check out french cabin creek, on the north point of Cle Elum lake.
Not too big a detour from your route. I was there this weekend and it was sweet: free riverside camp site with a firepit. Some people there but not too many. The lake has trout if you've got a rod! I saw people fly fishing from land.
Got in with my 2WD without much issue, just being thoughtful and scoped it out on foot before hand.
I'm new to the vanagon scene, but you drew a circle around where I plan to spend most of my summer trying to find the killer dispersed spots
I've only been out once, so i only have that one recommendation.
But i did some research and national "forests" are fair game as long as you're 100ft from the road and it's not posted that you can't camp otherwise.
Fill me in on any cool spots you find too!
my spot:
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Sodo Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 9517 Location: Western WA
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:40 pm Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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goldtooth wrote: |
It is definitely the national park area (rainer) that i am worried about. We have boondocked in Oregon plenty and I am glad to hear most of Washington is available also. |
Generally dispersed camping, once near a National park is not good. The parks campgrounds get full, and the dispersed camping nearby gets overused as a result (& trashed) then the forest service has to block access. _________________
'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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desertrefugee Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2013 Posts: 476 Location: Phoenix, AZ. USA
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:40 pm Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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This is the Arizona version of low desert dispersed camping. Trust me, I have a reason for being there. Dark skies, black as the inside of a tarball.
Note that I won't be out there anytime soon. This is high country time of year...
_________________ - 83.5 Westfalia - 2.2 GoWesty "power"
- a bunch of vintage motorcycles
- Numerous telescopes of various size and function
"For I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." - Sarah Williams |
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87RedWesty Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2013 Posts: 91 Location: Orygun
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 9:57 pm Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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After you turn west from Yakima, there are tons of spots either along 410, which crosses Chinook Pass, or 12, which crosses White Pass. I'd recommend 410 as more scenic. Just turn off on side roads into the forest and keep going til you find your perfect spot. |
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buildyourown Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2009 Posts: 1668 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 10:55 pm Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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There is a bunch of good areas between Wintrop and Twisp. Was there a couple weeks ago and camped for 2 days and only saw occasional other users. |
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IdahoDoug Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010 Posts: 10239 Location: N. Idaho
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Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 11:38 pm Post subject: Re: Road trip plans, thoughts on dispersed camping |
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Desertrefugee,
Ah, that brings up fantastic memories of high desert camping in central California and Southern California. I love the austere desert. I'm a micro-observer and can contentedly lay in a lawn chair by an ant hill watching the stuff they bring in for hours. The desert is perfect for that. I should have been an entomologist. Perfect match for a guy who dreams of living in a van forever.... _________________ 1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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