Stealth camping

woohoo! 1st to reply!
reality: stealth camping = sketchy.

The act of stealth camping in its true sense is not so much an "act" as it is an "art".
mainly because 9 times out of 10 it is executed illegally. FROM WHAT I HAVE GATHERED. I cannot say (nor admit) to breaking any laws. that would be unconstitutional in my country. However, "vigilante" is real and people stealthcamp.
The ultimate goal for the hardcore SC-er is to attain the feeling and/or sense of freedom, relaxation, passion…of being where so many of these few-and-far-between folk wish thwy could be. In the Wild. Jobs, school and lack of transportation (much less fund$) are the reasons for the person I know who SCs.
Another reality, almost more real than the last:
DANGER. SC puts you at risk for many horrid encounters, possibly with social pondscum (at worst..?). Druggies, robbers or worse become the bears and cougers. The latter I think I'd much prefer fending off.
IF, however, you luck-out and find a spot not-so-illegal to become somewhat "regular" for you, expect it to be abandonded soon. be quiet, cook and use headlamps ONLY in the moat remote areas, carry little, be able to pack fast if your spot becomes suspect.
There is no great source, with the level of illegality in which some of these trips are executed allos no leway for storytelling, youtube channel, blogspot etc….but peole still post! Google the hell out of it and maybe try it (legally;)) for yourself! find someone with a reeeeal big backyard…careful though, it can be verry hard to go to work after waking up in the woods;D

I believe that the interpretation of "stealth camping" varies a lot depending on which side of the border you're on, which state or province you're in, and whether it is federal land or private land.

Some people just go out and camp in the woods where they will not be found for a week or three. Some people go backpacking in some remote park, but they do not stick to the legal trails or places for overnight stops. Instead, they just hide out where the park rangers or wardens won't find them.

I know of one individual who simply didn't want to pay rent for three months, so he found a stealthy spot out in the woods, erected his tent, and lived there.

It kind of depends on your goals.

–B.G.–

Many places still have free camping in the USA but many do not … (add)

In UL publications, the term "stealth camping" is used for camping in areas not frequented by backcountry campers to avoid habituated bears and other wildlife. Mostly by avoiding designated campsites. Depending on the agency, this may not be entirely legal, though most books are a little dubious on this. California's Desolation Wilderness was heavily patrolled and I saw a large family, plus a couple individuals, go cross-country to avoid the ranger.

Otherwise, most non-fee BLM and USFS areas could care less but most have a 14-day limit unless it's a popular destination; if very popular, the agency enforces a daily fee for camping and/or parking. Then it just depends on the frequency of ranger and law enforcement patrols. Closer to larger cities there may be more restrictions to limit usage. Fine line between limiting impact vs. getting visitors to use the local hotels. Also in the US, there's the potential for crime closer to roadways.

While I agree with using pricing to limit impact, I disagree with it during "off-season" or for unpopular areas. In the land of the free, there needs to be some provision for a person to go on a thru-hike or cross-country bike trip IMO.

Also watch and respect private property lines. Even corporate holdings have local overseers who will apparently point a shotgun at trepassers while they await the sheriff to arrive to issue a ticket (around $100 USD according to a buddy of mine who experienced this). OTOH some corporations don't mind camping on their parking lots (think Walmart unless they changed their policy) ….

…. and then there's the entire "stealthing" movement in the US (Google it – people who convert cargo vans, pickups, and even cars for long-term living, usually for temporary economic reasons). No experience with it, though I've seen stealthers under underpasses in Los Angeles (… foggy windows, same location everyday). Desert SW, I've seen large camps under freeway bridges in dry creek beds.

BLM land is usually free for camping in California and other states,Desert land is mostly BLM land people stay their for months.You should see the little blink your eyes and miss it town of Quartzite,Az in the winter it transformation to 1000's of RV campers town on BLM land during the winter.

Stealth camping/backpacking is pretty big by seasonal Mammoth mountain employees. They work all winter get laid off in the spring they go on Unenjoyment as they call it up there live and hike,fish all summer long in the eastern sierras and come down every few week to fill out their unemployment forms and get supplies and new permits for another area to stay in for the people that don't want to stealth camp.

I use the bus for my main transportation were I live in San Diego. I talk to a lot of the Homeless people who are the experts at stealth camping in urban area or semi rural areas. They sleep in ditches, behind walls in the middle of big chaparral areas so their not seen or blend in with their surroundings to hide in plain sight.
For shelter instead of a tent they make a form of a bivy shelter with a dark tarp wrapped kind of like hot dog bun around them. On super rainy days they know of corners in parking garages, maintenance rooms,air condition heating rooms in big building complex and laundry rooms to stay in and go to bed late and wake up super early.
But they only stay 1 to 2 days max every few weeks in a spot and then move on. All their equipment is cheap and disposable in case it is confiscated by the authority's, So they can replace it easily.
I know camping on the beach illegally in California is $250.00 ticket one guy was telling me.
I knew a guy who was plumber who had shop next to our appliance store.He lived on the roof of Bar for a few years in my old town in his drinking days. Until he got his act together and got off the booze turned in to chain smoker.

Another stealth camping mode is there is a lot of unaccessible wild areas between cities,urban areas or wildlands or national forest edges that forest rangers do not go in to because it only accessible by animal trails and bushwhacking through chaparral and once you get in the middle of it there are clearing just big enough to set up a bivy or low brush blending tarp. This type of camping you have to you use the leave no trace form of camping with a dry camping only using a stove for food and minimal flashlight use.

Everybody should really use the leave no trace in all forms of stealth camping.

Their is other ways to stealth camp also doing chores or work for people with large parcels of land in trade to camp on their property.
My favorite book on this type of camping is Radical Simplicity penned and illustrated by Dan Price. Dan has lived on the same piece of property in Oregon for years at first a tent then a teepee now he built a hobbit house that blends in with the land so you can't even see it. It is a great book to read and the illustration and photos are works of art how to live simple. He does not even own a car he uses Cat Trike bicycle for transportation. http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Simplicity-Dan-Price/dp/0762424923

Terry

"They work all winter get laid off in the spring they go on Unenjoyment as they call it up there live and hike,fish all summer long in the eastern sierras and come down every few week to fill out their unemployment forms…."

Voluntarily unemployed yet collecting unemployment? Something about that scenario doesn't seem right.

I stealth camped my way around New Zealand and Australia, living out of a station wagon and then a van for about 7 months. We would just find quiet places out of the way, along country roads, back streets in the industrial part of town, etc. to spend the night. I think out of 7 months worth of stealth camping, we were caught and asked to leave once. Folks are probably less accepting of it during busy tourist season or if stealth campers are leaving a mess, but if you're discreet and don't stay in any one place too many days in a row, it can be done.

In my local National Forest, we get guys who basically squat in the developed free car-camping sites. There's a 14-day limit, so folks will pick up and move over one site every two weeks. I've heard of the occassional long-term squatter at backcountry sites in my local NF and have even occasionally encountered them. I can't say I endorse their activities as they tend to poach game, leave a mess, etc. Again though, if you were discreet, folks might never know you were there…

Be careful about trying to stealth camp on private property. Being detained at gun point is a very real possibility and tresspassing fines can get really expensive. The base fine for tresspassing in CA is around $100 but the judge can add various local fines and penalties that can increase the total fine amount to upwards of $1000 and require a day in court. Not worth it in my opinion if there's lots of public lands in the area to camp/visit instead.

Just to add to my comments above and expand on the post above, some land in the "bootheel" of New Mexico is owned by some of America's largest corporations -or dude ranches for heirs of those fortunes in oil, beverage, etc…, so just because it's remote, do NOT assume it's unowned or unoccupied/ not patrolled. There's usually some "right-of-ways" but sometimes the locals try to nudge their property markers to take advantage of visitors. Visit the local land management agency if possible. Definitely stay off Dept of Defense or Dept of Energy lands, Bureau of Reclamation levees, etc, unless there's a sign allowing it.

Yeah, I know the old song "Sign"…

Alina

As others have said almost all BLM land (typically range or desert, sometimes forest) is free to camp on.
Most National Forests are free to camp in as well. Each has its own restrictions which go something like "no more than 14 days in one spot, or 28 days per year" etc.
If you're in the West you can pretty much just take a FS or BLM road out and set up wherever you want. The midwest and the east tend to have much more private property to contend with which is where the art of being "stealth" comes in handy.
In my experience camping in National Forests and BLM land has been very similar to camping in Crown Land – they're just different names for public land.

I haven't really looked into this site very much, but this looks like a possibility for you.

http://tourcycle.ca/stealthdvd.html

Also, you might want to go to YouTube and do a search for "stealth camping." Let me know what you find out, as the idea of it is very intriguing.

Do an Amazon.com search for vagabonding for more ideas.

Something else of interest is the idea of backpacking off trail (bushwhacking) with compass and map, but I would only do this if I had a good deal more experience than what I currently have.

Peace and solitude out in the wilderness sound great, but also finding oneself in dangerous situations from man or beast are increased possibilities as well.

Good luck!

I guess what you guys are calling 'stealth camping' is the absolute norm here in Australia. We don't even use the term 'stealth camping' here in Australia; we just camp. Private property is PP of course, but PP is rarely interesting anyhow.

We don't use trails here (we have so few of them anyhow), and as for ordained campsites – ROTFLMAO. I know of just one site in my State where camping is banned, and that is because it is an iconic conservation site (Blue Gum Forest) which was being damaged by over-use. You can camp anywhere else around that site though.

Cheers

Yes, Roger, I figured out what Australia needs. You need about a million or two American bison running around the land. That would amend the soil and fix things up in a few generations.

If you can't get any American bison, then maybe some Tibetan yaks would serve. Or maybe some Musk oxen from Greenland.

Just what Australia needs.

–B.G.–

I don't know that there is an accepted definition.

For me it is camping in places that are not frequented by others. And in places that are legal to camp. In the US, there are many places you can camp free. Just have to camp a certain distance from existing trails and water sources. There are also many places where you are permitted to travel cross country and there are few trails. These are the places I prefer.

In heavily used areas, you are required to camp in designated areas to reduce impact on the environment. I try to avoid these areas as much as possible.

One great thing about snow camping is that most areas have winter rules, meaning you can camp almost anywhere you want, and the hiking population is reduced exponentially in winter. I HATE cold weather, but try to do a lot of winter camping because most hikers are at home :)

I can relate to the last part of what you said about winter and most hikers staying home. I live in New England and winter hiking, camping, back country skiing, ice climbing are all very popular. Still though it is much better than three season time spent outdoors in regard to crowds.

Most have to work Monday through Friday and it's the weekends that end up being pretty crowded on the trails. I do my best to make my weekly trip either first thing Monday morning or like Wednesday Thursday worse case. Spring really drives me nuts in the North East tbh!!! It can be as busy in the woods on the weekend as it is the sidewalks in the city any given dam day of the week. Silly it is really….

Population control i say, population control lol ;)

Always learning something new on this site. Thought it just meant camping where you are not likely to be noticed.

To me stealth camping means camping where you are not likely to be noticed as well. It is about getting away from it all and being self sufficient.
I was surprised to read the comments on homeless, unemployed people. It is not what I meant obviously.

The way I see myself stealth camping is when backpacking. So when we (me and my husband) cannot make it to the designated area or we want to be alone we would just find “our” spot.

The second scenario is when going on driving trips. So let’s say we are away from hotels or we do not want to waste the time to look for them or plainly we do not want to spend the money then is it OK to take some dirt road, away from the main road into some wooded area and sleep in a tent overnight? It would not be close to cities. I am not talking about tenting with the homeless in the city here. Of course I would avoid areas with no trespassing signs. Did anyone do it? It might be more difficult to do it with the car.
I am not sure if my husband would go for it though. I am the more adventurous, unconventional one. It might take some convincing. Besides he watches too many violent movies so I am sure his imagination would run with it.
Thank you.

To me, stealth camping is hiking down into the Grand Canyon in the evening with my ultralight multi-day pack that looks like a daypack, telling the ranger who cleverly stops me for not having a proper permit that I'm planning to hike all the way across the canyon through the night, and then proceeding to make camp within the canyon, sleeping in my bivy behind an out-of-the-way boulder and out of sight, waking up early and continuing to enjoy my time in the canyon, all the while without indulging the unchecked greed, over-development and bumbling bureaucracy that is our National Parks system.

Not that I've ever done that.

I am a stealth camper but not in most terms you are using here.

If I am up in the mountains I never know how far I will go in a day or where I will stay. One thing for sure is it won't be a designated camping spot or were I said I'll be. So telling the rangers some bull about my nightly stoppages is just random made up bull. I've gotten good enough and know the sierra's enough that I can even go in and make it up on the spot.

So if I'm not where I'm supposed to be, (which is pretty much all the time) I will stealth camp.

Other times I'll go to a place where you need to fill out a permit that have certain hours that happen to not coincide my time I commute to the area. Again, avoiding rangers, ect.., stealth is the means of doing just that.

I have stealthed it more often than not, but I'll always get a permit if I'm going to be in the middle of nowhere.

To me stealth camping means camping where you are not likely to be noticed as well. It is about getting away from it all and being self sufficient.
I was surprised to read the comments on homeless, unemployed people. It is not what I meant obviously.
Alina, "stealth camping" usually implies a reason to be unseen, such as camping somewhere you're not supposed to be… which may mean different things in different context. The comments about running into shady characters are something to be aware of. You may not be tenting with the homeless (not that homeless are shady) but when you start to stray off the beaten path you may end up a little too close to someone's [insert illegal operation here] and that can be serious. Obviously the further you get away from populated areas the lower the risk.

The way I see myself stealth camping is when backpacking. So when we (me and my husband) cannot make it to the designated area or we want to be alone we would just find “our” spot.
Sounds like stealth camping to me, if you're not "where you're supposed to be". On the other hand if you're on NFS or BLM land there are no restrictions as to where you can camp other than specifically protected areas… I would just call it "camping".

is it OK to take some dirt road, away from the main road into some wooded area and sleep in a tent overnight?
"OK" could mean a lot of things (legal, safe, …) really depends on the situation. If you don't know specifically if it's OK, it's probably best to assume that it's not and make sure to be as stealthy as possible which, as you mentioned, is not easy to do with a vehicle.

Not that I have ever done it ;) but if I did I would prefer to stealth it in high mountain ranges, and/or near existing trails where you're much less likely to run into anyone besides Rangers and other hikers… and if you're doing it right they won't notice you.

Aaron mentioned some good points as well. Some good advice/techniques there for Ranger run in's, being safe, and so on.

The way I see myself stealth camping is when backpacking. So when we (me and my husband) cannot make it to the designated area or we want to be alone we would just find “our” spot.

Ok, I see what you are saying …
Many National Forests you are free to camp where you want … no stealth needed unless you want it. Same with BLM land. Some over-populated forests (mostly California, plus those around major cities) and most U.S. parks, have designated backcountry and frontcountry camping areas, usually with a fee. I've been in the same situation myself in heavily regulated Tahoe area and just had to stop and set up before nightfall, nowhere near my permit. Usually it's not a problem. The only place that might be a problem would be the heavily patrolled Grand Canyon NP "corridor" area but as posted above, even that can be solved.

…is it OK to take some dirt road, away from the main road into some wooded area and sleep in a tent overnight?

Again most BLM and National Forest land away from major cities should be "good to go". One problem is many have the same idea that you have and some of the more popular areas have cars and people in and out at all times of the night. Could be an issue in the Rockies where there's few places near the road to turn into.

Ray Jardine uses the term "stealth camping" in some book

Avoid camping at sites frequently used by others

Ground is softer to sleep on

No food smells to attract bears

I agree with Jerry about Ray Jardines deffinition of stealth camping and Its likely the earliest record in any written form. I have seen the term NINJA camping used to describe sneaking in and around somewhere to not get caught cause you are doing something illeagal such as park or area closed or private property. I first saw this term on a website called Rogue Paddler I believe. Don Ladegan uses Rays definition of stealth camping also and gives him credit for it in his book Lighten Up.

Outlaw camping is what I always called camping where you don't have permission to do so?
Either implied or expressed.:)
I don't see any real harm. Provided you don't leave a mess or sue the property owner if you get hurt.
Oh, or try to declare Squatters Rights by living there for 7(?) years..haha
Another name for Hobos use to be Sundowners. I always thought that refered to the idea that they disappeared just as the sun was going down. Likewise, get up and moving before the sun was in the sky. That way noone would see them coming and going.

Not being noticed is a good alternative to being arrested or fined.

But it is also a good alternative to dealing with obnoxious people, which can include Forest Service personnel, I'm sorry to say. Met a particularly annoying one in No. Colorado last summer, who wouldn't have even been there had he not llamas and a peon to haul all his stuff. Kind of put a pallor over what would otherwise have been a great trek. So I avoid them and the national parks. Thank heaven for the wilderness areas.

And yes, there have been occasions when the stealth campsite was not legal. The best was in a gale on an island in Moosehead Lake in Maine. Before launching the boat the next morning, I walked up over a long **** behind me and found myself looking at a Marina full of yachts surrounded by mansionlike structures. and lots of people in clean white outfits. Wasn't noticed and left without incident. Stealth is good.

**** Addendum: BPL disallowed a four letter word beginning with d, ending with e, and with and i and a k in the middle. The Dutch boy would have been mortified.
But I feel safer now, and will never criticize the USFS again, NOT.

It's not something I do on a regular basis but will in a pinch. Another forum member who does awesome treks of the Bay Area (in Trip Reports) has some experience, and she seems to advocate pitching late (near dark) and breaking camp prior to sunrise. Seems to make sense.

I'd imagine you'd want a neutral color shelter as well. Neon orange or bright blue may not help your efforts.

Obviously. Haha. Sorry couldn't be of more help on this thread.

I can do the weekday thing, so it's not so bad. I think of camping fees as a donation.

The only thing on crown land that sketches me out is the idiots who go into the woods to fire off their guns. Probably an infinitesimal fear, but I have a few idiot friends who do just that.

You can google: "free camping in Ontario" or something like that. There is a site for British Columbia that has tons of free crown land to camp in. Some spots by lakes etc, have primitive sites built. Though you often need a high clearance vehicle to access, and then you may have to deal with young dudes who can haul in beer and guns (said friends..sigh). They're really friendly though, but it may not be the type of experience you planned.