How Forest Service Campsites Differ from Other Types of Campgrounds

Forest camping, sometimes referred to as forest service camping, is a form of camping for the more hearty and dedicated campers. How forest camping differs from other forms of camping, like at Provincial, State, Federal and commercial campgrounds, is that you find a site in the forest, preferably beside a nice lake or river, and just set up your camp the way you see fit. There are guidelines that should be followed, and you will be given pamphlets, maps and regulations for camping in the forested area when you sign in, or register on-line with the Forestry Service.

While forest service camping, you may need to sign in with, or register with the Forestry Service before heading into the area you want to camp in, as permits are usually required. There may be no fire warnings posted, which must be adhered to on order to avoid forest fires, as well as to save the Forest Service from sending valuable resources out to your camp site to check out the reports of smoke and/or fire being seen by a spotter. When fires are allowed, the firewood is free for the pickings.

If you are hiking or canoeing into a forest service camping area, you should start looking for a campsite that would suit your overall needs long before the sun sets, preferably around 1600 hours. You will need to set up your campsite, find level spots nearby trees for the tents, where the pegs can be driven into the ground. You will then need to dig a proper campfire pit (for more information on digging a proper campfire pit where non are present, refer to http://www.helium.com/zones/preview/10508 ), and collect firewood, dried twigs, tree bark and grasses for fire starter off of the forest's floor.

When camping in commercial campgrounds, you will quite often be camping right beside other campers, sometimes squeezed into the campground like sardines. You will also mosy likely be forced to pay outrageously high costs for extremely small bundles of firewood, usually $10 for a bundle big enough to cook breakfast over. If you want to have a campfire until 2 or 3 in the morning, watching the stars and listening to the night animals and birds, you could be looking at over $100 for the wood. You will not be allowed to bring your own firewood into the campgrounds with you, and if you are caught doing so, you could be kicked out with no recompense for the money you paid for the campsite.

State, Provincial and Federal campgrounds have more strict rules, many not allowing alcohol on the premises, and either no campfires at all, or only small fires allowed for cooking, staying warm, or for emergency signalling purposes. Forest service camping may involve a no-fire warning when the area is timber-dry, as forest fires can start from a single, wayward spark being spat out of the fire when the area has not seen rain for a while.

Forest service camping differs from other kinds of camping in that no services are provided. There will be no electricity, showers, flush toilets (nor outhouses, so bringing a chemical toilet is advised when camping in the wilderness) nor canteen or store services at Forest Service campgrounds. Unless, of course, you happen to be camping near a town.
Forest service camping is the most remote and isolated of the legal camping providers, but many people will simply canoe down a river, or hike into a forested area to camp, without registering with the proper authorities, nor getting a campfire permit. This could result in major forest fires, of which you could be held liable for any and all costs and damages incurred in fighting the fires, as well as any damages to infrastructure or privately owned homes or businesses.

So, when forest camping, you must make sure that you have all necessary permits, and follow the regulations outlined in the pamphlets and on the maps provided to you. They do have people that check in on campers, making sure that rules are being adhered to.

Enjoy your wilderness camping adventure, and make sure that you bring everything out with you that you brought in, and clean your site up before leaving (see http://www.helium.com/items/1834361-who-is-responsible-for-cleaning-up-forest-service-campgrounds for more information on cleaning up at Forest Service campsites). As long as you use common sense, and treat the outdoors as you would you own living room, you should have a stress-free, and problem-free camping experience.

Camp smart. Camp informed.