Probably we were "stealth camping", because almost certainly the rules do not allow what we did. We got regular visits from rangers, however, probably mostly because we spent a lot of time doing target practice on empty pop cans and the odd clay pigeon.
Haven't really tried doing that yet. But I'd go with JiminDenver's advice. You can try checking with the ranger in a particular national forest that you'd want to go and see if they will permit you to do so.
A bit of clarification. I am in Sothern Ontario Canada. I wanted to know mainly about parking on crown land. but also parking lots.
We have car pool sites at the side of the highway in most cities on a major highway. Are these fair game?
I am familiar with the walmart thing and we only want to do this as a last resort.
On our most resent trip (north eastern Ontario) I bought the backroads mapbook that is supposed to show all crown land. I also used the Crown land use web site. This was great. We picked a spot near our destination. It was on crown land with an access road and close to the highway. The maps both showed all this as well as that there was a boat launch there and an access point for canoe routes. when we got there (4 hour drive arriving after 9 p.m. there were signs saying no overnight parking. We ended up staying at a 24 hour Tim Hortons.
We were so disapointed. We are new to all this boondocking and such and thought we had done everything right.
The next day we visited a mine and asked the owner about where the locals swim. He directerd us to an amazing spot. It was part of a conservation area-should be crown land since is a conservation (not a provincial or national park) area but very small so not on the maps. There were no signs so we spent the night. This is what we expected boondocking to be. A nice green space beside the river.
So given the whole story - the question is what are the consequences we would of had to face if the police (ranger, etc.) was to knock on our door during the night we spent at the conservation area?
So given the whole story - the question is what are the consequences we would of had to face if the police (ranger, etc.) was to knock on our door during the night we spent at the conservation area?
Hoped this clears up a few things.
You likely would only have been told to move on, though you can be ticketed, especially if the area's has signage.
Figuring out the rules for Public Land is pretty simple- most agencies (here in the U.S. anyway) have blanket regs that are easy to find on the internet. Know those before you leave home, and check with appropriate District officials when you get there- there are often rules specific to a locale.specific
Sounds like you just want to camp legally and openly without having to worry about "getting caught". That's boondocking, all right- stealcamping is more of a beat-the-system sort of game, the point of which seems to be getting away with...something.
My simple rules for preventing the "move along" order:
1) On Public land, check rules before heading out, check with local authorities once there, and obey all signage.
2)And NEVER park/camp on private property without the owner's permission.
As for those guides- O.K. as general references,but don't count too heavily on current accuracy.
Maybe the OP should ask the moderator to move this thread to the RVing in Canada and Alaska Discussion Area.. You might get a much better response there, along with lots of people who are more knowledge of the situation north of them boarder concerning boondocking and where it can be done.
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