January 16, 2012
Free Camping
Camping for free is the best way to camp. It gives you a chance to really get back to nature because you camp without services. It also gives you a chance to see some unique places on your own, because you aren’t herded into a specific place with a bunch of other people.
There are different ways to camp for free in BC. The first way is using Forest Service Rec sites. Exploring back roads is the second way to do it. The third way is to leave the vehicle at the trail head and travel by another method to the campsite.
81 percent of BC is Crown Land, meaning it’s owned by the public. That’s covered by over 200,000 kilometers of dirt roads. These logging and resource roads open vast areas of the province to campers who want to camp for free.
There are almost 1,300 recreation sites maintained by the BC Forest Service across the province of BC. The majority of them cost no money to use, although some have small user fees. Usually the sites are chosen because their location is attractive or remarkable or there is something worthwhile in the area. Some, approximately half, are maintained by local organizations, First Nations or the Forest Service itself. The rest are maintained only by the users, which means that you have to leave the site better than you found it.
You can also access free camping by exploiting the network of roads. Often these are some of the best sites. You’re allowed to stay at one place for up to 14 days by law. They will lead you to lakes, river crossings, beaver ponds, meadows or other great places. On resource roads you have to watch out for logging trucks, and give them lots of room.
Its a good idea to take drinking water with you, or have a method to purify it. In most sites firewood will be easy to find. Widespread beetle kill makes dry standing wood easy to find and harvest with a small chainsaw. Be careful with your fire and make sure you extinguish it completely before heading home. Forest fires are a big threat in BC. The fire danger season starts in the spring and lasts until the first rains in October.
For the more adventurous there is always the option of using roads as trail heads. Take a canoe, or a horse, or hike to a great spot. ATVS and snowmobiles are another way to get access. This allows you to get to places most people never see. You will likely get some great wildlife viewing chances this way.
Hiking and canoe routes have also been developed in places. In the South Chilcotin, on the east slope of the Coast Range, there is an extensive trail network. Some of these routes are suitable for beginners while others are dangerous for those without experience.
Remember to pack out everything that you pack in. Also make sure to properly address sanitation. Use existing fire rings when possible, and try to leave your campsite cleaner than when you arrived. It sucks to find a great place littered with someone else’s garbage. On the other hand, it’s nice to find a camp with a small supply of ready cut wood. Some back country camps are outfitted with some of the heavier articles that make life more comfortable, like frying pans and grills. If you find them in a camp, use them, but leave them when you go.
Bears can pose a challenge, as can other wildlife. In bear country (and most of BC is bear country) leave a clean camp. Hang your food, and be careful when you are in small parties or not armed. Waking up in the middle of the night with a bear in the tent is no fun. It’s completely different to see a bear from the campsite with a bunch of other people during the daytime. Use your common sense and you’ll probably be fine. Truthfully, though, mice are more likely to get more food from you than bears.
Want to find out more about the Chilcotin?, then visit Jose Anahim Chilcotin real estate.
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