AZ BLM/Public boondocking sites - publication

[John McDonald]

I believe there are some publications available for purchase (Amazon?) that give detailed location info on "boondocking" sites on public lands in AZ (BLM, Trust?), but I am not sure of their exact titles. Does anyone use one and can you describe what location and campsite details it gives? And its exact title? Many thanks.
Cheers John

[larryf]

There is a free App. available called "PDF MAPS" from this you can download free forest service and other maps, the "motor vehicle" maps show where you can boondock and where you can't. They have maps that cover most of the popular western districts. You can also go to the Webb sight for the forest service or BLM district your interested in an download maps and info.

[John McDonald]

Thanks for the info.
I have been to BLM web sites and have not been able to find any good maps that could actually be used to find specific sites. If you know how to find them online at the BLM website I would appreciate a link to one then maybe I could backtrack at the the link to see how you found it. Specifically I am interested in some BLM dispersed camping a couple miles south of Ajo, AZ if that helps you to pick an area to look for a map link.

Cheers John

[David B.]

John, I down-loaded ultimatecampgrounds.com , Oh,ranger!, and allstays camp & rv to find places to stay.
Dave & Paula

[Scamper Jim]

There is the book "Don Wright's Guide to Free Campgrounds", 14th ed, $25.00. I don't know that it is free anywhere. It is not available at Camper World, but you can get it on Amazon and other local RV stores.

It is invaluable for identifying free and low cost sites, especially in the West. It's amazing how many small towns have free or cheap city park or other RV camping faciliteis. Included are sites that are $12 or less including the federal lands sites.

It gives good information on the sites such as location, directions, facilities, and even GPS coordinates for those with ipads.

[Ken C]

Google "Technomadia", a forum member here, has books and apps.

[eagle of flight]

Thanks. I just purchased a 1982 burro. Looking forward to finding free or chew p sites in Tennessee.

[ColoRockiesFan]

You may also want to check out the RVSue and Her Canine crew blog. Sue boondocks every winter in AZ and has good info on camp sites.

rvsue and her canine crew | Living on less and enjoying life more

[Carol H]

In addition to the Apps already mentioned there also a number of websites.

One of the websites is called Freecampsites.net that has listings by state and in most cases the actual GPS location is given.

Another is Freecampgrounds.com - most of the listings including the description directions on how to get to the site.

[Jack L]

If you Google "boondocking Ajo Az." you will get some helpful information. A Benchmark road and recreation atlas is a "must have" for me when I want to leave paved roads. The aps mentioned above are also great. Having a printed map with latitude and longitude shown and a handheld GPS really saved me last year when I made a wrong turn on a unmarked dirt road on the Navajo Reservation. The Benchmark (Delorme is another very good one) map does not have batteries that will go dead or suffer from no satellite signal.

[Jack L]

I've stopped at BLM offices and asked for information with mixed results. Some times I get helpful suggestions and other times I am sure I'm talking to someone who does not have the knowledge or desire to provide any information at all. I've printed maps from some of the BLM websites also. It's a guess as to weather you will get useful information from a BLM office but it's always worth a try.

[Uplander]

Interesting note: Don Wrights guide to "free" campgrounds that includes camping locations under $12 (if it didn't it would be one thin book!) does not show even one location in New York State...not even a New York State section.
I know there are free sites available in the Adirondack Mountain region yet none are included in this 6 million area park. I purchased the book via Amazon and was pleased with the listings in many states but was suprised such a publication missed so many sites in the Adirondacks.

[Scamper Jim]

You may want to contact the author regarding the sites in NY. I checked a couple of the web free sites and there are indeed some for NY. He must have had a bad experience there and decided to write that state off or he doesn't want any more tourists up in that area!

[eagle of flight]

Thanks so much for all the helpful tips. Forgive me for not making a reply earlier. I am not very good with navigating this forum. Actually I feel tech challenged.I am res Lily looking forward to the camping season coming summer. It would be great to meet some other members.

[Donna D.]

It seems things (and technology) change hourly. Just be adaptable and don't get frustrated or angry if your "normal" doesn't fit what you think you know... printed maps that are years old can be the worst. If you find yourself in a situation where you think one thing and reality is something else, be humble, be apologetic and file it under Lessons Learned.