Camping during Government Shutdown

Camping during Government Shutdown?

Me and some friends want to go camping this upcoming weekend in a National Forest. All the website have a notice on them saying certain permits can't be given. Can you not camp in a Nation Forest during the shutdown?

Other Answers:

No, not in closed developed campgrounds. You can go dispersed camping.. Dispersed camping areas are a regulated distance away from developed campgrounds. Normally, you must be a quarter-mile away from any improved campground, a hundred feet off road, wetland, or trail for dispersed camping.

State campgrounds are not affected by the shutdown. States are paying to open some National Parks temporarily.

No. National forest and all federal lands use are closed to ALL recreational use including hunting, day use and dispersed camping. If you cannot get a wilderness permit than you cannot use the wilderness either. All trail heads are posted as closed and all gates are closed. The fines can be upwards to $6000 dollars if an area is also under a fire closure. So wait out the shutdown it will be all over in just a few more days.


State, county and city lands are open and not effected by the federal closure.

@ All means all everything is posted as closed, if you cannot even get out of your car to take a picture how are you going to legally walk into a "closed" area and dispersed camp if ALL recreational activity is prohibited? Ignorance of the law being no excuse and fines hefty ANY advice telling people to go ahead and access federal lands is gross negligence so go ahead take a chance that I am wrong (which I am not) it's your pocket book LOL!

Your taking a big risk. By not being able to learn real time information on what
big animals are in the area you wish to camp. You could be putting yourself in
serious danger. Give this some thought before you go,