richy240

Anyone know any alternatives with VERY few people? We had bikers and hikers walking past our site regularly. I'm looking for isolation in a primitive camping site....

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BigBendHiker

That is no fun, for sure. Are you looking for parks near the Johnson City / Fredericksburg area? If so, McKinney Falls State Park may work. If you really want to get away from it all and have some isolation, head west to:
1. Big Bend National Park and zone camp,
2. Big Bend Ranch State Park,
3. Black Gap Wildlife Management Area (next to Big Bend and VERY isolated).

BBH

richy240

Yeah, the western ones might be better. I live in Houston, so I'm looking for short weekend getaways. Something I can possibly get to before dark if I leave work early on Fridays... You get the picture, I'm sure.

Thanks, I'll check out those destinations!

Maybe somewhere I can cook over a small fire too. Pedernales said NO FIRES! I was disappointed, obviously.

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Shannon

It's a different type of camping than you may be interested in (beach camping), but Padre Island National Seashore, as far down island as your vehicle can get you, might yield the solitude you seek. The only people going by would be 4x4s (and, sadly, tanker trucks -- there's inland drilling at the refuge) traveling even further down-island than you.

The primitive campsites at [http://wildtexas.com/parks/hcsna.php]Hill Country State Natural Area[/url] are pretty nice. You might have the occasional hiker or horseback rider go by, but they won't literally be going through your campsite/area. Wilderness Camp would be my pick at HCSNA, but there are a couple I have not laid eyes on that could be better.

Lost Pines/Bastrop State Park has primitive campsites but having not camped in them or even seen them, I don't know if they take you away from the usual foot traffic of hikers.

No TPWD State Parks or wildlife management areas are going to permit ground fires -- too much risk, especially with summer approaching, of Joe Camper setting the whole place up in smoke.

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ploddinTod

Since you're looking for isolation and something close to Houston, you might try Sam Houston National Forest. The forest service has some campgrounds (Stubblefield, Double Lake, Cagle, etc.)but you can also hike in on the Lone Star Trail and set up camp anywhere and have a fire too. That is, if there's no burn ban.

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