GooseCovered

Hello everyone,

I am new to the boards, but I am a camping enthusiast so I hope I will fit in. I stay at some of the state parks in the south during the winter months.

I do not like camping in state parks though. There is a park ranger driving by every hour, kids running and playing, crowded swimming holes, etc. I want something more secluded.

I would like to know if there is anywhere in Texas that the land is not privately owned, nor is it a state park. I guess what I am trying to say is, is there woods or forest somewhere that doesn't belong to anybody that I can go on a massive hiking/backpacking/camping expedition? You hear people refer to the "wild" and when I hear that, I think of land that isn't owned or charted, out in the middle of nowhere, where I wont get in trouble for trespassing, and I wont find tons of families with loud kids in the swimming hole.

I am not sure if what I am wanting even exists. It doesn't even have to be in Texas. Can anybody help me?

Thanks,
Jason

BigBendHiker

Pretty much any land, anywhere, is going to be owned by someone - private or state. However, if you head to the Trans-Pecos region of Texas, you can find yourself in the middle of nowhere. Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park are areas that are quite isolated. Big Bend National Park is crowded in the fall and spring, but empty in the summer. BBRSP and Black Gap are pretty much empty year round. Visit those and you will see no one at all.

BBH

GooseCovered

About how large are these parks, land-wise? Large enough for someone to get lost in? I want something so huge that I can hike into it for a full day before settling down to camp. For parks like this, just like regular state parks, you have to pay to get in, dont ya? No guns, alchohol, etc?

Also, maybe there is land that is owned by the state, but not developed as a state park, but is still overgrown with forests and woods and wilderness? That way there wouldn't be a camping fee, or other campers, etc? Does this exist?

Thanks alot for the help,
Jason

Neville

As mentioned before, the majority of Texas land is privately owned so your options are limited. However, those options to provide some very isolated experiences.

Check out Guadalupe Mountains National Park out west. The Pine Springs camp area can be a bit crowded but you'll be by yourself more often than not in the backcountry.

Another option is Devil's River State Natural Area with the nearest town being sixty-five miles away. There's a good chance you'll be all alone there. I certainly was. This may not be what you're looking for since it's a desert environment but it's still a lovely place.

rockhill

I think it was back in the late 1800's when the state surveyor said "All the land in Texas is gone!" There is no "open range". The only places you can achieve what you are looking for is in the Big Bend area as previously noted or one of the natural Forest preserves in east Texas. One thing to always keep in mind is to know who's land you are on. Rural land owners sometimes can be less than hospitable.
http://www.nps.gov/bith/
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas/
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/f..._bend_country/

Enjoy your time outdoor's, but respect the rights of private land owners. Many areas of the national forest can be entered with out fees. However it is always wise to let the officials know where you intend to go and time of return. The above sites should prove useful to you.

GooseCovered

Wow, fantastic replies guys. Very informational. I appreciate it!

I know what you mean about respecting peoples private property. I wouldn't want someone just hanging out on my land either.

Are you suggesting that I would have more luck with a forest, instead of a national park? Do people usually go camp in national forests like those from the links? How would I notify an official where I am going? Why would it be a good idea to notify an official?

Thank you for the help
Jason

campermom

In case you don't return. They could come look for you if you were hurt or something. I'd tell a family member you trip plans and try to stick to them. If you think your plan could change, include that with the trip plans. I've never done this because we don't get that primitive. This map and compass book I read gave this information so you can be found. Here is my lame example,

Devils River trip. Saturday, hike to the river.
Camp 3 nights on the river where there is plentiful shade.
Hike out to "lookout mountain" and camp there for 4th night.
Hike back to HQ by wednesday sundown.

If flooding occurs at any time, will hike to "lookout mountain" to camp.
Then return to HQ by wednesday sundown.
Truck is parked at HQ overflow parking lot. An envelope on the front seat in clear view marked emergency phone numbers.
Let park superintendent know your plan ( if there is a ranger).

Let your family member know when you will call them to alert them of your return. Remember, cell phones don't always work in those fun, remote locations.

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JHancock

Big Bend is an excellent park to "get away" from people. My recommendation though, try to go in late August, early September, when school is back in, and camp in the middle of the week. You'll have plenty of land to yourself.

My girlfriend and I went last year in August and absolutely loved it. We went in August, and at one point during the week, only three of the sites were occupied, including us.

To get even more seclusion, hit the backcountry. We hiked out the Laguna Meadows trail about 6-7 miles to the South Rim and set up camp there for a night. The backcountry sites are great. They're well spread out, 1/4-1/2 miles between sites, but you'll likely be the only one out there anyway, and each site is equipped with a bear box to store food in. We had deer come within 10 feet of our tent that afternoon. The next morning, we hiked back through boot canyon, another 6-7 miles. We didn't see anyone else from the time we left the parking lot til the time we got back.

There's several other parks around the state that offer backcountry camping if you're into it and want the seclusion factor. Caprock Canyons is another one I'll be doing in September for three days and two nights.

GooseCovered

Geez they all sound like fun. I think I would mostly be up for checking out the forests, so I could bring a gun and possibly hunt small game for meals. In the state parks, at least the ones I have been too, firearms and hunting are against the rules.

I think I am going to plan a good forest trip for the winter, lasting about a week. I am going to aim for something near water, so I can fish for food. On one of the sites I went to, it says that camping away from the campgrounds/recreational areas in the forest is okay, but that it is a 14 day limit, and there is no fee. I guess the 14 days is to make sure nobody builds a log cabin back in there and live there for awhile.

Jason

BigBendHiker

Big Bend National Park is 800,000+ acres. As mentioned in a previous post, go there in the summer and you have the park to yourself. We always go in June, July or August. Have always enjoyed ourselves. Sure...you have to use common sense when hiking the desert during those times -- you go early and take plenty of water. And, of course, one would not do the Outer Mountain Loop trail during the summer or the Marufo Vega trail at that time -- too darn hot. But, given that the park is nearly empty makes up for those concessions.

BBH

greggammon

I am completly in sync with you on the state park thing with cars and kids and rangers etc...but many of the state parks have excellent hike-only backwoods trails. Also, the national forests....Sam Houston, Davy Crocket etc. are open country where you can pack in and out. Here is an excellent resource for you to look at some of these trails. http://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Backpac.../dp/0884153258

Happy Hiking!
Greg

ping_ping

How is the park around May? Is real busy or hot around that time?

kmerian

The difference between Texas and other western states is that when Texas became a State in 1845, it retatained all of its public lands, which it has sold off over the years. So unfortunately there are not wide areas (like in Nevada and California) where anyone can go. In South Texas, your best bet for a secluded camping trip is Padre Island National Seashore outside of Corpus Christi. It is over 80 miles long and you can camp anywhere (within reason) and with a 4WD.

Shannon

It should be noted that alcohol is allowed in almost all, if not all, TPWD managed parks. What is not permitted is open consumption and display, as well as public intoxication and anything else that would be illegal on a Texas roadway applies to roadways inside the parks.

You can most certainly "get lost" in Big Bend National Park or Guadalupe Mountains National Park or the U.S. Forest Service and BLM lands in East Texas and extending into Arkansas.

Hunting is also permitted in many Texas State Parks, but only in season and by people with valid hunting licenses.

If you want true wilderness, you're going to have to go "North To Alaska" or to the Australian Outback or the Andes or whatnot. It's a big world, but there are a lot of us humans on it and we're all sharing it as best we can.

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aggiehiker

Also take a look at the Lone Star Hiking Trail